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Fed up of sweating it out in the gym? Health, fitness and fresh
air is on offer in the great outdoors during the Ramblers' Association's
national walking festival, Welcome to Walking Week, which starts
this Saturday (September 16th to 24th 2006).
The RA's walking for health festival is a great chance to get
out and explore the countryside - Britain's biggest free gym. There
are more than 400 led walks across England, Scotland and Wales,
all free and open to all, with plenty of short easy walks suitable
for beginners.
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and the perfect way
to work off those extra pounds you gained on your summer holidays.
A brisk one-mile walk in 20 minutes burns around 100 calories -
as much as swimming for 10 minutes, playing football for 12 minutes
or doing aerobics for 16 minutes. Regular walking can also protect
you from heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis,
depression and colon cancer. What's more, it's free and you don't
need any special equipment - just put on comfortable clothes and
shoes and step out of your front door.
Everyone who takes part in a festival walk can get a 20 per cent
discount on the cost of joining the Ramblers' Association. Members
get lots of great benefits including discounts on walking gear and
free access to hundreds of led walks all over the country every
week. There's something for all ages, including a network of groups
for people in their 20s and 30s across the country. Family-themed
walks will also be on offer during the festival as the RA teams
up with children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent for their annual
fundraising event Yummy Mummy Week. Family walks will be led by
RA volunteers and some will feature activities such as treasure
hunts and wildlife spotting.
Mariusz Wilczynski, Event Organiser, said: "Welcome to Walking
Week is a great opportunity for anyone who needs motivation to get
fit and healthy, with walks for all fitness levels available. Walking
is the cheapest, most natural and most convenient way to keep fit
and regularly walking for as little as thirty minutes a day will
improve your health."
For details of walks in your area visit www.ramblers.org.uk/walks
or phone 020 7339 8500.
September 2006
All walks cost £2.00, for non-members, £1.00 for members
Site
• Walking
blog
Sunday 17th September
The Henry Rice Trail Walk
leaders Eileen Crouch and George Vaughn-Ellis.
A leisurely guided tour of the work of the architectural genius
that was Henry Rice, who left his indelible mark on over seventy
Victorian buildings in the town of Liskeard.
2pm till approx 4pm;
Start & Finish Stuart House, Liskeard SX 251 645
Looe Valley Walking Festival 2006
This years walking
festival is being put on without the aid of any funding. Because
of this we are asking for a minimum donation of £3 for every
walk from those taking part to go towards costs.
Thursday 21st September
Freedom of Three Parishes Walk
We start the festival with one of the most popular walks of last
year. Leaving Looe by bus we travel to Polperro where we begin our
walk. From there we follow the valley into Pelynt parish, immortalised
in Geoffrey Grigson1s book 3Freedom of the Parish2, before crossing
the West Looe River and into Duloe Parish. A long climb brings us
up to the village itself, with its church and stone circle, before
descending once again to catch the train back to Looe.
Start: Opposite Looe Health Centre to catch 9.40 bus to Polperro,
Leave Polperro 10.05
Distance: 8 miles, approx 61Z¼2 hours.
Bring packed lunch and money for bus and train fare.
Friday 24th September
A Trip to Trenant
A welcome return this year for a walk that takes us out onto Trenant
Point. Undisturbed for many years and now in the hands of the Woodland
Trust, the area includes one of the finest examples of ancient woodland
in Cornwall. Not only that, but the walk offers you a wonderful
view of the town of Looe.
Start: Looe Health Centre 10.00 for 10.05 bus.
Distance: 8 Miles, approx 51Z¼2 hours.
Bring a packed lunch and drink.
Saturday 23rd September
Caradon Hill Circular
Local guide Iain Rowe returns this year with a walk around Caradon
Hill looking at its rich industrial history. Following the route
of the mineral railway, Iain will describe how the discovery of
copper on the hill turned a barren moorland into one of the busiest
places in Cornwall in the mid 1800s.
Start: Outside the PO/Shop, Minions 11.05
Distance: 3 miles, 5 hrs approx,
Bring a packed lunch and drink.
The Western Greyhound bus from Looe at 10.05 can be used to access
this walk, passing Liskeard Station at 10.24.
Sunday 24th September
Ups and Downs Walk
Finish the festival off with a climb! Join Blue Badge Guide Mark
Camp on a walk that gives you a different view of the countryside
and coastline around Looe. Heading out onto the South West Coast
Path, the plan is to have lunch at one of the finest views in South
East Cornwall, before heading back to Looe via Talland.
Start: Outside St John1s Ambulance Station, Millpool car park,
West Looe 10.30
Distance: 6 miles , walk will last approx 5 hrs
Bring a packed lunch
Phone Mark Camp on 01503 273060 for more information on any of the
above.
Stuart House Heritage Walking Group Program Of Events:
October 2006
All walks cost £2.00, for non-members, £1.00 for members
Saturday 14th October
Duloe Stone Circle Circular
8km (5 miles)
10am till approx 1pm;
Start & Finish Duloe Village Hall SX 233 585
Walk leader: Iain Rowe - A stroll around the beautiful parish of
Duloe, where we will be taking in: the Bronze Age stone circle,
Duloe Church as well as Tremadart & Bephillick Woods.
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