Almost every National Trust site in the Midlands will be taking part in the week long Walking Festival which starts on 22 October.
There will be over 100 different walks to choose from during the week taking in stunning stretches of countryside and never more than 40 minutes away from where you live.
Fiona Reynolds, National Trust Director General, said: “For too long it’s felt that outdoor spaces have been the Trust’s best kept secret. We want to play our part in helping to reconnect the nation with our amazing countryside.”
Beccy Speight, Director for the Midlands, said: “We hope that this first ever Walking Festival will inspire everyone to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. From long rambles to little ambles there’s a walk for everyone to enjoy.”
Thousands are expected to take part in the festival nationally, which includes a mixture of organised walks and self-led walks available to download in advance.
For more information visit the website at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walkingfestival
To celebrate the Walking Festival, Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury, will be opening a new estate walk on Saturday 22 October. Attingham already has two walks popular with visitors, the Mile Walk and Deer Park Walk, and the new ‘Woodland Walk’ will take visitors through a part of the park they may not have explored before.
Bob Thurston, Countryside Parks and Garden Manager said: “Our new Woodland Walk is a great opportunity for visitors to take a ‘peak into the park.’ The route takes visitors through what was part of the original Deer Park over 120 years ago, before becoming woodland.”
There will be guided walks along the new route over the weekend of 22 and 23 October at 11am and 2pm each day. Standard grounds admission charges apply, National Trust members and under 5s free.
At Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton, there will also be a number of walks on offer during the week. On 24 October visitors can go on a ramble across to Batch Valley with Assistant Ranger Nick Robinson; and on 25 October visitors can head out with Learning Officer Chris Stratton to discover the story of Reverend Carr.
Chris will be leading a more leisurely walk on 26 October, to take in the stunning scenery of Carding Mill Valley; and on 27 October, Nick will be leading a walk to the valley’s waterfall. Countryside Manager Peter Carty will be leading a walk to the top of the Long Mynd on the 30 October.
All walks cost £3 per person and they all start from the Chalet Pavilion in Carding Mill Valley. For timings and further details visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walkingfestival or call: 01694 723680.
Learning Officer, Chris Stratton says: “We are hoping that lots of people will want to get out and about and join in on these walks, they are a great opportunity to see the countryside and to discover more about this special place from the people that work here.”
