THE NATIONAL FOREST WALKING FESTIVAL 16th-28th May 2015 Walks for all ages and abilities to enjoy Guided and themed walks Places to stay from B&B’s to Forest Lodges Beautiful places to explore www.thenationalforestwalkingfestival.org.uk 2 3 Walkthe national the forest walkingNational festival Forest Way the national forest walking festival Last year saw the opening of the National Forest Way, a new 75-mile long distance walking trail stretching from the National Memorial Arboretum in the west, to “A glorious and Beacon Hill Country Park in the east. ever-changing The trail can be walked in either direction and is a brilliant way to explore the 200 square miles of The route and National Forest. The route passes through all three counties and the many varied landscapes that make up impressively the Forest. planned and For more information, downloadable directions and thought out” maps, please see www.nationalforestway.co.uk All kinds of people plant trees in The National Forest: local tree planters John Celebrating 20 years of the National Forest Company and Irene Cox of Nottingham planted the 7 millionth tree; HRH the Duke of Since 1995, the National Forest Company has been working with local communities and Cambridge planted the 8 millionth! landowners to create The National Forest. Over the last twenty years, people living in The National Forest have seen the trees growing up around them, peeping over the hedgerows, becoming more visible in the landscape. Key achievements during the first 20 years of The National Forest: • Almost 8.5 million trees planted • Around £170.5m has been invested in • Woodland cover has now reached an Forest-related and regeneration projects average of 20% across the whole Forest, and programmes from an initial 6% • 333 forestry and woodland-related jobs • 87% of trees planted have been native have been created or maintained broadleaf species and 13% coniferous • Tourism is worth £336m per year • 80% of all the new Forest sites have open • 7.2m people visited The National Forest public access. More walking! in 2013 • 96km (59.6 miles) of new hedgerows have • Since 2003, over £1,200,000 has been been planted raised in business sponsorship and • 150 new wildlife ponds have been created donations from the public • Over 271,000 people have taken part in Forest-related events since 1995 • 481,000 children have taken part in Looking ahead to 2024, this is the ‘coming-of-age’ decade for The National Forest. As important environmental education sessions as planting the trees is looking after the ones that have already been planted. • Over 45 new sport and recreation facilities You can get involved! You can support the Forest by becoming a Friend of The National Forest; have been created including fishing, you can volunteer to help look after a woodland near where you live; or give a Plant a Tree to mountain biking, orienteering and cross family or friends. country horse riding Find out more about all these, and about • 102km of new cycle trails have been the work of the National Forest Company, created by visiting www.nationalforest.org 4 the national forest walking festival the national forest walking festival 5 Rosliston Forestry Centre Stay and Enjoy the national forest With a wealth of places to visit, why not take a break and stay in the area. There is a wide range of accommodation from the National Forest Youth Hostel to a homely farmhouse or a spacious forest lodge, there is something to cater for everyone’s taste and budget. WHEN YOU’VE WALKED UP AN APPETITE there’s no better way to relax than a visit to one of the many pubs, restaurants, cafes and tearooms THAT ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE AREA “This is the first time we have visited this area. If other walks in the Festival are as enjoyable and informative as this one, then we shall return not only for next year’s Festival but also on other occasions.” Dandelion Hideaway For more information on special offers and details of the many things to see and do, visit: Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre, Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, West St, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 9DG Our friendly TIC staff will help you find and book the perfect accommodation for your visit and provide full details of attractions, events and transport and travel information. Tel: 01283 222848 Email: [email protected] or visit www.thenationalforestwalkingfestival.org.uk to download the 2014 visitor guide. Mercia Marina Lodges 6 the national forest walking festival the national forest walking festival 7 y Wa est 37 r 9 Fo a guide to 50 64 the walks 2 63 Most walks are free and do not need to be The National booked. Where there is a charge or booking is 69 required, details are listed under each walk. 32 Walks are graded for difficulty: Please see below information that you may 25 11 find useful before attending a walk. 54 Routes suitable for most levels • Please wear suitable footwear and clothing (a EASY of fitness. May be suitable for conventional 10 waterproof preferably) wheelchairs and pushchairs (please see • Remember to bring any medication you may individual walk key for more information). 8 56 need 41 • It is advisable to always carry a drink Routes for reasonably fit 51 LEISURELY 46 3 • You may need to bring a packed lunch 22 6 people. May include some un-surfaced rural paths. 17 65 58 49 (see symbols below walk info) 52 53 • Walkers age 16 and under must be 44 accompanied by an adult MODERATE Walks for people with a 26 good level of fitness. May include some steep 73 • If dogs are allowed on a walk (see symbols 55 paths and open country and may be at a brisk pace. 1 below walk info), they must be kept on a lead at all times 12 42 Walks for experienced 27 • All those taking part in a walk do so at STRENUOUS 72 39 their own risk country walkers with an above average level of 47 5 74 fitness. May include hills, rough country and be 68 • Most walk leaders are volunteers at a brisk pace. 14 • Walks will start promptly. 62 35 21 19 61 59 Please be advised walkers may be taking 38 16 23 KEY 24 60 45 20 photographs on any of the festival walks, 15 30 71 which may be used in future publicity. K Parking available v Public transport 67 £ Parking charges apply l Bring a torch 48 70 GUIDED WALK: d 34 Bring packed lunch Wheelchair access 28 A walk led by an experienced leader with local A Dogs not allowed Walking boots 36 33 7 knowledge, often relating to a specific topic. y 29 4 Dogs allowed Children welcome 57 on a lead 13 Walks will take place on varying terrain. Please 2 Warm clothing 18 [] Toilets available see specific walks for more information. s Pushchair access 40 en route HEALTH WALK: For more information please visit: A short walk on surfaced paths suitable for all www.thenationalforestwalkingfestival.org.uk ages and for people recovering from illness. A or call Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre 43 social walk led by a trained volunteer. on 01283 222848 31 66 8 the national forest walking festival the national forest walking festival 9 th 4 Local Heroes Walk 7 Above the Trent Valley 10 Jessop’s Tramway and the Saturday 16 May Guided Walk Easy Guided Walk Moderate Coleorton Railway Start time 10.30am Start time 9.30am Guided Walk Moderate 1 1 1 Nordic Walking 1 /2 hours, 2 miles, No stiles, Adult £3 12 miles, 5 /2 hours, 6-10 stiles Start time 2pm 4 miles, 2 hours, 6-10 stiles Guided Walk Easy/Moderate/Strenuous STARTING POINT National Memorial STARTING POINT Car Park at Branston Adults £3, Children/Concessions Free. Start time 9am Arboretum, Chapel Area DE13 7AR Water Park, STARTING POINT Hough Mill, St George’s 3-4 miles, No stiles, 1 hour On this walk you will discover many local heroes The walk will be through woodland and Hill, Swannington, Leicestershire, LE67 STARTING POINT Moira Furnace DE12 6AT who are remembered at the arboretum. farmland, near the Trent Valley. It passes near 8QE (FREE Car park on site) a variety of land uses, grassland for Recreation, AK[] ds y Historical Walk Including the 1790’s Fenton Nordic walking is aimed at individuals who £ industrial land, farmland and woodland and Raper plus the 1850’s Califat coal mines – enjoy walking but would like a full body of differing ages. Extensive views of the Jessops 1794 tramway and 1833 horse drawn exercies programme (similar to cross country 5 landscapes will be available from the hilltops. training). Be Free Range with the Chickens Coleorton railway. Guided Walk Easy AK[] 2v K[] 2 y K[] y Start time 11am, 3 miles, 1 hour, No stiles 8 QE Diamond Jubilee wood Circuit 2 Mount St Bernard Abbey Circular STARTING POINT Bettys Farm Willington, 11 History Walk to Gracedieu Priory Farm Shop, DE65 6BW (Free Parking) Guided Walk Leisurely Guided Walk Moderate Guided Walk Easy A short walk around the Farm among the sheep Start time 10.30am Start time 9.30am 1 Start time 3pm, 2 miles, 2 hours 3 /2 miles, 2 hours, 1-5 stiles 1 and the chickens. Locking up close and personal 10 miles, 6-10 stiles, 5 /2 hours Adults £3, Children/Concessions Free. with our Wind Turbine and if you’re lucky we STARTING POINT Free Car Park off Heather can tour the chicken sheds. STARTING POINT Bulls Head, Thringstone STARTING POINT Mount St Bernard Abbey, Lane, close to LE67 2TH Pay & Display Car Park, LE67 8LR LE67 5UL Nearest car park at the Abbey Kd[] s y v A Tour of the main features of the Newly (honesty box for car park fee) We walk through part of Gracedieu Wood, under planted Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee The Charnwood Forest Railway, along part of the From the Abbey through woods to Blackbrook Wood.