The search has started for the nations favourite walk and a number of celebrities have already made their selections.
As part of the National Trust’s nationwide Festival of Walking, eight celebrity supporters have nominated their favourite routes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Welsh celebrity weather presenter Sian Lloyd has nominated Powis Castle the National trust property as the place in Wales where she loves to go for a walk.
Hoping to inspire everyone whatever their age or ability to get out and explore the amazing outdoor places cared for by the National Trust, the celebrities’ walks cover more than 30 miles and range from Adam Hart-Davis’ invigorating walk along the Devonshire coastline, Paul Rose’s route through the spectacular scenery of the Lake District to some lesser known walks in the gardens and parks cared for by the National Trust.
Avid explorer and presenter, Paul Rose said: “Walking is just so amazingly simple. You need no special equipment, no special training, no special clothes, you just close your front door and go for a walk. It’s very easy, just go out and explore.
“Windermere is so accessible, you can just walk a few minutes out of town and yet it has a great sense of true wilderness. It’s a beautiful working environment. This is my local connection to nature right here.”
In contrast to the dramatic hills and lakes of Windermere, the actress and singer Toyah Willcox chose Capability Brown’s sweeping parkland, Croome Park in Worcestershire.
Toyah said: “Croome Park is just absolutely stunning.
“Worcestershire has beautiful rambling landscapes, gentle rolling hills, it’s agricultural land so it’s ever-changing and it has a very natural old-world feel about it.
“Croome is really cleverly designed. You look out across these rolling gentle hills and you see wonderful monuments, follies and statues and the lake in particular is really lovely. You truly feel you own the whole park while you walk around it.“
Nominated walks
- Powis Castle, Wales – Sian Lloyd, weather presenter
- Croome Park, Worcestershire-Toyah Wilcox, singer, songwriter and actress
- Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire- Francis Pryor, archaeologist
- Noss Mayo, Devon- Adam Hart-Davis, broadcaster
- Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland- Zoe Salmon, TV presenter
- Low Newton, Northumberland- Val McDermid, crime writer
- Lake Windermere, Cumbria- Paul Rose, Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society
- Ham House and Gardens – Omid Djalili, Comedian
The National Trust’s nationwide Festival of Walking aims to help people discover more ways to have fun outdoors and get back in touch with nature.
From 22 to 30 October 2011, more than 1,000 events, including barefoot walks, silly walks and themed walks for all ages will be taking place at National Trust places across the country.
There are wildlife walks, heritage walks and more than 800 walking routes available to download from the National Trust website.
To find out more about walking with the National Trust, new walking trails or any of the Festival of Walking events, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walkingfestival
Everyone who nominates their own favourite walk will be entered into a prize draw to win National Trust walking boots.