Apr 09 2013

Ditch The Car – Discover The UK On Foot

Exmoor Park in the UK

Hike in Exmoor National Park

Walking nourishes body and mind. Whether alone or in a group, setting a steady pace gets the blood pumping and the thoughts flowing. It’s rare to find a hobby that can be simultaneously sociable or solitary, and is just as enjoyable either way. Best of all walking is free, accessible to every budget and an effective form of exercise.

Visitors to the UK will find this list of walking tours a wonderful way to explore this fair island without having to their empty out their wallet. You won’t need a lot of money to get the most out of your next trip to the UK, all you’ll need is a good pair of shoes and a sense of adventure.

Exmoor

The Exmoor National Park encompasses over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways, including woodland, waterways, and moorland covered in vibrant heather. The varied terrain makes the area ideal for walkers from the novice to the expert, with good routes for both families and wheelchair users.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall in England

hike Hadrian’s Wall for history & scenery

For a walk with a majestic sense of history, you can’t beat Hadrian’s Wall. Wiggling its way back and forth between the Scottish and Northumbrian borders, the Roman walled route takes in all manner of historic sites.

Constable country

Discover the old stomping ground of artist John Constable, perhaps best known for his painting ‘The Haywain’. The going is easy across this broad, flat area, and a long, leisurely ramble is just the ticket for proving there’s more to Essex than TOWIE. Big skies, quaint villages and flower meadows housing an abundance of wildlife abound in this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

South Downs way

The South Downs way is unique to Britain in being the only trail to lie entirely within a National Park. There are a full 160km to discover, whether you feel like trekking round the towering white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head or wandering the ancient city of Winchester, where you’re as likely to amble by a iron-age fort or military site as you are to circle the vast Devil’s Dyke.

New Forest

193,000 acres of ancient woodland and expansive heathland offers 143 miles of track and delivers enough distance for even the most energetic, taking in a range of habitats and landscapes en route. Riddled with homely inns, the New Forest offers a plethora of places to refuel and rest up before resuming exploration of this beautiful part of England.

Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons in the United Kingdom

enjoy a waterfall hike at Brecon Beacons

The Beacons are Welsh wonders, boasting a mix of historic features from Neolithic standing stones to Norman castles and a World Heritage ironworks, via Roman bases and Iron Age hill forts. You can even wander a section of Offa’s Dyke – a 150-mile earth boundary constructed in the Dark Ages.

Wainwright’s Lake District

The walker and writer Alfred Wainwright’s pictorial guides provide a comprehensive overview of the Lake District. ‘The Wainwrights’ collectively refers to 214 different peaks – more than enough to keep you moving.

South West Coast Path

South West Coast Path in Great Britain

South West Coast Path in UK

630 miles of pathway make up the South West Coast Path, ensures something for everyone. Comprehensive way marking from Minehead to Poole along its entire length makes for easy navigation and distance planning.

Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales countryside

The ‘Yorkshire Dales ’ refers to a vast expanse of 1,762 square kilometres, awarded National Park status in 1954. Remote, simultaneously wild and peaceful, with areas both low and high, the Dales are rich in scenery, wildlife, and excellent walking opportunities

Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight in great britain

seaside view from the Isle of Wight

The entire tiny Isle is a bucolic place, offering visitors the quintessential experience of an England of a bygone era. Zig-zagged by over 500 miles of walker-friendly, well-signposted footpaths, the only part you need stress over if whether you’d prefer to pace through shady forestry, discover delightful villages, or toddle along the pretty coastline world-renowned as prime fossil-hunting country.

Stick to the budget

You can purchase books and trails to help you navigate any of these walks, but you can also find free maps online to download. Alternatively, locate the main points on the trail and key them into your smart phone.

To help you travel lighter, prepaid cards are ideal for keeping your funds in one place, and save you from thinking about money on the run. A prepaid card will help you to stick to your budget, and you can be assured knowing that whatever you spend is the amount you have allocated to the trip. Being affiliated with MasterCard, prepaid cards are accepted as widely as credit cards and can be used to pay for meals and accommodation.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular

Gavin Whittaker is a respected finance journalist with years of experience across many topics. Gavin recommends Tuxedo, a leader in the field of currency cards and prepaid technologies. You can find more of Gavin’s insight on these issues at a wide variety of blogs, online- and print-magazines, where he occasionally also shares his thoughts on topics like food, travelling and music.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/04/09/ditch-the-car-discover-the-uk-on-foot/

Apr 06 2013

Alderfer Trail Ride from Strava

I’m trying out Strava to see how the embed code looks on the Trailsnet website/blog. So here’s the results of pasting one of my mountain bike codes from a Denver Bicycle Touring Club mountain bike ride I went on last summer:

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/04/06/alderfer-trail-ride-from-strava/

Apr 03 2013

Volunteer Trail Work

trail volunteers

volunteer trail builders

Trail Work – It Does a Body Good

Pawnee Buttes Trail was in need of some good trail volunteers to help connect the beautiful new trailhead to the existing trail. And who better for the job than those fearless folks from the Great Plains Trail Alliance?

Beautiful Day on the Pawnee Grasslands Trail

A group of Forest Service employees along with volunteers from the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and Great Plains Trail Alliance gathered on a cool Saturday morning on March 30 to help spread piles of gravel onto the new plains trail. The weather was perfect for trail maintenance with moderate temperatures and a light breeze. Although the task looked daunting, with piles of gravel stretching out as far as the eye could see, it turned out that “Many hands

trail volunteers in eastern colorado

trail workers in Pawnee Grasslands

make a light load.”  Within a few hours, the linear piles of dirt became a gorgeous trail. And before the work was even done, numerous families were already enjoying the trail and the scenery.

Become a Trail Volunteer

As our day of trail work came to an end, I pondered what I would say to the Trailsnet readers about our experience as trail volunteers. As you can imagine, I decided to encourage you all to lend a helping hand in the creation of new trails and the maintenance of old. With dwindling budgets and heavy use, it’s tough to keep up with the demand for new trails and the repair of existing trails. So if you get a chance, contact one of the many trail agencies and see if they need volunteers. It’s great exercise, wonderful camaraderie and excellent karma. For

rainbow on the plains of eastern colorado

rainbow over buttes

example, as soon as we finished our trail work, we were rewarded with one of the most beautiful rainbows ever to grace this big green planet. And of course, there was a treasure at the end of the rainbow. And what treasure is greater than a beautiful new trail.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/04/03/volunteer-trail-work/

Mar 30 2013

Great Hiking Trails In Virginia’s Parks

What You can See Walking the Trails in Virginia

Virginia hiking & biking trails

There are a number of beautiful state parks in Virginia. Many people enjoy taking in the scenery as they hike along the trails. Here are some that you may want to take a look at when you visit the state’s parks.

Alexandria Heritage Trail

The Alexandria Heritage Trail is one of the oldest and most frequently traveled trails in Virginia. The entire trail stretches over 20 miles from Jones Point to the county line. Settlers paved the trail in the late 1600s when they first built their communities.

Most people ride their bikes along the trail, but you can drive your car along many regions of the trail as well.

Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park

The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park is a great place to get exercise and learn more about the area you live in. The trail has been running for more than 150 years. The guides will give you a lot of information about the region’s history.

The trail is 14 miles long. You will start at Dorsey Road and end at Jonas Green Park. The trail passes by two different shopping malls if you want to take a break and pick up some souvenirs.

Anacostia Tributary Trail System

There are many wonderful trails along the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. You can access them from a number of different points throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s County.

Here are several trails along the system that you may want to try hiking on during your trip.

Anacostia River Trail

This trail starts at Baltimore Avenue and ends near Colmar Manor Community Park. You will have the opportunity to take a trip across a footbridge on the Anacostia River. The entire trail is less than 2 miles, but you can take in some of the nicest woodlands along the way. There are restrooms, snack bars and other comforts at both ends of the trail. You can have a relaxed and restful trip along the way.

Anacostia Riverwalk Trail

The Anacostia Riverwalk trail is one of the most popular paths in the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. The trail stretches 12 miles from Benning Rd. to Navy Yard.

The path soon will be extended another 8 miles and will connect numerous communities throughout the county. The path is going to include a number of tourist attractions when it is completed. These attractions will include the Tidal Basins and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. They will be finished in the next two years. However, the trail is already a popular tourist destination and a great place to hike throughout the county. The trail goes through some of the most scenic woodlands Virginia has to offer.

Virginia has a number of great trails for people who love to go hiking. You should try visiting them during your travels. I recommend visiting the ones along the Anacostia Tributary Trail System.

Attached Images:

About the Author: Kalen loves hiking and exploring different places throughout the United States. He stayed at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Sterling Virginia on his last trek.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/30/great-hiking-trails-in-virginias-parks/

Mar 24 2013

Great Places To Hike While Visiting The Grand Canyon

Hiking Trails in the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Southwestern United States. People all over the country make a point to hike on its many trails when they visit Arizona. There are a number of different regions in the park that are worth visiting. Unfortunately, you probably won’t have the time or the stamina to see all of them. You will need to decide which areas are most worth seeing when you go the Grand Canyon. Here are some of the hiking trails that you will want to check out during your trip.

Best Places to Hike in the Grand Canyon

grand canyon trails

southwest canyon trail

South Rim

The South Rim is the most popular part of the Grand Canyon. There are a number of famous points on the South Rim, such as Pipe Creek Vista. The people managing the tours go to great lengths to make the experience fun and exciting. There are regular bus tours and other services worth checking out. This is the first place that many people go to when they are visiting the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, that also means that it is the most crowded so you may want to start somewhere else during the busiest times of the day.

North Rim

The imagery around the North Rim is just as beautiful as the southern side of the canyon. You will also find that not nearly as many people make the trek up to the northern rim, so you won’t feel quite as crowded. There are also several lodgings near the northern rim where you can go for a meal and a break from the sun. The Kaibab Lodge is one of the most popular places to go when you need something to eat.

South Kaibab Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in the canyon. The South Kaibab Trail runs along a ridge higher up along the Grand Canyon, so you will have a great view of the terrain below. This is a great place to hike year-round. However, you will need to be careful when traveling in the summer. The trails can become very hot and there are few places to escape the bright, desert sun. You should wear a large hat and use plenty of sun protection. You should also bring several quarts of water to keep you from becoming dehydrated.

Enjoy Your Trip to the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon covers nearly 5,000 square miles. You will have a great time hiking the many great trails during your trip. There are many wonderful places to check out, but unfortunately most people don’t have enough time or energy to see all of them during their trip. These are some of the places that I think you may want to look at first.

About the Author: Kalen went on vacation to the southwestern United States. He spent some time in Arizona where he stayed at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Sierra Vista Arizona.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/24/great-places-to-hike-while-visiting-the-grand-canyon/

Mar 23 2013

Are ‘Walking Holidays’ The New Cool Thing?

trekking holidays and walking vacations

Active travel is the new adventure travel.

Active Travel Gains in Popularity

Walking holidays are grabbing the attention of fashion-conscious globe-trotters as a way to combine sightseeing with exercise, while reaching locations that many tour operators simply don’t offer.

In the UK, Get Walking Day has become so popular that it is now Get Walking Week, and urges everybody to get out on foot during one week in May.

But many people will be looking to take their annual summer holiday around that time – making an international walking holiday an ideal option.

Whether you choose to trek the Himalayas, explore the jungles of South America, or check out the wildlife of South Africa, there are plenty of exotic locales to choose from that will offer you the trip of a lifetime.

Popular Destinations

road trip

Find your dream destination

Every continent has its attractions for walking holidays, even including glacier walks in Antarctica.

In Australasia – or Oceania, if you prefer – the epic New Zealand scenery that defined the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and which is doing the same for The Hobbit) has revitalised the country’s tourism sector.

Africa offers leafy wildlife reserves, not only in the interior of the continent, but right up to the coast, with forests a short walk from the beach in some places.

South America has everything from mountain trails to jungle tracks, with Incan ruins the icing on the cake for those with a love of archaeology.

In North America, the Appalachian Trail was brought to global attention by the travel writer Bill Bryson, and is just one of several traditional routes followed by US trekkers.

And across the continuous land mass of Europe and Asia, mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Himalayas make high-altitude walking holidays an excellent option.

The ‘perfect’ destination is a matter of personal taste, but our world offers every conceivable option, from sun and sand to snow and ice, spectacular waterfalls and dense jungle, sun-bleached beaches and desert backdrops.

Get the Gear

hiking boots

Good boots are essential trekking gear.

Depending on your destination, you may need to invest in (or hire) some specific equipment to make sure that your route is accessible, and that you are safe.

The obvious example is if you are trekking at high altitude, where snow and ice are potentially a hazard.

With the right equipment – ranging from warm clothing to spiked footwear – you can keep your grip underfoot, while keeping the cold out.

Similarly, if you are walking in a particularly warm climate, you may need clothing that keeps you cool and protects you from the sun; in rainforests, a waterproof backpack could mean the difference between staying soaked after a downpour, and having dry clothes to put on.

Alongside all of the basics, there are the gadgets that many walkers love to take along with them.

Pedometers help you to keep track of just how many steps you have taken – and, if you know your stride length, how many miles you have covered.

GPS systems can take this a step further, using satellite technology to pinpoint your position to within a metre, anywhere on the Earth’s surface.

Again, it’s a matter of personal taste whether you want to surround yourself with gadgetry, or simply slip on a sturdy pair of walking boots and head out into the wild to get properly back to basics.

Counting the Benefits

The clear benefit of walking holidays is the health aspect – you’re guaranteed to get some good exercise, whether it’s fairly low-impact on a clear hiking trail, or the harder-hitting task of climbing a mountain or clearing your own route through undergrowth.

You may find you save money, especially if you already have all of the necessary equipment for the kind of walking holiday you are embarking upon.

The scenery will change continually throughout your journey – which should make a refreshing change if you’ve previously only been on package holidays where you’re stuck in the same resort or on the same stretch of beach.

And in many cases, you can dictate the pace at which you travel, giving you the chance to spend a little extra time in any particularly spectacular setting, compared with the relentless pace of many driving holidays or coach tours.

Who’s Going Walking?

family hiking holiday

The family that hikes together…

Walking holidays have universal appeal, as you often don’t need any special training to simply step out of your door and go for a hike – and even in snowy settings, walking is often easier than learning to ski or snowboard.

In many cases, hiking – and particularly backpacking – holidays are preferred by younger people, who may be better able to carry any equipment on their backs.

You don’t have to be muscle-bound in order to head out on a hiking trip, however, and many tour operators can help you to get out on foot without having to carry a tent or large amounts of food with you.

For older generations, especially retirees, walking holidays are a chance to catch up on missed opportunities from earlier in life.

If you’ve taken early retirement and are wishing you’d travelled more when you were young, it’s never too late – and a walking holiday is an ideal option if you’re not keen on sailing, skiing or jeep safaris.

Attached Images:

This post was contributed by Shakti Himalaya.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/23/are-walking-holidays-the-new-cool-thing/