If you’re fed up of walking the same old tired route around your local area, there’s a new walking guide from Lonely Planet to inspire some more exciting days out on foot.
Best Day Walks Great Britain (£15.99), the first in a new series of walking guides, lists 60 of the country’s top walks, ranging from three hours to a full day, including accessible trails and tips on walking with kids.
There are ideas of easy escapes from the city, ways to get right off the beaten track, and the best Instagrammable views, plus walks themed around ancient history, spotting wildlife and coastal strolls.
You’ll find tips for less well-known trails in more popular locations too; the Four Falls Walk is a great way to explore the Brecon Beacons without the hills, or the 39-mile New River Walk in north London as an alternative to the Thames Path.
And if you’re struggling to find the motivation for yet another stroll, try these historic routes taken from the book, as a reminder that people have been exploring the British countryside on foot for millennia — the Sweet Track in the Somerset Levels is believed to date back to 3807 BCE.
The Ridgeway (11 miles)
The Ridgeway is one of the most ancient walkways in the country. It runs for 87 miles, from Overton
Hill in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. We’ve chosen a longish stretch — from Foxhill to Wantage — but it’s well worth the effort to follow in the footsteps of some of England’s first hikers, and the prehistoric sites you’ll encounter — the tomb of Wayland’s Smithy, the earthworks of Uffington Castle and the graceful White Horse — are some of the most mesmerising anywhere.
Caer Caradoc (8 miles)
Caer Caradoc is ancient Britain at its most ruggedly appealing: this prehistoric hill fort was the last stand of the Celtic Catuvellauni against the Romans, and swirls with Arthurian legends. The circular walk starts in the attractive market town of Church Stretton in Shropshire, leading via the fort to a fine village pub.
Hadrian’s Wall (7.5 miles)
Hadrian’s Wall is the most dramatic and extensive legacy of the Roman occupation of Britain, stretching for more than 70 miles across northern England. This circular walk — from the Sill visitor centre — follows part of the famous Pennine Way along the most scenic stretch of the wall, as well as visiting the two best-preserved Roman forts in the country (allow at least two hours extra for exploring at Housesteads and Vindolanda).
Guernsey's new garden
Guernsey looks set to open its doors again from July 1, just in time to enjoy the summer colour at the new Victor Hugo Garden in Candie Gardens, St Peter Port. Developed during lockdown, the garden celebrates the life of the French writer who spent 15 years on the island during the 19th century.
Part of a Victor Hugo trail helping visitors to follow in his footsteps around the island, it will feature plants relating to characters in his works, as well as friends and family, such as a fuchsia with the same name as his granddaughter and the Victor Hugo rose. His own garden at Hauteville House also underwent a major renovation in 2020.
Three nights at St Pierre Park Hotel, including ferry from Poole to Guernsey, costs from £429 per person with Prestige Holidays.
Three new Feather Down Farms
With staycations booking up rapidly for this summer, Feather Down Farms is opening three new glamping sites around the UK from July 1, bringing its total to 32.
Heydon Grove Farm in north Norfolk, Glastonbury Hill Farm in Somerset and Balnab Whithorn Farm in Dumfries and Galloway, set in one of the UK’s only two ‘gold tier’ Dark Sky Parks, will feature the usual luxury glamping set-up, with canvas lodges housing proper beds and wood-fired stoves, as well as having their own private flushing toilets and shower facilities.
Rates start from £455 for three nights.
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