The Garstang Walking Festival 2011 runs from Friday 6th May to Sunday 15th May.

Enjoy a spring bluebell wood

Garstang Walking Festival is a programme of walks and activities designed to help you experience the best of springtime in North West Lancashire, Wyre, Morecambe Bay and the Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty.

Enjoy bluebell woods and spring bird migration, local history and wonderful moorland scenery.

There is something for everyone from full day walks to easy one hour walks, heritage walks and a variety of outdoor activities.

You can book your place on the activities (as well as accommodation) at the “Visit Garstang” centre.

For further information, visit the official Garstang website.

Learn something new about an area, by taking one of the many heritage walks on offer as part of the European Heritage Days project.

Over 5500 assorted events, including walks,  are taking place in the UK organised by the national heritage bodies such as English Heritage or the Scottish Civic Trust.

Many walks feature Blue plaque themes

Depending on where you live, each umbrella group has their own title for events held in their jurisdiction:

• In England the events come under the title – Heritage Open Days and take place between the 9-12 September 2010
• In Scotland they are known as Doors Open Days
• In Wales Open Doors 2010 – Drysau Agored 2010 – is the title
• and in Northern Ireland events are arranged under the title European Heritage Open Days

Find out more about the Heritage Open Day scheme and events in your area via Heritageandhistory.com

Blue plaque walks

Finding out something new about where you live by taking one of the many blue plaque walks on offer.

Plaques have now been installed around the country and they commemorate the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked.

The Blue Plaque scheme is officially based in London, where over 850 locations are now marked.  Local councils and civic organisations administer their own schemes with advice from English Heritage.

Highlights of Blue Plaque or commemorative walks include:

• In Rugby, a walking tour is on offer taking in the many historical, sporting and architectural features led by a blue badge guide.
• Take a stroll around Leeds with the Leeds Civic Trust on Thursday 9 September 2010 and you can learn much more about the local characters that shaped the City.
• Find out more about some of the 100 commemorative plaques in and around Brighton with the Floral Clock Circular trail organised by the Regency Town House project.

Local history walks

If notable figures are not your thing, then maybe a local history walk is one way you can get involved.

Buildings, parks, statues and industry all provide a rich mix of local stories and are a fantastic way to learn more about your surroundings.

History walk highlights include:

• Learn more about the industrial heritage of Reading with a 2 mile walk organised by Explore Reading.
• Celebrate the 150 anniversary of Wheathampstead Station in Hertfordshire.  The station was on the Hatfield to Luton & Dunstable Line and is now a cycle & walk way.
• The Hooton Park site in Cheshire is a World War I / World War II airfield site which now consists of three Grade II* listed Belfast Hangars built in 1917. For Heritage Open Days you can attend a special presentation on the history of Hooton Park followed by a walk round the site.
• Trace the history of Kirkcaldy in Fife through the lesser and better known characters buried in the graveyard; people like Baillie Robert Philp who set up schools for poor children in Kirkcaldy and find out who fought the last duel in Scotland! 12 September 2010
• City of Llandaff Guided Walk - 18 Sep 10.30 – 2.30 A guided walk around the historic city of Llandaff considering its architectural history and development from Norman times and Victorian Renaissance.

Nature Walks

A number of walking events with a nature theme are available during September.  Bats, marshlands, rivers and dogs are all topics discussed or used as themes for some of the many nature based walks.

The natural environment features in many walks

Nature walk highlights include:

• Built in the late 14th century, as the lordly residence of the Crichtons and later home to the Earls of Bothwell, Crichton Castle, currently in the care of Historic Scotland, is home to a variety of bats, such as pipistrelle, brown long-eared and Natterers. The event starts at 1900 hrs and finishes at 2030 hrs approximately,  Saturday, 11 September 2010.
• From Bricks to Butterflies – is the title of an event being held at Bletchley’s Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve, Buckinghamshire.  See how the ravages of industry transformed the landscape allowing wildlife (and people) to flourish.
• Dolaucothi Goldmines, Pumsaint, Llanwrda – Saturday, 11 September 11 – 5pm –  These unique Roman gold mines are set amid wooded hillsides with splendid views of the beautiful Cothi Valley and three estate walks.

Notes

Please note that although many walks are free, additional charges may apply, such a car parking. We would advise that you check with the organisers prior to arranging your itinerary. We are not responsible for any incorrect details or if events are cancelled.

The North York Moors National Park Authority is offering a series of walks with a difference this August.

The walks range from a three mile ramble along the coast to hunt for fossils to an all-day, 12 mile adventure up hill and down dale.

Levisham tarn by Dave Phillips

The series kicks off with an atmospheric evening walk with Ranger Jay Marrison around the high moorland of Levisham Estate on Sunday 1 August 2010.

On Thursday 5 August, the attention turns to the hidden gems of Beck Dale and Ash Dale near Helmsley when Interpretation Officer Mark Lewis leads a 6.5 mile walk which includes a scenic stop for a picnic.

Fossil hunting is on the cards on Friday 13 August on a 3 mile walk with Coastal Officer John Beech between Staithes and Port Mulgrave and on Saturday 21 August, Ranger Matt Fitzgerald leads an all-day 12 mile walk to take in the spectacular views found on the high moors around The Moors National Park Centre in Danby.

The North York Moors has the largest expanse of heather moorland in England and Wales which covers around one third of the National Park.

Senior Ranger David Smith talks about the importance of the moorland on a 3.5 mile walk over Levisham Moor on Sunday 22 August.

Participants will also get to see birds of prey close up and find out more about the management work undertaken by the Levisham Moor Group of the British Falconers Club.

The final walk in the series takes place on Sunday 29 August when Voluntary Ranger Dave Perry looks at the archaeology and ancient rock art to be found in the Cleveland Hills on a five mile walk starting from Clay Bank.

Sally Ann Smith, the Authority’s Events and Exhibitions Coordinator, said:

“With the moors taking on their much-photographed purple flush, August is a great time to be out in the North York Moors. More than just a walk in the park, this series of guided rambles will offer an insight to some of the area’s hidden gems and the work being done to conserve them.”

Most of the walks cost £2.50 with no charge for children [the 12 mile moorland walk costs £3 per adult and £1.50 per child) and booking is advisable to guarantee a place. The booking line is 01439 772738.

The Vale of Evesham is well known for it’s apple, pear and plum orchards and for a few short weeks between mid March and May, the road sides are ablaze with the pink tones of cherry and apple blossom contrasting with the delicate white of pear and plum.

The Vale of Evesham has been famous for fruit growing since medieval times with most of the apple and pear crop used to make cider and perry.

Apple Blossom

By the 19th century fruit growing had become big business with new varieties being developed, including the famous Pershore Yellow Egg plum which had been discovered growing wild in Tiddesley Wood in 1827.

Blossom walks

Three walks take in the blossom of this unique region.

Walk 1 i a 3  mile stroll through rolling countryside has open views of the surrounding area including some of the vales’ orchards.  Taking in the hamlet of Atch Lench and a recently planted wood.

Walk 2 is 4 1/2 mile walk starting from the recreation ground in the attractive riverside village of Fladbury with an extensive view of the Vale of Evesham and the distant Cotswolds.  Discover the site of a medieval village in the hamlet of Hill.  This walk will take in many apple and pear orchards with the final section being a stroll across the local golf course above the River Avon.

Walk 3 is a slightly more ambitious 6 mile walk, starting from the Tiddesley Wood Nature Reserve Trust car park and includes some of the orchards around the edge of the wood before visiting the attractive areas if Besford and Birlingham.  The route returns through the main part of the wood before emerging into open fields.

More information

Evesham Town Council – Blossom Trail details

Blossom Trail – Evesham Blossom Trail events for 2010

Evesham Vale Tour Guides – A regular programme of guided walks and coach tours.

Chesterfield Borough Council have developed a downloadable tour guide for the town of Chesterfield.

Chesterfield in Derbyshire is famous for the ‘Crooked Spire’ of its Parish Church, you can discover why the spire is twisted

Courtesy of Chesterfield Borough Council

out of shape along with many other interesting facts such as;

• What is George Stephenson’s connection to Chesterfield?
• Who were George and Caleb Heathcote?

The hour-long Trail provides all sorts of fascinating information, highlighting 29 buildings and sites of interest in Chesterfield.  Starting at the Tourist Information Centre, the route circles the town centre and includes optional detours to Holy Trinity Church and Queen’s Park.

The Trail allows for wheelchair access but, in parts, is too steep for manual wheelchair users.  A powered scooter is recommended and can be hired from Chesterfield Shopmobility.

An online sample of the tour is available as well as a full download which can be placed on your MP3 player.

The tour audio is currently available in English, French and Dutch

Visit the Chesterfield Borough Council website to download the audio guide.

For those visiting the area, there is also a printed version launched at the end of March 2010 and costs £1.50, available available from the tourist information centre.

More information

Chesterfield Tourist Information website.

Chesterfield Borough Council website.

St. Mary’s and All Saints Church - Famous for it’s crooked spire.