News Archive

Those strapping on their walking boots for a trip to the Lake District will be pleased to hear that some of the region's mountain rescue teams have benefited from a cash grant.The Wainwright Society, which was set up in honour of Lakes legend Alfred Wainwright, has donated £9,000 to rescue teams across the region, the Westmorland Gazette reports.Sales from the society's 2011 calendar made up the funding.Teams in Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Duddon and Furness, and the Cave Resc....

Those lacing up their walking boots and packing away the waterproofs for a trip to Loch Lomond will be interested to hear that a new map of the famous water has been produced – the first, in fact, for 150 years.Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority (NPA), together with the British Geological Survey (BGS), have unveiled a new navigation chart for the area, inspired by the first depth survey that took place in 1861.Back then, men from HMS Porcupine, led by a Captain Otter, us....

Families wanting to strap on their walking boots and head outdoors over the half-term break may want to consider visiting the North York Moors.The park is hosting a range of interesting events over the holiday, including wildlife sessions and map-reading tutorials.Children can get involved with the park's birdlife by making willow feeders and building bird boxes at The Moors National Park Centre in Danby on Monday February 21st.At the Sowing Spring Seeds event, also on February 21st, childre....

Wearing a ski helmet when you hit the slopes has been shown by some studies to be beneficial, researchers in the British Medical Journal say.Scientists at the University of Innsbruck say research shows the use of ski helmets reduces head injuries by 59 per cent in children aged under 13 and in 35 per cent of adults, the BBC reports.Other research demonstrates that adults and children who wear a helmet while skiing are less likely than those without a helmet to suffer a head injury.With another s....

A group of men and women from Dorchester will lace up their walking boots and head off for a 175-mile charity hike later this year.The eight-strong team, which includes a grandfather of two, are aiming to complete seven marathons in seven days when they walk the West Highland and Great Glen Way in Scotland, the Dorset Echo reports.Along the way they will climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK.They are raising funds for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, an independent Dorset charity that pr....

Northumberland National Park is updating its guidance about the kind of new building that is to be allowed within its boundaries.The authority wants to ensure that those donning their walking boots, and perhaps packing their waterproof clothing, for a trip to Hadrian's Wall or the Northumberland Hills continue to do so in a beautiful and unspoilt landscape.As a consultation on possible changes to the National Park Design Guide is opened, a series of workshops will take place across the park ....

The National Trust will build 100 miles of new footpaths this year as part of a drive to encourage more Britons to lace up their walking boots and enjoy the great outdoors.In a "major shift in focus", the trust wants to shed its reputation as being associated only with country houses and let people know about its involvement with walking, cycling and camping, too.Walking will be the main focus of the charity's work this year – with communities across the UK, it is hoped that ....

Hikers have been reminded of the dangers of lacing up their walking boots and heading out on the hills without taking proper precautions.This weekend, a group of walkers set out for Devil's Kitchen, in Ogwen Valley, without a map and no idea where they were going, the area's mountain rescue team has said.As darkness fell, a female in the group, who had a known heart condition, became short of breath and started to feel unwell.They phoned for help and were airlifted from Foel Goch mountai....

No, it isn't too cliched – if you're thinking of asking the love of your life to marry you this Valentine's Day, strapping on the walking boots and heading to the great outdoors may be your best bet.That's because you're likely to hear a resounding 'yes' when you pop the question – especially if you're in the Yorkshire Dales, according to Yorkshire Life.Two of the park's loveliest spots – the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Hardraw Force – ar....

Hiking enthusiasts are being encouraged to pull on their walking boots for a charity walk on the Malverns.The annual Malvern Hills walk for St Richard's Hospice will take place on Saturday May 21st, and there are three routes to choose from.For experienced walkers there's an 11-mile route, with a five-mile choice for a slightly more relaxed challenge, and a two-mile stroll for youngsters and less experienced walkers.More than 500 people took part in the walk last year, helping to raise o....

Being in the great outdoors provides people in walking boots with a wonderful opportunity to reminisce.In an article published on Reuters.com, hiking enthusiasts were reminded how going for a long walk could give people an opportunity to bond.Author Bruce Northam described how, as a young boy, he and his father would often embark on lengthy rambles through the British countryside."Our wanderings led us to villages forgotten by modern highways and high-speed trains," he said."In Li....

If you're a keen summer walker but haven't yet mustered the courage to head outdoors in the colder, darker winter, you'll be pleased to hear that with a little forward planning a winter walk is perfectly achievable.Talking to outdoor magazine Trail, mountaineering instructor Sandy Paterson said walking in winter is perfectly do-able - as long as you plan ahead and take the right precautions.Darkness is a big concern for many new winter walkers. With little light pollution in the grea....

A man recovering from a brain tumour will pull on his walking boots and set off for a 'gentle' Lake District stroll later this year - well, make that a marathon trek around 54 of the park's lakes and waterways.David Collinson intends to walk an average of 15 miles a day - with only one rest day - as he completes the 180-mile hike in May, the Westmorland Gazette reports.Mr Collinson, a solicitor, is undertaking the challenge, that he believes is the first to traverse the Lakes' me....

They're coming over here and taking our jobs – a familiar line, yes – but this time it's not those of British plumbers being usurped by Poles but, er, French ski instructors, being ousted by Britons.That at least is the view of newspaper Liberation, which declared in an article headlined 'Europe: After the Polish Plumber, the English Ski Instructor', that British ski professionals are invading their ski 'Eldorado'.There is concern among the French that an EU-w....

A woman is preparing to strap on her walking boots and undertake a challenging 97-mile walk later this month – but she'll have her dog in tow to help.And this isn't the first time Kate Hardcastle and Goldie have trekked together – the pair notched up a 700-mile round-the-country hike in 2007, the North-West Evening Mail reports.The new trek, from Carnforth to Whitehaven, to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, is 97 miles long for a reason."The reason I am walking 97 mi....

Want to really get fit? You may be better strapping on your walking boots and heading outdoors – as a new study shows that exercise outdoors offers significant benefits to both mental and physical well-being. A team at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in the US have collated and examined data from sources including eleven trials involving 833 adults – all of which explore the connection between outdoor and indoor exercise, the Telegraph reports. The team found that r....

If you're looking for something fun, different and, well, healthy to do this Valentine's Day, why not strap on a pair of walking boots and head out with your partner to one of the UK's stunning national parks for a romantic day out? That's the message from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which is inviting visitors to share the landscape they love with the world. The park wants people to visit the Pembrokeshire Coast on or around Valentine's Day, and take a ....

With the season well and truly underway, it's likely you'll be thinking about packing away your ski clothing and hitting the slopes, perhaps during the upcoming half-term school break. But before you jump into any old deal, you've been urged to seriously consider shopping around. That's because, according to ski hire firm Ski Republic, which has outlets across the Alps, the price of ski hire can vary by up to 49 per cent. After undertaking a price check of hire companies in so....

The son of a former port worker will pull on his walking boots for a four-day charity trek.Rich Paterson is embarking on the trip to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of his dad, Alan, reports the Harwich and Manningtree Standard.He will being the walk in July, covering around 20 kilometres a day during the four-day hike.Mr Paterson told the news provider of his motivation for setting out on the walk.He said: "I wanted to give something back to the charity that had help....

Walking boots are essential for any rambling enthusiasts considering taking on a recently reopened route.Having been closed for six years, a circular route around Bracklinn Falls near Callander, Scotland, is once more open to the public.The Scotsman Newspaper recently featured the route as its Walk of the Week, highlighting the fact that it has only recently become accessible again.It was closed following a flash flood on Keltie Burn in 2004 which swept away the old bridge. It took until last ye....