‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ LAO TZU

charming market town of Helmsley is a good spot (royaloakhotelhelmsley.com).

FINDING YOUR WYE

THE walk to the ruins of Tintern Abbey and the rocky outcrop, Devil’s Pulpit, in Monmouthshire takes in a fine stretch of the River Wye. William Wordsworth wrote of the ‘wild secluded’ landscape here. LENGTH: 4 miles, 2 hours. DIFFICULTY: Easy. REFRESHMENTS: The Anchor Inn, (theanchortintern.co.uk).

SERENE IN SURREY

LEITH Hill is a fabled Surrey beauty spot with a tower on top built in the 1760s to make it one of the highest points in south-east England. Begin this walk in the delightful village of Coldharbour. LENGTH: 4 miles, 2 hours. DIFFICULTY: Moderate. REFRESHMENTS: The Plough in Coldharbour (ploughinn.com).

LOVELY LONDON

RICHMOND Park is London’s largest green space with more than 1,000 ‘veteran’ trees. Head along the Thames before cutting into the park at Petersham, continuing to Ham Gate and crossing to Isabella Plantation and back. LENGTH: 6.2 miles, 2½ hours. DIFFICULTY: Easy. REFRESHMENTS: The Roebuck on Richmond Hill (greeneking.co.uk).

GORGEOUS GOWER

ENJOY the golden sweep of Rhossili Bay, backed by a steep heather-covered hill dotted with Neolithic remains. Take a hill climb to Rhossili Down on the Gower Peninsula, and see Worm’s Head, a mile-long headland.

LENGTH: 6.5 miles, 2½ to 3 miles. DIFFICULTY: Moderate. REFRESHMENTS: The bar at Worm’s Head Hotel (thewormshead.co.uk).

MINI MOUNTAIN

BEN A’an in the Trossachs may only rise to 1,489ft, but it deserves its reputation as a ‘mountain in miniature’. Its pointed, rocky summit offers fine views along Loch Katrine. Watch out for roe deer. LENGTH: 2.25 miles, 3 hours. DIFFICULTY: Moderate/sometimes steep. REFRESHMENTS: The Byre Inn at Brig o’Turk, a nearby village (byreinn.co.uk).

UP NORTH

JOHN o’Groats gets all the attention for being the most northerly point of the British mainland, but the nearby cliffs of Duncansby Head beat it for scenery. Start at John o’Groats and follow well-marked paths, with dunes and beaches below. LENGTH: 5½ miles, 2 to 3 hours. DIFFICULTY: Easy. REFRESHMENTS: The Seaview Hotel bar (seaviewjohn

ogroats.co.uk).

NORFOLK STOMP

TAKE a loop around Blakeney Freshes, a marsh offering fantastic birdspotting, followed by a stomp to Blakeney Point, home to a wonderful seal colony. Start in Blakeney village and head to Cley, once a thriving medieval port, before hitting the coastal path. LENGTH: 12 miles, 4 hours. DIFFICULTY: Easy. REFRESHMENTS: The Kings Arms in Blakeney (kingsarmsblakeney.co.uk).

SECRET CORNWALL

TRY an inland walk from Poldue Downs to Rough Tor and Brown Willy, the county’s highest hill at 1,378ft. Highlights include the remains of Bronze Age settlements, and the Fernacre Stone Circle. LENGTH: 5.2 miles, 2½ to 3 hours. DIFFICULTY: Moderate to steep. REFRESHMENTS: The Masons Arms in the nearby town of Camelford.

■ TOM Hall is head of lonely Planet UK’s Favourite Short Walks. Best Day Walks Great Britain (£15.99, lonelyplanet.com).