Royal steps mark Britain’s new trail

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 30

Royal steps mark Britain’s new trail

When local newspapers in Norfolk, England, reported Prince Charles “went for a walk” recently it was not just a slow news week — on July 9 the Prince christened Britain’s newest long-distance footpath, a 150 km trail along the Norfolk coast of the North Sea.

There are already over 193,000 km of public rights of way in England and Wales alone and they cover some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Prince Charles opened the new Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path which runs from the SuffolkNorfolk border, near Thetford, north to the coast near Hunstanton passing through woods

and farmlands and close to the Queen’s home at Sandringham. The path takes in quiet beaches, spectacular cliffs, and marshlands. Bunk-barn accommodation is being built along the route.

Walking tours of Britain can be planned for an afternoon or a fortnight and there are a variety of tour operators, providing trips to suit everyone from senior citizens and children to experienced trekkers.

The British Tourist Authority has a detailed brochure of Walking In Britain with descriptions of 52 walking routes. Apart from being a fine way to work off some of the extra kilos that most people accumulate while holidaying overseas, walk-

ing is the best way to experience the countryside — taking time to chat in the villages you come across and getting to know the scenery, the views that are rarely visible from main roads, in an intimate refreshing way.

The brochure has. information on accommodation from Youth Hostels to good hotels, suggestions about guide books and maps to get for do-it-yourself walking holiday itineraries plus a comprehensive list of walking tour operators. Some of the walks suggested in England are the Robin Hood Way — a 141 km walk from Nottingham CaStle to Sherwood Forest; the famous Pennine Way that traverses

three National Parks through the Yorkshire Dales to the Scottish border; or London Country Way — trails that explore the villages and open spaces in London’s country including walks that can be taken as day trips from the city.

Wales features Offas Dyke Path, following the English-Welsh border through the Wye Valley and the Shropshire Hills to the North Wales coast at Prestatyn.

Much of the route follows the eighth-century earthwork build by the Mercian King Offa,. but detours take walkers through thick woodlands, pastoral lowlands, and the Severn floodplains.

Some of the most challenging walking country is

in Scotland where twothirds of the area of the country is mountain and moorland. There are occasional restrictions to public access in Scotland such as during the grouse-shooting or deer-stalking seasons — but notices are posted giving alternative routes.

There are three major long-distance walking routes featured in the B.T.A. brochure including the Southern Upland Way, a 441 km coast to coast trek across Scotland. With abandoned castles and relics of former ages, friendly country pubs and villages to explore, spectacular wildlife and flora along the way — walking in Britain is full of surprises. ■