Walk This May, Walk This Way

May is National Walking Month and with evenings lighter for longer and temperatures slowly rising, it’s the perfect time to pull on those boots and head for them there hills (or town centre!)

From Guernsey to South Wales or the Scottish Highlands, the UK is home to many incredible walking routes that offer adventurers the opportunity to uncover some of the island’s hidden gems.

Discover the nation’s different traditions, cultures, and charms while embracing its spectacular coasts, countryside and mountain-scapes.

Here is a round-up of four top routes:

FOLLOW THE MAGICAL LINCOLN IMP TRAIL AS IT INTRODUCES 30 PUBLIC ART SCULPTURES TO THE CITY A trail of 30 colourful and mischievous imp sculptures will be coming to Lincoln this summer, ideal for exploring the historic city on foot. The imp is the mascot for Lincoln City FC (it appears on the club badge) and can be spotted immortalized in stone within the upper reaches of Lincoln Cathedral. The sculpture trail will run from 3rd July to 9th September 2021 across Lincoln's city centre. Local and national artists, both professional and amateur have designed each sculpture, highlighting Lincoln's rich culture, art scene and heritage. The self-guided sculpture trail allows visitors to explore the key sites of the heritage city, including the Cornhill Quarter, which offers new leisure and dining experiences in the beating heart of Lincoln. The imps will gather together for their goodbye event at Lincoln Castle before being auctioned to raise money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice on 1st October 2021 at Lincoln Cathedral. For more information, please visit: www.visitlincoln.com/whats-on/lincoln-imp-trail

ENJOY SCENIC WALKING ALONG THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL TRAIL The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path stretches 299km along the South Wales coastline from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south. 2022 will be the 70th anniversary of the area being designated a national park with the path itself Wales’ first national trail when it opened in 1970.
This linear walking holiday follows the southernmost section of the Pembrokeshire Coast path, starting in the historic town of Pembroke. From here it follows undulating clifftop trails with far reaching sea vistas, passing distinctive natural rock formations, and traversing some of Wales' prettiest bays and sweeping sandy beaches on the way to Amroth.

Headwater’s seven-night self-guided Pembroke to Amroth Walk is from £929 per person including accommodation with breakfast daily, maps, luggage transfers and services of a local representative. Details: https://www.headwater.com/holidays/walking/britain/W07SP.htm

WALK SCOTLAND'S LESS-TRAVELLED NORTH HIGHLAND WAY FOR THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SCENERY & HISTORY This group trip follows Scotland’s less travelled North Highland Way, beginning with three nights in Scotland’s northernmost town of Thurso before walking west across the very top of the UK’s mainland. The adventure begins with a scenic railway journey from Edinburgh, admiring Scotland’s stunning landscapes while getting to know fellow travellers. The group tour encompasses exhilarating walks along the remote and wild North Atlantic Way, breath-taking cliff-top views, and along Scotland’s most magnificent beaches. In addition to exploring the mysterious Scottish Highlands, the trip also ticks off other Scottish bucket-list items with a day trip to the Orkney Islands with possibilities of seeing puffin colonies, whiskey tasting in the famous Wolfburn Distillery and a visit to John O’Groats.

Exodus Travels’ seven-night Walk the North Highland Way is priced from £1,699 per person including seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast, six days’ guided walking, luggage transfers and transport and activities as listed. Details: https://www.exodus.co.uk/united-kingdom-holidays/walking-trekking/walk-north-highland-way/tem

DISCOVER THE HISTORY AND BEAUTY OF LIHOU ISLAND Hosted by gold-accredited Guernsey guide Gill Girard, the walking tour of Lihou Island begins at a Neolithic burial chamber. Walk through German trenches before you walk across a tidal causeway to the most westerly of the Channel Islands, which is Guernsey’s only Ramsar site. See the ancient priory ruins and an important archaeological site. Lihou is unspoilt, wild, and steeped in history. This important conservation area is abundant in marine and bird life. Gill also runs group walks during the spring and autumn festivals.

A two hour private walking tour for up to 10 people with Gill is approximately £150, visit gillgirardtourguide.com for more information. Details: https://gillgirardtourguide.com/

TAKE IN THE BREATH-TAKING VIEWS FROM THE SUMMIT OF SNOWDON Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and England standing at 1085 metres above sea level, boasting breath-taking views from the summit. Stephen, a local qualified mountain leader on the ToursByLocals platform, offers a guided walk to the summit. Meet at the quaint village of Llanberis and visit local points of interest which will provide a colourful picture of the slate and mining industry. The Llanberis path bends its way steadily uphill and it is the easiest hiking route. Born and raised in the slate quarrying village of Bethesda, the history, communities and language of Wales are a big part of Stephen’s life. He has also recently completed the Eryri (Snowdonia) Ambassador course reaching gold level.

ToursByLocals, the world's leading online marketplace for private tours, enriches the travel experience with 4,800 expert local guides leading tours in 190 countries. The six-hour Snowdon Peak Walk Full Day Tour is priced at £200 per tour (for up to six people). Details: https://www.toursbylocals.com/Snowdon-guided-walk