Walking the Camel Trail

The Camel Trail is a beautiful coastal walk in Cornwall, the length of a disused railway line from St. Breward to Padstow - and Walks Around Britain follower Angie Silver sent us this great description of her experience...

More Info :
County/Area : Cornwall
Author : Angie Silver
Padstow to Wadebridge - 5.5 Miles 8.8 Km
Wadebridge to Boscarne (Bodmin) - 5.75 Miles 9.25 Km
Boscarne to Wenfordbridge - 6.25 Miles 10.1 Km
Ascent : Quite flat
Grade : moderate

We picked up the walk, parking in Bodmin by the Borough arms pub and starting our adventure there. It is a very pleasant almost flat route, traffic free and family friendly, apart from other walkers and cyclists and the birds you are left to your own thoughts – blissful.


Setting off from Bodmin, on a beautiful sunny morning, we walked just under 6 miles into Wadebridge, passing old rail stops – as the line you walk along used to be a railway track, a tea room (one to remember for the return journey). Whilst all along the way being serenaded by spring bird calls and all along the path between us butterflies and damselflies dance a merry dance.

There are plenty of places to stop for a bit of lunch / or a snack, plenty of picnic tables. Then you pass the entrance to the Camel Valley vineyard – a chance to take a break and enjoy a glass of local wine on the terrace (the Sauvignon Blanc is lovely) with amazing views across the Camel Valley.

You cross two small roads, remembering to close the gates behind you, passing old railway cottages and beautiful tinkling streams.

Starting again on the walk, you go through central Wadebridge, where there are plenty of amenities, past a co-op and then past the old harbour edge, before picking up the trail again across the river.

We cross the estuary, and see beautiful sea birds, cormorants and waders, and here sounds of “chiff chaff” as walkers pass exchanging greetings.

We pause to look out at the area designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, the sky is blue not a cloud to be seen. The sea twinkling like diamonds, the smell and taste of salt in the air. Kingfishers dart back and forth in the banks, then we continue to walk the 5.5 miles to Padstow arriving close to the lobster hatchery, after refuelling on Rick Stein’s fish and chips from the shop on the Quay, we repeat the 11.2 mile walk back to bodmin – happy and fulfilled.

A glorious day filled with sights and sounds that only Cornwall can provide. A truly memorable experience with extensive views across the Camel Valley and Camel Estuary and beyond, one to be repeated at any time of the year, but particularly if you're in Cornwall and you wake up and the sky is blue with no clouds to be seen – then pack up a bag and head for the hills – a day for walking is to be had.


Many thanks to Angie for sending this in.  If you've got a walk with some photographs you'd like to share, please email it to info@walksaroundbritain.co.uk.

Podcast Edition 016 - Show Notes

listen to ‘Edition 016 - MyOutdoors' editor Dave Mycroft, repairing paths in the Yorkshire Dales, an introduction to Troutbeck and Monty Halls recent adventures’ on Audioboo

Edition 16 of the Walks Around Britain podcast features an interview with the Managing Editor of MyOutdoors, Dave Mycroft; we look at what's involved in repairing the footpaths we walk on in the Yorkshire Dales; we discover Troutbeck in the Lake District and talk to broadcaster Monty Halls about his recent adventures ahead of his Keswick Mountain Festival appearance.


MyOutdoors

Dave Mycroft, Managing Editor of MyOutdoors in the
centre, with Gareth Jones (left) and Andrew White whilst on
the video walk through Coombs Dale.

Since launching in 2010, MyOutdoors has become a major force in the outdoors world in the UK.  For the serious outdoors enthusiast MyOutdoors delivers the most up to date News from around the UK's vibrant outdoors world combined with totally independent Reviews and a growing Knowledge Bank.

MyOutdoors Managing Editor Dave Mycroft has a long and distinguished history in the industry having worked with some of the biggest names in the business including previously being Routes Editor at OutdoorsMagic, Consultant for the British Army Everest West Ridge Expedition, Content Manager at Webtogs and GPS specialist for computer and handheld magazines.

Andrew White caught up with Dave to find out more about the site and to discuss the current outdoor world in the UK.

Repairing Flood Damage in the Yorkshire Dales

We don't tend to think about the paths we walk on unless there's a problem with them, so this insight to the repairing of footpaths in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales from Area Ranger Michael Biggs is most interesting.



Troutbeck - an undiscovered part of the Lake District

John Hobson (left) tells us about the beautiful village of Troutbeck in the Lake District.  It's a place with character and charm - and most importantly for us walkers - isn't too busy with tourists.

From John's lodges, there's an amazing amount of walking available and it's right from the front door too - you don't really need the car again.

To find out more visit Windermere Lodges.

Here's our video walk from one of John's lodges to the summit of Wansfell Pike...

Monty Halls


As one of the speakers at this years' Keswick Mountain Festival, we caught up with Monty Halls between dashing out to film another television series and darting out on the boat showing more people the exquisite South West coast!

Monty is already an established presenter, marine biologist, travel writer, public speaker and diver, but his latest venture is Great Escapes, which conducts courses and trips out of his shop in Dartmouth.

For more information about Monty, visit his website here and to book tickets to his talk at the Keswick Mountain Festival on the Saturday 18th May at 21.00, visit the Keswick Mountain Festival website.


That's another podcast finished - we do hope you are enjoying them,  Remember you can also find them on iTunes, on AudioBoo, on our YouTube channel and on our website.

Please let us know what you think about our podcasts - what do you like, and what would you like to hear? Leave us a comment below, or send us a voice message on our blog.

Walking and Outdoors books on the Kindle

The times are a-changing and the rise of e-readers - and in particular the Amazon Kindle - has brought a new way of reading books.

In contrast to some other genres, the walking and outdoor publishing community has been a bit slow on taking up making books available on the Kindle - or across devices like the iPad and Android tablets - but that is changing, and I've got a few of the best ones I've found here on our blog.



An area of England with an amazing amount of walks - and sadly very much overlooked is Warwickshire & West Midlands - was is why Richard Sale's book 100 Walks in Warwickshire & West Midlands is included here.  The walking territory in these two central counties remains largely undiscovered, better known, as they are for their towns and cities such as Stratford and Leamington.  Those willing to find out, however, will discover some wonderful countryside, and some surprisingly varied routes.

It's quite an old book - originally printed in 1996 - but the walks contained within are among the best in the area.  The maps are line drawings, not OS ones - but they are very clear and easy to read, with plenty of places of interest noted on each walk.

As our good friend Tanya Oliver pointed out in the sixth edition of the Walks Around Britain podcast, Sussex is a great country to walk around - and Richard Williamson's book 52 Favourite West Sussex Walks has a great selection in it.  Richard Williamson’s weekly walking column has long been one of the most popular features in the Chichester Observer, Worthing Observer and West Sussex Gazette, and for the first time he has compiled his favourite walks – one for every week of the year – with hand-drawn route maps.

Many here to to tempt you out onto the unspoiled nature of the timeless South Downs landscape and its varied flora, fauna and stories – from bat-birds and the Devil’s Jumps to beloved pubs and famous poets – combine with practical notes on routes that can be covered easily in an afternoon.



Although it's not a walking route book, but Tristan Gooley's latest book The Natural Explorer: Understanding Your Landscape: In Search of the Extraordinary Journey is certainly worth a mention here.  You wont find a map in this book, but you will learn how to read, understand and connect with the landscape.  I've got a review on this book on this blog soon, so I'm not revealing too much here, but I can tell you it's a cracking read.  And the best bit is that the Kindle edition is onnly £4.99 - saving nearly a massive £6 of the hardback price!

Tristan was on the Walks Around Britain podcast in May - here's the podcast along with the Show Notes on this blog.

Tripping North of the Border to the fabulous Isle of Skye, and the famous outdoor author Terry Marsh has written possibly the definitive book on walking and hiking on the island - The Isle of Skye: A Walker's Guide.

Most people are drawn to the island for the Cuillin, but there is more to Skye - and this book has 87 walks and scrambles.  The Isle of Skye has some of the most awe-inspiring scenery of Scotland's many islands. The walks are widely varied, and provide something for all abilities to enjoy.

The guide is one of the famous Cicerone walking books, who are more than half way through converting their epic collection of titles to electronic formats - and this is an e-book which benefits from using a Kindle app on a smartphone or on a computer, as it is in full colour.

And lastly, this very blog is available on the Kindle as well on a monthly subscription.

Podcast Edition 015 - Show Notes

listen to ‘Edition 015 - A walk to Mam Tor, Andy Leader's Holmfirth Photography, Exmoor & Tom Heap on nettles’ on Audioboo

Edition 15 of the Walks Around Britain podcast features a walk to the top of Mam Tor with author Peter Naldrett, the inspiration behind the photography of Holmfirth based Andy Leader, what the least known National Park of Exmoor has to offer us walkers and "Costing The Earth"'s Tom Heap on the rise of nettles and brambles in our countryside.
Presented by Andrew White


Mam Tor walk

Author Peter Naldrett (left) takes us on a walk up The Shivering Mountain - Mam Tor in the Dark Park part of the Peak District.

Mam Tor is 517 metres - that's 1,696 feet - high hill near Castleton.  It's name means "mother hill", and it is thought that is because of the frequent landslips on its eastern face, which have resulted in a multitude of 'mini-hills' beneath it.

These landslips, which are caused by unstable lower layers of shale, also give the hill its alternative name of Shivering Mountain.

Find out more about Peter and his books at his website here.

Here's our video walk presented by Leah Hather to the summit of a rather snowy Mam Tor...

Made In Holmfirth

Andy Leader (right) was interviewed by Andrew whilst he was setting up his section of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival's Photography Exhibition.
The exhibition, which is being held in the Workstation - next door to the Showroom Ciniema in Sheffield - is the largest in the Festivals' eight years and this year was helped by MyOutdoors, the online outdoor news and reviews magazine.

Andy told of his passion for the "sour" scenes of the Pennines around Holmfirth, Marsden and the Dark Peak.  Sour they may be, but Andy's photography draws out elements of the landscape previously unseen.

You can find out more about Andy's photography, and his Peaty Feet Walks, at his website Made In Holmfirth.


Exmoor

With the Walks Around Britain team's forthcoming visit to Exmoor, Andrew chatted to Rosi Davis of our hosts Exmoor House, and Rosi Davis told us of the walking delights on offer.


Exmoor House offers the homeliness of a bed and breakfast with the comfort of a small country hotel. The guest accommodation is in three twin/double bedrooms (can be either twins or doubles), a double bedroom and a family room.  All five rooms are en suite, either with bath or shower.  The house, in Exmoor's highest village, is full of character and has an unusual history - it was built in Edwardian times for a local tailor.

For more information about walks in the area of Exmoor House, visit their website here.

And we'll have the resulting video walk promoting the North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival here on the Show Notes as soon as it is made, along with photos too.



When Nettles Attack!

Tom Heap (right), from BBC Radio 4's Costing The Earth came on the podcast to talk about an edition of the series he presented which focused on the apparent increase of invasive species such as nettles and brambles in our countryside.

It seems that far from unsubstantiated anacdotal views, there is a great deal of evidence and research behind the rise of these countryside bullies of plants.

Tom explains the basic facts on our podcast, but for the complete picture listen to the full edition "When Nettles Attack" from Costing The Earth on the BBC Radio 4 website.


This edition commemorates the first birthday of the Walks Around Britain podcast.  Now on edition 15, if you've got any comments or suggestions about what we do - or what we could do - please leave a comment below.