Thursday, 29 October 2009
St Oswald’s Way Walking Holidays on Radio 4
Clare Balding is currently reporting on her walking holiday along St Oswald’s Way, on Radio 4’s Rambling programme. (The episodes are availble online). St Oswald’s Way stretches Holy Island on the Lindisfarne Coast, down the Northumberland Coast Path as far as Warkworth, before heading inland the Rothbury, before skirting Simonside and heading South to finish along the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
It’s an interesting route , combining the spectacular, castle strewn Northumberland coast with the remote moorlands of inland Northumberland. We are keen to add this to the walking holidays we offer at Mickledore Travel – watch this space!
It’s an interesting route , combining the spectacular, castle strewn Northumberland coast with the remote moorlands of inland Northumberland. We are keen to add this to the walking holidays we offer at Mickledore Travel – watch this space!
Labels: Northumberland Coast Path, Radio 4, St Oswalds Way, walking holidays
Friday, 13 February 2009
SNP promoting Scottish Coastal Footpath
A long-distance coastal path around Scotland has been proposed in the Scottish Parliament this week. .
Scotland MSP Alasdair Morgan first raised the idea of a national coastal route with the former Scottish Executive in 2005 - since then he has pursued the issue researching other long-distance routes and found that Scotland already has many coastal paths which could be joined together into a unified long-distance route.
Speaking ahead of the debate Alasdair Morgan whose region includes both Scotland's South East and South West Coasts said:
“Galloway and the South of Scotland already have some very beautiful coastal walks, which rightly attract large numbers of visitors every year.
"It was the Galloway coast which led me to think about the possibility in detail, not just through its beauty but also its history, from Burns and smuggling to the Mulberry Harbours.
"A national coastal path would run from near Gretna right around the coast of Scotland to Berwick taking in many of Scotland's most beautiful sights and towns on the way.
"From walking the whole distance to taking in sections at a time, much as people climb Munros, the coastal path could offer new tourism and outdoor opportunities.
“The idea of long-distance coastal paths is not unique to Scotland. The longest walking route in Britain is the 630 mile southwest coastal path in Devon and Cornwall. Given the length of our coastline, a Scottish coastal path would dwarf that and, in terms of length, challenge famous routes such as the Appalachian Trail.
“None of our motorways were built in one go. Paths are arguably much more beneficial in the long run and with many of the routes already in existence we must start the work to join them up and create a walk around Scotland."
A Scottish coastal path would take in some dramatic scenery – it is difficult to think of many parts which would be less than interesting. The intracacies of the west coast , with its many sea lochs reaching deep into the Scottish Highlands, mean the route would be extremely long – probably around 6000 miles, much of it stunning, most of it beautiful, nearly all of it quiet and peaceful.
Some parts of the route are already developed – such as the Fife Coastal Way. Perhaps phase one could be the west coast as far as Loch Linnhe – where the route would join the Great Glen Way – or the south e east coast , joining the Fife Coastal Way to the Northumberland Coast Path.
The potential for walking holidays is endless – most Mickledore clients walk around 100 miles a week, meaning the whole route take well over a year to complete.
But the size of the undertaking should not be underestimated – not only is 6000 miles a very long way, vast tracts of the route , such as the area around Knoydart and the far north west, are extremely remote. Access for construction would be limited to sea and air. Its hard to imagine the Scottish Parliament finding the funds for such work – but here’s hoping!
Scotland MSP Alasdair Morgan first raised the idea of a national coastal route with the former Scottish Executive in 2005 - since then he has pursued the issue researching other long-distance routes and found that Scotland already has many coastal paths which could be joined together into a unified long-distance route.
Speaking ahead of the debate Alasdair Morgan whose region includes both Scotland's South East and South West Coasts said:
“Galloway and the South of Scotland already have some very beautiful coastal walks, which rightly attract large numbers of visitors every year.
"It was the Galloway coast which led me to think about the possibility in detail, not just through its beauty but also its history, from Burns and smuggling to the Mulberry Harbours.
"A national coastal path would run from near Gretna right around the coast of Scotland to Berwick taking in many of Scotland's most beautiful sights and towns on the way.
"From walking the whole distance to taking in sections at a time, much as people climb Munros, the coastal path could offer new tourism and outdoor opportunities.
“The idea of long-distance coastal paths is not unique to Scotland. The longest walking route in Britain is the 630 mile southwest coastal path in Devon and Cornwall. Given the length of our coastline, a Scottish coastal path would dwarf that and, in terms of length, challenge famous routes such as the Appalachian Trail.
“None of our motorways were built in one go. Paths are arguably much more beneficial in the long run and with many of the routes already in existence we must start the work to join them up and create a walk around Scotland."
A Scottish coastal path would take in some dramatic scenery – it is difficult to think of many parts which would be less than interesting. The intracacies of the west coast , with its many sea lochs reaching deep into the Scottish Highlands, mean the route would be extremely long – probably around 6000 miles, much of it stunning, most of it beautiful, nearly all of it quiet and peaceful.
Some parts of the route are already developed – such as the Fife Coastal Way. Perhaps phase one could be the west coast as far as Loch Linnhe – where the route would join the Great Glen Way – or the south e east coast , joining the Fife Coastal Way to the Northumberland Coast Path.
The potential for walking holidays is endless – most Mickledore clients walk around 100 miles a week, meaning the whole route take well over a year to complete.
But the size of the undertaking should not be underestimated – not only is 6000 miles a very long way, vast tracts of the route , such as the area around Knoydart and the far north west, are extremely remote. Access for construction would be limited to sea and air. Its hard to imagine the Scottish Parliament finding the funds for such work – but here’s hoping!
Labels: Fife Costal Way, Great Glen Way, Northumberland Coast Path, Scottish Coastal Path
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