COUNTRY WALKS
THE biggest ever survey of its kind has looked at the nation’s favourite walks for an ITV show which was hosted by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba.
More than 8,000 walking enthusiasts were polled for the show to select a top 100.
Broadcast recently, the top spot was Hevellyn in the Lake District, the highest point of the Hevellyn mountain range. It’s no surprise that the majestic peak proved a hit; it’s surrounded by picture-perfect green landscapes, plenty of lakes and trails to suit all levels of fitness.
In fact, the Lake District proved a popular region for walking getaways, taking five of the top 10 spots on the list. No wonder it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year.
Second place went to the iconic Snowdon mountain in Wales, where the challenging hiking trails and jaw-dropping landscapes continue to draw in visitors from all around the world.
Meanwhile, it was Yorkshire’s picturesque Malham and Gordale Circular Walk that took the third spot, winning over the nation with its breathtaking panoramics and one-ofa-kind trails.
But after sitting down to watch the two-and-a-half hour show, you’re sure to want to stretch your legs - so where are the best routes right here in the East Midlands?
Bradgate Park, Leicestershire Distance: 3.7 miles Difficulty: Medium Terrain: Easy Parking: Yes Start/End: Car park at Newtown Linford (pay-and
display) 1. Enter the grounds from the large car park at Newtown Linford and turn sharply left on a wide track. Go through an open gateway and, ignoring paths off to the right, stick on the main route uphill (there are in fact two parallel tracks), keeping the park’s boundary wall in sight on your left.
2. When you draw level with a large wooden swing gate in the wall, fork right. Go steadily uphill on a wide grassy ride through the banks of bracken, past a small plantation known as Tyburn, and soon you will see the prominent hilltop war memorial up ahead on your left.
Follow the obvious grassy track all the way to the ‘summit’, then go round to the right of the walled plantation behind it to reach the folly known as Old John Tower. Although the centre of Leicester is only 6 miles (9.7km) away, the extensive views from this excellent view- point (695ft/212m) are predominantly rural, with large tracts of woodland scattered about.
3. Turn right, straight down the hillside, to a small circular pond in the bracken below. Take the left of three paths on the far side and continue on to reach a track around a walled plantation known as Sliding Stone Enclosure. Turn left and walk along this track for 100yds (91m).
4. Ignore the path straight down to the gate in the wall on your left , and instead go straight on. The grassy track gradually drops down to reach the park’s boundary wall and then continues downhill on a short tarmac strip past a small underground reservoir.
5. After 125yds (114m) take the track off to the right, by a wooden bench and, rather incongruously, two drainage covers. This long, straight grassy track heads across the middle of the country park and is easy to follow.
It passes between Coppice Plantation and Dale Spinney, from where there are good views across Cropston Reservoir. Continue all the way down to the surfaced drive at the bottom and turn right to reach the visitor centre (open daily April to October, weekends November to March, closed December to February).
6. Continue along this easy, tarmac route past the ruins of the house and the restored chapel, then on alongside the pools and waterfalls of a small valley known as Little Matlock. Look out for the monkey puzzle tree and the cedar of Lebanon, introduced to the park in the 19th century. Continue all the way back to the car park at Newtown Linford.
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire Distance: 5.5 miles Difficulty: Easy Terrain: Easy Parking: Yes Start/End: The car park and bus stop area and facing the lake, Clumber Park Route: 1. From the car park and bus stop area and facing the lake, follow the track that passes to the right of the complex towards the lake shore.
2. Heading to the right, reach the lakeside path via the cobbled path, actually a slipway for boats. Follow this path alongside the lake and into a wooded area. Passing the grotto, you emerge on an estate road. The main route turns right, through it is worth the short detour to the left to take in the view from Clumber Bridge, down the lake towards Clumber Chapel.
3. Heading north on the estate road, (part of the National Cycle Network) the route emerges onto the main road through the estate, Limetree Avenue. Turn right alongside the road, (planted with young Limes) as it crosses an open grassy area, to reach a crossroads.
4. Turn left at the crossroads and almost immediately fork to the right onto a signposted bridleway. (Please take care when crossing Limetree Avenue as it can get quite busy.) Shortly the track forks and our route follows the left fork. This bridleway runs all the way to Clumber Road. Our route is rejoined by the National Cycle Network shortly before reaching the road.
5. Cross Clumber Road and head straight on up the track ahead. Upon reaching a pair of brick cottages, out route turns sharp right to follow a long straight track through the conifer plantation (the National Cycle Network continues past the cottages towards Manton). Emerging from the conifer plantation the bridleway continues ahead across an area of scrubby heathland, soon reaching Clumber Road again. Cross the road and head straight along the well-defined bridleway track ahead, following this all the way to a parking and barbecue area at Limetree Avenue.
6. Cross Limetree Avenue, (the Limes are mature here) and follow the bridleway ahead, with an open grassy area to your right and a conifer plantation to your left. On reaching the next estate road, turn right then almost immediately left onto a well-defined track across an open area. On reaching the next estate road, turn left to cross a causeway over on the end of Clumber Lake.
7. Follow the track over the causeway and turn sharp right, still with the lake on both sides, following this well-defined path uphill. Following the telegraph poles to the top of the slope, shortly you reach a crossroads of tracks. Turn left and after a few yards follow the right fork of the well surfaced track which runs through a wood to reach a stile. Follow the path ahead through the grassy field, (the path is well worn) to return to the main visitor complex by Clumber Chapel, with the car park and bus stop ahead of you.
Calke Abbey walk, Derbyshire Distance: 3.7 miles (6km) Level of difficulty: Easy. Paths: Estate roads and field paths, a few stiles. Parking: Village hall car park, Ticknall Start/End: 1. Turn right out of the village hall car park, in Ticknall, and follow the road to its junction with the A road through the village. Turn left by The Wheel public house, then right by the bridge to go through the gates of the Calke Abbey Estate. The