Summer walks
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Date: 24 August, 2004

surefish summer

Hiking boots

 

 


 


Andrew Chapman gets his boots on.

Why not get out and go for a walk this weekend? To help you get shod and get fit, surefish has prepared a selection of walks across the country, for all abilities.

We've divided up the UK into the government's regions for England, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and presented three sample walks, all described online, for each area - use the title link to see the full walk description.

Here's a quick breakdown of the information:

County: sadly there isn't room for every county to be represented, but there are three walks for each region, with a broad range of locations from a remote Welsh abbey to the centre of Glasgow.

Distance: none of the walks here is more than 10 miles long.

Terrain: all walks are either easy (generally flat, with wheelchair-friendly walks, stiles and paved walks indicated where information is clearly available) or moderate (hilly, perhaps, or across soft ground)

Highlights: some suggested points of interest or features along the route.

OS Explorer Map: the map number in the Ordnance Survey orange Explorer series (not including Northern Ireland) - maps marked 'OL' are in the special Outdoor Leisure series.

Use the jump links below go to a particular region
Greater London
South East
South West

West Midlands
North West
North East

Yorkshire and Humber
East Midlands
East of England

Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland

Greater London

A Wandle Wander
County: Greater London
Distance: 2m
Terrain: Easy - paved
Highlights: This walk from Wimbledon to Tooting passes through the Wandle Meadow Nature Reserve
OS Explorer Map: 161

No Need for a Hackney Carriage
County: Greater London
Distance: 3.75m
Terrain: Easy
Highlights: Explore central Hackney past a variety of interesting churches, including the Round Chapel
OS Explorer Map: 173

Henry's Hall in Enfield
County: Greater London
Distance: 1.5m
Terrain: Easy
Highlights: This waymarked trail is in the wooded grounds of Forty Hall in Enfield, a former hunting lodge of Henry VIII
OS Explorer Map: 173

South East

New Forest Fawley
County: Hampshire
Distance: 1m
Terrain: Easy (one kissing gate)
Highlights: This mostly paved walk explores the 12th century church and 18th century village of Fawley in the New Forest
OS Explorer Map: OL22

Around Cissbury Ring
County: West Sussex
Distance: 6m
Terrain: Hilly
Highlights: Explore Cissbury Ring, the second largest hillfort in England, and enjoy extensive views across the Weald and the Sussex coast
OS Explorer Map: 121

Hazelnuts at Hever
County: Kent
Distance: 7.75m
Terrain: Moderate (some stiles)
Highlights: Ideal combined with a visit to Hever Castle, this walk takes through the attractive woods of the Eden Valley - ideal for picking blackberries and hazelnuts.
OS Explorer Map: 147

South West

Exe-llent Views
County: Devon
Distance: 3m
Terrain: Easy and accessible
Highlights: Suitable for wheelchair users, this walk explores the Riverside Valley Park, linking Exmoor and the Exe estuary, with views of Exeter.
OS Explorer Map: 114

You May See Eight Counties
County: Gloucestershire
Distance: 5m
Terrain: Hilly + 1 stile
Highlights: Enjoy spectacular views from the top of May Hill near the Forest of Dean - locals claim that on a clear day you can see eight counties!
OS Explorer Map: OL14

Swindon's Secrets
County: Wiltshire
Distance: 2m
Terrain: Easy but muddy in wet weather
Highlights: Enjoy a circuit of Peatmoor Lagoon and walk alongside the River Ray, a renovated canal to the west of Swindon
OS Explorer Map: 169

West Midlands

Stride to Stiperstones
County: Shropshire
Distance: 2.5/7.5/10m
Terrain: Moderate to hilly
Highlights: Explore Stiperstones near Church Stretton, with a variety of options of walkers of differing abilities
OS Explorer Map: 217

Brewood and Belvide
County: Staffordshire
Distance: 5m
Terrain: Easy footpaths (not metalled)
Highlights: Chillington Hall, open on Sundays and Bank Holidays and boasting parkland designed by Capability Brown; Belvide Reservoir, an RSPB nature reserve; village of Brewood.
OS Explorer Map: 242

Shakespeare's Stratford
County: Warwickshire
Distance: 7.3m
Terrain: Gentle slopes on paths and tracks
Highlights: Stratford-upon-Avon, with both the Rivers Avon and Stour
OS Explorer Map: 205

North West

Hearty in Halewood
County: Merseyside
Distance: 2.5m
Terrain: Moderate. Some stiles. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
Highlights: Halewood Country Park
OS Explorer Map: 275

No Sweat in Swettenham
County: Cheshire
Distance: 4.5m
Terrain: Gentle; 9 stiles; 6 kissing gates.
Highlights: The hidden delights of the Dane Valley around the attractive village of Swettenham
OS Explorer Map: 268

Woods at Beacon Fell
County: Lancashire
Distance: 1.5m
Terrain: Easy
Highlights: This waymarked trail at Beacon Fell takes you through a variety of different types of woodland
OS Explorer Map: OL41

North East

The Grandeur of Alnwick
County: Northumberland
Distance: 2.5m
Terrain: Easy - all paved; some cobbles.
Highlights: Explore the beautiful town of Alnwick by walking around the wall of the castle - the second largest inhabit castle in the country (and open to visitors)
OS Explorer Map: 332

The Quay to Newcastle
County: Newcastle upon Tyne
Distance: 2m
Terrain: Easy; all paved
Highlights: Explore Newcastle's quayside, including the Guildhall and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
OS Explorer Map: 316

Egglestone Abbey
County: County Durham
Distance: 7m
Terrain: Field and riverside paths
Highlights: The ruins of Egglestone Abbey, near Barnard Castle
OS Explorer Map: OL31

Yorkshire and Humber

Moor to See at Roseberry Topping
County: North Yorkshire
Distance: 7m
Terrain: Hilly
Highlights: Views across the North Yorkshire Moors, and a visit to Captain Cook's Monument.
OS Explorer Map: OL26

The Deserted Village
County: North Yorkshire
Distance: 8m
Terrain: Easy
Highlights: Explore the deserted mediaeval village of Wharram Percy, abandoned in the 16th century
OS Explorer Map: 300

A Windmill Walk
County: East Yorkshire
Distance: 2m
Terrain: Easy - main paths and minor roads
Highlights: The windmill at Skidby. This walk is only a few miles from the centre of Hull.
OS Explorer Map: 293

East Midlands

Waterside Wanders
County: Leicestershire
Distance: 5.5m
Terrain: Easy footpaths
Highlights: Starting in the village of Quorn, this walk takes you along Buddon Brook to Swithland Reservoir, with many species of bird to spot
OS Explorer Map: 246

Riverside and Pubs
County: Nottinghamshire
Distance: 2.5m/4m
Terrain: Moderate - avoid wet weather
Highlights: Walk along the River Trent to visit a choice of historic pubs
OS Explorer Map: 260

Village Heritage
County: Lincolnshire
Distance: 1.5m
Terrain: Easy - all paved
Highlights: Discover the history of Bassingham in the North Kesteven area, including a visit to the village's Heritage Room
OS Explorer Map: 272

East of England

Romantic Ruins
County: Essex
Distance: 8m
Terrain: Moderate - slightly hilly and may be soft after rain
Highlights: The ruins of Hadleigh Castle and the nature reserve of Two Tree Island
OS Explorer Map: 175

Walk in the meadows
County: Cambridgeshire
Distance: 4.5m
Terrain: East
Highlights: Explore one of the corners of Cambridge, including Rupert Brooke country in Grantchester.
OS Explorer Map: 209

Rural Life Explored
County: Norfolk
Distance: 7m
Terrain: Easy tracks
Highlights: Visit Gressenhall Rural Life Museum for a taste of times gone by
OS Explorer Map: 238

Wales

A Dramatic Gorge
County: Torfaen
Distance: 4.7m
Terrain: Moderate - steep in places
Highlights: The rushing waters of the Clydach Gorge and its iron bridge
OS Explorer Map: 166

Escape from Newport
County: Gwent
Distance: 5m
Terrain: Easy paths - some stiles
Highlights: Woods, cottages, a nature reserve and a totem pole, all a few miles from Newport
OS Explorer Map: 154

In the Monks' Trail
County: Powys
Distance: 9m
Terrain: Waymarked forest paths
Highlights: The remains of the Cistercian abbey of Abbeycwmhir, set in attractive woodland
OS Explorer Map: 200

Scotland

Buildings of All Ages
County: Strathclyde
Distance: 2.5m
Terrain: City streets
Highlights: Discover the varied history of Glasgow through its different architectural styles
OS Explorer Map: 342

Leg it to a Lighthouse
County: Borders
Distance: 4m
Terrain: Moderate - rocky cliffs
Highlights: Follow the Southern Upland Way to Killantringan Lighthouse
OS Explorer Map: 309

A Royal Retreat
County: Grampian
Distance: 1.5m
Terrain: Easy
Highlights: Past the cricket pitch, along the river bank to the tearoom... all at Balmoral Castle
OS Explorer Map: 404

Northern Ireland

Waterfalls at Glenariff
County: Antrim
Distance: 3m
Terrain: Easy paths with some slopes
Highlights: Explore Glenariff Forest Park, with spectacular waterfalls

The River at Drumquin
County: Tyrone
Distance: 7.5m
Terrain: Easy, with one stretch in open countryside
Highlights: A riverside walk in attractive countryside; other walks take you up into the hills above Drumquin

The Treasures of Down
County: Down
Distance: 6.25m
Terrain: Moderate - some stiles
Highlights: Walk along the shores of Lough Money and follow the footsteps of St Patrick. (Follow the Tresures of Down link and then Walks and Trails - requires Flash.)

If these walks have whetted your appetite, the Walking the Way to Health Initiative provides details of the health benefits of walking and links to guided walks and groups across the country; and go4awalk lists hundreds of other walks.

 


   
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