Fabulous Walks in UK National Parks – The Lake District

The Lake District National Park

The Lake District is famous for its often-changing weather, beautiful villages, glacial ribbon lakes and rugged fells. It has more historic literary associations than pretty much anywhere else in the United Kingdom and market towns such as Kendal, Keswick and Ambleside are ideal bases for exploring the area.

Stone Leys Cottage, just two miles south of Coniston, is the quintessential Lakes cottage. This double fronted slate property was built over two hundred years ago for the wheelwright at Coniston Hall and is ideally situated for exploring the lakes. There are easy walks through the fields to Coniston and to Torver along the lake through fields and ancient woodland.

Stone Leys Cottage

The Old Man or the Old Man of Coniston, is a fell in the Furness Fells and has a number of well-marked paths to the summit. The remains of abandoned slate mines are a feature of some aspects of the fell and there are plenty of inquisitive sheep around who make take the opportunity to rifle through your food bags! The extensive view from the summit on a clear day includes much of the southern Lake District, Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Tower,Winter Hill in the Pennines, the Lancashire coast and even the Isle of Man.

For more information visit:

Visit the Lake District

or

Lake District Walk

visitdarmoor.co.uk

Fabulous Walks in UK National Parks – Dartmoor

Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor in the south west of England is a stunning landscape which provides amazing views, awe inspiring granite tors, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces. The park has a huge array of gentle walks and more challenging trails depending on your level of fitness and inclination.
Dove Cottage near Yelverton is a cosy, mid-nineteenth century cottage in the peaceful village of Buckland Monachorum, perfectly situated for exploring all that Dartmoor has to offer.

Dove Cottage

There’s a mid-length circular walk starting and finishing in Yelverton which takes in part of the West Devon Way. The five and a half mile walk walk should take around two and a half hours at a leisurely pace and incorporates opportunities for lunch or liquid refreshment either in Yelverton itself or in Clearbrook roughly half way round. There is also an option for a slightly shorter walk from here if the ground is too muddy. Highlights of the walk include Hoo Meavy Bridge, a granite bridge over the river Meavy, originally built in the 1700s and the Plymouth or Drake’s Leat, a watercourse constructed in the late 16th century to draw water from the River Meavy to supply Plymouth with water and was one of the first municipal water supplies in the country.

For more information visit:

Visit Dartmoor

or

Drakes Dartmoor

cairngorms.co.uk

Fabulous Walks in UK National Parks – The Cairngorms

According to the Ramblers Association, walking has numerous benefits, namely health, social and community, economic and environmental. So, get your walking boots on and, in the next five days we will be discovering 5 fabulous walks in UK National Parks, all with an inviting Aga Cottage nearby.

The Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is as packed with riveting history as it is walking trails. Nearly all the villages in the park have their own community paths leaflets available which show the local trails and detail points of interest. There are also a number of longer routes including the Speyside and Deeside Ways. The park is laced with trails used by cut throat cattle rustlers and whisky smugglers and coffin carriers, transporting bodies from isolated homes in the hills for burial in villages like Chapeltown.

Beagle Cottage is a bright and welcoming home in the popular Badenoch and Strathspey village of Newtonmore, near Aviemore. There are an abundance of walks from the doorstop, including the Wild Cat Trail, among mature woodlands, open hills or beside the Spey River.

Beagle Cottage

A little further afield is the enchanting Loch an Eilein, or ‘Loch of the Island’, hidden in the forest of Rothiemurchus, this beautiful spot was once voted Britain’s best picnic spot and remains one of the most loved places in the UK. Here you can step back in time and retrace the steps of the Highland Cattle rustlers whilst taking in the views of the hauntingly beautiful Highland Castle. There are many opportunities for spotting rare wildlife such as the Red Squirrel and Scottish Crossbill. There are three self-guided walks around the estate which take between one and a half and three hours. The path around the loch is suitable for motorised wheelchairs and off road buggies and is part of a wider network of paths that constitute the 50km Rothiemurchus Way. And don’t worry if you haven’t had time to prepare a picnic, the Druie Café restaurant provides a varied menu of local produce from 9.30am to 5pm.

For more information regarding the Cairngorms visit:

Walking Trails in the Cairngorms

or

Discover Rothiemurchus

Look out tomorrow for Day 2 of our walking adventures in UK National Parks

Five of the Best Market Towns in England

Staying near a good, thriving market town is often a key factor for many families who are thinking of holidaying in the UK.

There are numerous towns that can be described as a ‘market town’ but just what is the definition of one? Life After London describe market towns as attractive towns with a well-defined centre and market square and one which holds regular, weekly markets. They will have plenty of independent shops, including cafes and restaurants, clothes shops, a hardware shop, a delicatessen, a butcher, fishmonger and green grocer.

A thriving market town will have a good community spirit and be small enough to recognise fellow residents but large enough to provide cultural entertainment, health facilities and social clubs. Rural peacefulness is often close by, but facilities including a library, a gym, a good bus service and a good cross-section of residents is also apparent.

Here is our pick of the best, based on the locations that our website visitors are looking to spend quality family time together, buying local produce, enjoying good, wholesome food and breathing clean, fresh air.

Marlborough, Wiltshire

According to ‘Your Essential Guide to Marlborough‘, Marlborough has the second widest high street in the country which regularly doubles up as a market place. There’s an extensive choice of highly individual shops as well as elegant, unique and proprietor-managed boutique establishments are thick on the ground on both sides of the High Street and off it. Most of the higher end street fashion chains are here as well.

As well as a choice of formal restaurants, you’ll also find the quintessential English tea room, pubs serving excellent and inexpensive dishes at lunch and dinner, delicatessens producing first class take-away as well as eat-in food, ethnic restaurants of all kinds and the slick, value for money High Street restaurant chains.

Sherborne, Dorset

Sherborne is, without doubt, one of the prettiest towns in England. It has an abundance of medieval buildings, a superb Abbey and two Castles. It is perfectly located on the Dorset and Somerset border and has it has excellent transport links enabling the town to flourish. Sherborne a fine centre for those wishing to explore the delightful and unspoilt Wessex area of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Sherborne is a busy business and market centre for a wide area. It still retains small and specialist businesses and has a delightful shopping centre with a large choice of handcrafted goods and elegant fashions. It has also become an important town in the region for Art and Antique Dealers.

Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

Often referred to as the ‘walking capital’ of the cotswolds. It is so popular with walkers that there are weekly guided walks around the town every Sunday between Easter and end of october. Winchcombe Market Town is a thriving town with country values and When it comes to eating and drinking you will be spoiled for choice. Winchcombe has ‘Fair Trade’ status and has a high number of good, quality restaurants, a wine bar, pubs, tea shops and a contemporary delicatessan/coffee shop.

With a vibrant Music & Arts Festival in May/June, a Country Show in August and a Christmas Festival in December, Winchcombe also has a busy cultural and commercial schedule.

Ledbury, Herefordshire

Ledbury Market Town has so much charm and tradition to offer. It is one of the finest ‘Black and White’ towns in the country with it’s beautiful, stunning architecture. Situated on a crossroads, this vibrant town has evolved to meet the demands of moden day living but still retains its beauty and character. The Market Hall is Grade I listed and was built by John Abel in 1653 and still hosts two markets every week.

Ledbury is also proud to have its own theatre offering high quality productions and also hosts the internationally acclaimed annual Ledbury Poetry Festival in July.

Tavistock, Devon

Tavistock can best be described as unspoilt, friendly and surrounded by rolling hills. Situated in North Devon, the town is thriving with its ancient Tavistock Pannier Market which was granted its royal Charter in 1105 and is still going strong today 900 years later. Don’t miss the traditional ‘Goosey Fair’ which is held mid October every year too.