- With price inflation, this line of products continue to look ever better value for money.
Backed by exceptional design, build and supply quality, more and more of our dealers are adding
Contour to their weekly MBC buy!

- Deuter’s popular Aircontact packs are given a re-vamp for 2012 watch out for new
colours and aesthetics while the popular back system will remain unchanged. The Spectro packs
have been given a total re-design, keeping their same fast and light credentials these packs now
have improved features and colours. Deuter continue to offer a strong collection for 2012 with
staple models such as the Guide packs and the Futura line remaining unchanged.

Goal Zero - Brand new to the MBC portfolio in 2011, Goal Zero brings a whole new dimension
to solar power. Intuitive, innovative and portable Goal Zero is currently the leading brand in the
US for solar power and has given retailers a new category to drive customers into store. The Guide
10 Adventure Kit, Rock Out speakers and Luna light are all must have for adventurers while larger
units such as the Escape and Boulder are great for base camp use.

- The iconic Avatar ice axe remains the eye catching piece of the collection for 2012.
Continuing to have a strong offering of hardwear, Grivel’s range is now joined by a new range of
packs which have been designed by renowned pack maker Walter Checchinel. Pages 13-17
Outdoor Research – OR’s summer collection again takes a step forward with design, colour and
technology with a range of shells and active wear that bring together innovation and functionality.
While the brands renowned accessory range continues to have a strong offering of head and hand
wear.

Lorpen – The popular Tri-Layer collection continues to be a major staple within the Lorpen range
for 2012, along with the unique Primaloft and Polartec socks which bring comfort and warmth to
new level. Since its launch into the UK Lorpen has received great reviews, building a strong
following.

Deuter are a leading producer of top quality rucksacks and have been making them, and improving them over 110 years with their innovative ways. Deuter now have an extensive range of backpacks in a whole range of styles to suit a variety of activities and lifestyles.

So whether you want a rucksack for travelling, hiking, snowsports, biking or day-to-day life, there is sure to be an ideal Deuter backpack to suit your needs. The real question you need to consider when purchasing a rucksack is: Which Deuter backpack?

For Snowsports: Deuter Razor 23 Ski & Snowboard Daysack

Extremely flexible and comfortable, this fantastic rucksack is ideal on or off-piste and features PSA back protectors for safety.

For Bikers: Deuter Attack Bike 20 Litre Daypack

Ideal for free riders, this well-protected bag is strong, sturdy and safe enough to take on any mountain or terrain with you.

The All-Rounder: Deuter Guide 35+ Rucksack

This lightweight backpack is extremely durable and, like all Deuter backpacks, is incredibly innovative with its outstanding, efficient design.

The Womens Deuter Traveller 55+10 Litre Rucksack is a superb rucksack perfect for long-distance travels. This excellent rucksack can be split into two separate compartments or can function as one larger compartment.

Deuter are famed for the level of innovation across their entire rucksack range and are continually pushing the boundaries for rucksack technology and design; with the Deuter Womens 55l Travelpack being no different. The Traveller features a host of the latest rucksack technology such as a concealable back system with Vari-Quick allowing you to carry larger loads comfortably, as well as using X-frame and an anatomically formed hip belt to improve carrier experience; other specialist features of the Traveller include luggage stabilisers, multiple zipped mesh pockets, a U-shaped zip so you can completely open the main compartment, three grab handles, compression straps and a carry strap.

As well as being well designed and steeped in technology, the Deuter Womens 55l Travelpack is also great to look at and is one of the most stylish rucksacks around. This fantastic bag really does have everything you need whilst on your travels: comfortable, practical and stylish.

The Deuter Traveller 80+10 Backpack is the latest addition to the traveller range and features an impressive all-new design. The Traveller retains many of the popular features of other models but also builds in some of the latest, most innovative features to take this Deuter backpack to the next level.

This backpacks superb new design allows it to be incredibly easy-to-use as well as being superbly versatile. The implementation of the YKK zip allows the rucksack to open fully, much like a suitcase, so that you are able to access the entire main compartment with ease. Further to this, the Deuter Traveller allows you to divide up your bag into multiple, accessible compartments that can be loaded separately; these compartments are all secure in the Traveller due to the use of luggage stabilisers.

Deuter are renowned throughout the rucksack industry for their commitment to innovation in all of their products. With over 110 years experience, Deuter really are the market leaders when it comes to rucksacks and you can be sure that you will get a rucksack of the very highest quality with them.

If it smells like somebody slipped a slice of Roquefort into your trainers when you weren't looking, you could have an outbreak of Brevibacterium on your hands. Or feet. This mischievous microbe thrives in dark, humid areas and affords your toes (and some cheeses) that unmissable stink. 

Breathability, moisture management & insulation

All Merino fibres breathe. When the thousands of fibres are made into yarn they start to "Cross Bond" creating a highly breathable environment and "moisture management" system. Twisting the fibres together into a yarn also enhances the strength of the individual fibres. Once the yarn is knitted into fabric you have the advantage of he fibre, yarn and fabric working together and breathing".

"Breathing" means that moisture and heat can be easily passed through the fabric by the nature and characteristics of the Merino fibre combined with the construction of the fabric. Moisture is drawn from the body and passed to the outside of the garment where it evaporates into the air. Synthetic fibres cannot absorb moisture.

Synthetic fabrics only allow moisture to move by means of the fabric construction. If moisture is moved away from the body too quickly during periods of sustained activity, lactic acid may build up in the muscles. Merino, because it absorbs and holds the moisture before it is gradually evaporated away, maintains an optimum body climate which it is believed may reduce the build up of lactic acid in the muscles.

Insulation: Merino fibres and fabric allow heat to be kept close to the body when it is cold, but moved away from the body when it is hot. Synthetic fibres only heat the air trapped within the construction of the fabric and get cold when activity stops. Merino retains heat within the fibre thus keeping you warm even when you have stopped activity.

Another amazing fact about Merino is that even if you get wet, you won't be cold, as through the molecular process called "heat sorption" Merino fibres release heat to warm the surrounding moisture and keep you warm.

Odour-resistance

Merino fibres are naturally resistant to the build up of fungi and bacteria that cause the stink associated with synthetics. The molecules in merino are also resistant to the build up of external odours such as tobacco. As a result, 100% merino garments can be worn for considerably longer periods than synthetics without needing to be washed.

Stain Resistance

100% Merino is naturally stain resistant as the molecules in Merino resist dirt and stains. Our Taranaki and TeMata merino can be machine washed on a wool wash cycle (no fabric softeners please). Do not tumble dry as this damages fabric. Line drying is more natural.

Flame resistance

Merino is naturally flame resistant. The fibre is made from keratin just like fingernails and hair. Merino fabrics are used around the world in fire-retardant and "radiant" heat protective clothing.

UV protection

Merino is generally recognised as having a natural UV rating in excess of 40+

Softness (Handle)

The "micron" is the measurement of the cross-section of an individual Merino fibre. Merino fibres ranging from 18-19.9 Micron are considered the best for next-to-skin all-round performance, durability and comfort. As long as the fleece used is of the right quality, has been sorted properly and the kemp and any coarse fibres removed, and then spun correctly, Merino fibre below 19.9 microns eliminates the "itch" factor against the skin and ensures your Merino garment is soft to wear. The expertise required for spinning this grade and quality of yarn is highly specialised. As a result, there is a lot of "merino" out there that is definitely sub-standard.

As part of the Lakes Alive summer season of outdoor shows, High Street, the eastern Lake District Fell played host to jugglers and a dramatisation of Peter Rabbit.

Jem Famous, a keen fellrunner and performer, told outdoor magazine Grough that "it was the first show we've done where not one person walked past without stopping to watch".

"The wind on the top of the mountain certainly made juggling more challenging than usual," Mr Famous added.

This year's Lakes Alive season will also form part of the Lake District National Park's 60th anniversary, which includes a large programme of outdoor events.

The Lakes Alive festival takes place throughout July and August across Cumbria and encompasses art, performance, musical and food based events for the whole family to enjoy.
 

According to Des De Moor, the charity's senior everyday walking officer: "Now is a good time to explore coastal and forest routes," as in warmer weather they tend to feel cooler than open country.

"Walking is about exploring and the long days give you plenty of opportunity to take your time on a walk," Mr De Moor added.

More hours of sunlight could encourage a greater number of people to become active and discover new outdoor hobbies to enjoy over the summer months.

However, when embarking upon more intensive exercise such as fell running or jogging, the American Journal of Sports Medicine has revealed that it is highly important that people wear the right outdoor footwear.

Ankle sprains are the most common injury sustained from sports and have the potential to occur repeatedly from exercise.
 

The historic bridge over the River Kent in Stavely has been refurbished as part of the miles without stiles circular riverside walk.

It has now been officially opened this weekend by Lake District National Park chief executive Richard Leafe and writer and broadcaster Eric Robson.

As part of the new-all weather route, a £100,000 project to rebuild the village bridge was assisted by local government funding and charitable donations.

Mr Leafe claimed: "Our staff have made a major contribution in bringing together this project in terms of facilitation and practical work on the ground, it represents the future of how we must work to achieve these types of projects all over the national park."

The shortest form of the walk is ideal for families looking for a scenic ramble at less than one mile and takes in attractions such as St Margaret's Chapel and the Hawkshead Brewery.
 

Dave MacLeod, one of the UK's most adventurous rock climbers, will be leaving his climbing equipment at home as he prepares to take members of the public on a guided walk into the corries of the north face of Ben Nevis.

In conjunction with the John Muir Trust, the history of climbing on the cliffs will be explained, as will the story behind Mr MacLeod's groundbreaking Echo Wall route.

Rob Bushby, John Muir Award manager for the trust, claimed: "Dave MacLeod is one of the foremost climbers in the world and has not only an intimate knowledge of the North Face but a great appreciation of the beauty and aesthetics of Ben Nevis."

The walk has been organised as part of the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Places are limited but anyone over the age of 14 can take part in the event, which takes place on July 24th, by contacting the John Muir Trust.
 

While completing their gold and silver Duke of Edinburgh awards in Camarthenshire, a teenage boy had to be airlifted to safety after falling over ten metres.

The 16-year-old was found by the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, who then called the RAF helicopter pilots to assist in saving the boy.

Mark Jones, Brecon Mountain Rescue Team's deputy leader, said: "The group were camping overnight when one lad ran down a slope, fell and tumbled 10 metres."

Weather conditions were described to be "terrible" as strong wind and rain threatened to halt the rescue operation at numerous points.

After six hours the boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was found to be suffering from suspected spine and spleen injuries.

The rescue staff have claimed that the incident was a terrible accident and that the party had been properly equipped with suitable walking footwear and outdoor clothing.
 

Brothers Owen and David Holmes have set up a cafe near the top of Helvellyn, which offers hot and cold drinks to passing walkers heading out on Striding Edge.

Food offerings currently only include bacon sandwiches cooked on a camping stove.

David told Sky News: "I just saw the location and the idea came to me."

He reportedly got the idea while walking past the spot earlier in the year, realising that many visitors were stopping for a break as they neared the summit.

The Lake District National Park Authority has been less supportive, however, and have claimed that the men will need to seek planning permission should they decide to remain in business for over a month.
 

Officers from the John Muir Trust, which owns most of Britain's highest mountain, have been dressing up to raise awareness of the litter problem, which includes a lot of banana skins.

Litter is a large problem on Ben Nevis and has resulted in numerous campaigns to highlight the extent of the pollution, with the results of one recent clean up producing 18 bin bags of rubbish.

While many people believe that throwing organic litter such as banana skins is fine and helps the environment, conservation officer Sarah Lewis has claimed that this rubbish still causes large problems.

Ms Lewis said: "Bananas have a lot of potassium in their skins which can change the soil composition.

"They have a hard time biodegrading in rocky and cold upland environments and can take up to two years to fully decompose."
 

Scientists from the University of Reading have shown that a period of low solar activity will mean colder winters in Britain for the next 50 years.

Average temperatures are likely to fall below 2.5 degrees C, which is half the average UK winter temperature for the last 20 years.

Researchers stress that these results are not influenced by global climate change and instead examine the heat coming from the sun, rather than other factors, such as greenhouse gases, which may be preventing that warmth from entering the atmosphere.

Another recent study from McGill and Concordia universities has observed that as temperatures decrease people are less likely to go on walks.

It found that when the weather was below zero degrees C, too wet or snowy, it deterred urban residents from going outdoors.
 

Andy Walker has already proved his courage last year, after conquering England's third largest mountain, Helvellyn.

The trek saw him and a team of friends brave horrendous weather conditions to successfully reach the top of the 3,117-foot mountain.

He was left paralysed from the neck down in 2006, after a freak accident while diving in the sea in India broke his neck.

His injury did not deter him from raising £8,000 for the Back-Up Trust, a charity which assists people paralysed by spinal cord damage.

In what was dubbed The Helvellyn Push, involved nine teams with one wheelchair user in each to climb, push, wheel and walk their way up and down the Lake District mountain.

A team of 15 friends will taken part in the Welsh climb this weekend, to raise even more money for the worthy cause.
 

While walking during the summer months may seem to merit less clothing and equipment, the charity claimed that weather forecasts should always be followed to ensure people are dressed appropriately for every season.

Des De Moor, the Ramblers senior everyday walking officer, said that "every season has something different to offer," however "to stay safe you'll need to be properly dressed and equipped".

Mr De Moor added: "Even walking in the rain can be a joy so long as you're equipped with good waterproof clothing and footwear."

Suitable outdoor footwear can prevent the likelihood of accidents and make trips out more enjoyable.

Pedestrians across the world were found to be far less likely to go walking when temperatures were below zero-degrees, or conditions were very wet or snowy, a recent study from McGill and Concordia universities revealed.
 

The breakdown cover and insurance provider has launched a new camping advice webpage, enabling tourists to ensure they are fully prepared for their outdoor excursion.

One of the main purposes of the site is to help travellers to find a campsite that matches their expectations, whether they want to be near a beach, or break in their new walking footwear in a nearby Alpine range.

The AA has compiled a list of recommended European sites, as well as listings under the easy to navigate seaside, boutique and special offers categories.

Campsites across a total of six countries are covered by the website, including Italy, Spain, Germany and France.

Buying the right outdoor equipment is crucial for travellers preparing for a camping holiday, as four men holidaying in the Brecon Beacons recently discovered.

They had been camping in the national park, but ended up becoming lost when hiking along the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge.

A total of four rescue teams were sent to find the group, two of whom were wearing sandals, leading to claims that they were not well enough prepared for the excursion.

The tireless work will ensure that the mountain's paths, woodland and loch side remain in top condition for any hikers and wildlife frequenting the area.

Workers stayed at the Corrour Estate and were also engaged in digging new paths to ease the passage of walkers through more treacherous parts of the landscape.

The trust noted on its website that they had been surprised by the amount of rubbish they discovered on the trip, resorting to offering members of the public litter bags to help with the clear up on their travels.

"Several members of the public including some participants in three peaks events helped the group of Trust volunteers to carry the 15 bags of rubbish collected at the summit and on the path down to the car park for disposal in a skip," the website noted.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority is currently asking for feedback on its new draft document released today, which outlines development management policies for the park to encourage sustainability.

It covers areas such as housing, traffic and tourism and shows how land in the park will be allocated up to 2026.

Phil Markham, head of forward planning for the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "It is really important to get as much public feedback as possible to ensure that this is a plan fit for the future of the National Park which takes into consideration the views of its communities."

Dartmoor National Park contains a series of outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, climbing and horse-riding, for sporty individuals looking to exercise while visiting south-east England.
 

Southern England has been hit by heavy rain and lightning storms over the past few days, as the after effects of a brief summer heatwave threatened to spoil outdoor plans.

Further North in more mountainous areas, walkers can protect themselves from any unexpected showers by ensuring they pack waterproof clothing in their daysacks.

This weekend one unlucky woman had to be rescued, after slipping in the Lake District and seriously fracturing her ankle.

While descending High Crag above Ullswater she fell and was later rescued by 15 members of the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, who took her to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for further treatment.

Despite this being an accident, walkers can ensure they wear hiking footwear with ankle protection and a suitable outdoor tread, to minimise injuries in any weather.
 

Windermere Lake Users Forum is an independent group of 11 members who advise the South Lakeland District Council and the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) on how to protect and promote the site.

Six more volunteers are required to join the forum and have until July 15th to apply to help manage England's largest lake.

Rebecca Cathey, LDNPA catchment projects coordinator, said: "I hope that now we only have two weeks left to the closing date people will be encouraged to contact us to find out more details of how they can help look after this truly wonderful lake."

Lake Windermere is 10.5 miles long and 219 feet deep and is an extremely popular Lake District tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors each year to take part in walking, cycling and watersport activities.
 

ATHLETICS WEEKLY reviewed loads of socks.

X SOCKS BEST OVERALL SOCK

"The website and catalogue for the X-Socks range is without exception the most comprehensive collection of technical sock related information we have ever seen. 

The technical details of each sock in the range are extensive and at first glance seem a little "excessive for socks" but after trying them all, out testers were suitably impressed.  All X-Socks are anatomically shaped and have a left and right foot fitting.  Unlike other socks that offer these features the X-Socks are highly engineered into their anatomical shape and you will immediately notice the difference if you were to put them on the wrong foot!  

All the socks have different specific areas and thicknesses of padding and use a variety of fibres for breathability and moisture wicking.  The socks have a two year guarantee, the best sign of longevity from any brand.  It was a tough choice for our testers deciding which was the best in the range, however, the "Running Short" just edged it.  With the majority of the brands technical innovations featured in this product it was the slightly lower price that gave this sock the advantage"

The limestone fissure caves located on the southern edge of the North York Moors have been labelled a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as they are the home of several bat species and have been used by humans for thousands of years.

Archaeological deposits and human bones have been found dating from 4,500 years ago up until Roman times and the caves are set to be further examined in a new BBC series to air on June 30th.

Graham Lee, senior archaeological conservation officer for the National Park Authority, said to the programme makers: "Little is known about the origins of the skeletons found in the windypits and how they came to be there."

While access to the Windypits remains restricted in some areas, trained, curious visitors can take a peek inside at this mysterious cave structure to learn more about UK natural and human history.
 

Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team were called out by the man's wife to find the missing sportsman, who left on Saturday morning to take part in a 50-mile run, according to Grough.

The route takes in large areas of the Lake District and the hills around Ambleside and was due to take the man till the early hours of the morning to complete.

After conducting a huge rescue operation, his wife returned back to their accommodation and found him sleeping safely in bed, after somehow sneaking back into the house unspotted.

Rescuers have urged anyone taking part in solo fellrunning to ensure they are wearing the correct outdoor footwear and take a mobile phone with them in their daysacks.

People interested in attempting fellrunning as part of an organised race can take part in the Lakeland 100 Ultra Tour of the Lake District.

This circular 100 mile route travels through Coniston, Eskdale, Buttermere and Ambleside from Friday July 29th to Sunday July 31st.
 

Located in the Peak District, the route allows walkers and mountain bikers to follow the trail of the notorious highwayman.

After resurfacing the bridleways and improving the local signs and amenities, the paths are now open to members of the public looking to enjoy an active weekend outdoors in the warm weather.

Sue Smith, National Park access officer, claimed: "The Black Harry Trails will mainly be for mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers. Motorised vehicles can legitimately use parts of it."

The Black Harry Trails follow medieval packhorse routes which were used by the notorious highwayman to attack travellers crossing the moors over Longstone Edge.

Black Harry was eventually caught and hanged at Wardlow Mires, where legend states that Derbyshire vultures picked his bones clean of all flesh.
 

The Yorkshire Dales Young Archaeologists' Club (YDYAC) runs regular digging and discovery sessions every month at the Dales Countryside Musuem in Hawes, to educate people on the practice and how to improve skills.

A recent event to celebrate YDYAC's fifth birthday party brought together all the members as part of a medieval themed day, demonstrating shoe-making apothecary and archery.

Fiona Rosher, manager of the Dales Countryside Musuem, claimed that the club and its activities were becoming increasingly popular with young people across the area.

Ms Rosher added: "The club is a wonderful way in which young people can be inspired to investigate their local heritage."

Families can take budding archaeologists to visit a two-month dig currently taking place in York.

Located on the site of York Council's proposed multi-million pound headquarters, archaeologists are excavating Roman baths, and have so far uncovered hundreds of coins and pottery fragments.
 

The man attempted the difficult black route in Glentress Forest, however suffered a broken elbow and dislocated shoulder after falling from his bike on difficult terrain.

According to Grough, Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team attended to the man on Wednesday and urged mountain bikers to ensure they were fully equipped and confident of their skills before attempting more challenging trails.

Glentress' notorious black route is 29km and contains imaginatively named section such as Soor Plums and Britney Spears, which represent varying degrees of difficulty.

Members of Scottish parliament are currently campaigning to get bus companies to carry bikes on their vehicles to increase the number of visitors to these popular outdoor trails.

Mark Sydenham, from the Better Way to Work campaign said: "It would be ideal for the likes of Glentress. Mountain biking has really taken off and you'll often see the road between here and Peebles packed with cars on a Sunday morning."
 

Woolfest takes place on Friday June 24th and Saturday June 25th at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre near Cockermouth in Cumbria, bringing together every aspect of wool and crafts.

Organised by the Wool Clip cooperative, it attracts over 4,000 visitors every year to see the 140 stallholders and farm craft demonstrations.

Families can bring their children to learn more about how animals are fleeced and the wool making process, as well as interesting lessons on knitting and wool craft.

The event was inspired by the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, which takes place each year in May.

Cockermouth holds other festivals throughout June for outdoor fans not keen on knitted crafts, including the Midsummer Festival which takes place between June 17th and 26th and the Food Fest starting September 23rd.
 

A new Coast Alive Tracker Pack has been designed to get the most out of family coastal walks and is available to borrow free of charge.

The items which fit easily inside a travel backpack include a map outlining a seaside walk on the Cleveland Way National Trail, binoculars, and a magnifying glass, plus nature activities and a wildlife identification guide.

Martin Hodgson, national trail officer for the Cleveland Way, told the North York Moors National Park that the packs available for pre-booking are a brilliant way of learning more about the area and local wildlife.

Mr Hodgson added: "These new packs will provide fun activities for families to take part in while enjoying the fresh air and wonderful views to be found at Robin Hood's Bay and Ravenscar."

For more adventurous hikers, the Long Distance Walking Association holds regular walks of between ten and 20 miles along the Yorkshire coast throughout the summer.
 

This year's Bee Weekend in Brockhole takes place from Saturday June 25th to Sunday, and brings together a host of bee-related activities.

Children's entertainers, bee inspired arts and crafts and observation hives will be on offer, as well as locally produced honey tasting and recipes to take home in your daysacks.

Mike Clarke, Brockhole Visitor Centre manager, told the Lake District National Park: "We want children to know how important bees are.

"This is a great opportunity to create awareness about their decline and how important these little insects are in the food chain."

Outdoor enthusiasts can learn more about bees and how to conserve their national habitat, as according to the British Bee Keeping Association this is highly important, with one-in-three mouthfuls of food eaten dependent on their pollination.
 

Held in Edinburgh between Thursday June 23rd and Sunday June 26th, the 2011 event has been advertised as bigger and better than ever, with an even larger range of activities from ceilidhs to cookery demonstrations.

This year's show looks set to be more active than any other year, after teaming up With Active Scotland.

The Countryside Area, which incorporates a loch and scenic landscapes, as well as trade stands and events reflecting a wide selection of popular Scottish sports and activities.

Walking, canoeing, cycling and climbing events are offered, as well as more adventurous BMX stunt performances to wow children and parents alike.

For local food enthusiasts, Scottish produce will be cooked by celebrity chef Lady Claire Macdonald and cooking comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli in public lessons.
 

According to recent research from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, over three-quarters of people do not wear suitable shoes to match their fitness activity which could lead to the development of arthritis.

Jon Lipsey, editor of Men's Fitness magazine, claims that wearing suitable outdoor footwear can improve performance, while protecting feet.

Mr Lipsey said: "Hiking shoes have stiff soles that protect you from jagged rocks and increased protection around the toes."

He added that footwear choices should be made to complement walking surfaces. "You'll perform better because the shoes will have been designed for a specific type of terrain," Mr Lipsey explained.

People wanting to go on walking weekends or a hiking holiday this summer should make sure they have the right shoes for their trip, that will limit the risks of blisters or ankle injuries.
 

The Ramblers have set up a 999 campaign to highlight growing concerns over ambulance control-room staff, who do not have access to suitable training or software to help pinpoint grid references given by injured walkers

According to the Ramblers' website, it has had complaints from walkers who claimed "when something has occurred on a walk our volunteers have been unable to effectively communicate the location of the injured person".

While satellite navigation systems are becoming more common, not all ambulances are equipped with them and walkers may not always be able to give appropriate coordinates.

Outdoor enthusiasts are being urged by the organisation to email their opinions on the issue to the Department of Health. So far 70 emails of support have been sent.
 

The free workshop is being run by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) and the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and aims to help the public understand more about native bat species and habits.

Naomi Barker, ecologist from the Dartmoor National Park Authority, claimed: "Participants will learn where bats live and what they need to survive, and why the National Park is so important for bats."

Dartmoor's bat walk will take place in the evening on Saturday July 2nd, as part of the Big Bat Count held between the end of July and the middle of August.

This year's Big Bat Count is being run in conjunction with the BCT's Year of the Bat, which encourages the public to undertake a 'Sunrise Survey' to count the numbers of bats seen in the early hours of the morning when they are most active.
 

The mountain's railway station at the summit was photographed at 13:00 BST on June 10th covered in snow, merely a week before the summer solstice begins.

Snowdon's summit is 3560 feet above sea level, however even weather experts were surprised at the conditions.

Behnaz Akhgar, BBC Wales weather presenter, claimed: "It looks like heavy showers on top of the mountain dragged down colder air and into that came sleet, hail and, yes, even snow.
"It's not common but it's not unheard of."

UK weather this June has sparked a series of droughts across the south and east of the country, making snowfall all the more surprising.

Walkers are being urged to check mountain weather conditions before embarking upon a trip, especially when hiking in more remote locations.
 

The route implemented by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority has been designed to link to existing local rail and bus services, while providing a boost to the local economy.

Last year's pilot of the service attracted more than 5,000 passengers and the new permanent service is hoped to bring even more visitors to the area.

Historic water transport routes that were popular in Victorian times will be recreated, linking nearby towns and villages as part of a full network of regular scheduled services.

Gordon Watson, director of planning and rural development at the National Park, claimed that he hoped that the service would reduce traffic around tourist hot spots.

Mr Watson said: "By supporting regular scheduled water bus services, we hope to encourage more people to explore the National Park by alternative means of transport, providing a fantastic visitor experience."
 

Ms Penney worked for Ramblers Cymru between 1982 and 2009, and played a vital part in ensuring the people of Wales could get out and enjoy their outdoor equipment as often as possible.

Since 1982, new walking festivals have launched in Wales, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has been passed and the All Wales coast path has nearly been completed and is scheduled to open in 2012.

"I have worked with Beverley over the years in many different capacities and she engaged enthusiastically with a wide range of partners to ensure that the Ramblers message was heard far and wide," said Denis McAteer, new chairman of Ramblers Cymru.

The Ramblers recently invited people to put on their outdoor equipment and enjoy the longer summer evenings with a series of walks between June and September.

As a trustee of the Campaign for National Parks, she has challenged herself to cycle at least 120 km in each of the three Welsh National Parks.

Her trip will encompass Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast as she hopes to raise money and awareness.

The cycle will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Campaign for National Parks and will contain stop-offs to find out why people find the parks so important.

Ms Evison claimed that the trip was not simply about having fun but also about understanding nature and its benefits.

Norma Barry, head of Welsh affairs for the Campaign for National Parks, said: "Our organisation campaigns tirelessly to protect Welsh national parks from inappropriate developments and keep them safe for future generations so they too can benefit from them."
 

The Boot Beer Festival takes place between Thursday June 9th and Sunday June 12th, displaying a selection of over 90 beers from Cumbria and beyond.

There is a focus on local products, with regional brews such as the Cumberland Corby Ale, the Empire Black King as well as the Ennerdale Liquidator, as well as five varieties of cider.

Non-drinkers are also encouraged to join in the festivities and enjoy a selection of home-cooked pub meals before taking in the rest of the Eskdale valley.

Other attractions for visitors with outdoor footwear include the working watermill, which produces corn for the villagers, as well as the disused Iron ore quarries nearby.

Hikers looking for a taste of real ale to quench their thirst at the end of a long day in the hills can head to the Lake District to sample this annual festival.
 

Air Nigeria is bringing back daily direct flights between Lagos and London Gatwick from September 2011, due to the location's rising popularity with outdoor activity fans.

Hassan Abdullahi Zakari, president and chief executive officer at Leisure Afrique, claimed that Lagos is a great place from which to explore Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.

Mr Zakaria said: "For an adventurer, it is a perfect base to explore Nigeria from.

"The rich cultural heritage of the Lagos people, as manifested in their carnivals, is worth a trip to Lagos."

He explained that while many people may worry about the safety of a trip to the region, by acting sensibly and hiring a reliable guide, tourists can enjoy exploring the mountains and native wildlife.
 

Visitors to one of the UK's 15 national parks bring over £4.5 billion to the economy every year, and spend more than 160 million days enjoying the natural surroundings and facilities.

National Parks Week celebrates the popularity of the UK countryside, by offering free access to the countryside and a range of events between July 25th and July 31st.

Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park, claimed that the events would encourage the public to be aware of their parks and allow them to appreciate their natural beauty.

Mr Leafe added: "Local communities benefit from the appeal of this unspoilt countryside through holiday accommodation and local shops, pubs, restaurants and services with National Parks Week being just one of the many ways that people can enjoy their national parks."
 

The event runs from October 1st to October 9th and includes local farm produce tasting, cookery lessons and an opportunity to forage for your own food in nearby woodland.

Rachel Kelly, organiser of the festival claimed that the event will explore interesting ways to cook and serve regional produce such as game, meat and dairy products.

Ms Kelly said: "The day will be spent exploring flavour combinations, structuring menus and creating individual dishes from seasonal produce and wild foods - and a little foraging if weather permits."

According to delicious magazine, 2011 has become the year of the forager, as an increasing number of people try to help the environment by reducing their food waste, as well as cutting monthly food bill costs.
 

The two students were found stuck on Tryfan's North Ridge at approximately 19:00 BST, after setting off unprepared earlier in the afternoon at 14:00 BST.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue organisation was alerted after the man and woman rang 999, claiming that they were lost and could not descend the climb safely.

Speaking to Grough, Chris Lloyd from the rescue team said:"These two young people were totally ill equipped for the scramble up the North Ridge.

"They were dressed in town clothes and wearing trainers."

Rescuers criticised the pair for placing a strain on volunteer rescuers and limited resources, after assisting the students by lowering them onto a safe footpath.

Tryfan is one of 14 peaks in Snowdonia and is well known for its rough terrain at over 3,000 ft.
 

Events up and down the country have been arranged by those keen to show their support for the cervical cancer charity, including the London Walk for Fun in Hyde Park on Sunday.

Today marks the beginning of Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness Week, which will culminate in the series of walks on June 11th and 12th.

Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo ahead of her fundraiser, local mum and cervical cancer survivor Louse Geoghegan has urged women to climb into their walking footwear and take part in their local event.

"I had some tests and in July last year was diagnosed with cervical cancer," she told the newspaper. "Now I have recovered and can't wait for the walk."

All walks must be around five kilometres and should take about an hour to complete.

Organisers have been urged to ensure they have permission from the appropriate authority for their excursion.

The pair will be tying the knot at a blessing in Ingleborough Cave in the Yorkshire Dales, before having the main service at a nearby church.

Not content with merely having a cave wedding, the bride-to-be has had an underground hen party too, where 25 guests were winched 360 feet down into the Gaping Gill.

Joined by a band, the women wore feather boas, accompanied by climbing helmets, to celebrate the cave enthusiasts send off.

Speaking to Grough, Ms Onions said: "It was a tad damp sitting in the winch chair but we soon escaped to a dry corner so no-one got too wet. Mud is just part and parcel of caving ... a good slather of cave mud on your face is far cheaper and more natural than any spa treatment."
 

His friend used the mobile phone to take a photograph of his location, to help the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team determine where he was.

Richard Warren, team chairman of the rescue team, claimed that the walker sustained potentially serious injuries to his head and arm; therefore they needed to reach him as soon as possible.

Mr Warren said: "The informant with the casualty was unable to give their location and attempts to get him to describe the location proved difficult.

"Eventually he was asked to send a picture of the view from his location by mobile phone."

Rescuers recognised the spot as Broad Crag on the Scafell range and were then able to direct a RAF helicopter to fly the casualty to hospital in Whitehaven.

By ensuring daysacks are fully equipped with both outdoor equipment and communication technology hikers can ensure they are always prepared.
 

Rescue teams were asked to help two separate parties stuck on Crinkle Crags this week, neither of whom were able to safely make their own way down.

Grough reported that a spokesperson for the team said: "It remains a frustration that people are going in to the hills without the full set of skills to get them up and back down, or the ability to make good judgement calls and avoid trouble."

By rescuing the six members of the public stuck on the Lakeland hills, nine team members were forced to spend four hours of their valuable time.

Making sure you are equipped with the correct hiking equipment and you are sufficiently capable of tackling steep and difficult routes, you can ensure the safety of your group without relying on the help of rescue professionals.
 

Shona McMillan has been chosen to take up the position of promoting walking coordinator for Ramblers Scotland, as part of the Ramblers Walk the Path to 2014 scheme initiated by the Scottish government.

Ms McMillan claimed that she was thoroughly looking forward to helping build partnerships that could promote the legacy of the Games.

She added: "This is a great opportunity to use the Games to help create a fit and active Scotland with huge environmental, social and economic benefits."

Her role will encourage people of all levels of fitness to participate in bronze, silver and gold-graded walks around local communities.

According to 2009 statistics from the Scottish government, 66.3 per cent of men between the ages of 16 and 64 years old and just over half of women were identified as being overweight.
 

By packing the travel rucksacks and donning outdoor footwear, families can leave behind their laptops and social networking sites and head outside to one of the many events set up across the country.

Anne Chevalier, British Mountaineering Council (BMC) area youth coordinator (AYC) for Yorkshire, has organised an informal walk for parents and children on Sunday June 5th, in the peaceful Dales location of Ilkley.

The walk is 8.5 miles long, and takes in some more challenging terrain as it heads up to Ilkley Moor, before descending on the spa town centre, where children can peruse the many sweetshops and craft centres.

National Family Week takes place from May 30th to June 5th, and is expected to encourage thousands of families to spend time together at one of over 5,000 predicted events.
 

Members of the Wainwright Society undertook the 102-mile tour over the 133 Whitsuntide peaks over a period of three weeks.

Over the course of the trip, walkers used Wainwright's own hand drawn itinerary and map.
According to the Westmoreland Gazette, the challenge raised over £2,000 for the Lake District Calvert Trust charity.

Speaking to the local newspaper, one of the society's members Derek Cockell said the challenge had been "very successful" although he added that the weather had not been very good.
"It was a lovely bonus to raise £2,000 for the Calvert Trust, who were able to join us on the last leg on the final walk," he continued.

The Wainwright Society was established in November 2002 and the inaugural walk saw participants walking to the summit of Dove Crag.

Since then the society has raised thousands of pounds by taking part in walking challenges made famous by Wainwright.
 

A total of four rescue teams were sent to rescue the men, three of whom were wearing sandals, prompting one of the emergency team to question their outdoor equipment and preparedness, suggesting that walking footwear would have been more suitable.

They were rescued from the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge, north of the summit of Pen y Fan, at almost 3,000 feet, after one of the men became ill with a heart condition.

A spokesperson for the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team said: "The men who had been camping in the national park for the weekend had become disorientated in the poor weather and their problems were then compounded by the heart condition of the casualty."

After the call made at 19:45 BST, three of the men were helped down the hill, while one was safely stretchered to an ambulance at the base of the ridge.
 

A pair of the majestic birds of prey have been spotted acting unusually, as the RSPB and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) begin to work together to run a free peregrine watch viewpoint.

Ian Court, the YDNPA's Wildlife Conservation Officer, claimed that the female bird has been taking food into the nest, which is a clear indication that she is harbouring chicks.

However he added: "Unfortunately the birds are nesting out of sight so we do not know how many young there are.

"We will be waiting for the chicks to become large enough that they start to venture away from the nest ... allowing us to see them."

While Malham Cove is a popular spot for rock climbers, the British Mountaineering Council has agreed to impose temporary restrictions to prevent the Falcons from being disturbed.

The watch site attracted 16,500 visitors last year and will be open until July 31st.
 

British Cycling recently unveiled Breeze, the biggest ever programme focused on getting more women into riding bikes.

Current research suggests three times more men than women take part in cycling regularly – with the gap growing.

Breeze offers women a national network of fun, local and flexible bike rides that are friendly and informal.

The first rides will start in June in towns and cities across England.

Natalie Justice, network manager at British Cycling, said one million women currently would like the opportunity to get out on their bikes.

"Breeze gives them the chance to do just that on their doorstep and change cycling for women forever," she said.

"If you'd like to get out on your bike, whether it's for the first time or after a long break, Breeze is for you."

British Cycling is the national governing body for cycling in the UK.

George Atkinson, from south-west London, began the challenge in 2005 by scaling Kilimanjaro and completed it this week by reaching the summit of Mount Everest.

He had the climbing bug at the age of 11, completing Kili before going on to climb Russia's Mount Elbrus in 2007 and Indonesia's Carstensz Pyramid and Argentina's Mount Aconcagua in 2008.

Mount McKinley in North America was then swept aside followed by Mount Vinson in Antarctica.

"George has done it. He reached the summit at about 08:15 Nepali time," his mother Penny posted on his blog.

The teenager breaks the previous world record, held by 17-year-old Johnny Collinson.

Professor Oliver said the higher vitamin D levels could be the reason. Recent research by researchers at the University of California, and the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that brisk walking or vigorous physical activity, could help slow prostate cancer.

Commenting on the research, Professor Oliver said: "Briskness of walking is a somewhat imprecise term, but all studies of the health benefit from exercise, whether it is cardiac disease, depression or cancer, suggests that it has to be sufficient to get the heart beating faster than normal."

"While it makes sense for preventing cardiac disease, it is not immediately obvious how it prevents cancer and depression," he said.

Professor Oliver, did however, offer a reason as to why exercise could potentially, have a protective effect against the disease.

"It is possible that one of the main ways that exercise prevents cancer is that, as it is mostly outdoors, the patients whose cancers grow slower, do so because they have higher vitamin D levels," he explained.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has issued the advice as the birds start to incubate eggs and raise their young.

A free leaflet has been produced for walkers showing the five main species of birds to help walkers know what to look for.

Dog walkers are asked to ensure their pets do not disturb any birds they come across.

Alan Hulme, the YDNPA's ranger services manager, said that since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in 2005, people no longer were restricted to paths and could walk on open land.

"This has meant that parts of the national park that were previously no-go areas for visitors – including some used by ground nesting birds – are now seeing more humans," he said.

He added that disturbance to a nest could cause adult birds to flee, leaving eggs to get cold or leaving newly-born hatchlings exposed to the elements and predators.

An average of 7.72 million day visitors come to the Dales every year.

Emma Soames, editor-at-large for Saga Magazine said walking is popular among older people because it carries less risk than other pursuits.

"The most popular form of exercise is walking because you don't risk hurting yourself in any way," she said.

"If you walk briskly, you can get your heart rate up."

And it's not just for those aged over 60 – Ms Soames said there is anecdotal evidence that walking is good for everybody. 

"A lot of people now say walking is the best sort of exercise for any generation," she explained.

"Other exercises which the over-60s are doing include swimming and cycling, but the big winner is walking," Ms Soames concluded. 

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that the elderly should take up the Chinese martial art of t'ai chi to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. 

Visitors to the festival, held over nine days between May 7th and 15th, enjoyed hiking, cycling and canoeing in spectacular countryside, the Broads Authority said.

The canoe taster sessions proved extremely popular, with 254 people going for a paddle in one morning compared to just 40 at a similar event last year.

Over 60 events were held in total, including archery and canoeing.

Bruce Hanson of the Broads Authority said the festival was a great start for what will be an annual event.

"I am very pleased with how it went," he said.

"The people who came along thought the events were fantastic and we have got a very firm foundation to build on."

Norwich City footballing legend Jeremy Goss opened the festival with a 25-mile cycle ride starting from Whitlingham Country Park.

Ellis Butcher, spokesman for the tourist board, said the Lakes welcome new admirers every year.

"It is an incredibly enduring and popular destination for families in summer who love the feeling of being in the great outdoors and caravanning and camping in a stunningly beautiful area," he said.

With a packed programme of events and things to do this year, those donning their hiking footwear for a trip to the region won't be short of things to do.

The Keswick Beer Festival takes place in early June, and there are plenty of pursuits to try out, such as mountain biking, Mr Butcher said.

According to a recent survey by Travelodge, despite 2011 being a year of rising costs, 80 per cent of Britons are refusing to give up on their summer break, with over a third (35 per cent) saying they'll holiday in the UK this summer.

The top three locations are Cornwall, the Lake District and Devon.

Maintaining paths and bridleways, protecting the area's wildlife and giving grants and advice to farmers were all rated as very important by both residents of and visitors to the region in a consultation project.

The questionnaire surveyed more than 1,500 people in which they were asked to rate park services with a score ranging from 'not important' to 'very important'.

Julie Lawrence, director of information, education and visitor services at the authority said: "The consultation is just one of several discussions and exercises we are carrying out to inform what will be difficult decisions around future work areas for the authority."

The park covers an area of 554 square miles and has 26 miles of coastline.

Walkers today have a choice of six walks, according to isleofman.com.

The longest is an impressive 13.5-mile coastal walk from Port Erin to Peel, taking in Fleshwick, Niarbyl and Glen Maye.

For those who don't fancy such a strenuous hike, there are plenty of easier options, including a 4.8-mile walk from Port Erin to Chasma that passes the village of Cregneash, and a 4.3-miler from Colby Glenn to Baie ny Carrickey that takes walkers through a wooded gorge.

And after all their hard work, today's walkers will be able to throw off their hiking footwear and rest their weary legs with a jazz night.

A record number of walkers are taking part in the six-day walking festival, according to manxradio.com.

There are 235 participants in total, with visitors from as far away as the Czech Republic and the US.

Those who use GPS to navigate their way up hill and down dale will be interested to know that telecommunications regulator Ofcom has said that jamming signals will be broadcast toward the north of the national park between May 31st and June 10th, outdoors website Grough.co.uk reports.

Running periodically from 09:00 BST to 17:00 BST in an area around the Sennybridge Training site, the operation will involve multiple jammers operating within five kilometres of Dixies Corner.

The Ministry of Defence said land-based GPS receivers, like those used by walkers, runners and mountain bikers, would be affected if in line of sight of the jammers, Grough said.

So if you were planning on a trip to the Brecons and were thinking of taking along your GPS – better throw the old map and compass in your daysacks too – but you already knew that, of course.

As part of a £2.25 million Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) project, the railway tunnels will be open to the public for the first time since 1968 after being cleaned and repaired.

The work has resulted in nearly 1.5 miles of extra public access, extending the existing popular Monsal Trail.

MP Norman Baker will officially open the tunnels, called Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and Chee Tor, on Wednesday May 25th.

Jim Dixon, chief executive of the PDNPA, said: "This has been a huge engineering project and is generating a lot of interest and excitement among local residents and visitors.

"Through this project we are opening up the important limestone landscape of the Wye Valley with all its industrial and environmental heritage so that more people can come, experience and learn about it."

The Monsal Trail follows a section of former railway track to Coombs Viaduct.

That and several other questions are part of a questionnaire you are being invited to complete as part of a project to design a "ground-breaking" new mobile phone app.

The Sustainable Uplands project team, led by a team from the University of Aberdeen, is working on 'enhanced reality' national park walking routes that enable users to contribute financially to park maintenance.

Available via a smartphone application, the new routes will offer users some of the latest landscape research findings to enable them to gain a better understanding of the trails, coppiced woodland and waterways they walk through.

The survey, available to complete here, asks a variety of questions, including how often people go walking, what types of walk they enjoy (such as challenging hikes or walks to places of interest), what navigation tools people use, and what information they would like about the routes they are walking.

Recently, the Yorkshire Dales National Park launched a new smartphone app, the first of its kind developed by a park authority.

It is packed full of walking, cycling and mountain biking routes, and is available to download free of charge.

The phenomenal scenery, perhaps? The dizzying range of wonderful walking routes? The little pubs tucked away here and there? The fine accommodation and wonderful, rustic food?

Perhaps. But this year it might well be that uppermost in your mind will be that you might get a glimpse of a host of movie stars.

That's because a growing number of film-makers are attracted to the popular Welsh region.

The park said that since January, eight major film-makers have expressed interest in shooting in the region, double that of the whole of 2010.

One movie, The Killer Elite, starring Robert de Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham, has been confirmed for filming.

Talking to the BBC, Samantha Games, of the Brecon Beacons National Park, said: "I think they work with us because the landscape offers such diversity.

"We've got plains that could double for the wild west, we've got quarries that work as lunar landscapes.

"Hitchhiker's Guide and Doctor Who have both filmed here and dramatic fantasy films love the waterfalls and remote mountain lakes."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-13269857
 

Taking place at Brockhole, the national park visitor centre situated on the shores of Lake Windermere, the park's leafy and blossoming trees and woods form part of two events in the region's packed programme of spring events.

On Saturday May 22nd, enjoy Tree Wisdom, a short walk through Brockhole's grounds led by a national park tree and woodland advisor. Appropriate footwear is advisable – so be sure to take adequate hiking footwear with you.

Taking place on Thursday June 2nd, the family-friendly Treemendous Avatar Adventure will encourage youngsters to be inspired by trees by building a den to protect from invasion.

Waterproofs and wellies are listed as essential for this event.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for adults and children to find out in their own ways the important role trees play in the natural environment – especially here in the Lake District where we are so lucky to have a rich variety of species and in such massive quantities," said Marina Ramsden, a national park tree and woodland adviser.

Given the popularity of the late May Bank Holiday and school half-term, people are advised to pre-book any events likely to sell out.

Apa Sherpa has broken his own record by scaling the world's highest mountain, summiting the epic peak yesterday (Wednesday May 11th).

Known as the 'Super Sherpa', Mr Sherpa was joined atop Everest by fellow expedition members. The group was on an expedition to clear rubbish from the mountain left by previous climbers, outdoors website Grough.co.uk said.

Mr Sherpa grew up near Everest and spent his youth as a porter for other mountaineers. He first climbed the mountain in 1989.

"If my ascent promotes the cause and helps to protect the mountain, I am always ready to climb," the BBC reported the climber telling news agency AFP prior to his trip.

The mountain is named after George Everest, a British surveyor-general of India in the 19th century.

The open day, at Thirlmere Recreational Hall, will give visitors the chance to see drawings, ask questions and walk some of the prospective route on May 19th.

Organisers of the day hope it will quell criticism that met the project when it was unveiled last year.

Staff from the national park will answer questions and lead tours of parts of the actual route.

David Robinson of the Lake District National Park Authority said that while news of the route last year prompted opposition to the project, the open day will allay fears.

"We think there is a need to set the record straight, address a few of the misconceptions about what we want to do and work together to provide something that everyone is happy with and maybe even be proud of," he said.

Thinking of heading to the event? Make sure you equip your trip and take comfortable walking footwear with you.

The brainchild of Living Streets and Walk England, the month aims to get people out and about in their local area, getting some exercise and fresh air as they appreciate their surroundings.

Within the month, there is also Walk to Work Week, which is currently ongoing, and Walk to School Week, which starts on Monday, so no one has any excuses for not pulling on their walking footwear for a stroll at least once over the period.

Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets, said: "Getting fit and active doesn't have to mean costly gym sessions, or marathon running attempts - there is a free and easy way to work more exercise into your daily routine, and it is often overlooked - give yourself a daily dose of walking."

As well as encouraging people to do their daily commute on foot, the month is aimed at getting people out and about in the countryside, and local regions are doing a lot to promote their areas to walkers.

Why not try a stroll across Three Cliffs Bay in Gower, South Wales, or a walk around Bluebell Hill in Rochester, or one of the other stunning walks on offer in the UK countryside to really get you in the National Walking Month spirit.
 

Jeremy Goss, Norwich City footballing legend, will kick-start proceedings on Saturday (May 7th) with a 25 mile cycle ride, starting from Whitlingham Country Park.

Taking place over nine days, there are more than 60 events taking place, all aimed at encouraging people to get out and explore the beauty of the Broads.

Jeremy will set the first group of festival-goers off on a guided walk around the country park, having cycled from his home to get there as part of his training routine.

In the afternoon, there are more guided walks taking place, as well as archery sessions, a climbing wall, and opportunities to go canoeing and kayaking.

The festival runs from Saturday May 7th to Sunday May 15th.

Bruce Hanson, head of tourism at the Broads Authority, said: "The Broads is primarily known for boating, but there is so much more to do and we want to show that off."

The free guided walk, which takes place on Saturday May 14th, will take in parts of the Duncombe Estate, in the North York Moors National Park, which do not usually have public access and is organised as part of series of 'hidden gem' walks by the Lime & Ice Project.

Brian Walker, a former wildlife officer at the Forestry Commission, will lead the walk and talk about what is being done to protect the future of the stunning trees.

The national park is well-known for its ancient and veteran tree population, many of which can be found at Duncombe.

Jennifer Smith, Lime & Ice project officer, said: "These wise old veterans are all that remain of the 'wild wood’ that would have covered much of the country in the 16th century.

"As well as being fascinating in their own right, they also provide a home for wood-feeding insects such as beetles and an array of different birds."

The park authority has also published a free Out and About guide, available from tourist information centres.

Mr Iannucci, who directed In the Loop and was a key part of television programmes The Day Today and I'm Alan Partridge, will lead the Silver Star Stroll In The Park walk in Oxford.

Oxford's Silver Star Unit cares for high-risk pregnancies at the John Radcliffe Hospital and celebrates its 40th birthday this year.

Writing in the Oxford Mail, Mr Iannucci explained the unit was special to him as his children had been in its care.

"Silver Star fundraisers are full of grateful, healthy babies and parents who come back year after year, a little larger and a little taller, to say thank you to the team," he wrote.

“My little girl, Carmella, our first daughter, was the third of our kids to have been born with the Silver Star unit, so my entire family has been made possible by the service."

The walk takes place around Oxford's University Parks on Sunday May 22nd.

Alfred Wainwright, who wrote a series of immensely popular pictorial guides to the Lake District fells in the 1950s and '60s, loved Haystacks, in the Buttermere Valley, so much he asked for his ashes to be scattered there.

It is of relatively modest height - 597 metres – but possesses a power that has to be experienced to be understood, plus, of course, some of the best views the Lakes can afford.

This weekend, why not get your outdoor equipment together and head out and climb it?

This Saturday, May 7th, enjoy a guided walk up Haystacks, in the company of a learned guide.

Climbing from Honister, the route takes in old slate mine workings, going past Blackbeck and Innominate Tarns (where Wainwright's ashes are scattered) to the summit, for fabulous views of Buttermere and beyond.

The walk, organised by the Lake District National Park, is free, just under five miles long, and starts at 10:30 BST.

Appropriate footwear – such as a good walking footwear – are listed as essential for the walk.

The final section of Wainwright's book, Memoirs of a Fell Wanderer, features the legendary fell walker expressing the desire for a final resting place by the side of Innominate Tarn on Haystacks.

"And if you dear reader, should get a bit of grit in your boot as you are crossing Haystacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me…," he wrote.

It's a great test of your navigational skills, as well as being an awful lot of fun in the great outdoors, naturally.

If you're interested in giving the outdoor sport a go, you'll be interested to hear about a series of events the National Trust has planned.

The trust has teamed up with GPS firm Garmin to host geocaching events at over 40 places across the UK.

Visitors will be able borrow a Garmin handheld GPS device to guide them to treasure 'caches' hidden in the countryside and coastland of beautiful National Trust sites.

Andrew Silver, senior product manager for fitness and outdoor at Garmin, said geocaching was a great way for families and people of all ages to get outdoors and seek out hidden places.

"At National Trust places this summer, you can have fun and get rewards, but also learn useful techniques such as how to read maps and co-ordinates," he said.

Click here to search for a geocaching event near you.

Safety organisations working together on Ullswater are warning visitors that despite the recent warm weather, the water will not be as warm as they might think.

The Ullswater Lake Safety and Rescue Association (ULSRA) says walkers should not visit the lake ill-prepared.

Anyone accidentally going under the water will find themselves gasping for breath and they may be unable to scramble back into a boat given the cold water, the association said.

"People need to dress to cope with the water temperature, with buoyancy aids or lifejackets being vital for anyone facing the slightest possibility of falling under water," ULSRA said in a statement.

Safety experts have also warned that Ullswater has two special dangers: that the lake bed can shelve quickly in places, meaning people out for a dip could end up in very deep water very quickly.

Also, Ullswater has unpredictable squally winds, so visitors are advices to tether inflatable boats to the shore and restrict them to shallow water.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in England after Windermere.

According to SkiHorizon, the ski season may be coming to an end, but fresh snow has recently been spotted covering the European Alps.

The firm said there still resorts in the northern alps in France that still have plenty of snow and won't be closing until May – Val Thorens and Les 2 Alpes.

One way to enjoy skiing this time of year is to ski at night. Night skiing is described as a "magical experience which will transport you to fairytale land under unbelievably starry skies" – an unforgettable experience in the night-time mountains.

Myriam Cervera, a spokesperson for SkiHorizon, added that it is now possible to book good quality accommodation at lower prices.

So what are you waiting for – pick up some skiing gear and enjoy a late season holiday.

Participants will leave the castle's esplanade and walk down the historic Royal Mile, before passing Holyrood Park and finishing at the Scottish Parliament, the Scotsman newspaper reports.

The five-mile walk has been organised by Bowel Cancer UK.

Andrew Moffatt, director of fundraising at Bowel Cancer UK, told the newspaper: "This is a fantastic opportunity to get together with your family and friends and do something amazing for both the awareness of bowel cancer and your own health.

"Regular exercise such as walking has been proven to help reduce the risk of bowel cancer, so come along and put a real spring in your step, whilst helping save lives."

Dominating Edinburgh's skyline, the castle sits atop an extinct volcano. Human settlement at the fortress has been dated back to around 900 BC.

The 78-mile long path, running through north Hampshire between Andover and Aldershot, has been named in tribute to Brenda Parker, who died in 2008 just days before she was to have been made an honorary life member of the Ramblers.

Brenda developed the Hampshire wing of the Ramblers and helped increase the number of walker for the association. In her role as area footpath secretary, she defended paths from change and organised many walks.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, paid tribute to Brenda Parker when she cut the ribbon to formally open Brenda Parker Way.

"Brenda worked tirelessly and without complaint for over four decades to win a better deal for walkers throughout Hampshire," she said.

"It is thanks to her dedication and commitment that so many people can enjoy the excellent walking in Hampshire today."

If you're heading to Hampshire for a walk in the coming weeks – or perhaps over the upcoming four-day weekend – why not equip your trip – take a look at our range of walking gear.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has developed the app, designed to help you get the most out of a visit to the national park.

It currently contains information for the popular Malham and Hawes areas, but it is expected that more regions will be added shortly.

The tool has been designed with a wide range of visitors in mind, from those with limited mobility, to people new to walking, to seasoned pros.

Featuring places of interest ranging from well-known visitor spots to unknown places off the tourist trail, users can use GPS to find them all.

In addition there are walking, road-cycling and mountain biking routes complete with both online and Ordnance Survey mapping.

Feedback on the app so far seems positive. One user, Chodder, posted on the iTunes app store that it was "really nice" and showed off the not only the spectacular side of the area but the local community side of it too.

"Nice job!"

If you're new to the pursuit, you'll be interested to hear about the National Trust's first ever cycling festival, which offers a range of events and activities throughout July for new cyclists.

Over 40 National Trust sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will offer interesting routes and trails as part a wider initiative as we focus on helping more people enjoy the outdoors and get closer to nature.

Philip Broadbent-Yale of the trust said: "This festival is about opening our doors to cyclists whether for a family ride, after hours tour through the park or for a more challenging bike ride."

"Millions of us have a bike in a shed or garage and this is a great chance to dust them down and get out and about on your bike," he added.

Choose from guided bike rides led by experienced rangers and wardens, or go it alone on way-marked routes.

The festival kicks off on July 16th with an hour-long route, suitable for all ages, at the beautiful Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, and finishes on July 24th.

Dr William Bird, strategic health advisor at the organisation, said there are simple steps you can take to make walking part of everyday life.

"Leaving the car at home whenever possible, getting off the bus or train one or two stops earlier, taking a walk in your lunch break or after work, cancelling the newspaper delivery and walking out to buy a paper each day, are all ways to make exercise easier," he said.

Once successfully incorporated into daily activities, you'll start to reap the many benefits walking in the natural environment can bring.

While the benefits of being active are well known, walking gives "added value", Dr Bird said.

"Walking in a green environment, whether that's by a river or in a park or along a canal tow path in an urban area, where you can hear birds and see trees and nature, allows the brain to restore its level of concentration."

Recent research by University of Illinois environment and behaviour researcher Frances Kuo showed that parks and green environments are essential for human health.

It's set to be a great couple of days, with great weather and calm, blue skies.

But those setting out for the great outdoors have been urged to make sure they take care when out and about in fields that hold livestock.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and walking charity the Ramblers have joined forces to alert walkers to the potential dangers of walking on grazing land.

Simple things can be done, the organisations said, to reduce risk, like keeping dogs on leads and not walking between a cow and its calf.

NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh said: "Walkers also need to be aware of the risk unleashed dogs pose to sheep and lambs as they can chase and, in certain circumstances, attack and kill. 

"These simple precautions all go a long way to ensuring people can continue enjoying the countryside - and safely."

According to the Ramblers, walking is becoming more popular, with around 954,700 more walkers today than there were five years ago.

According to the UK's walking charity the Ramblers, this Easter is the perfect time to head to the great outdoors.

It says the Easter break, which runs from April 22nd to 25th, allows walkers the chance to enjoy hundreds of trails all over the country, ranging in style and diversity.

And of course, if you over indulge on the Easter eggs this year, you've an even better reason to get out there.

What's more, it's a perfect opportunity for family time.

The Ramblers says research shows that first-time walkers talk to one another more and spend more quality time together during a walk.

"Easter's the perfect time to get out in the spring sunshine and go for a walk with the family," Tom Franklin, Ramblers chief executive, said.

"Fun, low-cost and packed full of adventure, walking is a great way to get talking to the family and helps you all get that bit fitter too."

If you're stuck for somewhere to go, why not head to the Peak District? The national park has just celebrated its 60th birthday – why not go join in the fun?

Ray Clark, a host for BBC Essex, will complete the 50-mile route in aid of the Burnham Floating Lifeboat House appeal.

But Mr Clark, who is a patron of the charity, won't forget his broadcasting duties while out on the walk – he will host his show live from three locations, Harwich, Walton-on-the-Naze and West Mersea, while on the trek.

He told the BBC: "I can't wait to get my walking boots on, but it will be a challenge."

"This is my chance to raise the charity's profile as well as the other emergency services that help to save so many lives."

Burnham RNLI needs to raise £130,000 to go toward a new boathouse for its new lifeboat, which is due to arrive this year. The existing one is too small to house the new boat.

According to figures from esure, the Lakes will be a bustling spot over the upcoming Easter and royal wedding bank holiday weekends, with almost a quarter (23 per cent) of people polled expecting to travel there by car.

Ellis Butcher, a spokesperson for Cumbria Tourism, said those concerned about the Lakes being overpopulated on bank holiday weekends have no need to worry.

"The Lake District offers people a chance for escape and inspiration," he said.

"Because it's in the heart of the second largest county in England it's a massive area geographically so there are many places that are spectacularly remote and off-the-beaten track."

He added that even the "so-called" busy places, such as Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick, are not busy on the type of scale you see in cities.

So where to head?

"The Hawkshead area close to Windermere is very nice as is the Lyth, Winster and Lune valleys as well as Ullswater," Mr Briggs said.

According to business expert and international speaker Roger Harrop, walking – or cycling – to work "without doubt" offers a host of benefits.

If you walk or cycle to work, you not only experience the benefits of being outside and endorphin release, but you can also take the opportunity to quietly look at, and think about, the big picture of your job and plan what you are going to focus on when you get to work," he said.

"This will improve your productivity, stress levels and wellbeing," Mr Harrop added.

Much current research suggests developing ways of getting around that aim to reduce car usage should be considered as methods for increasing physical activity among the workforce.

Recent research from Bristol University found that walking and cycling among employees showed a year-on-year increase between 1998 and 2007.

In total, walking increased from 19 to 30 per cent and cycling more modestly from seven to 12 per cent.

Mr Harrop added also said that walking or cycling is much more preferable when compared to alternative modes of transport.

"Compare this with the concentration needed to drive to work in busy traffic, or commuting by train and tube, with stale air and your private space invaded," he said.

It may be known for its iconic tower, rock and illuminations, but Blackpool is also one of the UK's premier cycling centres.

The coastal resort was awarded 'Cycling Town' status in 2008 by Cycling England and has introduced a number of cycling routes and fitness programmes since, securing its biking reputation.

A spokesperson for visitBlackpool, said cyclists visiting Blackpool can look forward to "a host of activities and different ways to enjoy the town on two wheels".

"As a cycle town, Blackpool has an extensive system of cycle routes that spread from every corner of the resort from the promenade to the beautiful Stanley Park with its huge boating lake."

And if you head to Blackpool without a bike but fancy giving it a go, why not hire one?

"Blackpool boasts the largest Hire a Bike scheme in the UK with 500 bicycles available to hire from key locations in the town for as little as £1 an hour," the spokesperson said.

Many walkers are shunning the tried and trusted map and compass and turning to a dizzying array of mobile apps. But many mobiles are at risk of signal faults in remote areas and poor battery power.

Rescuers have said such apps have contributed to a rise in rescue call-outs in recent years.

Teams said increasing smartphone use is representative of a new generation of young walkers who know a lot about technology but lack outdoor knowledge.

Nick Owen, Langdale and Ambleside mountain rescue team leader, told the Daily Mail: "They're great with technology, but they can't walk up a hill without getting into trouble. They take no sensible kit such as spare clothing and they rely on technical gadgetry which they're not familiar with."

But rescuers also stressed that a fully-charged mobile can be an important piece of kit on the hills.

Teams said a recent incident involved a couple attempting to get off a ridge near Rydal in the Lake District using Google Maps on their iPhone.

UK walking charity the Ramblers also stresses that mobile phones should not be relied upon as a primary navigation aid.

According to TripAdvisor, Weymouth, in Dorset, has one of the top ten beaches in the UK and it is easily accessible via a beautiful cliff-top walk.

Jessica Thornton, tourism marketing officer at West Dorset District Council, said: "Dorset is a holiday destination for all seasons, a world of unspoilt charm and outstanding natural beauty sprinkled with pretty villages and flourishing market towns."

"Our caravan sites situated on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast provide the visitor with breathtaking views, sweeping cliff top walks and spectacular fossil strewn beaches and those who choose to camp further inland will enjoy some of England's best countryside full of river valleys and rolling hills," she added.

Other beaches in the TripAdvisor top ten included Bournemouth beach, St Ives beach and the beach at Newquay, in Cornwall.

According to Ramblers, the UK's leading walking charity, walkers need to make sure their feet are well cared for and getting the right hiking footwear for the type of terrain being walked on is essential.

Maria Castellina, a spokesperson for the charity, said: "When walking, your feet are always key, and it's important to have sturdy and supportive footwear."

She added that if you're going to be on the trail for some time, you should also make sure you pack suitable outdoor clothing.

"Make sure that you have enough layers of clothing to keep you warm," Castellina said.

She added: "If you're going to be walking for a long time, take with you something to eat and drink so that you don’t run out of energy."

Recently, the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital's Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas, US, found that 30 to 50 minutes of walking, three or four times a week can help to improve blood flow to the brain.

Since leaving the automotive industry five years ago, Chris Williams' bikes are being raced in the World Cup by elite riders, the Citizen reports.

Mr Williams recently unveiled his new AP-1 model at an inventors' exhibition in Darwen.

The bike is made from just three parts and is driven by his passion for mountain biking.

He told the newspaper: "The AP-1 is the result of sweat, scuffed knuckles, endless late nights in the lab and many a long weekend pounding the trails, pushing the frame to its absolute limits."

Mr Williams has now sold over 100 bikes which have been used by well-known riders Lewis Buchanan and Oscar Harnstrom.

Recently, the mountain bike course for the London 2012 Olympics was completed.

The Hadleigh Farm, Essex course will host biking events on August 11th and 12th.

On Sunday April 17th the Peak District reaches the grand old age of 60 and a range of events will be held across the weekend.

Enjoy a charity walk in Saturday April 16th, launched by former Blue Peter presenter Simon Groom. Beginning from Thornbridge Hall, Ashford-in-the-Water, walkers have a choice of two circular routes on the Monsal Trail. All proceeds go the Friends of the Peak District.

Fancy brushing up on your navigation skills? Learn the basics of the map and compass on a six to eight mile walk led by national park rangers across rough moorland and tracks at Big Moor.

On the Sunday, enjoy a cycling session at the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell. This free event offers starter sessions for complete beginners and road confidence and skills sessions for families or groups.

Up for something a little tougher? Try out a trig point challenge. Complete a 12-mile walk taking in three trig points, Shining Tor, Burbage and Axe Edge. Be warned, though, this is a difficult walk over rough ground, so equip your trip with some hiking footwear.

Talking about the Peak District's birthday celebrations, park chief executive Jim Dixon said: "National Parks are for everyone. We want people to join us in our 60th anniversary celebrations and enjoy the events being offered throughout the Peak District.

"Whether you take part in an organised event or go out under your own steam for a walk, bike ride, horse ride, climb or sail, the main thing is that everyone takes the opportunity to appreciate this much-loved landscape."

This month, the UK's newest national park, South Downs, was formally unveiled.

Well, over 110,000 people regularly pack away their outdoor gear and head out for a climb, according to Sport England's fourth Active People Survey.

The study measures how many people in England participate in sports and whether participation has increased.

It found that mountaineering has grown in popularity, from 86,100 adults in 2007/8 to 11,300 adults in 2009/10, ukclimbing.com reported. That's an increase of other 25,000 people.

Participating in a sport was defined as the number of adults who have taken part in it for 30 minutes or more at least once in the last week – and at moderate intensity.

Thinking of getting into mountaineering? Why not equip your trip and get out and about?

Next weekend is a perfect opportunity – the Peak District National Park is celebrating its 60th birthday and is hosting a range of outdoor events, for the skilled to the uninitiated.

Take a look at the full list of events here. Why not head along?

Mr Johnson wants to host up to 30,000 amateur riders in what would be the largest timed bike race in London, the Evening Standard reported.

Scheduled for 2013, the race would be televised live by the BBC and would also feature a parallel professional event for top riders, like Olympic champion Nicole Cooke.

Documents seen by the newspaper show that four possible routes are proposed, measuring between 60 and 120km.

The routes include a central London ring taking in more than 20 boroughs and the Olympic Park and a start/finish in the Olympic Park, including some central London icons, then heading east into Essex.

It would be modelled on South Africa's yearly 'Argus' event that features over 30,000 cyclists.

Recently, it was announced that the mountain bike course for the London 2012 Olympics has been completed on time and on budget. The Games' mountain biking events will take place at Hadleigh Farm on the 11th and 12th August. 

UK walking charity the Ramblers is encouraging families to enjoy an eggtastic (apologies...) walk in Kensington Gardens this Easter – so why not equip your trip and head on down?

There's no need to book, and the event, which takes place on Tuesday April 19th, is completely free.

This year the Easter Bunny will be leading a hopping clan of Easter egg hunters around the gardens, giving you and your children a chance to explore the outdoors and find hidden treats.

Tom Franklin, Ramblers chief executive, said: "In the build up to Easter there is no better way to spend quality time with your family than to get walking.

"Slow down the pace, get outdoors and explore the budding expanse of London's Royal Parks whilst your kids get active enjoying some Easter fuelled fun."

And from May 14th walks around Kensington Gardens will take place on the second Saturday of every month, so if you can't make the April one, why not plan for one later in the year.

According to the Ramblers, walking can have a great benefit on health and wellbeing. It boosts mood and awakens the senses, and can help combat blood pressure.

But one thing that is set to stay, cyclists will be glad to hear, is that the popular Cycle to Work scheme.

According to riding website road.cc, David Gauke of the Treasury confirmed this in an answer to an MP's question about the scheme.

"The Cycle to Work scheme provides an exemption from income tax on the benefit in kind created when an employer hires cycles or cycling safety equipment to an employee," Mr Gauke was quoted by the website as saying.

He added: "The government have no plans to change this exemption.”

The scheme is an annual tax exemption that allows employers to loan cycles and safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit.

Employees' hire payments are deducted from their gross monthly salaries and at the end of the hire period they may be able to buy the bike from their employer.

There are a number of important and protected species that nest on the cliffs at the Eglwyseg escarpment of the limestone, including ravens and peregrines.

This year, a raven has nested within 50 metres of the Silent Spirit route at Dinbren, and climbers are strongly requested to avoid gearing up or climbing near this route until the beginning of May.

The restrictions have been reached after years of negotiations between the BMC, local climbers, Denbighshire Countryside Services and local bird expert John Lowton Roberts.

Mr Roberts, who monitors the sites, will allow for the restriction to be lifted early as soon as the birds fledge.

The BMC said: "Climbers have a brilliant track record of agreeing and sticking to the annual (temporary) restrictions on climbing on sections of the Eglwyseg escarpment on Clwyd Limestone.

"Most climbers are well aware of the restrictions that apply and of the need to adhere to these restrictions to protect these wonderful species."

There are other restrictions that apply to the Eglwyseg Escarpment – climbers can see them here.

If the Eton student had successfully completed his trek, he would have become the youngest person to ski to the North Pole.

And bloody but unbowed, Liautaud will this year try again – and you'll be pleased to hear the record still has yet to be broken.

The teenager, who is an ambassador for global youth forum One Young World, set off on the challenge this weekend (Saturday April 2nd) with Arctic explorer Doug Stoup.

He will battle temperatures of minus 35C, pull a sled weighing 115lb and expend 9,000 calories each day.

As part of a climate change research study currently being undertaken by Canada's University of Alberta, he will also take snow and ice measurements.

Talking about the trek, Bear Grylls said: "I so admire Parker's dedication and drive and I know what can be achieved when a project has one's whole heart and soul in it.

"[It's] a huge challenge and a huge ambition but such endeavours bring out the best in us."

And what better way to celebrate this great event than by pulling on your walking boots and taking a trip to the region?

In 1951, the Peak District became Britain's first ever national park, (although it was swiftly followed by the creation of the Lake District, Snowdonia and Dartmoor).

Over the years the park has cemented itself as a favourite among its thousands of residents and the millions of visitors it attracts.

The park is rolling out its diamond anniversary celebrations, and has a whole range of activities planned over the weekend of April 16th and 17th.

These include guided walks, mountain scrambles, a trig point challenge and free navigation sessions.

Some of its famous friends have also popped up to talk about the park. Actor and adventurer Brian Blessed said: "I grew up in the South Yorkshire coalfield near Doncaster and have known the Peak District since I was a boy; for me it is the centre of the earth.

"I love its high rocky edges, its wild moorland vistas, its dramatic hillsides and hidden valleys. It's on the doorstep for millions yet you can escape the hordes and make your own adventure."

Indeed - you don't just have to attend one of these events to celebrate the Peak District reaching the big 6-0.

Why not head there independently and enjoy activities like walking, cycling, horse riding and climbing, and make your own adventure?

Effective from today (April 1st), the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has taken on legal powers and will be responsible for planning within the park.

Stretching over 600 square miles across Sussex and Hampshire, the park encompasses ancient woodland, open heaths and features the chalky white cliffs at Beachy Head.

Walkers will be interested in the South Downs Way, which spans the entire length of the park.

It hosts a biodiversity rich in variety, ranging from beech and oak trees, rare orchids, butterflies, larks and partridge.

Margaret Paren, chair of the SDNPA, said: "This is a long-awaited and historic day for everyone who loves the South Downs."

"As the new authority, we have statutory purposes and socio-economic duties which we will be working hard to fulfil. By working together, we can all protect and enhance the National Park for residents and visitors today and future generations to come."

South Downs now brings the number of national parks in the UK to 15. The Peak District, established in 1951, claims to be the first ever.

Construction of the Hadleigh Farm, Essex course began in July 2010, and is now ready for a test event scheduled for July 31st this year.

The 550-acre site, which is owned by the Salvation Army, features a five kilometre biking circuit, equipped with climbs, rocky descents and timer-framed structures.

Situated on open hillside, the circuit is a new concept for mountain biking events, as they are usually held in forested areas.

The venue offers plenty of viewing opportunities for spectators, with large sections of the course being visible from many areas of the site.

Members of the GB Cycling Team, including Liam Killeen, Kenta Gallagher and Lily Matthews, joined Sebastian Coe to try out the course for the first time last week.

Liam Killeen said "The excitement of competing in a home Games is building fast and seeing the finished course whets the appetite even more.

"It's a challenging course that will bring out the best in everyone and should make for a fantastic race for both the riders and spectators."

The London 2012 Olympic Mountain Biking events will take place at Hadleigh Farm on the 11th and 12th August. Ticket prices range from £20 to £45.

Here are my top 10 essentials for a luxurious camping experience:

1 Sleeping bag

Shiver no more!  A down sleeping bag is an absolute essential – if you’re a lady then definitely try one with a women’s fit, it’s shorter than a regular bag and has extra down in the feet area, to keep your tootsies toasty warm.

2 Sleeping Mat

Remember roll up foam sleeping mats?  I do!  Urgh, there really is no need.  Check out an Exped Down Sleeping Mat, heat loss is dramatically reduced with down insulation inside the mat, as demonstrated by EMPA, the Swiss Federal Labaratories for Materials Testing and Research, and field tests by expeditions. The thick cushion of air also provides comfort and smoothes out uneven ground.

3 Down jacket

Can you see a theme emerging here?  Basically, swathe me with goose down and I’ll be done with it! Pop on a down jacket in the evening, and you’ll be all set to star watch late in into the night.

4 Stove

Trangia was the first stove I ever learnt to cook with outside, and I still love them now.  This Trangia stove has capacious pans, and a wider frypan, perfect for cooking up a storm al fresco.

5 Jetboil Flash Cooking System

OK, I already listed a stove.  But sometimes you need your coffee quicker than a Trangia can heat the water!  In just 2 minutes the Jetboil will have boiled enough water for 2 cups of tea, coffee or cocoa.  A real luxury.

6 Pop Up Tent

I have to admit, I do own a small selection of tents, from a tiny 1 person tent through to a huge summer holiday tent with more rooms than my house.  I really recommend a pop up tent just for ease of use.  Just grab it out of the back of the car, chuck it where you want to pitch, and ‘POP’ – you’re done.

7 Kids tent

If you’re planning a family trip away, and if your kids are of a ‘certain age’ they’re probably going to be keen on having some space for themselves.  This tepee style tent is awesome, colourful and fun and is always a big hit with the younger folks on our camping expeditions.

8 Head lamp

Essential for those night time trips to the toilet block, a Petzl head torch uses powerful LED lights will also keep your hands free when you are cooking or reading in the night.

9 Solar charger

Though I do draw the line at taking a TV, there are times when you’ll have your electronic equipment with you and it’s going to run out of juice.  This solar charger is great for i-phones and digital cameras; you won’t want to miss out on photo opportunities because you forgot to bring this.

        10 Comfortable seating

Back in the day I made do with a square of karrimat, but these days you’re more likely to see me ensconced in a foldable chair, complete with insulated cupholder for beer or coffee.

This article was written by Sue Sharples, who’s proud to be a fair weather camper, on behalf of Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, who offer camping and caravanning in Devon

Advanced fitting tips

Loose Heel, Narrow Foot
The Runner's Knot can eliminate heel slippage in most cases. Follow the diagram exactly. Be sure to snug the slack out of all the loops in the hitch before giving it your preferred tightening tension (Important! Pull down toward the ground to remove slack. Then pull up, and cross the laces to get your preferred tightening tension. Finish lacing the eyelets in normal fashion.) This knot may present problems for hikers with a 'high instep' by putting too much pressure on the top of the foot. See the Instep Hitch below if you have a high instep.

High Instep
The Instep Hitch is a great lacing variation for hikers with a high instep. This hitch involves skipping one or more eyelets over the affected area. As with all special hitches, follow the diagram closely. Note the added Runner's Knot (see previous illustration) placed above the instep hitch. The runner's knot may be necessary in this instance to compensate for a loose heel caused by skipping eyelets.

All-around Custom Lacing
The Surgeon's Knot is great to use with all sorts of lacing techniques. The knot involves crossing the lace three times (as shown). This knot is best used as a 'lock,' when you need one section of your laces tighter (or looser) than another. Example: For wide feet leave the lower laces loose for more room, apply a surgeon's knot to the eyelets near the bend of your ankle, and tighten the laces in the upper eyelets. This knot has many other uses; how creative can you get?

Battling the Bulge
A Rubbing bar takes aim (see right). Bunions, prominent metatarsal heads, heel spurs, and other foot complications can limit your chance for a good fit. Don't despair. You can take customization into your own hands with the following technique: Find a stout chair with small-diameter legs. Turn this chair over. You now have a make-shift version of what professional boot fitters call a 'rubbing bar.' With the laces removed, place your boot upside down over one of the chair legs sticking up. Use the end of the chair leg to 'rub' a bulge into the required area, thus making room for protruding bulges of your foot. If there are sharp edges on the end your upside-down chair leg, cover this area with several layers of duct tape to avoid cutting the boot lining. Wet the leather to make stretching easier. Once you've successfully customized your boots using this technique, wear them for a few hours.

Extra W-i-d-e Feet
Freeze them. The boots that is. Take two puncture-free produce bags commonly found in a grocery store. Place one bag inside the other. Stuff these doubled-up bags down into your boot, as if you were trying to line the boot with the bags. Lace the boots up with a lacing tension similar to what you would use if your feet were in them. Now carefully add water to the produce bag. Avoid getting water in the boot lining. When the bag contains enough water to fill the entire boot area below the ankle, securely tie off the top of the bag using several wire twist-ties. Now pop the whole set-up -- boot, bags, and water -- into the freezer, where the liquid will solidify overnight and expand. This expansion is your widening tool; you can imagine what this does to the forefoot of your boot. Viola! Your D width is now an E. If you need to drastically widen the boots, use this procedure in multiple stages, using new bags for each width stage.

All about socks Socks play an important role in keeping your feet comfortable, especially with new footwear.

New Boots? Get New Socks
Your new boots will serve you best with new socks; new socks provide extra padding that is crucial to prevent blisters during break-in.

Salty Old Sock Stories
Salt from your sweat is corrosive, and very abrasive. Over time this salt breaks down the fibers of your socks, causing them to thin out, lose their padding, and restrict their ability to wick moisture. Old socks therefore cause more blisters and general discomfort. Old, less absorbent socks also allow more salt to prematurely wear out your boots.

Sock Construction: Then vs. Now
For decades wool was the preferred choice for hiking, skiing, or mountaineering socks, and for good reason: it was the best material available. But technology and materials improve; these days the best choices for sock materials are synthetics. These new materials last longer, provide superior fit, and are much better at dealing with moisture than wool.

Liner Socks: Still a Good Thing
Liner socks are recommended with wool socks; they are less abrasive against the skin than wool, and the thin, extra layer acts as a buffer to reduce friction. Abrasion and friction is not as noticeable with synthetic socks; however, there are still several good reasons to keep those liner socks in action: (1) Liner socks can cure some 'problem fits,' especially those caused by narrow feet.(2) Liner socks are part of a two-layer system, which is an excellent way to deal with lots of moisture.(3) Liner socks can also be used on long trips when you want to take along a minimum number of socks: use fresh liner socks each day and carry fewer outer socks. Liner socks save your outer socks from the ravages of sweat and oils, and liner socks are easier to wash and quicker to dry than outer socks.

Wearing socks: A Few Wrinkles
When wearing hiking socks here are a few pointers to keep in mind: Never wear your socks inside out, or you may experience discomfort from the seams. The seams of hiking socks were designed and constructed to be on the inside. Make sure there are no wrinkles in your socks when you put your boots on. This is especially important when using liner socks. Ideally the entire surface area of your socks should be smooth and wrinkle free. Wrinkles and bunching can cause blisters and hot spots.

Deuter Speed Lite Series Packs – The Demi Pack of Godly Proportions

Truc Reviews recently went out in the Pacific Northwest to beat up the Speed Lite packs…and yes, they liked ‘em. Here’s what they said:

“What do Hermes, the messenger god, and backpacks have in common? Nothing, until you strap into Deuters Speed Lite series packs.

The Speed Lite packs are for the fleet of foot who don't want to be burdened down while transporting their prayers to the mountain gods. My chosen method of worship was back country skiing with my chosen vessel being the Speed Lite 10L

At first, some of the features struck me as a little odd. A front stash pouch with a sewn top confounded me because it seemed that I couldn't put much in with only two small side access points. Luckily, Hermes showed me the errors of my ways ( for who am I to question the gods?) by proving that the pouch was a perfect fit for my skins and downhill ski equipment. This resulted in lightening fast transitions – skins on, gloves off – and allowed for some offerings of sublime Ambrosia and downhill skiing.

One thing that made perfect sense was the weight. It weights in a smidge over a pound (500 KG) and is about as naked as Hermes himself. This weight, in league with the well thought out, non-hindering shoulder straps and streamline tapered design means you hardly notice the pack while you’re wearing it. Completing the package is Deuters patented tensioned Delron U-frame suspension system, a small zippered pouch for keys, snacks, incense and side straps that work well to compress A-frame skis. You could even strap a sacrificed goat to the outside of the pack and you'll look and feel like a demi-god while practicing your chosen method of worship.

Pros: Lightweight and streamlined makes this pack an awesome addition for your side/back country ski pursuits as well as paying homage to the gravity gods (i.e. climbing).

Cons: The waist belt is too small and thin to be any good other then holding up your pants. No sweat though, it’s easily removable. Strapping on some ice tools is limited because there’s no way to securely attach the shaft of the tool to the pack.

One Note: Since this pack is so cut, you won't be able to put anything larger then a Deploy 3 shovel inside. Didn't see this as a Con just the nature of doing business with this pack."

The Speed Lite 10 is currently £19.99 reduced from £30 from www.equipyourtrip.com

Well, we couldn’t agree more. Much less suggest things like using it as a hydration pack for rides, plane carry on and throwing stuff in for a day at the beach…mmmm….beach.

Equip Your Trip Ltd is now a 3D secure website, which means improved security for you as the customer.

What is ‘3D Secure’?

‘3D Secure’ is a brand new fraud prevention initiative, launched by the card providers as an increased security method for authenticating your card details at the time of transaction. This results in better security for the websites you buy from as well as yourself, as fraudulent transactions made in your name can be flagged up much sooner.

‘3D Secure’ stands for “3 Domain Secure” because there are 3 parties involved in the process: Equip Your Trip Ltd , our Bank, and Visa or MasterCard. It is a culmination of two existing systems: Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard Secure Code (MSC).

Why 3D secure?

3D secure has been incorporated into our website payment systems. The page you will be redirected to is actually from your card-issuing bank, NOT from Equip Your Trip Ltd . At the moment, you do not have to use our 3D secure authentication process if you have a Visa card as it is not automatically applied to your card, however we understand that MasterCard have brought in a rule which states that all International and Domestic Maestro cards MUST have a full 3D Secure Authentication in order for the transaction to be authorised.

This gives you extra protection because correctly entering your security code during a purchase confirms that you are the authorised cardholder. If an incorrect security code is entered, the purchase will not be completed. Even if someone knows your credit or debit card number, the purchase cannot be completed without your security code. Essentially the process works in a similar way to a PIN number for your card.

How do I register?

In order to register for 3D secure, you will need to sign up for the service with the bank or organisation that issues your card, or sign up when re-directed to the 3D secure page during a transaction through a participating website (e.g. Equip Your Trip). You will be asked to choose a password (security code) and a personal message.

Once you have done this, you will be automatically prompted by your card issuer to type in your security code each time you make a purchase at Equip Your Trip Ltd . Your security code will be quickly confirmed by your card issuer to complete your purchase. Your security code will never be shared with us.

How will this affect your checkout process?

1) You will add products to the shopping cart and complete your order as usual
2) At the checkout stage, if you select to pay by Visa, Visa Delta or Visa Debit, Maestro or MasterCard, then you will be presented with a window which connects to you issuing bank
3) The bank will verify the password and the transaction will continue as normal

What do you see during 3D Secure Authentication?

Once you have entered your card details on the payment page as normal, you will be prompted on the confirmation page to register your card for 3D Secure (if you have yet to do so) or proceed with the transaction and enter your password/security code.

1) If you have yet to register for 3D secure, you will be passed through the steps below:

2) If you have already registered your card, you will be redirected to the Verified by Visa/MasterCard Secure Code website to enter your password:

Once you have submitted your password, the transaction will continue with the authorisation process and then either direct you to our success or failure page.

What are the system requirements for 3D Secure?

Verified by Visa and Mastercard Securecode work with most browsers.
Because 3D secure is so new, not all cards are compatible with the process. Please see below for a list of cards currently covered.

Cards that are covered by 3D Secure:

VISA
VISA DELTA
MASTERCARD
UK MAESTRO
SOLO
VISA ELECTRON

Cards not covered:

American Express
JCB
Diner's Club

For further information about these schemes visit:

Verified By Visa:
Mastercard Secure Code:

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Covered2go travel insurance provides quality cover at competitive prices and offers you an extensive range of travel insurance products, providing you with peace of mind, regardless of whether you want a single trip holiday insurance or longstay travel cover.

When it comes to buying the right product we offer a wide range of travel and holiday insurance options. If you travel frequently, an annual multi-trip policy may well suit you. Europe or Worldwide cover is available for you and this can extend to include your partner or family. Backpacking? We've got Longstay cover that can be especially tailored for you. Our ski and snowboarding trip cover is available at affordable prices. Other options available from Covered2go are our Golf, Business and specialist Timeshare covers, all designed to cater for your individual needs.

We offer our customers an extensive range of cover choice and global support for those unexpected events.

So, let Equip Your Trip take care of all your travel insurance needs!

We work closely with Covered2go travel insurance (other than section B12) is underwritten by Union Reiseversicherung AG, who are authorised in Germany by BaFin and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority and in the Republic of Ireland by the Insurance Regulator. Union Reiseversicherung AG are members of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Administered in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Travel Insurance Facilities plc. Registered Office: 10 Victoria Road South, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 2DA. Registered in England Registered Number: 3220410.

Travel Insurance Facilities plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Travellers HealthCheck and Travel Claims Facilities are trading names of Travel Insurance Facilities plc. Section B12 is underwritten by a consortium of Association of British Insurers member companies and Lloyds Syndicates and provided by International Passenger Protection Limited.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Nestled in Ampezzo Valley, Cortina d’Ampezzo enjoys the title of the most beautiful winter playground in the world. It is not only the most famous ski resorts in Italy but is one of the most important and sought after ski resorts in the world. Apart from offering great skiing experience, the slopes offer picturesque view to the valley. This is only place which provides clear distinction between Dolomites and rest of the Alps.

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The picture perfect location combined with exciting slopes makes this resort top destination for the up market crowd from all over the world. The beauty of these slopes has been captured in many James Bond movies as well.

Val D’Isere, France

Skiing in Val-d’Isère dates back to 1930’s after a drag lift was built on the slopes of Solaise. Being named as the most famous resort for experts, Val D’Isere can easily pass as the all round destination in whole of Europe. The resort offers a range of ski schools and has something to offer everyone from beginners to experts. It offers modern chairlift and cable cars with most modern lift system you could think of.

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No wonder the resort is one of the busiest in whole of Europe. If the ski is worth the way up, the journey will not disappoint you as well. The view on the way up to the Val D’Isere is spectacular and looks just out of Narnia series.

Igls, Austria

Located in the “Capital of the Alps”, Innsbruck, Igls offers a combination of old world charm and access to some of the world’s finest ski resorts. The charming village is surrounded by some of the best skiing in Austria. Beginners can start with the lower slopes while intermediates can try the pistes in Igls itself. For advanced skiers, there is a possibility of eight ski areas totaling 295 km all accessible by free ski buses.

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Two time host of Winter Olympic Games, Innsbruck has lot more to offer than skiing. If you’d like an adrenaline pump, a ride down the Olympic bob slight at 100 km per hour is highly recommended. Other adventures offered include ice skating, floodlit skiing, tobogganing. If you’d like to take a break from skiing, there are some rich museums and galleries to draw your attention as well.

Kandersteg, Switzerland

The village of Kandersteg could easily pass for the most picturesque centre for mountaineering. More people land in this destination for the scenic view and tranquility the village offers. Best known among beginners, it is one of the best places to learn skiing. The slopes here are easy and daunting and give learners enough space to test their techniques.

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Courchevel, France

Courchevel ski resort is built for nothing but Winter Sports. It is made up of four villages which are named after thir altitudes in meters- Courchevel 1300, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1850. It boasts of about 370 miles of pistes and is is a part of the Trois Vallees ski area.

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Courchevel 1850 – the highest located resort district has been quite popular with the rich from all over the world. Guests arrive on their private jets and if your pockets are deep, it’s worth experiencing the air here. There is room for everyone and if you’d like to go for a ski resort just like any other part of the world, you could choose from the villages from 1650 and lower. The mountain has skiing range for both intermediates and experts.

Wengen, Switzerland

With a terrain of 112 km over 53 pistes, Wengen is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. Wengen is an ideal location if you are looking for a combination of absolutely beautiful views and classic architecture. Only accessible by road, the village has excellent slopes for intermediates.

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It also has ranges for experts but is best known among intermediates and snowboarders. More than skiing, the village rates high for the charm and tranquil alpine beauty.

Chamonix, France

Charmonix offers some of the best mountain skiing in whole of Europe. With 12 ski areas, the valley is apt for skiers at all levels. The valley offers beautiful views and draws crowd from all over the world for its excellent skiing conditions and picturesque scenery. It is located right next to the peak of Mont Blanc and offer range of recreational activities. It is the oldest ski resort in France and has great ski slopes for children and ski area for intermediates and experts as well.

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Pas De la Casa, Andorra

The highest resort in Andorra, Pas de la Casa has an excellent snow record. It is placed on the border between France and Andorra. Before it got combined with Soldeu, the resort had the biggest ski area with highest lift served terrain in Andorra. Now it gas 186 km of pistes and is favored for its southern latitude.

The slopes are more suitable for intermediates than beginners and experts. Image source

Pelion Mountain, Greece

While talking about beautiful locations for skiing, Pelion Mountain is easily one of the noteworthy locations. The best part about the ski resorts here is that not many people know about it and skiing here is still not explored completely. Greece has been gaining popularity for skiing among other winter sports. Pelion Mountains offer majestic scenes and is one of the most preferred destinations for those who have discovered the ski terrains here.

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Newstift, Austria

Newstift is a favorite with family and friends looking for skiing all year round. With 28 lifts, the resort offers skiers 7382 feet of vertical descent. Best suited for beginners and snowboarders, it has some regions for experts and intermediates as well. With finest skiing conditions and largest glacial ski resort, a small portion of the resort is covered by snowmaking.

Two kite surfers from West Sussex took advantage of strong winds on the south coast to realise an ambition to jump over Worthing pier. Jake Scrace, 25, and Lewis Crathern, 24, had been planning Monday morning's jump for three years but had to wait for perfect weather conditions.

They took off from Goring to the west of Worthing in gusts of wind that were more than 40mph.Mr Scrace described the build up to the jump as "terrifying". Carpenter Mr Scrace, who makes kite boards, and professional kite surfer Mr Crathern are both from Worthing. Between them they have 16 years' experience in the sport.

The pair said the jump was quite hazardous and should not be attempted by amateurs."It was probably the most terrifying thing I've ever built up to," said Mr Scrace."We were practising down the road and we were pretty confident we were going to do it but as soon as we got nearer the pier it was quite hard."

Mr Crathern said the jump was "epic".
"It was everything I've lived for - amazing," he said

You will see in the video that he grew a “mighty long beard” throughout that time. The original goal was to reach Germany from China; however, he did not accomplish his goal on foot. Rehage did walk from Urumqi in the northwest of China to Beijing, which is still a feat, all on its own. Watch the video to his transformation.

No it's not the latest in GPS technology, its the new and improved navigation menu on equip your trip.

We felt the old navigation was too cluttered and didn't focus on the things that people were interested in and as our product range grew needed to be improved. Out came the single columns of categories and in came a new and improved system that separated brands from activities and then structured the equipment and clothing in an easier to read way.

Let us know your thoughts and anything we can do to improve the site will be much appreciated! Thanks for visiting.

Back then, before concrete paving and electricity transformed the countryside, it was along roads like these that runaway slaves were silently escorted through the shadows by kindly strangers. The sound of dogs barking often punctured the silence, signaling that their furious owners had crossed the river from Kentucky to recapture them. If they were lucky, they would find shelter in a safe house to the north by the time dawn’s light crept over the tobacco fields.

In an effort to help modern-day visitors understand this cardinal chapter of America’s past, the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes bicycle touring, put together a 2,000-mile Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, which roughly traces the network of paths and hideouts that were used by slaves seeking freedom and the abolitionists who ferried them along.

Working with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh, a research and educational institute, the cycling association mapped the route from Mobile, Ala., to Owen Sound, Ontario, with stops along the way that illustrate the story of the internal slave trade and its complex escape arteries.

More than 4,500 maps of the route have been sold since it was released in 2007, indicating what planners say is cycling’s growing popularity not just as recreation but as a dynamic way to experience history.

“Even though you might stay at a bed-and-breakfast or a campsite with a tent, you’re in tune with nature and the elements,” said Ginny Sullivan, routes coordinator with the cycling association. “Especially with the Underground Railroad, cycling makes it more real.”

For those without the time or stamina to bike 2,000 miles, the group has begun promoting day trips along the way, starting with an area around the Ohio River, which was the pivotal demarcation between the slave state of Kentucky and the free state of Ohio.

The verdant valley about an hour southeast of Cincinnati was among the most heavily trafficked corridors of the Underground Railroad, in part because the Ohio River there was then particularly narrow and shallow, thus possible to cross. Residents of Ripley, Ohio, in particular, were so well known for assisting slaves who crossed the river there that slaveholders disparaged the town as an “abolitionist hellhole.”

Pedaling through Ripley one morning in early spring, I gazed on crumbling churches and warehouses, a quiet 19th-century Main Street pocked with empty store windows, and a row of handsome Federal-style houses that line the riverfront like soldiers at attention. Now a sleepy town of about 1,700, Ripley was once twice that size with a booming pork trade and busy boatyards.

Perched high atop a hill overlooking the town is a small, isolated brick farmhouse where John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister who was among the most legendary “conductors” on the Underground Railroad, lived from 1829 to 1863 with his wife and 13 children. Rankin’s house is preserved as a monument to his legacy of having sheltered approximately 2,000 runaway slaves who sought refuge there.

“The bulk of Rankin’s work was done up here, and his older sons did much of the physical work of moving slaves to the next station north,” said Betty Campbell, a lifelong Ripley resident and a trustee of Ripley Heritage, the group that operates the Rankin house, as she walked through its six modest rooms.

From Ripley, I biked about five miles north on a gentle incline toward Redoak, a speck of a town with little more than a cemetery and an 1817 stone church that was frequently used for abolitionist meetings and to harbor runaway slaves. The church is still active although its membership has dwindled to only 21 people, some of whose names appear on its yellowed old registers.

Mary Howelett, a 61-year-old retired health aide whose family has lived near Redoak for five generations, unlocked the church for me to peek inside. For many in the area whose ancestors worked on the Underground Railroad, details of their doings were seldom passed along in family lore, an omission that bespoke the secrecy that surrounded the highly dangerous enterprise.

“My brother thinks that my grandfather’s house was on the second leg of the Underground Railroad after Ripley,” Ms. Howelett said. “But my dad’s cousin said that some things are better left unsaid.”

From there it was about 10 miles to Georgetown, not known for Underground Railroad activity but significant as the childhood home of Ulysses S. Grant. The two-story brick house where Grant lived until age 17 is now a museum, and the schoolhouse where he studied is just down the road.

The swatch of northern Kentucky on the other side of the river is as dense with historic sites as the Ohio side, so on my second day of biking in the area, I started out three miles south of the river in the old town of Washington.

Harriet Beecher Stowe visited Washington in 1833 and witnessed a slave auction on the courthouse lawn there, an experience thought to have inspired her lurid description of a slave auction in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

From there, I biked 20 miles northwest on narrow roads winding through expanses of velvety green grass. There were old plantation houses and silos topped with rusty weather vanes.

I arrived at the town of Augusta, a pristine riverside gem, and there saw White Hall, the 1809 mansion of Arthur Thome, a local mill owner who freed his own slaves before becoming a vocal abolitionist accused of harboring runaways. I also saw the town’s 1811 jail where fugitive slaves were imprisoned.

As I returned eastward along the river, at the point opposite Ripley, I stopped to behold the town dappled in late afternoon sunshine. There was John Rankin’s house, set high above the river like a watchtower, a vivid reminder of the beacon it once was.

IF YOU GO

Maps and information about the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route are available on the Web site of the Adventure Cycling Association (www.adventurecycling.org/ugrr). Day trip maps and information about three cycling loops in Ohio that range from 10 to 30 miles are available at www.freedomslanding.com.

Ripley and the surrounding Ohio River Valley are about 60 miles from Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Information on Underground Railroad sites in the area, including the house of John Rankin, right, is available from the Brown County, Ohio, Department of Tourism (937-378-1970; www.browncountytourism.com).

Cincinnati is home to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati; 513-333-7500; www.freedomcenter.org).

For advice about bike routes on both the Ohio and Kentucky sides of the river, contact Michael Hart, the owner of Mycle’s Cycles (106 East Cherry Street, Georgetown, Ohio; 937-378-5700; www.myclescycles.com). He also arranges guided bicycle tours of Underground Railroad sites, support van transportation, bicycle rentals, sales and repairs.

The French Quarter Inn (25 East McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ken.; 606-564-8000; www.frenchquarterinn.com) has rooms and suites that begin at $89.

An academic analysis of more than 33 million images uploaded to the popular Flickr photo-sharing website reveals that the flagship Apple Store in midtown Manhattan is the 28th most photographed place on earth.

The findings show that the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, which opened in May 2006, is more popular than many other well-known tourist sites such as St Paul's Cathedral in London, the Reichstag in Berlin and the Washington Monument in the US capital.

The store, which features a giant glass cube facade with a suspended Apple logo inside, is also the fifth most photographed landmark in New York after sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and Grand Central Station.

The research was published in a paper presented at the WWW 2009 conference in Madrid last week by a group of academics from Cornell University who had analysed 33,393,835 photos posted on the website by 307,448 users.

Studying the geotagged data which users attached to their photos, the researchers wanted to establish what the world's most popular landmarks were as judged by the collective wisdom of Flickr users around the world.

Among some of the other findings are:

:: New York City is the world's most photographed city with more than 12 million of the photos taken there.

:: The top seven most photographed landmarks are the Eiffel Tower, Trafalgar Square, the Tate Modern Gallery, Big Ben, Notre Dame, the London Eye, and the Empire State Building.

:: The top 10 most photographed cities are New York, London, San Francisco, Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Seattle, Rome and Amsterdam.

The research team was led by David Crandall, a former computer engineer at Kodak who is now a post-doctoral associate at Cornell's Department of Computer Science.

"The Apple Store landmark is an interesting and surprising result, but it's important to remember that our Flickr data is a heavily biased representation of the world," Crandall said in an email.

"Flickr seems to be most popular in North America and Western Europe, so landmarks outside those areas are likely to be under-represented."

Crandall added that people who used Flickr were also probably more likely to be interested in technology - and hence more interested in the Apple Store - than the average person.

Flickr, which is owned by Yahoo, is one of the world's most popular photo-sharing sites.

Crandall said the data showed that the five most photographed Australian cities were Sydney (ranked 34th), Melbourne (78th), Brisbane (201st), Perth/Fremantle (223rd), and Canberra (327th).

He said the data showed that the top landmarks in Australia included the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, the Yarra River and Sydney's Centrepoint Tower.

Upper Antelope Canyon

Photo: Lucas Löffler

Antelope Canyon lies on Navajo land in the American southwest, nestled hidden in the Arizona landscape. One of the world’s true natural wonders, it is a place of splendid serenity, the sort of spot where people find themselves talking in hushed whispers without quite knowing why. As a slot canyon, it has been formed over thousands of years by the gradual wear of water rushing through rock.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Photo: X Ceccaldi

Slot canyons are exceptionally narrow, far deeper than they are wide, and Antelope Canyon’s fantastic whorls and contours can be up to 150 feet tall, while being observable only by very small groups shuffling along the sandy floor. The canyon was formed by the erosion of Navajo sandstone, chiefly due to flash floods that still occur here, making this very much artwork still in progress.

Photo: Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it

Rainwater, particularly in the monsoon season, runs into a large basin overlooking the slot canyon, picking up speed and sand as it runs into the narrow passageways. Grain by grain, the corridors are deepened and the edges smoothed to form the exquisite shapes and graceful curves in the rock. Wind too has played a part in eroding and sanding this majestic canyon.

Photo: X Ceccaldi

The geological rock sculpting here is split into two distinct areas. The Navajo people fittingly call Upper Antelope Canyon Tse’ bighanilini, which means “the place where water runs through rocks”. Lower Antelope Canyon, known to the Navajo as Hasdestwazi, or “spiral rock arches”, is less visited, as it is a longer and tougher hike and must be climbed into via metal stairways.

Photo by Moondigger

Here we see the view from inside Lower Antelope Canyon, looking out with a chink of the sky visible at the top of the frame. The characteristic layering of sandstone is clearly discernible, the layers of sand having built up as a result of sedimentation from water, or from air as in deserts. Scientific explanation assuredly has its place here, and yet these visual delights fit easily into the domain of art.

Photo: Moondigger

The magical gateway into Upper Antelope Canyon – indeed its entire length – is at ground level, which is one reason why it is the more visited of the two carved geological marvels. The other features that explain its greater popularity are the occasional shafts of sunlight that shine down through openings in the top of the canyon; these are more common in the Upper Canyon.

Photo: Raimund Marx

The beams of light are typically seen in the summer months because the sun has to be high in the sky for the angle of its rays to be just right. The phenomenon does not happen so often in the winter, and during this season the colours are slightly more muted, though no less magnificent, as in the photo shown below.

Photo: gerocoT

The summer months themselves offer two different types of lighting, according to the time at which they are witnessed. The play of light is a dazzling phenomenon, seen below catching and reflecting off the edges of the canyon. The way the light constantly changes seems to emulate the continual evolution of the rock faces.

Photo: Rob Inh00d

Sometimes the pillars of light from overhead appear to evoke some kind of spiritual episode, like the stereotypical scene of a god speaking from on high. It comes as little surprise that to the Navajo people, the canyon has always been a place of reverence.

Photo: mandj98

There is a strong sense that this is some kind of sacred space, a womb-like sanctum perhaps, and to the older Navajos entering such a place would surely have been like entering a cathedral. They would likely have left feeling enlightened by nature and in harmony with something greater than themselves. Being inside Antelope Canyon will always be something of a spiritual or transformative experience.

Photo: meckimac

At times the rock forms seem to bear a resemblance to human or animal bodies in their shape and appearance, making the canyon all the more like a living, breathing entity. Here faces seem to come out of the wall, looking down quietly yet imposingly on those below.

Photo: StephanB

Antelope Canyon really is a photographer’s dream; however it also presents difficult challenges due to the way the light enters the area, the large differences in light levels, and the wide exposure range caused by light reflecting off the steep canyon walls.

Photo: yep yep

As mentioned, it is not just the light but the stratification of sandstone that makes Antelope Canyon such an enchanting experience for spectators. It really does call to mind the idea of an immense painter, working with light and rock instead of with oils. Each rock surface is a canvas for nature’s very own swirling compositions.

Photo: Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it

Yet despite the beauty and light of Antelope Canyon, this place also has darker, more dangerous aspect. This was all too apparent in 1997 when eleven tourists were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood that also washed away the then wooden ladders that may have provided a means of escape.

Photo: Leto A.

In the fatal 1997 event, the rain did not need to fall close to the canyon itself for the floods to come rushing down through its corridors. To trigger a flash flood here, all it needs is for a storm to deposit large quantities of water in the canyon basin, miles upstream.

Photo: Gerd Müller

The risk of sudden flooding is one reason why Antelope Canyon can only be visited through guided tours led by authorised guides. The canyon is also only accessible with a permit, and is a source of tourism trade for the Navajo on whose homeland it stands.

Photo: bass nroll

In the shot below, we see just how narrow the passages can get, particularly in the V-shaped Lower Canyon, which can be tricky underfoot at times. Sightseers can stretch out their arms and touch both sides in places. However amazing it may be, Antelope Canyon is not for the claustrophobic.

Photo: Moondigger

So we reach the end of our own tour through this wondrous temple of Mother Nature’s. Part natural phenomenon, part tranquil art gallery, part giant artwork in itself, Antelope Canyon will undoubtedly continue to leave visitors both speechless and restored, as it has done for thousands of years.

As part of our first feature we would like to introduce the Sprayway Crux Windstopper. We are able to offer the Windstopper at only £75 with worldwide secure delivery available.

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