After more than three decades of uncertainty, a Government appointed Inspector has just confirmed that Walna Scar, one of the Lake District’s most popular fell passes, will not be open to motorised vehicles. The ruling came after a long and complicated process, and will be welcome news to walkers using the area. The Secretary of State concluded that the correct legal status of the route is a ‘Restricted Byway’ – which, unless legislation changes, will retain its status into the future. That means the route will be open to all traffic, except motorised vehicles, and that any motorist or motorcyclist caught using Walna Scar between Coniston and Seathwaite could face serious legal consequences, as they will be committing an offence.

National Park Countryside Access Adviser Nick Thorne said that the complexities of the legislation and the sheer amount of documents and arguments put by all the parties involved had made this one of the most difficult investigations into rights of way status that the national park had ever undertaken. Over 600 pages were sent to the Inspector, including guidebooks ranging from 1835 to the modern era. Evidence also included maps dating back to 1745, as well as highway surveyor’s records from the late eighteenth century, quarry leases from the late nineteenth century and photographs from the 1920s.

“Although complex, it was fascinating to be able to draw up a history of the route in this way,” says Nick. “It certainly helps us understand the area and its relationship with the quarries and road network over the last few centuries. ”

For more on walking routes in the park, visit www.lake-district.gov.uk

Image: Walna Scar gateway at the top of the steep lane from Coniston. Photo by Andrew Hill via geograph.org.uk.

The path, which runs around beautiful Weymouth Bay from Rufus Castle on Portland to Lulworth Cove, will bring huge benefits to the local area; boosting tourism and the seaside economy, as well as improving social wellbeing, health and enjoyment. The Ramblers is now urging the government to press on with the next stages of this exciting project and bring the benefits of the coastal path to the rest of England.

“This is a great day for walkers everywhere as we see the first steps towards our vision of a continuous English coastal path become a reality,” commented Justin Cooke, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer. “An English coastal path would take in exhilarating cliff-top walks, breathtaking shorelines, an abundance of wildlife and millions of years of the earth’s history, as well as breathing new life to our coastal villages and seaside towns. We now urge the government to clearly set out the timeline for the next stretches of the path and bring the benefits of this exciting project to the rest of the country.”

Meanwhile, the recently-completed Welsh coastal path is set to launch on 5th May; making Wales the first country in the world to have a continuous coastal path. And inland waterways will get a boost too, with the government announcing yesterday that the new charity for Britain’s waterways will receive over £1 billion of funding. The Canals and Rivers Trust, which replaces British Waterways, was set up to manage Britain’s waterways for public benefit and enjoyment; including public access on foot.

“With millions of people each year using our canals and rivers it is clear that a walk besides Britain’s waterways is an important part of our cultural heritage,” says Kate Conto, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer. “This funding announced today is good news for walkers and waterway users everywhere, meaning that the Trust can take the best first steps possible towards protecting our waterways and ensuring that they can be enjoyed by all. The Ramblers warmly welcome this commitment to our waterways and the importance of improving public access to our rivers and canals for recreation, health and social wellbeing.”

The Ramblers lobbied hard to make certain that public access to the country’s towpaths and canal side footpaths formed part of the Trust’s charitable objectives, in recognition of the fact that walkers are amongst the biggest group of people to use our canals and rivers. The new funding will enable the charity to build from a solid platform, which means it can concentrate on protecting, restoring and improving the charity’s 2,200 miles of canals and rivers and increasing public access to them.

They say good news comes in threes, and this week was no exception – with the announcement that public access to an historic piece of Kent countryside will be restored following a ruling by the magistrates’ court.

The historic site at Capel Battery on the cliff top at Capel-le-Ferne, which was dedicated as Open Access Land some years ago under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, had been controversially closed off to the public for more than two years after a 6ft fence was erected by the landowner. Open Access Land should be open for the public to use for recreation and enjoyment but after purchasing the land in 2009, the landowner fenced off the site and began excavations of a World War II battery and underground hospital.

After negotiations failed to convince the landowner to restore public access to the land, Kent County Council took the case to court. The magistrates’ court has now ordered all obstructions to the site to be removed within 60 days. Local Ramblers, who had called for the site to be reopened and have been supporting the court case, have warmly welcomed the news.

“This is great news for walkers as it means that the public will again be able to enjoy this piece of Kent countryside,” says Margaret Lubbock, Chair of White Cliff Ramblers. “Open Access Land is there for everyone to use and it is sad that the entire 13 acres of this site has been fenced off for the past two years. We are pleased that the Magistrate’s Court saw fit to return this scenic and historic setting to the public.”

For breaking news as it happens, why not follow walk magazine and Ramblers on Twitter? 

Top image: Ringstead Bay with Weymouth Bay beyond, by Andrew Smith. Middle image: Canal bridge 102 on the Grand Union Canal by Andy F. Lower image: The Warren from near Capel-le-Ferne by Ian Capper, all via www.geograph.org.uk.

A much-loved path for Lake District walkers has finally been repaired and restored after 2009’s record-breaking floods washed it away. The historical route, which Alfred Wainwright described as “one of the pleasantest of foot passes”, was regularly climbed by walkers heading for Haystacks, one of Wainwright’s favourite peaks and his last resting place. 

Since the floods, walkers have had to struggle around a landslide as LDNPA staff worked out how to obtain the £70,000 required to fund the repairs. Following a successful bid to the Rural Development Programme for England, specialist engineers were asked to design and build a solution. Managing the surface water was as important to ensure that a similar failure didn’t happen again elsewhere along the path, so contractors Metcalfe Plant Hire of Penrith came up with the idea of using more than 100 tonnes of materials recovered from the bottom of the slope to fill the gap. At the same time slate from nearby Honister Mine was used to create a drain which catches the water and directs it away from the affected area. The 30m landslide which created a large gap on the bridleway between Gatesgarth and Scarth Gap is now being used by walkers again allowing them to enjoy views over Buttermere.

 “I’m really delighted that the bridleway has been repaired,” says Lake District National Park Paths for the Public Project Coordinator, Dylan Jackman. “It’s been a while coming, but it has been quite a unique project and something that needed careful consideration.”

For more about walking in the Lake District, visit www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/outdoors/walking

Image by Ian Greig via geograph.org.uk 

Now, six years on, the Woodland Trust has completed the first stage of the restoration of the forest – including thinning almost all the areas of Wentwood in the Trust’s care which had been previously been planted with conifers to provide space and light for native oak, beech and hazel to take their place. What the Trust has not done, however, is to clear-fell large areas of the forest. This ensures that the land still feels like a wood and, crucially, can protect the rare and vulnerable woodland flora, such as woodland ferns, that could be killed off by the shock of clear-felling.

“It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to restore Wales’ largest remaining ancient forest,” says Barry Embling, responsible for the management of Wentwood. ”Over the past five years we’ve removed tens of thousands of tonnes of conifer trees, creating much improved habitats for the whole range of wildlife associated with ancient woodland, including dormouse, pipistrelle bat, song thrush and bullfinch. Other declining and nationally rare species which should benefit from the restoration include wood warbler, willow tit (Wentwood is the last place for this species in Gwent), cuckoo, tree pipit, goshawk and badger.”

Like all Woodland Trust sites, Wentwood has its own website at www.wt-woods.org.uk/wentwood which includes a map, notes about what to look out for, and the Woodland Trust’s long term plans for the forest.

Image: Beeches along ancient hollow lane, Wentwood. Photo by Rory Francis/WTPL.

We’ll be revealing your votes for favourite new gear, with everything from the popular Best Walking Boot to the coveted Best Mid-Layer up for grabs. We’ll honour your favourite overall walking brand, name the best national retailer, then move on to eagerly-awaited winner of the new “Best Rambler-Led Walk” award. Plus, you’ll get a chance to see and meet the people the people behind your favourite brands, as well as some familiar faces from Ramblers and the pages of walk.

Elsewhere at this year’s show (which also includes entry to the Bike, Boat and Active Travel shows*) you’ll find an embarrassment of  riches awaiting you – from adventurous activities like ice climbing and zipwiring to a food market and a beer and wine tasting experience. Speakers on the main stage include urban birder David Lindo, BBC2 personality Cameron McNeish and walk contributor Paddy Dillon, plus experts, photographers and adventurers. For those up for a challenge, the Climbing Village will feature a wide range of walls for the complete beginner to accomplished climbers, or head for the Travel & Adventure Stage, where you can hear from to a wide range of explorers, including shipwreck hunter David Mearns and world record-breaking adventurers. There’ll also be highlights from the Banff Mountain Film Festival showcasing throughout the weekend, an entire photography village for those looking for tips and tricks, plus a new ‘Careers in the Outdoors’ clinic for anyone considering trading the office for the forest. Hope to see you there, and do come say hello!

*Your Outdoors Show ticket also includes a free showguide courtesy of TGO Magazine and a goody bag. To book, visit www.theoutdoorshow.co.uk.

Under 16s winner Chloe Hinton says of her winning image, entitled Sunrise Horses, ”the frosty background represents the cold winter we had last year, however the horses look happy and content and don’t seem to mind. The background behind is typical New Forest and I think this is a perfect ‘dream view’. The pony is probably the most common New Forest animal that roams freely.”

This year, to mark the Olympic Games coming to London, the 2012 competition has a special Olympic theme with the categories of gold, silver and bronze – and a wider creative remit with photographs, paintings, sculpturse, stories or poems of the New Forest welcome – so think golden sunsets, sliver light on water, bronze autumn leaves.

For more information on how to enter, visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/news/olympics-competition

The exhibition at Moors Valley is on now until 15 January 2011. For more information, and details of their Stargazing Live event in January, visit www.moors-valley.co.uk

The few precious days left before Christmas can only mean one thing – the annual Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks is nearly upon us! This year’s celebration aims to get the nation on its feet and out enjoying the country’s urban routes, countryside trails and forest footpaths over the holidays. All walks are free – so as a keen walker, the festival is a great chance to introduce friends and family members to the joys of life on foot – especially those who might have had too much turkey and stuffing!

For the first time ever, the event starts on Christmas Eve; giving you 10 whole days of free, festive, fun-filled walking adventures. Highlights this season include:

Festive Christmas Eve Linear Walk
10am, Sat 24 December 2011
Join the Southampton Ramblers for a 10km/6-mile riverside stroll in festive garb (if you fancy it!) on this Christmas Eve ramble. There’ll be a leisurely tipple in the Master Builder’s pub at Buckler’s Hard, before returning along the river to Beaulieu.

Christmas Pudding Buster
9am, Mon 26 December 2011
Walk off the Christmas excess with the traditional hangover cure of a slightly strenuous 13km/8-mile circular walk in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. It’s the perfect way to get the blood pumping and the alcohol perspired on Boxing Day. Dogs are welcome.

Clive’s Christmas Curry
10.30am, Tue 27 December 2011
A 8km/5-mile walk with Wyre Forest members around Droitwich via the new canal, finishing off with a well deserved curry at the Raj Tandoori. Pre-booking and deposit required.

A New Year Mystery Walk
10am, Sun 1 January 2012
A walk to blow away the excesses of the Yuletide and New Year festivities with the Mansfield & Sherwood Walking Group. Meet at Mansfield railway station.

New Year’s Day in the North Downs countryside
10am, Sun 1 January 2012
Join the Woking Ramblers on a beautiful 14km/9-mile country walk to kick off the first day of 2012. They will be following established paths and lanes through Gatwick village, passing through woodlands, over Crooksbury Common, and across heathlands, before returning along the North Downs Way.

To find a walk near you, check out the Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks website.

Image by Susulyka

The Big Walk Map puts our extensive collection of expertly-crafted routes at your fingertips – from walks in the farthest reaches of Scotland to a stroll around Land’s End and everything in between! We’ll also be posting walking news and features by location, making it easy to keep track of what’s happening where.

Check out The Big Walk Map below or bookmark http://www.walkmag.co.uk/big-walk-map for handy future reference!

View the Big Walk Map on Google Maps

walking… the Taith Ardudwy Way
Opened in September, this gorgeous new Welsh trail has already won the Best Reason To Buy A Pair of Hiking Boots at the Lonely Planet Awards. Winding 37km/23 miles through the foothills of the Rhinog Mountains between Barmouth and Llandecwyn, the route took seven years and the involvement of many Ramblers volunteers to create. Roll on my Christmas holidays…
Find out more at www.taithardudwyway.com 

shopping… for Christmas goodies
Looking for the ideal Christmas present for your footloose family and friends? Buy it through the Ramblers online shop and each purchase will make a vital donation to your favourite charity.

presenting… the walk Reader Awards 2011
On 13 January, join me and a celebrity guest at Britain’s biggest show for lovers of the outdoors, where we’ll be revealing the winners of this year’s walk Reader Awards.
Click here for details and discount tickets to The Outdoors Show

Image of the Taith Ardudwy Way © Visit Wales.

On Saturday 3 December you can help survey some of the most fantastic woodland in Britain with the New Forest National Park team. An ancient tree hunt leader will take small groups around Denny Wood to explore the ancient and ornamental woodland as part of an ancient tree survey to find the oldest and largest trees in the New Forest. The National Park Authority’s tree expert Bryan Wilson will also be at the event to answer any tree-related questions.

“Some of the oak and beech trees in Denny Wood are over 400 years old,” explains Jim Mitchell, Interpretation Officer at the New Forest National Park Authority. “They support an established woodland ecosystem. As well as surveying the area the group leaders will talk about the history of the woodland and what makes it unique and special.”

There are two sessions, 9.30am to midday and 1pm to 3.30pm. The event is free but booking is essential as places are limited. The event is suitable for children eight years and over. To book your place email events@newforestnpa.gov.uk or call ✆ 01590 646681. For more information about the event visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ancient-tree-hunt.

Enjoy a woodland walk and bonfire picnic in Moreton Wood

Come and join in a lovely guided walk around Moreton Wood on Sunday 27 November looking at and learning about all the work that has taken place and the benefits to the woodland ecology. Bring your own picnic to enjoy around the bonfire.

Time: 11am – 2pm. Address: Moreton Wood, Ullingswick Nr Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR1 3JQ. For more information please email Joanna Callaghan jo@moretonwood.co.uk

Learn to identify trees in winter

Celebrate National Tree Week with a guided walk around Belper Parks Local Nature Reserve in Derbyshire on Sunday 4 December. Discover how to tell trees apart in winter, looking at twigs, bark and tree shapes.

Meet in the Coppice car park, next to Belper Market Place. This event is free. Booking is essential as places are limited. Contact us on ✆ 01773 881188.

For more National Tree Week events visit The Tree Council’s event-searchable website. 

Image: Ancient oak woodland by Graham Cole.