Walks And Walking - Spring Walks Best For Daffodils

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks Best For Daffodils

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks Best For Daffodils

Here is another excellent article I found on the Saga website for Spring walks with places to visit that are best for daffodils in England.

RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

The Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Gardens in Surrey contain over 240 acres of outstanding gardens but in the Spring their buttery golden daffodils really take over. You can enjoy this Spring walks to the Trials Gardens, Wild Garden, Rock Garden and Seven Acres where you can expect to find over 70 different species of daffodil, from the miniature Tête-à-Tête to the classic trumpets. You can find out more information about the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Gardens here.

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks Best For Daffodils

Farndale, Yorkshire

For early Spring walks Farndale in Yorkshire offers a beautiful, deep valley of patchwork quilt fields divided by ancient drystone walls and narrow winding lanes and is most famous for its thousands of wild daffodils with the highlight being their one-mile 'daffodil walk' north along the banks of the River Dove to High Mill. Before you leave check out the official Farndale Daffy update here.

Spring Walks - Walks And Walking

Dymock Woods, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Dymock Woods is particularly pretty, carpeted with bright yellow blooms, and there are several waymarked Spring walks to help you explore the landscape - there is even a special Daffodil Way. The gentle, circular walking routes takes you through the wild daffodil country, along field edges, past orchards and meadows, and through the woodlands of Dymock Wood. For more information about Spring walks in the Royal Forest of Dean and the Counties of Herefordshire and Monmouthshire visit here.

Dunsford Nature Reserve, Devon

Covering an impressive 57 hectares Dunsford Nature Reserve in Devon is managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, who are currently celebrating 50 years of protecting wildlife. The highlight is the 2 mile Spring walk along the River Teign where the banks are covered with daffodils. More information here.

One of the easiest places to see daffodils is, of course, your kitchen table!

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks Best For Daffodils - On Your Kitchen Table

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks

I always find that after miles of walking finding a beautiful church in a rural setting is like finding an oasis in the desert. Most of the walking routes I plan always seem to include a visit to a church and you'll see from the majority of church walks that I have posted on this website that there are many photographs of churches and chapels.

So, if you like a good church walk as much as I do then here are some of the most tranquil ambling spots to visit as compiled by the Churches Conservation Trust (CTT). Pull up a pew and take sanctuary in an ancient historic church preserved by the CTT, and listen to the calming hum of nature pass you by…

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks - St Stephens Coastal Walk North Yorkshire

St Stephen’s Coastal Walk – North Yorkshire

St Stephen’s has stood majestically upon Robin Hood’s Bay since 1821. Echoing its ocean views, the church is engulfed in nautical history with graves bestowing tragic tales of forlorn seamen lost at sea. Walk from St Stephens’s church to Robin Hood’s Bay and see the stunning coastal views which are great for families wanting to combine culture and entertainment.

Expect to see: Breath-taking coastal and seaside views
Walking Distance: 1.2 miles, 26 minutes
Walk Suitable for: Families
St Stephen’s Church Walks – Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, YO22 4PN

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks - St Michaels Historical Countryside Walk Shropshire

St Michael’s Historical Countryside Walk – Shropshire

This hidden gem sits in a quiet, idyllic valley west of Bridgnorth. With its stone walls and moss-covered roof this Norman church looks as much a part of the landscape as the trees that surround it. St Michael’s Church is located on an Elizabethan estate and is less than half a mile away from Upton Cressett Hall and Gardens, one of Britain’s most exquisite Tudor Houses. This walk is perfect for heritage enthusiasts and picnics.

Expect to see: Charming village scenes in a traditional countryside setting
Walking distance: 0.5 miles, 15 minutes from St Michael’s to Upton Cressett Hall and Gardens
Walk suitable for: Romantic amblers
St Michael’s Church Walks – Upton Cressett, Shropshire, WV16 6UH

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks - St Michaels and St Martins Riverside Meander Gloucestershire

St Michael’s & St Martin’s Riverside Meander – Gloucestershire

This picture postcard medieval church is nestled on the edge of the river Leach. Perfect for a leisurely walk along the banks of the meandering river to Horseshoe Lake, St Michael’s & St Martin’s is just a stone’s throw from its sister church at Eastleach Turville on the opposite bank.

Expect to see: Idyllic scenery that inspired poet John Keble
Walking distance: 3.9 Miles, 1 hour 18 minutes
Walk suitable for: More ambitious walkers
St Martin’s & St Michael’s Church Walks – Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire, GL7

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks - St Andrews Hilltop to Reservoir Walk Northumberland

St Andrew’s Hilltop to Reservoir Walk – Northumberland

Perched on Grey Mare Hill, keen hikers and photographers alike will appreciate the ambitious 289m climb to reach St Andrew’s, Shotley, and its rewarding breath-taking views.

Expect to see: Awe-inspiring panoramic views
Walking distance: 3.4 miles, 1 hour 11 minutes
Walk suitable for: Hikers
St Andrew’s Church Walks – Shotley, Northumberland, DH8 9SJ

Walks And Walking - Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks - All Saints Bluebell Woodlands Walk Oxfordshire

All Saints’ Bluebell Woodlands Walk – Oxfordshire

All Saints’ Church, Nuneham Courtney is a jewel in the heart of the Nuneham Park House grounds. Overlooking the Thames, the 1760s church is a monument to wealth and taste, with dazzling Italian fittings, magnificent memorial sculptures and busts. Just a 30 minute walk away is Bluebell Wood, an enchanted forest filled with springtime flowers.

Expect to see: A carpet of bluebells and wildflower meadows in late April and May
Walking distance: 1.6 miles, 32 minutes from All Saints’ to Bluebell Wood
Walk suitable for: Families
All Saints’ Church Walks – Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PQ

St Mary’s Norman Town Walk – Kent

Dating back as far as the Saxon era, St Mary’s, Higham, is steeped in history from Norman influences to Benedictine nuns. The church is only four miles from the centre of Rochester for visitors wishing to combine country and town visits with a pleasant Kent walk across the marshlands. Continue the Norman theme and stop by the impressive fortress of Rochester Castle.

Expect to see: Ancient Norman ruins along your way.
Walking distance: 4.6 Miles, 1 hour 33 minutes – St Mary’s Church to Rochester Castle
Suitable for: Active walkers
St Mary’s Church Walks – Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7LS

St Mary’s Nature Walk – Hampshire

This dazzling and colourful Victorian jewel of a church overwhelms the senses. A truly exhilarating building, tall and imposing, St Mary’s, Itchen Stoke was inspired by the soaring elegance of 13th-century Sainte Chapelle in Paris, chapel of French kings. Walk alongside the exquisite Alresford sluices to nearby Old Alresford Pond, a medieval oasis well worth investigating in this gorgeous Hampshire walk.

Expect to see: Otters and wildfowl
Walking Distance: 2.2 Miles, 43 Minutes
Suitable for: Families
St Mary’s Church Walks - Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, SO24 0QU

St Mary’s Rural Walk – Somerset

If legend is to be believed, St Mary’s, Stocklinch Ottersey, and close by St Magdalene’s were built by two sisters vying for the affections of their local vicar. St Mary’s stands on an old water source, one of Somerset’s many healing wells, and is an hour’s stroll away from Barrington Court, a National Trust Tudor House with stunning grounds and a fascinating past making it a Somerset walk to remember.

Expect to see: Wonderful tombs and monuments
Walking distance: 2.3 Miles, 48 Minutes
Suitable for: Families
St Mary’s Church Walks - Stocklinch Ottersey, Somerset, TA19 9JN

St Mary’s Stately Walk – Hampshire

This prairie church is said to be all that remains of the Norman Gains Castle. Take in Mottisfont Estate, a glorious National Trust property and gallery set in beautiful riverside gardens, the village of King’s Sorbonne and stately Compton Park.

Expect to see: Countryside vistas that inspired Jane Austen
Walking distance: 6.1 miles, 2 hours
Suitable for: Active walkers
St Mary’s Church Walks - Ashley, Kings Somborne, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6RJ

St Peter’s Classic Cambridge Walk – Cambridge

Ideally located for a day out in Cambridge, this simple building is a haven of tranquillity from the busy streets around it. Walk the outskirts of the city and take in all that Cambridge has to offer from stunning views of the river to the historic university buildings.

Expect to see: Coe Fen meadowland and River Cam
Walking distance: 2.5 miles, 50 minutes
Suitable for: Families and sightseers
St Peter’s Church Walks - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0AJ

About the Churches Conservation Trust

Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) is the national charity protecting historic churches at risk. The charity has saved over 340 beautiful buildings which attract almost 2 million visitors a year.

Established under Ecclesiastical Law on 1 April 1969 the charity receives its churches in the form of ‘vesting’s’ from the Church Commissioners. All CCT’s churches remain consecrated and are often used for occasional worship.

CCT works with local people to bring historic churches back into the heart of the community and use as a social, tourism, educational or cultural resource. CCT’s care of Grade I and II buildings has given it an international reputation in heritage conservation and regeneration.

Chairman of the Trust is Loyd Grossman OBE FSA, who was appointed in 2007. Crispin Truman is Chief Executive.

You can follow CCT on twitter here and the official website is here.

Walks & Walking Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route

Walks & Walking Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route

This was the second of 2 walks planned during our family holiday in the Cotswolds. I mapped out a 14 mile section of the Cotswold Way starting at the metal gates of Cleeve Hill following the excellent Cotswold Way way markers all the way to Dowdeswell Wood Reservoir, the Devil's Chimney and the National Trust Crickley Hill taking me just over 5 hours to complete.

At the top of the hill from our drive up from Woodmancote we turned left to the small car park opposite the wooden stile and metal gate signposted for the Cotswold Way where I got dropped off. I walked up the very steep tracks to the first Cotswold Way waymarker and continued all the way up until I joined the Cleeve Hill Golf Course and the Cotswold Way landmark.

It was damp and windy at the top of the hill but very firm underfoot so I wrapped up warm and had on my favourite walking boots for this day long walking route covering a similar distance to my earlier walk in Deerhurst and the River Severn.

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route - Cotswold Way Badge

From here I simply followed the Cotswold Way waymarkers which were really clear even through the morning mist. The views to my right hand side as I walked were splendid, at least they would have been if it had been a clearer day but it was still great to be up in the Cotswold hills. I put my map away after a few miles as I really didn't need it so just enjoyed the rest of my walking route.

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route - Misty Path

I continued my walk along the Cotswold Way to the Dowdeswell Wood Nature Reserve and as I started to walk slowly downhill to the A40 I realised there was probably a very steep climb to come to get back up to the hills, I wasn't wrong. At the entrance to Lineover Wood Woodland Trust I continued to follow the Cotswold Way signposts all the way up the steep climb to the top to the A436 before heading west through Wistley Hill where I then joined the A436 crossing the road and then up the next lane up to Charlton Kings Common and Hartley Hill, again following the very clear way markers for the Cotswold Way.

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route - Sheep With Turnips or Mangel Wurzels

It was here that I saw a field of sheep feasting on thousands of what I thought were giant turnips but when I got home I was informed they may have been mangel wurzels. As I reached the top of the hill there were some great views to my right hand side but unfortunately the mist still hadn't lifted but by this time I was quite excited to see what the Devil's Chimney was going to look like.

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route - Devils Chimney Views

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Cheltenham Cotswold Way Walking Route - The Devils Chimney

After a good look around the Devil's Chimney I continued my walk following the Cotswold Way way markers all the way along the pathways and lanes to the Star National College crossing over the road and up the lane where I eventually turned left into the woodlands at Long Barrow down to The National Trust Crickley Hill country park and it's wonderful old beech trees. Just before the car park I then left the Cotswold Way walking left to cross the road and walk passed the wooden gate into The Scrubs at Crickley Hill where I walked all the way down and then up to the gates by the roundabout at the A417 and A436 where I finished my walk with a gorgeous pint at The Air Balloon pub and got picked up shortly after to take me back to Slad Farm.

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route

Walks And Walking - Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route

This is the first of 2 walks planned during our week in the Cotswolds. We were staying in Corse Lawn, just outside of Cheltenham, and I mapped out a 13 mile circular walking route from our barn at Slad Farm to the nearby village of Tirley and on to The Haw where I joined the River Severn all the up to Odda’s Chapel arching across the Cotswold countryside to join the disused Coombe Hill Canal back to the River Severn and home.

The walk was quite flat and only a little bit muddy which was quite surprising seeing as the River Severn had been flooded quite badly during our recent wet weather and this Cotswold walk took me just under 5 hours to complete. It was a really easy route to follow so I managed to switch off from the world quite easily and let my mind wander as I took in the scenery and glorious River Severn. I packed a waterproof jacket in my rucksack and just had a windproof layer on top of my t-shirt and my trusted Scarpa walking boots on.

Walks And Walking – Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route Map

From Slad Farm I walked up to the road and turned left turning right at the next lane to Hawker’s Farm and the Sandpits. I then followed the lane and pathways all the way to the church at Tirley where I walked right down to the B4213 road to The Haw and crossed Haw Bridge and turned left following the signposts for the Severn Way Path. I walked all the way up alongside the River Severn passing the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve until I found a crossroad of pathways signposted Sabrina Way. I turned right here and walked up to Odda’s Chapel, the ancient Saxon monument, where I then joined the lane and walked all the way round to the t-junction where I walked left and followed the road round to the right turning left at the second footpath signpost climbing slowly uphill to the fenced off grassy area.

Walks And Walking – Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route – Oddas Saxon Chapel

I kept to the side of the field until I reached The Folly on my left hand side walking all the way along to Redhouse Farm until the pathway ended at a t-junction. I then walked right all the way down to the B4213 road walking left and then right down the next lane all the way down to the end where I continued walking straight ahead over the footbridge and across fields all the way down to the end of the disused Coombe Hill Canal. Keeping to the right hand side of the water I followed the canal through the Coombe Hill Meadows Nature Reserve all the way across until I reached the road where I crossed and walked just to the right hand side of the stream, through the metal gate and straight ahead until I reached the River Severn and the Severn Way Path.

Walks And Walking – Cotswolds Walks Deerhurst Walking Route – Tree By The River Severn

I walked right to follow the River Severn back up to Haw Bridge where I crossed over and retraced my steps all the way back to Slad Fam.

Epping Forest Gifford Wood Walking Route - Walks And Walking

Epping Forest Gifford Wood Walking Route - Walks And Walking

Walks And Walking – Essex Walks Epping Forest Gifford Wood Walking Route

It has been months since I have been able to make the short trip up to Epping Forest because of all the rain, snow and family commitments but with the weather and my diary finally clear I jumped on the tube and made my way up to Theydon Bois.

Since I received the Epping Forest Focus Spring 2013 newsletter I have been itching to do their new Gifford Wood Appeal walking route. ‘A circular walk crossing both Forest and Buffer Land, including the latest addition to Epping Forest, Gifford Wood.’ As the starting point was in Lodge Road, and with no lift or use of the car, I decided to start the walk at Theydon Bois London Underground Station and turn their 5 mile walking route into a 10 mile one.

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks In Snowdrop Gardens

Walks And Walking - Spring Walks In Snowdrop Gardens


Walks And Walking – Spring Walks In Snowdrop Gardens
Whilst we await the splendour of the bluebell there is the pure white of the snowdrop to keep us entertained as the winter weather clears and spring arrives. More here http://www.walksandwalking.com

Walks And Walking in Norfolk - Free Norfolk walks and walking routes

Walks And Walking in Norfolk - Free Norfolk walks and walking routes

Walks And Walking in Norfolk - Great selection of Norfolk Walks and Norfolk Walking Routes to download and print... all FREE! More here http://www.walksandwalking.com/