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February 15th, 2010 Ben
The Bath Skyline walk has proved the most popular amongst users of the National Trust website with more downloads of its 6-mile guide than any other walk.
The route takes in woodlands, meadows, Roman remains, an 18th century folly, an abundance of wildlife and an Iron Age fort on its trail around the World Heritage City.
One highlight of the walk is Little Solsbury Hill, which offers wonderful views over Bath. The Site of an Iron Age fort has gentle grassland slopes, which is home to a number of plants and wildlife.
The beautiful Prior Park is another highlight of this walk. The stunning landscape garden contains the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only four found in the world.
During the last year downloads from the National Trust site for walking routes more than doubled to 250,000. The site currently has 130 walks to download, a number that is set to increase to 1,000 in just two years time. The huge demeaned on the site just goes to show that people are eager to get out into the beautiful British countryside and explore all that it has to offer.
It’s hardly surprising that Bath has become the most popular amongst walkers, the city and beautiful surrounding countryside just has so much to offer.
If you are planning on taking a short break in Bath then why not download the guide yourself and try the walk out to discover all that Bath has to offer.
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February 12th, 2010 Nikki
This weekend, why not step outside and take a brisk walk along Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire? This beautiful countryside will provide an exhilarating walk for you and your family if you are looking for things to do in Bedfordshire. Along the way you will discover diverse wildlife, Iron Age hill forts and burial mounds but make particular effort to look out for Five Knolls, a scheduled ancient monument which is the largest round barrow cemetery in Bedfordshire. Lying on the edge of the Downs, there are visible burial mounds which are seen as bumps belonging to the late Neolithic and bronze age. Drovers Way is part of a network of tracks and paths which were traditionally used to take livestock to market by Drovers. Wildlife is especially interesting as the chalk grasslands support a wide range of rare wild flowers and butterflies like the chalk hill blue and Duke of Burgundy.
But if you and your family are looking for something a bit more exciting then Dunstable Downs can facilitate, set so high, it provides a fantastic opportunity for kite flyers and Para gliders and has become famous for it. The National Trust has a Visitors Centre at the very top of the Downs where you can buy a kite and get some advice on constructing it and also tips on how to fly it. Their selection offers something for beginners right up to professionals so there is something for all levels. Anyone that is on a Bedfordshire Holiday shouldn’t be allowed to leave until they have flown a kite on the Dunstable Downs. The challenge has been set.
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February 8th, 2010 Nikki
The Red Squirrel has been decreasing in numbers for years and fewer than 140, 000 individuals are thought to be left. Approximately 85% reside in Scotland but the remainder are scattered across other parts of the UK. A large part of their decrease is due to the introduction of the grey squirrels from North America, these grey squirrels carry a deadly virus for Red Squirrels, Squirrel pox, and as a result it is illegal to bring in a grey squirrel to red squirrel territory.
The Isle of Wight, a firm favourite for holiday makers staying in a bed and breakfast Isle of Wight, is an important strong hold for Red Squirrels as the solent acts as a barrier to keep the grey squirrel out. The woodland on the island can provide habitation for around 3, 500 red squirrels and they now occupy broadleaved woodland across the island.
The Wight Project, is a charity based on the island working to help keep Red Squirrels from extinction. They tackle anything to do with squirrels from contentious planning applications to campaigning for ‘Squirrel road crossings’. From fundraising to sponsorship they also offer Squirrel Events throughout the year for people on Isle of Wight breaks or locals who have an interest in the beautiful red squirrel. It is a sad fact that a large percentage of people, especially the younger generation, have never seen the Red Squirrel, the only squirrel native to the UK. Chances to see them in their native environment through event walks and talks with the likes of The Wight Project should be taken at any given opportunity and if there is a chance you could help to keep charities like the Wight Project going through help with funding and sponsorship then it would be greatly beneficial to the Red Squirrels.
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February 2nd, 2010 Alex
The Peak District is, as you might have guessed from the name, full of peaks.
Well, they’re peaks in one sense of the word. The district actually only has two peaks, the white and dark. The former consists mostly of limestone and has the flowing hills and valleys associated with that, and the latter consists mostly of gritstone rock and shale, giving it a much harsher appearance, with tors, moorland and bear rocks jutting up. It all makes for fantastic views for the Peak District cottages that are available to rent there.
The “peaks” of the tors, rocks, and hills, though are all a draw. And as with anything high, most people feel a compulsion to get to the top of it. The best way to manage this in the Peak district is normally the most simple: walking.
The district was the first national park, created in 1951, and since then has drawn millions of visitors to participate in all sorts of activities, but walking has always been one of the favourites, Coleridge and Wordsworth both spent much of their lives there, walking around and generally being inspired by the beauty of the landscape, something which you can also experience on your own Peak District holiday.
Walking can be exhausting, so it’s very important to make sure you’re properly equipped. Comfortable shoes, and enough food and water to get you through however long your trip may be are a must. Hopefully, this will have convinced you to take a healthy walking holiday somewhere, possibly even the Peak District.
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December 23rd, 2009 Alex
Dartmoor is well-known as a tourist attraction, especially in the summer. It has beautiful views of both a serene and dramatic nature, and can provide warm, sun-soaked riversides for picnics and relaxation. Plenty of people taking Devon holidays visit the moor every year, and it’s no wonder why.
It’s also known for pony trekking, horse riding, and walking without any other animal involved: on foot. Walks across Dartmoor can be challenging, gruelling affairs, such as the Ten Tors or Dartmoor Beast challenges, but holiday-makers will find that the moor offers them something too. More relaxed and pleasant walks can be taken, and one of the best ways of doing this is to follow the route of a leat.
Leats are man-made water channels that were designed to carry water away from its natural route. Along the leat or at its destination, it could supply water for drinking, washing or farming, or power industrial equipment, even producing electricity. The leats were made using incredibly slight gradients, designed to keep the water travelling fast enough that it didn’t stagnate, but slow enough that it didn’t flood. One of the results of this is that in places the water appears to be flowing uphill.
Because of the way the leats are made, they provide excellent, gentle walking routes, and are easy enough to follow, especially if still filled with water. This makes them ideal for the slower gait of children, perhaps those who might stay with their family in a Devon holiday park. Along the route, walkers will see things such as sheep leaps, two granite platforms jutting out over the leat to allow sheep to jump across the water, and possibly a Bullseye stone, granite blocks with a hole through them that is the right size to divert just the right amount of water off a leat for use somewhere else.
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December 18th, 2009 Alex
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service is now live for this winter period, monitoring the areas that could be affected by avalanches. People staying near these regions for cottage holidays in Scotland, or any sort of holiday for that matter, should keep an eye on weather reports and this, especially if they’re thinking of venturing into the mountains.
The areas monitored are Lochaber in the Nevis range, Creag Meagaidh, South Cairngorms, North Cairngorms and Glencoe in Argyll, which should provide you with piece of mind if you’re staying in one of the many Argyll cottages anytime this winter.
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December 14th, 2009 Alex
Year after year, visitors come to the Seven Sisters for their holidays, and we’re not talking about taking a trip to see the mythical daughters of Atlas and Pleione. That would be weird.
If sea-views, undisturbed cliffs, rolling river valleys and beautiful open grassland sound like a draw to you, then the Seven Sisters Country Park may well be for you. Located in the south of the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the park brings people from all over to enjoy cycling or walking through it, or to spend a weekend camping there. Some people will even visit it as part of a Rye weekend break, as it’s not too far to travel.
The cliffs themselves have also been seen on the big screen in films such as Atonement, the Harry Potter films, and on the small screen in the Channel 4 comedy Green Wing. Due to their unspoilt chalk faces, they often stand in for the more heavily built up white cliffs of Dover.
The cliffs themselves rise and fall again and again, and each peak and trough has its own name. Haven Brow drops to Short Bottom, which rises to Short Brow, which falls to Limekiln Bottom, which leads up to Rough Brow, which declines into Rough Bottom, which inclines into Brass Point, which descends into Gap Bottom, which ascends into Flagstaff Point, which leads down to Flagstaff Bottom, which curves upwards into Flat Hill, which enjoys a downhill slope into Flathill Bottom, which has an upward gradient into Baily’s Hill, which lowers into Michel Dean, and finally heads up into Went Hill Brow. Luckily, that’s the end of the Seven Sisters, as I was running out of interesting synonyms for “goes up” and “goes down”.
Whilst plenty of people do camp in the area, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy increased comfort by staying in an East Sussex hotel, so remember that there’s a multitude of ways to experience the Seven Sisters.
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November 16th, 2009 Alex
The summer just gone, some friends and I made plans to take a three day trip walking along the north coast of Devon. We’d stop off over night at campsites, or any holiday parks that allowed tents, and carry everything we needed on our backs.
I was probably the keenest member of our party, researching routes, places we could stop and rest for lunch and sleep, getting together some of the essential equipment, scrounging tents of various people. Having written that, I realise that I wasn’t just the keenest, but probably the only person with organisational skills.
Anyway, we had alcohol, food, tents, friends, everything for a great holiday. As long as nobody got drunk and stumbled off a cliff then it’d be plain sailing. We were even going to stop by the sea a few times and make a mini UK beach holiday out of it.
Unfortunately, due to schedule conflicts, the trip never took place. Either people were going back to their universities to perform with bands, or going to the largest open air heavy metal festival in the world. Somebody was busy making a film as well.
Oh well. There’s always next summer.
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September 20th, 2009 admin
Wales is lucky to be home to some of the finest coastline anywhere in the British Isles so it’s with little wonder that there are a number of fantastic coastal walks to be had. If you are heading for a short break in Wales why not try out a few of these beautiful walks.
Stackpole Quay, Wales
6.5 miles (3 hours)
Up and down walking to begin with but eventually levels as you reach the ornamental lake.
This walk takes in wild cliff tops, beautiful seabirds and a serene lake. The walk will take you to the harbour at Stackpole Quay as well as the sandy sweep of Barafundle Bay and offers some beautiful views along the way of coves, headlands and wildlife.
Porthclais, Wales
5.5 miles (3.5 hours)
Gentle walking along cliff top paths and quite country lanes.
This walks is found along the western rim of Wales and goes from open countryside to a cliff top path. The likes of St David’s cathedral, St Non’s Bay, Holy wells and the ruins of St Non’s Chapel can all be seen during this walk.
Poppit Sands, Wales
5.5 miles (3 ½ hours)
A fairly challenging walk.
This walk takes you from the shore to the soaring heights of the cliff tops, along the way it offers some stunning views across the Teifi estuary towards Cardigan Island.
Oxwich, Wales
3.5 miles (2 hours)
Can be muddy after heavy rain, some steep and rouged sections.
This is an invigorating walk taking in wooded headland and offers sea views as well as the chance to see a secluded Norman Church and beautiful Tudor mansion.
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August 19th, 2009 admin
If you are staying in a Holiday Park in Torbay or Brixham and feeling active why not take the chance to explore this coastline in more detail. South Devon has one of the finest stretches of coast line in the country. The coast is south facing and sheltered from the prevailing winds by Dartmoor. This means it often has great weather and is the reason the area has been dubbed the ‘English Riviera’.
Following the coast path leads you through quaint villages and resort towns, with amble opportunity for refreshment. And with award winning beaches, the views are never less than stunning. This walk takes you through both sides of the area’s character. The first half is rural in nature, with some sections of the path feeling quite remote. The second half takes you through the big resort of Torquay and has a more built-up ‘bucket & spade’ style of scenery.
Start by taking the bus to Maidencombe via Torquay. You are now 14 miles from the end of the walk and a well deserved drink! Follow the coast path to Torquay. This will take you above and around the small coves, notorious for their use by smugglers to land their contraband. As you head through Babbacombe you will pass by the world famous model village, which is well worth a visit.
From here head around Hope’s Nose, a popular Victorian bathing spot and continue onto Anstey’s Cove. Here a system of tunnels and caves are open for visiting. Visitors before you include sabre-tooth tigers and woolly mammoths who made this area their home in prehistoric times. Follow on to Meadfoot beach then join Rock End walk to descend into Torquay for lunch.
Torquay is the half-way point and is a grand resort town to visit when on a Devon Holiday that retains much of it’s elegance. As you walk along the beach promenade there is amble opportunity to enjoy the splendour of the stucco-houses and mature palm-trees. At the end of the promenade follow the sea front road to Paignton and onto Goodrington, well known for it’s extensive gardens. Follow the path next to the Paignton to Dartmouth railway and follow it’s course to Torbay’s southern cliffs. A short climb over the cliffs takes you down into Brixham, a historic fishing town with a lovely marina.
For more Devon Walks visit devon-walks.co.uk
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