Walks that will put a spring in your step...
SPRING is officially here – so now is the perfect time to pull on your walking boots and explore some of England’s most stunning woodlands and coastal areas, says JAMEY BERGMAN.
HATCHLANDS PARK, SURREY
ALTHOUGH it sounds daunting, The Long Walk at the large country estate of Hatchlands Park is just under three miles and can be completed in less than an hour. However, with so much to see, it’s likely you’ll want to linger a little longer. Set between the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the South Downs near Guildford, Hatchlands Park’s circular walk takes in woodland and open parkland, while the picnic area at Little Wix Wood is carpeted with bluebells in spring. Dog-friendly and great for families, Hatchlands Park’s house and gardens are open between April and October, but the park can be visited year-round.
THORP PERROW, N. YORKS
LOCATED between the Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors, Thorp Perrow Arboretum’s outstanding collection of trees and shrubs is complemented in early spring by one of the UK’s largest daffodil displays. These early-season bloomers give way to blossoming trees and wildflowers as summer approaches. Set in nearly 100 acres, the arboretum is laid out in 26 sections (A to Z) and connected by paths that include nature and children’s trails, as well as one designed to educate visitors about the various types of flora present.
Thorp Perrow boasts some of the rarest trees and shrubs in the UK, as well as non-native species.
FOWEY HALL WALK, CORNWALL
THIS lovely walk, circling the harbours and hamlets that lie along the mouth of the River Fowey, comes complete with coastal views and two ferry rides.
Begin in Bodinnick and head uphill to a point overlooking Fowey Harbour for stunning views of boats and the sea beyond. Carry on through woodland and around the coastal creek before taking the first ferry ride to the town of Fowey from Polruan. Take a well-earned break in town before the short walk up to Caffa Pill Mill and the ferry back to Bodinnick.
PEDDARS WAY AND NORFOLK COAST PATH
ON NORFOLK’S northern shores, two long-distance footpaths form a designated National Trail covering almost 100 miles. Peddars Way starts in Suffolk and follows the route of a Roman road to the coast, where it joins the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea. Along the way, you’ll find national nature reserves, marshes, fens and bogs, churches, castles, windmills, dunes, cliffs, beaches and, often, incredible views.
Given the trail’s length and its diversity of landscapes, it truly offers something for everyone, from committed long-distance walkers and runners to families enjoying a day out surrounded by nature. Along the coast, the biologically rich, estuarine environment also draws strong numbers of birds.
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