Follow in the steps of the masters

WALKING vacation specialist “The Blue Walk” has announced the dates for a variety of #Art Walks in #France and #Italy that have proven to be a hit with solo travelers. 

Tailored to all skills levels, the tours are led by popular artist-teachers. They provide the perfect opportunity for budding novices and experienced artists to “follow in the steps of the masters” in some of Europe’s most picturesque cities and coastal towns. Tours are limited to small groups to allow for maximum one-on-one opportunities between students and art instructors.

Available tours include Art Walk Italy that incorporates watercolor and sketching lessons with artist Leslie Fehling, September 22 – 29; Watercolor Sketching in Paris with artist Laure Ferlita, October 7 – 13; and Chalk Painting in Florence, Italy with Tracy Lee Stum and Sharyn Chan, October 15 – 21.

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Walk this way

Walkingworld, the popular online #walking #guide with over 6500 walks in England, Scotland and Wales, has released an #app giving access to its entire library. The app, available for Android™ and iOS™ phones and tablets, can be installed for free. Walks are downloaded to the device for offline use.

The Walkingworld library has been built up over 17 years but this is the first time the routes have been made available through a dedicated app. The app has been created in partnership with national mapping agency Ordnance Survey, which provides digital mapping through their ‘OS Maps’ service.

Walkingworld guides are designed to be very easy to follow. They are built around a set of geo-located waymarks, each of which marks a major decision point on the walk. Waymarks consist of a photograph - so walkers can readily identify that they are in the right place - and clear instructions to the next waymark on the walk. The app allows the walker to switch easily between the waymarks and their location on a map, where their current GPS position is also displayed.

www.walkingworld.co.uk

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Romantic waterfronts and promenades in Slovenia

THE heart of social life in Ljubljana, the capital of #Slovenia and the European Green Capital 2016, is the Ljubljanica river embankments, scattered with cafés and restaurants. Take a walk along the riverbanks, designed by the greatest and greenest Slovenian architect, Jože Plečnik. Life in Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city, also flows together with the river Drava, especially at Lent, the oldest and most magical part of the city.

Explore the Mediterranean coast of Slovenia by bike! Start in Koper, a port city with Venetian charm. A newly opened coastal route leads you through Izola, a romantic fishing village with a picturesque harbour. The journey continues to the most famous town in Mediterranean Slovenia, Piran. The city, with its lovely cobbled streets, has more than 700 years of salt-making tradition. The entire old town is surrounded by medieval walls.

In Slovenia, the Mediterranean is just a short drive away from the Alps. Don’t miss the symbol of Slovenia’s beauty, Lake Bled. The sapphire Alpine lake with the only island in Slovenia offers a breathtaking stroll around its shores. Are you up for a picnic? Discover an Alpine paradise by Lake Bohinj, one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Europe and Slovenia’s largest natural lake.

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Isle Walk

THIS popular – and free – #walking festival on the #IsleofWight will take place between April 29 and May 14 in 2017, so visitors and locals alike can experience the Island up close on trails all over the Island’s countryside and beaches.

Wightlink are encouraging visitors to Drive Less, See More, to help make the trip a true change from the hectic pace of everyday life. Book early to get the best deals, and Wightlink can whisk you across to the Island to make the most of the outdoors.

www.wightlink.co.uk

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Winter Skills in Scotland

FOR the last 7 years Unexplored Scotland has provided quality Winter Skills Courses in #Scotland. The company has revamped the programme of its courses and offers now a 2 day winter course every weekend from early January till early April. The two day course takes place on the Cairngorm hills near Aviemore.

Skills covered on the course include:

• Walking with crampons
• Using an ice axe to cut steps
• Avalanche awareness
• Digging an emergency shelter
• Practice ice axe arrests

For further information go to https://unexplored.scot

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March on . . .

THE Isle of Man walking festival takes place April 28 - May 1 this year.

The walks start and finish all around the Island. There are also targeted routes for different sections of the coast and countryside and specific attractions. All walks start and finish using public transport – either buses or the Islands’ railways. Every walk is guided by people passionate about the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man Walking Festival costs £30 which includes one walk per day and entry into The Blister Ball on the final night.

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Walk Europe

FANCY a bit of a ramble? Have a look at BSpoke tours, a #cycling and #walking #holiday company who have added to their already bursting range of itineraries.

Featuring 13 self-guided walking tours across eight European countries including Austria, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia plus NEW destinations for 2017 including France, Croatia, Spain and Switzerland; there is something to suit every type of holidaymaker. 

From gentle strolls along golden sandy beaches and through lush vineyards to pleasant hikes around shimmering lakes and majestic mountains.

And if food is your thing their sister company Cycling for Softies offers gourmet cycling adventures in France, Italy and Spain.

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These boots are made for walking . . . in Tenerife

THE LARGEST island in the Canaries is gearing up to host the third  #Tenerife #Walking Festival, which runs May 23 to May 27, 2017.

With 20 trails varying in length and intensity, the festival is expected to attract 300 ramblers from across Europe. Participants can choose routes from three categories (volcanic, coastal, and forest trails) enabling them to discover a huge variety of terrain and protected landscapes, including the UNESCO-listed Teide National Park, famed for its volcanic scenery.

All of the walking routes are scheduled to last a full day, including travel to and from the starting point, cultural visits, and lunch breaks.

The festival is aimed at families, groups of friends, couples, and individuals who have an interest in walking and a sense of adventure.

Online registration is open now and participation costs €25 and includes a welcome pack, daily transport to each trail, guided walks with a professional expert, and a wristband to enjoy discounts in shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums in Puerto de la Cruz, the festival's home base.

www.tenerifewalkingfestival.com

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Top 5 walking resorts in Europe

INGHAMS is one of the UK's leading specialist tour operators with over 80 years of operating Ski and Lakes & Mountains holidays, born out of Walter Ingham's enduring passion for ski, ski mountaineering and walking.

This is their list of the top 5 resorts for walking in Europe to help you plan ahead.

Best for Families - Hinterglemm, Austria: located in the scenic Glemm Valley, Saalbach and Hinterglemm offers 400km of stunning well-marked paths surrounded by rolling hills and countryside.

Best for Scenery - Merano, Italy: Merano, is a small town in northern Italy which offers Alpine landscapes and a Mediterranean climate, it provides fantastic walking opportunities from strolling to trekking surrounded by orchards and vineyards and extraordinary scenery.

Best for a Challenge - Zermatt, Switzerland: Zermatt has become one of Switzerland’s most iconic destinations. Its stunning mountain ranges are home to a range of challenging walks. The two and a half hour and half ‘Matterhorn Trail’ takes walkers from the lake at Schwarzsee and the ‘Mary in the Snow’ chapel back to Zermatt via Stafelap and Furi.

Best for Beginners - Kranjska Gora, Slovenia: located a few minutes’ drive from both the Austrian and Italian borders, the small village is surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the Julian Alps and the Karawanke Mountain peaks.

Best for Self-guided walks - Chamonix, France: take advantage of the Chamonix Valley Card and Mont Blanc Multipass which offers free use of local buses and trains plus reductions on many other services. With free use of buses and local trains, walkers in Chamonix can make the most of the area’s self-guided walking programme.

www.inghams.co.uk/lakes-mountains-holidays

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Book a walk on Guernsey

THE GUERNSEY AUTUMN WALKING FESTIVAL (September 3-18) will offer visitors a choice of more than 50 morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks to explore the island –and Herm – and learn from local experts about their history and attractions.

Organised by Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, the walks range from rambles through the island’s interior scenic landscape to exploring the rugged coastal paths.

Prices start from £7 per person per walk and are led by Guernsey’s gold and silver accredited guides. The walks vary in difficulty and length (ranging from one to six hours) and are suitable for all ages and abilities.

Examples of walks include:

Coast to Coast – East to West – The guide takes visitors across the length of the island from Jerbourg in the south-eastern tip to Lihou Island in the west, passing quiet green lanes and Ruettes Tranquilles – Guernsey’s network of rural roads. Price: £15, Ability level: Ramble, Length: 11 miles.

Ready or Not – This walk explores the island’s 18th and 20th century fortifications, traversing Houmet headland through the eyes of Captain Basset who was overseeing fortification of the headland at the end of the 18th century under the threat of invasion by the French. The guide will also cover the occupation of the island by the Germans in WW2. Price: £8, Ability level: Amble, Length: 1.5 miles.

Where the Sea No Longer Reaches – The guide invites visitors to uncover what Georgian troop movements, leprosy, burial chambers, German railway and labour camps, salt extraction, the Battle of Hastings, rabbits, and carp have in common in a circular walk that traces the old western shoreline of the Braye du Valle before the two islands of Guernsey were joined in 1805. The walk includes the La Garenne d’Anneville nature reserve. Price: £8, Ability level: Medium, Length: 4 miles.

Herm Above & Beyond – Herm Island resident Lesley Bailey will lead a walk around the northern part of Herm, visiting areas not normally accessible to the public. The walk offers the chance to hear stories about life on Herm and enjoy the views looking back to Guernsey and out to sea. Price: £8, Ability level: Ramble.

Pre-booking is advised to guarantee a place. For more information on accredited guides and individual walks, go to www.guernseyguidedtours.com.

Getting to Guernsey: Direct flights to Guernsey operate year-round from London City, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (www.aurigny.com), Blue Islands (www.blueislands.com) and Flybe (www.flybe.com). Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth, and takes approximately three and seven hours respectively.


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Register now for Tenerife’s 2017 Walking Festival

THE ONLINE REGISTRATION to take part in the #Tenerife #Walking #Festival 2017 is now open. The festival (May 23-27) features a total of 20 walking routes and a packed programme of supporting events designed to showcase the island's natural beauty. 

Highlights include two volcanic routes, “El Palmar – Santiago del Teide” and “Igueque – La Crucita – La Caldera”. All 20 routes, which vary in length and intensity, are grouped into three categories: volcanic, coastal, and green paths.

Also new for next year, it will include a system for calculating each participant's environmental footprint and how to offset it by means of activities that contribute to conserving the protected spaces on the island, such as reforestation.

There will also be food fairs, a stargazing session in the Teide National Park, and Alberto Bernabé, tourism minister for the Tenerife Island Government, comments: ‘This is an extraordinary event for us to showcase all the assets the island offers to both amateur and professional walkers, with a 1,000 miles of hiking trails available.’

To register online, go to www.tenerifewalkingfestival.com.

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Foot Trails launches walks for 2017

AN INN-TO-INN walk across the Cotswolds is among the self-guided routes for 2017 unveiled by Foot Trails, a West Country walking-holiday specialist.

The 10-night independent trip, from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire to Bath, Somerset, will be designed to follow local paths, avoiding the crowded national trails. Guests will stay in hand-picked, country inns, and notes about local history and nature will given to walkers.

The company will also extend its four- or five-night inn-to-inn journey in Dorset –six- and seven-night itineraries will be available in 2017.

Foot Trails runs walking holidays on more than 900 miles of trails in Somerset, Wiltshire, The Cotswolds, Dorset, and Devon – – and Wales plans to expand into Wales next year.

www.foottrails.co.uk

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This coast is made for walking

WALKERS can enjoy 66 miles of new and improved National Trail with the launch of the first stretch of the England Coast Path in Kent and East Sussex.

The continuous route between Camber and Ramsgate is the first section of the England Coast Path to open in the south-east of England. It gives unbridled views of coastline, including the White Cliffs and the unique areas of Dungeness and Pegwell Bay, popular for birdwatching, and their landscape and summer flowers.

Natural England is establishing a 2,700-mile path around the entire English coastline by 2020 and work is already under way on 60 percent of the route. When completed, it will be the world’s longest continuous coastal walking route.

Speaking at the National Trust’s White Cliffs centre, the chairman of Natural England, Andrew Sells, said: ‘I am delighted to be here for the formal opening of this 66-mile section of the England Coast Path – the most significant rights of way project for a generation. This beautiful and iconic stretch will allow walkers to enjoy amazing views, fabulous wildlife, and places with significant cultural and historical value – all from a high-quality footpath. It will also connect coastal communities and encourage walkers to visit more of the coast, bringing an added economic boost to the region.’

The route provides a link between communities and towns along the coast including Camber and Lydd, Greatstone and Hythe and Deal and Sandwich. It includes areas and features of heritage, such as the supposed landing site of Caesar at Walmer, embarkation points on the River Stour at Richborough used by soldiers and horses in the First World War, Napoleonic Martello towers, and extensive Second World War defences at Dover.

Three miles of new path have also been created at Sandwich, giving access around the peninsula for the first time.

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Those boots are made for walking … on Guernsey

THE #GUERNSEY AUTUMN #WALKING FESTIVAL launches in September, with more than 50 expert-guided walks. 

The festival (September 3-18) has morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks to explore Guernsey and its neighbouring islands and learn about their history and attractions.

The walks range from rambles through the island’s interior scenic landscape to exploring the rugged coastal paths. Led by Guernsey’s gold- and silver-accredited guides, they vary in difficulty and length (ranging from one to six hours).

Prices start from £7 per person per walk.

Getting to Guernsey …

Direct flights to Guernsey operate year round from London City, Gatwick, and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (www.aurigny.com), Blue Islands (www.blueislands.com), and Flybe (www.flybe.com).

Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth, and takes around three and seven hours respectively. Return car ferries from Poole to Guernsey in September are from £190, carrying two passengers (www.condorferries.com).

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Online aid for active holidays

TO HELP guests get the most from their UK holiday, Holidaycottages.co.uk has launched its online ‘Active Hub’, which showcases cottages for cycling, walking, water sports, and educational activity holidays. 

Later this spring, the hub will expand to highlight the cottages across the UK where there are opportunities to learn to horse ride, have pottery lessons, ride classic motorbikes, or take photography lessons.

James Morris at Holidaycottages.co.uk said: ‘The new ‘Active Hub’ will help guide our guests when they’re looking for accommodation that suits the needs of the activity they’d like to do. 

www.holidaycottages.co.uk

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Take a hike on Antigua … or go fishing

#ANTIGUA has a number of coastal and rainforest hikes to suit all abilities, as well as several experienced #hiking groups which visitors are welcome to join. 

The 5AM Hikers meet every Saturday, hiking from 5am to 8am, covering four miles of open country. The route changes each week, but the end-destination is always a spot where the Antigua sunrise can be appreciated.

The Antigua Hash House Harriers is another established hiking group, started by a group of British expats which meets every other Saturday. The Harrier trail is marked ahead of time by 'hares' and the 'hounds' or hikers can choose to run, walk or jog the route.

Many of the frequently-used trails are well sign-posted and maintained, making them easy to navigate without a guide. The hike to Boggy Peak, Antigua's highest peak and a symbolic landmark – re-named Mount Obama in 2008 – is a great way to experience the diversity of Antigua's landscape.

FROM marlin to kingfish, the waters surrounding Antigua have abundant sea life prime for reeling in. The island also has a vibrant sports #fishing community with popular tournaments throughout the year, established fishing charters, and several fishing tour operators.

The annual Sports Fishing Tournament (May 14-15) is an opportunity to fish alongside local enthusiasts.

Anglers in Antigua have the option of deep sea fishing (or trawling), reef, and inshore fishing. www.antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com


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