Yorkshire Naturalists’ Trust, 20 Castlegate, York, Yol 1RP At Cooper Cross car park on A170 between Thirsk (5j miles) and Helmsley (6 miles) Map reference: SE515 2-mile trail down and around limestone cliffs and woodland Nature Reserve -some steep scrambling, so wear sturdy shoes Illustrated trail brochure from Trust, tourist and National Park offices; car … Read more
Hopetoun House Preservation Trust, Estates Office, South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9SL On unclassified road 1 mile north of A904 2 miles west of Forth Road Bridge approach roundabout Map reference: NT089 2-mile trail in wooded and estuary shore grounds of 18th-century mansion-fallow deer and rare black St Kilda sheep Illustrated trail brochure; free park … Read more
East Kilbride District Council, Civic Centre, East Kilbride, G74 1AB 2 miles south of East Kilbride centre on the A726 to Strathaven Map reference: NS655 Approx 1-mile nature trail in wooded river valley in the grounds of 17 th-century mansion Four illustrated brochures -one for each season; car park Although East Kilbride is one of … Read more
The Buteshire Natural History Society, The Museum, Stuart Street, Rothesay, Bute Bute is reached by regular vehicle ferry services Wemyss Bay – Rothesay and Colintraive – Rhubodach Map references: Bull Loch Trail NS026 South end of Bute Trail 5 NS106 Two of 7 trails around the island prepared by local natural historians: inland Bull Loch … Read more
The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dundee and Angus Branch, The Secretary, 2 Castle Street, Forfar Trail starts at St Ninian’s Well at the east end of Arbroath sea front promenade Map reference: N0659 3-mile clifftop footpath walk with one avoidable steep section exploring cliff and rock flora and sea birds Illustrated trail brochure from Trust or … Read more
Strathmore Estates Ltd, Estates Office, Glamis, Angus, DD8 IRQ Off A928 4 miles south of Kirriemuir close to junction with A94 at village of Glamis Map reference: N0387 1-mile trail viewing superb mature trees and parkland wildlife in grounds of historic castle—good access for disabled visitors Illustrated trail guide; car park; tours of castle Probably … Read more
Forestry Commission, Forest Office, Glenachulish, Argyll Trails centred on Glencoe village on A82 Tyndrum-Kinlochleven road Map references: Signal Rock Trail NN129565 Lochan Forest Trail NN099 Two trails in small woodlands at mouth of historic Glencoe: Signal Rock Trail-about 1J miles; Lochan Trail-about 2 miles Illustrated trail booklet; car parks; visitor centres; cafes in village Nestled … Read more
Glen More Forest Trails, Forestry Commission, Glen More Information Centre, Aviemore, Highland Glen More Trail On ski road off B970 (at Coylumbridge) 6 miles east of Aviemore Map reference: NH974 Three trails displaying both modern forestry techniques and natural Cairngorm flora and fauna: Shore Trail – U miles; River trail – 3 miles; Pinewood Trail … Read more
On A5 2 miles east of Holyhead at west end of Stanley Embankment Map reference: SH275 2J-mile trail around coastal headland Nature Reserve – large sea bird population Trail brochures and illustrated sign boards on trail; car park; picnic area; tea cabin; exhibition; bird and animal hospital; good facilities for disabled Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd, … Read more
Nature Conservancy Council, PenrhosRoad, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ The Miners’ Track On A4086 in Llanberis Pass 1 mile from junction with A498 (Pen y Gwryd Hotel) Map reference: SH648 3-mile section of public footpath leading to Snowdon summit through glacial valley with lakes, mineral workings and rock and bog vegetation Car park (often crowded, early … Read more
Snowdonia is a vast outdoor pursuits park which can provide pony-trekking, canoeing, fishing, orienteering, rock-climbing and even sailing to visitors. It is a land for the sightseer. There are three little train lines in the northern part of the National Park and one runs on Snowdon itself. The Mountain Railway has a track from Llanberis … Read more
The trail begins through the gardens to the left of the hall, built in 1722 close to a stand of lime trees which produce a pale, hard wood, once used to carve the intricate printing blocks used in Macclesfield’s silk industry. You will. Also see the hall’s chapel, still in use, which was once thought … Read more
Metropolitan Borough of Calder, Information Centre, 1 Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8JP On unclassified road off A6033 li miles north of Hebden Bridge centre — signposted Hardcastle Crags Map reference: SD997 Approximately 2-mile trail along valley of Hebden Water, woodlands and rock escarpment – beautiful aspects compared to Switzerland by Swiss visitors … Read more
Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre, Clapham, North Yorkshire Trail starts at National Park Centre in village of Clapham on A65 between Settle (6 miles) and Kendal (23 miles) Map reference: SD745 4-41-mile trail illustrating social, historical and geological impact on a limestone landscape. National Park Centre open Easter-early November (mid-morning-late afternoon) Illustrated trail brochure; car … Read more
Forestry Commission, Helvellyn Street, Keswick, Cumbria Smithy Beck Forest Trail At end of unclassified road through hamlet of Croasdale 2 miles north east of Ennerdale Bridge at Bowness Knott carpark Map reference: NY108155 (Bowness Knott car park) Approx 2i-mile trail through Ennerdale Forest with spectacular lakeland views. Some steep sections Dodd Wood Forest Trail On … Read more
North York Moors National Park, The Old Vicarage, Bondgate, Helmsley, Y06 5BP H miles off B1416 on unclassified road between Ruswarp and junction with A Map reference: NZ892 4-mile trail around a moor farm, open moorland and a conifer plantation-shows the hard life of the moor farmer and the harmony of forestry, game and farming … Read more
The Forestry Commission, Crown Offices, Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Off B4228 mile north of junction with A4136 at Lower Berry Hill -signposted to campsites Map reference: S0568 21-mile trail through ancient and modern afforestation of deciduous and coniferous trees-passes mine-workings, charcoal hearth and woodpecker haunts Illustrated trail brochure; car park; campsites; well-stocked food shop; … Read more
Nature Conservancy Council, Oxwich Reserve Centre, Oxwich, Swansea, SA3 1LS 11 miles the A4118 on unclassified road 11 miles west of Swansea -signposted Oxwich Map reference: SS502 Two trails in small coastal National Nature Reserve: Sand Dunes Trail -1-mile walk illustrating dune erosion and deposition; Woodland Walk – 3-mile walk through cliffside woodland and pasture … Read more
The Gower is a leisure paradise for the industrial towns of South Wales and its many beaches are often crowded in high season and at weekends. Swansea is the gateway to Gower, a busy city at the mouth of the Tawe or Swansea Valley. It was the world centre of the non-ferrous metal industry for … Read more
West Wales Naturalists’ Trust, 7 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed Reached by boat (April-October) from Martin’s Haven 2 miles past Marloes village on unclassified road off B4327. Also boats from Dale. Sailing details from The Information Officer, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, County Offices, Haverfordwest, Dyfed, SA61 1QZ Map references: Martin’s Haven SM760092 Skomer North Haven SM735 … Read more
Central Electricity Generating Board, Rheidol Power Station, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Dyfed On unclassified road 3 miles off A44 at Capel Bangor-signposted Cwmrheidol. Also access from Aberffrwd Halt on Vale of Rheidol Light Railway (BR, Aberystwyth -Devil’s Bridge). Trail starts at CEGB visitor centre Map reference: SN697 2j–mile trail around a river valley dammed for a … Read more
As many of the trails featured in this selection have information or starting points that are off the beaten track, the full Ordnance Survey map reference for the access point is given in the trail data panel. A full Ordnance Survey reference consists of a two-letter code (example: SU) placing the reference within a particular … Read more
Cornwall Naturalists’ Trust, Malcolm S Henchley, Ferrers, Stamford Hill, Bude, Cornwall Off A39 unclassified road near to the hamlet of Coombe about 5 miles north of Bude Map reference SS210 li-mile trail through wooded valley close to sea – easy to negotiate for young families Illustrated trail brochure from Trust and local tourism offices; small … Read more
Forestry Commission, Dunmere, Bodmin, Cornwall 2 miles east of Bodmin off unclassified road at Turfdown 3 mile from A Map reference: SX099 Four trails with themes: Riverside Walk – H miles; Bluebell Walk – 2-mile extension of Riverside Walk taking in bluebell glades; Panorama Walk – miles (also connected to Bluebell Walk) with some steep … Read more
The Devon Trust for Nature Conservation, 2 Pennsylvania Road, Exeter li miles off A3052 through Salcombe Regis or I mile east of Sidmouth on unclassified road to Salcombe Regis Map Reference: SY139 4i-mile circuit of public footpaths crossing 500ft Salcombe Hill through trees and heath with beautiful sea views Information boards; illustrated brochure from local … Read more
The Devon Trust for Nature Conservation, 2 Pennsylvania Road, Exeter On B3212 south west of Dunsford village and 9 miles from Exeter Map reference: SX805 2-mile long Reserve with bridle path, Fisherman’s Path, and Daffodil Walk in wooded river valley Information board at trail entrances; illustrated brochure from tourist information caravan on B3212 (about 250 … Read more
Department of Leisure and Tourist Service, Bath City Council, The Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath From station go under railway and over the Avon – turn left into Claverton Street and left again. The first canal lock is off Spring Gardens Road Map reference: ST755 2-mile urban and suburban canal walk with features of both … Read more
Forestry Commission, The Queen’s House, Lyndhurst, Hampshire S04 7NH On unclassified road 1 mile south east off A31 Southampton-Ringwood road, 61 miles north east of Ringwood Map reference: SZ243 Three walks through a central New Forest highland among mature trees: Radnor Walk-j mile; Arboretum Walk- li miles; Mark Ash Walk-3 Smiles Trail notes or full … Read more
Park Centre, Gravel Hill, Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, P08 OQE On A3 between Petersfield (4 miles) and Portsmouth (13 miles) -well-signposted Map reference: SU 719 Four trails covering different aspects of wood and downland conservation area: Centre Trail – 3} miles; Holt Trail – 21 miles; Butser Trail – 21 miles; Tree Trail -11miles (level, suitable … Read more
The National Trust, Blickling, Norwich, NR116NF TehAylsham (026373)3 Ketton-Cremer. Just how permanent they have remained can be seen along the two trails laid out through the park and woodland of the hall grounds – the beautiful Lakeside and Woodland Walks. Off B1436 half way between junction with A148 and Felbrigg village – about 2> miles … Read more
Lincolnshire and South Humberside Trust for Nature Conservation, Gibraltar Point, Skegness, Lincolnshire (and at Manor House, Alford, Lincolnshire) At end of Gibraltar Road, 3 miles south of Skegness town centre Map reference: TF555 1-mile long Reserve with marked paths which can be followed at will – principal features are the duneland and saltmarsh environments Very … Read more
The National Trust, Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3 BE 3 miles south east of Worksop off B6005 – signposted Carburton and Clumber Park Map reference: SK626 Two walks of 3 miles and 1 mile showing conservation and restoration of a Capability Brown landscape in a former ducal hunting park – park open all year … Read more
Nature trails like this are so useful and interesting that it is very easy for the leisure-bent visitor to miss a very obvious point. That is, without the maps and markers, the wildlife brochures and the pathside notices describing the trail’s more interesting features, these are all ordinary walks in the country. Think about it … Read more
The advent of the nature trail as a major countryside amenity is as much an expression of the need to guard against damage to the environment as a new means of adding interest to nature study. Here is how you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the and the quest for a lungful of … Read more
One of the oldest running self sufficient communities in the Western World is the Amish. Is their shunning of modern technology key to environmental survival? Is there anything inherent in their Christian values that holds the key to environmental sustainability? Because we are human, and because we care for others, we inevitably seek for such … Read more
Have we time to fix the planet anyhow? The experts are all grim-faced. They concede that at least the question is a legitimate question. They divide over whether or not they want to give a gloomy answer. Perhaps, more than emerged in the series, the Observer was right to hang ‘optimist’ and ‘pessimist’ labels around … Read more
This is the third critical area in which to question whether mankind has any time left, or is hell-bent on a self-destruct course. Simply stated, is economic growth the solution to anything at all, or is it the unrecognized poison in our guts? The Limits of Growth, a report prepared for the ‘Club of Rome’ … Read more
World energy consumption is increasing by about 4% a year, or doubling every 15 years. Petroleum consumption is doubling every 10 years or so. Traditional sources of this energy cannot maintain this rate for very much longer. We shall quite simply use up all our available resources. The argument tends to hinge, therefore, around the … Read more
Inevitably, inexorably, each question we ask leads on to the next in today’s world. The whole Affluence discussion involves presuppositions about growth in national economics. These in turn involve international economics. These inevitably throw up ultimate questions about how long we can maintain the growth patterns (which are resource-munching patterns), and still have any hopes … Read more