The Ramblers inspires people in SW to Walk About
This September the Ramblers is getting the South West on its feet with Walk About - its biggest ever free nationwide walking event, offering a walk to suit everyone. But people don’t have to wait to get started. This month (August) the Ramblers has launched a free online tracker that allows people to log their walking activity and make the most of everything the festival has to offer.
The festival takes place from Saturday 3 September until Sunday 11 September. With over a thousand walks all over Britain, and 150 in the South West, there’s something for everyone to enjoy – from a short stroll in the park to a challenging hike up a mountain.
During the festival, people in the South West can enjoy the following group-led walks:
The Lizard
Date: Saturday 10 September 2016
Start time: 10.30am
Distance: 9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Step out with the West Cornwall Ramblers for this circular walk, which includes both coastal and inland walking. You’ll visit Lizard Point, Kynance Cove and Cadgwith.
Starting point: Lizard Green (nearest postcode TR12 7NH)
Group: West Cornwall Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
Crantock, Fistral and Gannel Estuary
Date: Wednesday 7 September 2016
Start time: 10.30am
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: This walk includes a ferry across the Gannel, meandering along the zig zag path to Pentire and the coast path to Towan Head. You’ll return along the estuary. Enjoy good paths, beach walking and treading across the dunes.
Starting point: Crantock National Trust car park
Group: Plymouth Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
Dunmere
Date: Sunday 4 September 2016
Start time: 10.30am
Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Enjoy this walk along the Camel Trail, passing through Clerkenwater, Holton, Helland and Penhargard. Bring food and drink with you.
Starting point: Camel Trail car park, behind Borough Arms car park, Dunmere
Group: Caradon Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
A Modbury Meander
Date: Sunday 4 September 2016
Start time: 10am
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Leisurely
Description: Enjoy a walk through Modbury onto fields, along lanes and down footpaths to Butland and back. This may be a leisurely walk but it offers up some lovely views.
Starting point: Top of Brownstone Street, Modbury
Group: Plymouth Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
The Black Lane to Red Lake
Date: Sunday 4 September 2016
Start time: 10am
Distance: 13
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: Enjoy a yomp across the moors on this strenuous walk with the Moorland Ramblers. You’ll head across rough moorland terrain over southern Dartmoor, including Ter Hill, Childe’s Tombe, Black Lane peat pass, Red Lake, Snowdon and Ryder’s Hill.
Starting point: Combestone Tor car park on Hexworthy Road
Group: Moorland Ramblers
Highbridge, Rivers Brue and Parrot
Date: Sunday 4 September 2016
Start time: 10am
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This lovely walk takes in Alstone and Huntspill, following a path around the coast, with the chance to spot wildlife along the way. There will be a coffee and snack stop.
Starting point: Car park in Bank Street, Highbridge
Group: Woodspring Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
Priddy
Date: Sunday 4 September 2016
Start time: 9.30am
Distance: 12 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: This walk in the Mendips offers up fantastic views of Glastonbury and Wells. Walking efforts will be rewarded with an ice cream stop at Wookey Hole.
Starting point: Priddy, Wells (nearest postcode BA5 3BE)
Group: Severnside Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
Salisbury
Date: Saturday 10 September 2016
Start time: 10am
Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: This lovely walk goes via Pitton, with pretty views across the downs. There will be a coffee stop in the ruins of Clarendon Palace.
Starting point: Meet and park in the Petersfinger Park and Ride car park on the A36 as you approach Salisbury
Group: Eastleigh Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
Purbeck coastal walk
Date: Wednesday 7 September 2016
Start time: 10am
Distance: 9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Tread along the Purbeck coast via Houns Tout. Stop to enjoy a picnic lunch on Kimmeridge Ledges. Although there are hills to climb, you’ll be rewarded with lovely views.
Starting point: Sheep’s Pen car park, 1 mile south west of Kingston
Group: East Dorset Ramblers
www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/walk-detail.aspx?wal...
For those who prefer to walk alone, or lead their own walks, the Ramblers has picked its favourite routes in the South West, available from Ramblers Routes, an online library of Britain’s best walks:
Bedruthan, Cornwall
Length: 10.7 miles
Walking time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Starting point: Mawgan Porth Beach
Description: This linear walk takes you past seven perfect sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs with distinctive marine flora. Long stretches of this exceptionally beautiful coast remain wild and unspoilt and you’ll be treated to picture-postcard coves.
www.ramblers.org.uk/Bedruthan
Bowerman's Nose, Devon
Length: 10 miles
Walking time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Starting point: Widecombe-in-the-Moor village green
Description: An open, gently undulating walk on moorland, including a stretch of the Two Moors Way, as well as pastures, quiet country lanes and a few short steep ascents. The route also passes prehistoric hut circles, menhirs and stone rows.
www.ramblers.org.uk/bowerman
There will also be a special event at Lydiard Park in Swindon on Saturday 3 September for everyone to enjoy, where there will be a whole host of walking activities on offer.
The Ramblers director of walking development, Simon Barnett said: “We all know walking can do wonders for our wellbeing, which is why we want to get the nation on its feet with our biggest free walking festival to date. Walking is good for our health and our minds and we want everyone to be able to experience the many benefits and joys it can bring.
“But we want to encourage people to get more active in advance of the festival, which is why we’ve introduced our new online tracker, which allows people to log all their walking activity and monitor their progress. It’s a great way to build up activity levels, which means that by the time the festival comes around people will be able to step out on a longer walk.”
Designed to suit both the seasoned walker and someone taking their first steps, there are lots of badges and rewards for walking regularly, completing long distances and reaching particular milestones. For example it could be for walking every day in a month or completing the equivalent of the length of the South West Coast Path.
Anyone can take part by visiting www.Ramblers.org.uk/walkabout and starting to log their walking trips – whether short or long, in the town or the countryside, alone or with friends.
Simon added: “We’re hoping the online element of Walk About will encourage people in the South West to walk more so we can create happier, healthier communities. Not only can you collect badges but there’s also a leaderboard, so people can race their friends and family to the top.
“With a walk to suit everyone, we want the nation to step out with us this September and join us as we Walk About Britain.”
Walk About is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery to help everyone, everywhere enjoy walking.
Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We are delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are able to support the Ramblers with their exciting new walking festival, which we know will help thousands of people discover the joys of walking.”
