Walking
and hiking in England are great ways to
experience culture, landscape and local
traditions. The most important thing to
remember in this part of the world is that
the weather is very changeable so be well
prepared.
Here are some tips about walking and
what to take:
WHAT
TO TAKE
As little as possible goes without saying.
Packs somehow seem to weigh more at the
end of the day than the beginning. Try and
stash non-essentials in a place you can
return to at the end of the trip. In England
you need to remember the weather can change
and be very cold and wet. Take wet weather
gear, a change of dry clothes (for when
you stop) and extra food to keep body warmth
up.
FOOD
AND WATER
Check your route before you leave. If clean
water and essential food supplies are not
available on-route then you need to hike
them in. There are enough packet foods around
now that make quick and easy meals. Fruit
is great but it is heavy as are tins. Take
a trail mix for nibbles along the way. This
can be made up of anything (nuts, chocolates,
sweets, dried fruit etc).
ACCOMMODATION
Bring your own tent for the most budget
of walking trips, otherwise investigate
on options along the way – there may
be small villages, refuges or cheap places
to stay. We recommend the Lonely Planet’s
“Walking In…” series available
through www.amazon.co.uk We have a list of other accommodation
that you can book online through our
online engine
UK & England Tours www.premiumtours.co.uk
Private views of Stonehenge, Bath, Warwick,
Stratford, Oxford
UK Walking Holidays
Walk the spectacular Jurassic Coast and
historic Thomas Hardy country
www.footscape.co.uk
UK Walking Holidays
Self guided walking holidays. Accommodation,
bag transfer & more
www.mickledore.co.uk
Walking Tours
Directory of walking tours worldwide
www.infohub.com
British Tours, since 1958
Personally guided tours of England, Scotland
& Wales
www.britishtours.co.uk
50plus Expeditions
Adventure travel for people over 50. Active,
small groups
www.50plusExpeditions.com
Walking tour of Scotland and England
www.ramblers.com/
Welcome to London WalksOffering walking
tours of the city. Includes reviews, timetable
and guide
www.walks.com/
WALKING FESTIVALS
In England and throughout the United Kingdom
there are walking festivals you can also
join. Your best way to search for these
is online. Check out the Walking on the
Web website - http://www.walkingontheweb.co.uk/Walking_Festivals.htm
for details. Here is a brief outline of
what they feature:
Ardara Walking Festival, Ireland March
West Cork International Walking Festival,
Ireland April
1st May - The Canal Challenge
Starting at the Linlithgow Canal Centre
and walking 11 miles of the Union Canal
to Falkirk. Call 01259 728340 or visit www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk
Newton Stewart Walking Festival 13th-15th
May
Spring Walking Week - 'Spring Tides &
Sunsets'
Saturday 14th - Saturday 21st May 2005
Explore Jersey with Jersey Tourism. Free
escorted walks including a popular and challenging
77.4 km/48.1 mile
+44 (0)1534 500777 or visiting www.jersey.com/walking
21st - 27th May - Great Glen Way
The route takes you 73 miles from the end
point of the West Highland Way North from
Fort William to Inverness. Call 01259 728340
or visit www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk
May Aviemore Walking Festival
Kenmare Walking Festival, Ireland May-June
5th - 11th June- West Highland Way
The route takes you 95 miles through the
Scottish Highlands from the lowlands in
Milngavie to the shadow of Ben Nevis in
Fort William. Call 01259 728340 or visit
www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk
June Angus Glens Walking Festival
June Hertfordshire Walking Festival
June July Isle of Man Walking Festival
The Castlebar International Four Day Walks,
Ireland first weekend in July
July Rotherham Walking Festival
5th - 7th August - Ben Nevis Challenge
At 4,406 ft the highest mountain in Britain.
Call 01259 728340 or visit www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk
Jersey Tourism again takes free walks including
the challenging 'Around the Island' walk
of 77.4 km/48.1 mile.
Phone +44 (0)1534 500777 or visit www.jersey.com/walking
Sept West Sussex Walking Festival
Sept Oct Blairgowrie & East Perthshire
Walking Festival
7th - 9th October Moffat Walking Festival
8th October - Lanark Challenge
a 7-mile circuit of a simply beautiful section
of the River Clyde. Call 01259 728340 or
visit www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk
Quantock Walking Festival
A dozen guided walks suitable for a range
of ages and levels of ability around Somerset.
The Cannington Challenge, a 6 mile walk
offers panoramic views of the Bristol Channel,
whilst special interest events include wildlife
walks and a Quantock Archaeology Walk which
lets you discover the area's rich past.
See www.somersetbythesea.co.uk or phone
01278 435765 or email events@sedgemoor.gov.uk
INDEPENDENT
WALKERS
If you are planning an independent walking
holiday trip through England you need to
be prepared. Here are some handy hints:
- comfortable, well cusioned footwear suitable
for the terrain you will be walking on and
that you have walked in before over some
distance (don't bring new shoes!)
- extra snack food and water (it can be
a long way between towns in some parts,
particularly if you get marooned with an
injury or lost).
- pack light! You can buy extra food as
you go and you really only need basic walking
gear and a change of clothes for evenings
in town.
- maps (detailed for side roads and routes
that you might take)
- itinerary - give someone a copy of your
itinerary and check in with them every few
days so they know you are okay.
- helpful hints - check websites for personal
reflections on walking in England.
MAPS
A range of maps are available through stores
like www.amazon.co.uk in the Lonely Planet series for example. Take a good map
with you and know how to read it.
DESTINATION
Read below for some walking holiday suggestions.
Please email your walking tips, stories
and tales to england@backpackglobe.com
Walking in England is fantastic because
not only is there the beautiful English
countryside to see, but also sites of historical
value, the windswept moors and rugged coastlines
of Cornwall for example.
Dartmoor National Park
The beautiful Dartmoor National Park in
northern Devon has fantastic mystical tors,
wonderful tiny villages, wild flowers on
the green slopes, and friendly farming folk.
Do be careful however as it is very easy
to lose your way on the moors. Don't short
cut off the tracks as it is easy to become
lost. There are also some marshy regions
that are dangerous.
Dart Valley Walk
This beautiful 27km / 17 miles walk utilises
both banks of the beautiful Dart River from
Dartmouth to Totnes and including ferry
crossings at Dartmouth, Dittisham and Totnes.
Cornwall's Coast and Moors
There are fantastic walks along the Cornish
Coast with its ruggid coastlines, picturesque
harbours, beaches, livestock farming, country
lanes, high hedges and Bodmin Moor. The
highest point in Cornwall is Brown Willy
420m / 1377ft on Bodmin.
The following links provide information
for itineraries:
Walking on the web
Trails, festivals and contacts for walking
in England http://www.walkingontheweb.co.uk
