Rock the boat back in time
LINCOLN TO BOSTON: Flat, rich agricultural land, fens and big open skies are the trademarks of this 33-mile trail that links the market town of Boston with Lincoln.
The route of the former railway line clings to the meandering banks of the River Witham, a nesting place for the shy water rail bird.
The route is lined with art either celebrating Lincolnshire agriculture or the poet Tennyson. See sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/water-rail-way. BLACKWELL MILL TO BAKEWELL: This route cuts through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales, and to walk it, or ride GET on board for Rock The Boat UK – the biggest festival at sea. You can sail down memory lane wit with performances from Suzi Q Quatro, Slade, Big Country, T The Manfreds, Animals and F Friends, Thee Yardbirds and T The Troggs. MS Magellan it, is to admire the ambition of 19th centurycentu railway engineering. There are six tunnels and two viaducts in just 8.5 miles, with deep cuttings one minute andan high viaducts across the river Wye the next. The tunnels are well lit, the station at Hassops has become a cycle hire cafe, and the Wye valley is dotted with grand old cotton mills. There’s a strong incentive for reaching Bakewell. When you get there you will find its tart is rather different to the one in shops. See peakdistrict.gov. uk/visiting/trails/monsaltrail. CONSETT TO SWALWELL: Starting in Consett, a former steel and coal town that achieved recent fame as the home of Phileas Fogg snacks, this is leaves Newcastle on September 2 and has a different headliner on each of the seven nights. It costs from £900, with stops at Aberdeen, Portree, Liverpool, Dublin and Invergordon. See rocktheboatcruise.co.uk to book. 12.5-mile route near Newcastle upon Tyne follows the side of the wooded Derwent Valley towards Gateshead, crossing the Nine Arches Viaduct at Derwenthaugh Country Park.
The most scenic part is by Rowland’s Gill, where red kites wheel above the trees, and you may see a red squirrel too. Gateshead.gov.uk. AVIEMOREAVIEMO TO BUCKIE: Although not entirely along the track bed of the old Strathspey Rail Railway, this 65-mile route has to be one of the most spectacular, bumping over th the toes of the Cairngorm mountains as it follows one of Scotland’s most gl glorious rivers to the sea. From Aviemore it rambles past the osprey centre at Boat of G Garten, and then into whisky country to th the Moray Firth. Speysideway.org. WHAT’S the best way to get an upgrade on a flight? And do you stand a good chance of getting an upgrade in Europe? IT is difficult to get anything for free these days, but paying for premium economy can sometimes get you bumped up a little bit further. Claiming to be on a honeymoon or having a special birthday doesn’t seem to work as much as it used to. You could try. But as Shakespeare put it: “Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying.” As for Europe, I would say forget about it. But Monarch has recently announced it is giving away a certain amount of free upgrades for its longer legroom seats – just for being nice. So the trick is to be nice and chatty with the check-in staff. Though I have to say it hasn’t worked with me lately.