A year of walks

Every year millions of us head for the hills or to the coast for a walk in the great outdoors. To provide a little bit of extra help with planning where to visit in 2008, the National Trust has come up with some walking suggestions for each month.

These walks range from a stroll through beautiful woodlands to witness the annual bluebell spectacle to striding up hills in the Yorkshire Dales.

© NTPL / David Levenson

Stourhead - Park Hill Camp walk

Stourhead is one of England's most enchanting landscape gardens. Discover its beauty on a 3 mile walk starting beside the tranquil lake, which then takes you along the edge of the woods and up towards Park Hill Camp Iron Age hill fort.

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  (PDF/198KB)

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

Clent Hills - Four Stones Loop

In the midst of one of the busiest urban areas in the Midlands, the Clent Hills provide peace, tranquility and stunning views of the surrounding counties. This gentle 1 mile walk along an all-ability trail takes you to the fascinating Four Stones.

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  (PDF/640KB)

© NTPL / David Noton

South Downs - Ditchling Beacon to Devil's Dyke

Steeped in history and rich in wildlife, this 5 mile walk will take you along the South Downs Way from Ditchling Beacon to the Iron Age hill fort of Devil's Dyke, offering spectacular views along the route.

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  (PDF/194KB)

© NTPL / Leo Mason

Northumberland Coast - Craster to Low Newton by-the-Sea

For some of the North East's finest scenery, geology, archaeology and wildlife, this 6 mile trail is beyond compare. It passes Dunstanburgh Castle and crosses Embleton Bay to Low Newton before returning to the picturesque fishing village of Craster.

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  (PDF/277KB)

© NTPL / Joe Cornish

Cornish Coast - The Lizard

This 4.5 mile walk along The Lizard, the most southerly tip of Britain, offers fantastic opportunities for wildlife watching, some incredible coastal scenery and the chance to see one of the most important sites in communications history.

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  (PDF/186KB)

© NTPL / David Noton

Wicken Fen - Cambridgeshire

Explore a unique fragment of the wilderness that once covered East Anglia on this easy 3 mile walk. Wicken Fen is the National Trust's oldest nature reserve, a great place to look out for wild konik ponies, plus a variety of rare plants, insects and birds.

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  (PDF/175KB)

© NTPL / Ian Shaw

Gower Peninsula - Rhossili Bay

Stroll along one of the finest beaches in the UK on this leisurely 5 mile walk on the Gower Peninsula, taking in Worms Head and fascinating prehistoric remains at Sweyne's Howes.

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  (PDF/192KB)

© NTPL / Joe Cornish

Peak District - Kinder Scout

Offering some of the most spectacular views in the Peak District, this energetic 8 mile walk from Edale encounters mysterious rock formations and a huge variety of wildlife.

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  (PDF/281KB)

© NTPL / Joe Cornish

Lake District - Coniston to Tarn Hows

This 3 or 5 mile walk through the Monk Coniston estate to Tarn Hows has everything; panoramic Lake District views, fantastic wildlife and a fascinating country estate.

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  (PDF/185KB)

© NTPL

Chilterns - Ashridge Estate

Beautiful at any time of the year but especially in autumn, this easy 2 mile linear walk from the Ashridge visitor centre to Clipper Down explores some of the Chilterns' finest beech woodlands.

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  (PDF/132KB)

© NTPL / Michael Caldwell

Castle Ward and Strangford Lough

This gentle 2 mile walk along the shores of Strangford Lough takes you through the Castle Ward estate, one of Northern Ireland's finest parklands.

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  (PDF/127KB)

© NTPL / Ian Shaw

Snowdonia - Nantgwynant valley

Legends abound on this energetic 4 mile walk through the Victorian Craflwyn estate, nestled beneath the might Snowdon.

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  (PDF/279KB)