Winter Festival Highlight Walks, 2009

Festival Highlight Walks

26th December - 4th January 2009

A region-by-region selection

List of walks:

1. SW: Polzeath Cake Walk (Cornwall)
2. NE: Castles, moats and Roman ghosts (Durham)
3. NW: Frozen Lakes (Lake District, Cumbria)
4. Yorks: Moody Moors (W Yorkshire)
5. E Midlands: Sherwood’s Frosty Heart (Notts)
6. W Midlands: Little Lapland (Cannock Chase, Staffs)
7. London: Winter Retreats in City Streets (Hounslow)
8. SE: Music, Mince Pies, Millenium Park (Beds)
9. E: Windsor’s Nooks and Crannies (Berks)
10. Wales: Sultan’s Ear (Ystrad)
11. (bonus) Scotland: Worst-Dressed Rambler Amble (Aberdeen)

1. South West

Polzeath Cake Walk

Cornwall
Date: 27th December 2008
Start town: Polzeath, car park
Grid Reference: SW936794
Start time: 13.30
Estimated distance: 4 miles
Contact name: Tony Curtis-Clarke, 01208 812483

Tony Curtis-Clarke comments: “We’ve been going for more than 15 years now, and see more and more walkers turn out each time; it probably has something to do with Annie’s Christmas cake…”

Polzeath cake walk is a lively modern-day tradition that draws up to 60 local walkers each year to the Cornish coast to toast in the New Year. The party starts out from Polzeath and treks down the Camel Estuary to Penzar Head for views of hundreds of surfers crowding into the water at Polzeath beach to play the winter waves. They head north along the coast towards the jagged basalt line of ‘The Rumps’, which jut out into the sea looming ever-nearer as the party reaches the promontory. At the highest point the party stops, and home-made cake is handed round to toast in the New Year surrounded by the sights and sounds of waves crashing onto the 370 million-year old rocks below. Back on the mainland, it’s clockwise round the headland and inland through tiny fields to Polzeath car park again.

2. NE

Castles, moats and Roman ghosts

Durham
Date: 4 January 2009
Start town: Royal Oak pub in Cornsay, near Esh Winning (County Durham)
Grid Reference: NZ171432
Start time: 11:00 am
Estimated distance: 5 miles
Contact name: Simin/Robert Cooper
Contact phone: 0191 5108851

Follow the footsteps of Roman legionnaires via castles, moats and a Roman road, on this ghostly walk with the Northumbria Family Rambling group.

Start from the Royal Oak pub in Cornsey Colliery and travel down through rolling Hedleyhope Burn valley towards Dere Street Roman Road, to tramp out the footsteps of First Century Romans, who carried supplies from York up to Scotland. An air of misty mystery hangs over the winter walk, as walkers glimpse the remains of an ancient oak shrouded earthwork, and pass the deserted site of Rowley Manor, its chapel, and outbuildings. The shimmering 4 metre-deep protective moat stands testament to the area’s long history of repeated Scottish invasions. Walkers return via Quebec (the Anglo-French battle site, not the Canadian town!) back to Cornsey, and the welcome warmth of the Royal Oak.

3. NW

Frozen Lakes

Cumbria
Date: 28th December 2008
Start town: Threkeld Village, Salutation Inn
Grid Reference: NY 323 254
Start time: 10 am
Estimated distance: 9 miles
Contact details: 017687 75732

Winter adds an austere edge to the chocolate-box beauty of the iconic lakeland views accompanying this circuit round Latrigg, Skiddaw, and Blencathra mountains. From the jumbled black and white houses of Threlkeld. Walkers make their way west up the slopes of Latrigg Mountain- Wainwright’s ‘gem’ - to panoramic summit views across Derwentwater Lake, Borrowdale Valley and beyond. Dropping down the deep valley walls of Glenderaterra Beck, walkers will head northwards amongst bouncing clouds and dripping moss to Skiddaw massif’s lower slopes, then southwards along the Blencathra massif to return by field paths to Threlkeld’s shelter again.

4. Yorks

Moody Moors

West Yorkshire
Date: 4 January 2009
Start town: Ogden, Causway Foot Inn
Grid Reference: SE0631
Start time: 13:00
Estimated distance: 7 miles
Contact name: Murial O’ Flaherty
Contact phone: 07981 106470

This brooding walk under Bronte country’s moody skies gives hardier walkers the chance to explore delphs, cairns, windmills, and unsurpassable views from Yorkshire’s open access land.

Festival goers will start from the dog-friendly Causeway Foot Inn and walk up past Ogden and Thornton reservoirs, to join the Bronte Way and the moorland ridge. There stop and admire sweeping views of the Haworth moors – the inspiration for Wuthering Heights. Next, a detour onto open moor for a wonder amongst the disused ‘delphs’ (quarries) and sheltered stone cairn viewing points that pockmark the scrubby land. A trig point facing 20 working wind turbines spells the edge of the access land and the sign for walkers to drop down a cobbled lane into woodland, skirt the Ogden reservoir, and head back to the Causeway Foot Inn to sample their ‘excellent’ food and drink in front of a roaring fire.

Nottinghamshire
Date: 1st January 2009
Start town: Mansfield
Grid Reference: SK627 676
Start time: 10:30am
Estimated distance: 6 miles
Contact details: James, 07973 142929

There’s no better time to explore Sherwood Forest than on a crisp winter’s morning when frost dusts the branches of the history-steeped oak trees.

The forest’s well-drained footpaths take walkers right to the root of the legends, past Archway House and the Major Oak - where the Merry Men reputedly sheltered – and on to the Centre Tree at the heart of the wood. From there walkers will make their way back to a pub to take off their boots and toast in the New Year.

Staffordshire
Date: 2nd January 2009
Start town: Milford Common,
Grid Reference: SJ972211
Start time: 9:30am
Estimated distance: 6 miles
Contact details: Shirley Benn
Contact phone: 01785 603646

Wild deer, evergreens, misty waterways and abundant winter wildlife upgrade the status of Cannock Chase every year from Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to one of the country’s premier Winter Wonderlands.

This New Year’s walk starts from Milford Common and follows fir-tree lined paths and canal ways into the grounds of Shugborough Estate, where spectacular views of the mansion and its rolling riverside gardens are only highlighted by layers of fog, frost or snow. Walkers will cross the main road and dip back into Cannock Chase again for a return to reality, surrounded by jays, wrens, treecreepers, nuthatches, buzzards and, of course, the ubiquitous robin.

West London
Date: 28th December 2008
Start town: London, Osterley train station
Grid Reference: TQ 145 771
Start time: 10:30am
Estimated distance: 5-7 miles
Contact name: Margaret Sharp
Contact phone: 020 8748 0049

Leafless trees, still canals, subdued streets and a watery sun, perfectly showcase the air of dilapidated grandeur on this snaking 7 mile tour through West London’s once-finest manors and parks.

The walk reveals its biggest and most impressive hand right at the beginning, with a start point of Osterley Park Mansion then a wander through the ornamental lakes and temples of the 18th Century pleasure grounds. Emerge at the one-time rural ‘village’ of Norwood Village and follow the canal along the wall Hanwell’s former mental asylum for a mile, then break for lunch at the lively waterside ‘Fox’ pub. Dip back into parklife at the smaller-but-still-impressive Jacobean Boston Manor, then walk east through Gunnersbury’s grey streets and cemetary. Gunnersby Park Mansion provides the third and final chance to taste the high life, at the route’s most faded venue; bathhouses and an orangery vie with peeling paint and shabby walls and highlight the difference between then and now.

Bedford
Date: 20 December 2008
Start town: Marston Moretaine, St Mary’s Church
Grid Reference: SP 996412
Start time: 1 pm
Estimated distance: 5 miles
Contact details: 01234 767754

Pies, punch and carols reward walkers who trek through fields and woodland on this wintery circuit at the heart of Bedfordshire’s brick making country. Walkers start from the Grade 1 listed stone tower and slab-like body of Marston Moretaine’s 15th Century ‘St Mary’s’ Church, stroll up through the shrubs and young woods of the new Millenium Park and emerge amongst cottages at Lower Shelton. From here its ploughed fields and ancient woodland, and, as the sun sets and St Mary’s tower grows ever nearer, the thought of mince pies and music waiting for returning festival goers back at the Church.

Berkshire
Date: 28th December 2008
Start town: Windsor, Leisure centre
Grid Reference: SU958772
Start time: 10am
Estimated distance: 4 miles
Contact details: Tony Ray, 01753 863851

Capture the spirit of Christmas past, with this guided walk through the ancient road and back alleys of Windsor, the birthplace of England’s Christmas tree tradition. Start out firmly in the 20th Century from Windsor Leisure Centre, then travel back in time 1,000 years along Parsonage Lane to the 10th Century Saint Andrew’s Church. Pass Batchelors’ Acre - a medieval archery practice ground - and head down through the rabbit-warren streets and enclosed alleys of the old town to the Christmas lights of Peascode Street. From there, a glimpse of Windsor Castle, where Prince Albert imported the nation’s first decorated Christmas tree in 1841. Walkers will tour back through the bare-leaved trees of Alexandra Gardens to the starting point again.

Ystrad
Date: 26th December 2008
Start town: Ystrad Mynach
Grid Reference: ST 142944
Start time: 10am
Estimated distance: 4 miles
Contact details: 01443 813285

Children and inner children alike will relish the chance to ride a 600 foot pit pony, get ‘married’ (for the day) and explore Nelson’s bog, on this magical tour around Parc Penallta.

Start from picturesque Ystrad Mynarch train station and enter the park – a former colliery site - along a cycle track into woodland. Walk uphill and emerge at Penallta Observatory to admire sweeping views that stretch 360 degrees from the purple Caerphilly mountains to the rolling Rhonda Valley. From the platform, trip down to the massive earth sculpture of Sultan the Pit Pony, and sit in his ear blowing out smoky plumes and admiring the views. The rest of the walks offers the young (at heart) the chance to tramp Nelson Bog, race leaves on lakes, and ‘get married’ under a willow bower passageway.

Date: Friday 2 January 2009
Nearest town: Aberdeen
Start time: 11am
Distance: 5 miles
Contact phone: 01224 322 580

Aberdeen group say: “ Meet at the Hazlehead Park for a brisk walk in the park and surrounding area. This year the competition is for the "worst dressed rambler", wear your best loved holey gloves! Hopefully this will set you up well for another year of good walking in 2009.”