Stroll off the train and into the countryside
RAIL OPERATOR Northern has launched a series of 10 walks which start and finish at railway stations in the North of England.
Announced to coincide with the start of the spring walking season, Northern has worked with experts from the popular TV series Walks Around Britain to develop a range of walks to cater for all abilities.
The walks include city strolls, coastal routes, rambles suitable for young children and scenic walks. All of the routes can all be downloaded from Northern’s website where there are stepby-step guides, time guides, difficulty gradings, a guide to each route’s dog-friendliness and maps including OS references.
Paul Barnfield, Northern’s regional director, said: “This collection of walks is part of our We Are Northern campaign which celebrates everything the North of England has to offer. We have some fabulous places for walking all across the North, many of which can be accessed from one of our stations, including Hull, Knaresborough and Ribblehead.
“Our trains stop at remote villages, busy market towns and thriving cities and once you’re there, there’s no better way to explore than on foot and these walks do just that.
“The walks launched today are the first 10, but we will be adding more during the coming months.”
A well-trodden route and a favourite of many visitors to the Yorkshire Dales is included in Northern’s opening 10 routes. The 3.6-mile Ribblehead Circular takes in the Ribblehead Viaduct beneath the Yorkshire peaks of Whernside and Ingleborough.
Stunning landscapes are also a feature of the Mam Tor trail, a four-mile circular walk with a challenging climb and spectacular views across the Peak District from Edale station.
Other routes featured by Northern take in the varied urban and countryside landscapes in and around Knaresborough, Harrogate, Hull, Windermere, Chester, Buxton, Arnside, Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Blackpool.