Newsletter > Newsletter archive > January 2019
January 2019
A walk in the city
Every month this year we'll be featuring a city from Urban Rambles, the new book by Walkingworld founder Nicholas Rudd-Jones. Thematic chapters show how our cities have grown in very different ways over the centuries.
We have cathedral cities, like Exeter, Lincoln, Norwich, and York and seats of learning, exemplified by Cambridge and Oxford. The trading ports of Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Plymouth have played a huge role in British history, as have the Victorian industrial centres of Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. A few cities, such as Bath and Brighton have a long history in the 'leisure industry' and of course our capital city, London, has a bit of everything.
English cities have become much more walkable places in the last generation, and the routes in the book take in as many green spaces as possible whilst showing you the finest architecture and sights. The book can be found in your local bookstore or online at Amazon.
This month we focus on Oxford, a fabulous city to explore with lots to offer even in the depths of winter - maybe take a hot chocolate in the Covered Market at the end! With two rivers to follow for much of the route, you travel through the city's finest green spaces, both tamed and untamed, past great architecture from many eras and a glorious view of the 'dreaming spires'.
Using the app for urban walks
Here's a little hint for finding your way easier on an urban trail using the Walkingworld app. Once you subscribe or buy an individual walk, the app downloads the 'gold standard' of walking mapping, the OS Landranger and Explorer maps. Without doubt these are the very best maps to have for walks in the countryside, and the app downloads them by default.
However, on a town or city ramble you are generally better off with the 'street mapping' also available in the app. With the highest level of zoom this provides names for most key streets, which can be very useful when orientating yourself.
To change the mapping go to Settings and pick 'Yes' for 'Standard maps' and 'Extra Zoom'. You need to do this before downloading the walk. Don't forget to change it back before your next countryside ramble!
Walking holiday offers
HF Holidays have some great walking holidays in eighteen picturesque locations around Great Britain, staying in award-winning 3 and 4-star country houses. Breaks are for 3, 4 or 7 nights' full board accommodation, with all meals from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays walk leaders will make sure you get the most out of your holiday, visiting iconic locations and discovering wildlife, history, geology, heritage and more. There's transport to and from the walks and a choice of up to three guided walks each day of differing grades and lengths. Or, if you want, you can take your time and explore on your own, on a self-guided holiday.
The rolling hills around Church Stretton offer a delightful backdrop to the charm of storied towns such as Much Wenlock (birthplace of the Modern Olympic Games), hill forts, fortresses and castles, medieval towns and scenic steam railways. In Malhamdale in Yorkshire you can experience the huge rock amphitheatre of Malham Cove – once a waterfall to rival Niagara Falls – and the scenic cascades of Gordale Scar, while Dovedale in the Peak District promises magnificent views of heather moorland and rocky escarpments, contrasted with the pastoral patchwork and traditional villages of the limestone dales.
Brecon is the place to discover a world of waterfalls, beautiful green valleys and superb mountain walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, with an 85 mile coastline boasting unspoilt sandy beaches and dramatic white cliffs.
Staying at Alnmouth you can visit the eerie ruins of Dunstanburgh, cross the causeway to Holy Island, explore Roman forts along Hadrian's Wall, or set sail for the Farne Islands to photograph seals and puffins.Glen Coe is the ideal spot to discover the magical mountains and tranquil lochs of the Highlands.
Find out more about the choice of walks, dates and locations at www.hfholidays.co.uk or call 020 3974 8868.
Walking Holiday Offers
Guided Walking Holidays:
Malhamdale, Southern Yorkshire Dales, 1st April, 4 nights from £420pp*
Glen Coe, Scottish Highlands, 5th April, 7 nights from £699pp*
Church Stretton, Shropshire Hills, 15th April, 4 nights from £425pp*
Dovedale, Peak District, 15th April, 4 nights from £425pp*
Freshwater, Isle of Wight, 19th April, 7 nights from £699pp*
Spring and Winter Walking Holidays:
Brecon Beacons, Brecon, 15th March, 3 nights from £289pp*
Self-Guided Walking Holidays:
Alnmouth, Northumberland, 22nd March, 3 nights from £235pp*
*Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability, see website. Offers end 14.02.19
Events
A date for your diary: the second Timber Festival is taking place 5th-7th July at Feanedock, in the National Forest in the Midlands.It's an arts festival, with music, performance and more, celebrating nature and, above all, the woodland. Early bird tickets are on sale now.
The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) is organising a sponsored 'Winter Walk' through Wimbledon Common on Saturday 16th February, 10am. This is a brand new event to raise funds for the RHN. The RHN cares for people living with severe brain injuries providing rehabilitation and therapies. It's a 5 mile walk ending at the RHN for a hot roll and a drink; you can sign up here.