Newsletter > Newsletter archive > July 2019
July 2019
Our Cotswold Outdoor discount scheme
If you're thinking about getting new kit this summer it's a good time to remember that Walkingworld subscribers get a very decent 15% off at Cotswold Outdoor and associated outdoor retail brands Snow+Rock, Runners Need and Cycle Surgery.
There has been a slight change in the process of using the discount code. To use the code Walkingworld subscribers will need to sign up to the Cotswold Outdoor Explore More benefits scheme. The scheme is completely free of charge and you can register either in-store or online.
The Explore More scheme offers a range of benefits, including a 3-year extended warranty, 100 days returns with no need for a receipt, exclusive events, competitions and prize draws, early notification of new products and sales, and a birthday gift.
To register you'll still need to get the special discount code by going to the Walkingworld home page and looking in the left-hand menu for 'Subscriber benefits'. Print out the Cotswold Outdoor Discount page if you are going to a 'real world' store.
Urban Rambles go north
This month, in our Urban Rambles series, we head to the north east. Newcastle developed around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius and was named after the 'new castle' built in 1080 by Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son. The city first grew around the wool trade in the 14th century. The port developed further in the 16th century and, along with the shipyards lower down the River Tyne, became one of the world's largest shipbuilding centres.
Newcastle has undergone four main stages of development, all of which remain very visible to this day. Much of the city retains a medieval street layout, with steps from the quayside to higher parts of the city centre and the Castle Keep. As the city became wealthier, it needed to expand and the obvious place was the plateau behind the castle. Town planner Richard Grainger stepped in in the 1820s with a scheme for a new town that ingeniously linked with the old.
The redevelopment in the 1960s was spearheaded by the infamous Mayor, T Dan Smith, who envisaged the city as a 'Brasilia of the North', or as a new Milan or even Manhattan. The legacy of that architectural period is still very apparent, although the more brutal parts are avoided for much of our walk.
The revived Quayside is a testament to the city's determination to rebuild itself after the devastation of 1980s de-industrialisation. In 1991, Terry Farrell landed a commission to re-imagine Newcastle's riverside. The fruits of the firm's masterplan are visible in the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Sage Gateshead and the Millennium Bridge.
Worldwide walking with HF Holidays
HF Holidays have launched their 'Walking and Activity brochure for Europe and Worldwide' and it's packed with some fantastic holidays for late 2019 and 2020. As well as a wide range of European holidays there are three new worldwide destinations for 2020.
The Thailand tour starts in Bangkok, exploring by tuk tuk, cruising the Chao Phraya River and discovering Bangkok's hidden Portuguese side. Then it's off to Erawan National Park for walks through its tranquil wilderness, sunrise over the stupas of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and a hike through the forests of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, past temples, stunning views and waterfalls. A highlight of the trip is time with the elephants in the jungle, getting up close with these gentle giants and walking with them through the forest to the river for bathtime.
From the busy city sights of Santiago to the arid landscapes of the Atacama Desert and the bizarre artefacts of Easter Island, the Chile and Easter Island holiday is sure to tick many of your travel wish list boxes. The tour takes in the harbour city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valparaiso and the city of Santiago. Then there's hiking in Cajon del Maipo and a visit to the world's driest desert, The Atacama, with the impressive Salar de Atacama, one of the largest salt lakes in the world. Other highlights are hiking through red rock and cacti to thermal springs in the Guatin valley, the El Tatio Geysers at sunrise and a bike ride through lush vineyards in the Casablanca Valley to sample some of Chile's finest wines.
The Rocky Mountains are the wild backbone of the North American continent, where wolves, bears and giant herds of bison roam free. This tour crosses the magnificent American Rockies, from Colorado to Wyoming and in to Utah, visiting Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Here you can explore a variety of landscapes and marvel at the incredible wildlife and natural phenomena of these iconic National Parks.
Early Booking Offers: Save up to £200 on selected 2020 Worldwide holidays, on selected departure dates. Low deposit £99pp. Terms and conditions apply, see website for details. Offers end 30 Sep 2019.
To see the full range of UK, European and Worldwide holidays visit hfholidays.co.uk
Wainwright 2020 Calendar
Always popular with Walkingworld members, the Wainwright Society 2020 Calendar has just been published and is now on sale. Once again the format includes photographs of the Lake District taken by Society members, together with line drawings and quotations from the works of Alfred Wainwright. For the past ten years, the Calendar has completely sold out raising thousands of pounds for the Society's designated charities.
The proceeds from the 2020 calendar will be donated to the Blencathra Centre, part of the Field Studies Council, an environmental education charity providing outdoor learning opportunities for all ages. They plan to use the funds to establish an outdoor classroom in the grounds of the centre to enable sketching and other activities when there is inclement weather.
The price of the calendar has been held at £10 including p&p. It can be purchased direct from the Society website using PayPal. Details on the Wainwright Society website.