5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS MONTH
1 It’s getting easier to find your way
Study a map of Scotland and you’ll notice there aren’t many paths marked, which can make navigation interesting.
But The Ramblers are hard at work on fixing that and have just launched an interactive map showing 42,000 miles of path. As well as marking routes, many of which aren’t on OS sheets, they’re also surveying them and adding written notes about what you can expect. See the map and sign up to do some surveying yourself at ramblers.org.uk/ scottishpathsmap. You can also volunteer for their Don’t Lose Your Way project to save historic routes in England and Wales before 2026: they’re currently looking for help prioritising the most important paths, of the 49,000 miles which are at risk. 2 The Lake District is celebrating
The much-loved national park turns 70 this year and as part of the celebrations it’s highlighting seven spectacular Miles without Stiles routes. Destinations include beautiful Monk Coniston (pictured), Friar’s Crag and Wray Castle, with paths graded as for ‘all’, ‘many’, or ‘some’, based on gradients and surface conditions. Find out more at lakedistrict.gov. uk/visiting/things-to-do/ walking/mileswithoutstiles
3 IF YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO WALK ONTO SET…
...now’s your chance. This crashing locomotive from Mission Impossible 7 was filmed at a quarry at Stoney Middleton in the Peak District, while the new adaptation of the Sir Gawain tale, The Green Knight, was shot at Cahir and Charleville Forest Castles in Ireland. Amazon has announced that filming of its Lord of the Rings TV series will move from New Zealand to the UK, although exact locations are still under wraps. And the Great British Bake Off is due to return to Channel 4 soon: turn to Walk 7 for a route past Essex’s Down Hall Hotel where the big tent was spotted this summer.
4 The east is getting wilder
Read on in this issue and you’ll find stories of leading wildlife charities doing incredible work, but every last one of us can make a difference. The Wild East project was launched last year by three farmers – Hugh Somerleyton, Argus Hardy and Ollie Birkbeck – with the aim of rewilding 20% of East Anglia in the next 50 years. How? By inviting pledges from farmers, railway companies, churches, schools, government and individual gardeners – over 1000 of which are now plotted on the ‘map of dreams’. Find out more at wildeast.co.uk
5 Women have marched back to Greenham
In August 1981, 36 women walked from Cardiff to Greenham Common to protest against nuclear weapons and the US warheads set to arrive at the Berkshire base. It was the start of a peace camp which lasted 19 years and at its height saw 50,000 women Embrace the Base by linking hands around its perimeter fence. To mark the march’s 40th anniversary this summer, more than 100 women have walked the same 110 miles: find out more at greenhamwomeneverywhere.co.uk. You can also download a 9-mile route at Greenham at walk1000miles.co.uk/bonusroutes