John O’ Groats to Lands End?

Rohantime are asking: How many Rohan Shops have you visited? as the stores cover pretty much John O’ Groats to Lands End (or actually Aberdeen to Jersey). Infusion members have visited quite a few, including Ambleside and Long Preston on the way to or from waking trips.

Midge Forecast website updated

Three years ago I blogged about a website to help avoid the midge in Scotland. The Scottish Midge Forecast website is back, for its fifth year, with a brand-new look, sponsored by Smidge midge deterrent (this post is not an endorsement of the product, though I do plan to try it).

The website brings you the power of Google mapping to find your way around Scotland's midges, and it is also available through the social media below:

Leicestershire Walking Week 2010: 4-12 Sept

Leicestershire Walking Week 2010 has been announced: it will take place from 4-12 September. The Walking Week brings walking, health and fitness, social, wildlife organisations and local authorities together to provide nine days of walking oportunities, exploring the delights of Leicestershire's countryside, villages and towns.

With guided walks taking place throughout the county, the programme aimed to cater for all ages and abilities. The walks included countryside rambles, health walks, heritage trails, and guided walks with themes, such as a history tour, or wildlife wander. The full programme of walks will be available mid-summer 2010.

I wandered lonely as a cloud...just before I tweeted and updated Facebook‏

"Tweet if you see a blooming daffodil" was the recent message from Cumbria Tourism. But this wasn't a call to twitchers. This was a message to the social media-savvy travellers who are fluttering around in the "Twitterverse".

The aim of Cumbria's "Daffs Watch" Twitter and email campaign was to pinpoint where and when people could spot daffodils coming out of deep freeze after the cold winter.

It's the last day of autumn!‏

According to the Dorset Cereals website, today is traditionally the last day of autumn? This is because it is as the midway point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. Dorset Cereals run a simple pleasures blog and suggest "Why not take time today to celebrate all the pleasures of autumn one last time, with a leaf-kicking, conker-gathering walk in the park?" See also:

• great places for a walk today
• nature-spotting tips

Claim the coast!

From The Ramblers' website:

Did you know that there is no general right to walk along the coast and on beaches in England? The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, which will create a coastal path around England, is currently being debated by MPs in the House of Commons. It is essential that MPs support this Bill so it becomes law.

The Ramblers are therefore encouraging walkers in Britain to show Parliament how much we all love the coast! To take action: upload your seaside snaps onto Flickr! The best photo will win a personalised OS map; and 12 runner-up photos will be used in a calendar for the Ramblers 75th anniversary.

Shame we are so far from the coast here in Leicestershire!

Leicestershire Walking Week 2009

Leicestershire Walking Week, from 19 - 27 September, offers a fantastic opportunity to get healthy, have some fun and meet new people. The Walking Week launches this Saturday at 10am in Watermead Country Park, just off the A46 near Syston, with a choice of walks around the country park and ones radiating off into the surrounding countryside or into Leicester city. There's a 5 mile walk along the river to Belgrave Hall where the Good Food Fair is taking place, or an 8.5 mile walk exploring the Soar valley downstream.

Walking Week is organised by the Leicestershire County Council in partnership with local walking and heritage groups, district and borough councils, Leicester City Council and the NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland. A total of 78 walks are on offer, including walks for people interested in ghosts, history, wildlife or pubs, and walks suitable for dog owners. Leicestershire has a 3,000 kilometre network of footpaths. The council wants to promote walking as: an easy way to get fit, a chance to leave the car behind and help reduce pollution, a good way to explore the countryside and learn about nature and history, and a chance to get sponsorship for good causes. For a full list of walks see: www.leics.gov.uk/walkingweek

Group exercise 'boosts happiness'

The BBC website highlights a new study which suggests that exercising together appears to increase the level of the feel-good endorphin hormones naturally released during physical exertion. Exercising alone seems to result in a lower level of endorphines.

"But more generally we know from experience that exercising in groups is good for people at many levels, it's motivational, it's social. Groups sessions really do work."

The kindness of strangers

The self-styled "water pilgrim", Maxim Laithwaite, has walked more than 600 miles and climbed the equivalent of four Mount Everests over the past two months. Throughout this time he has relied on strangers to provide him with food and shelter. Refusing to beg, he has used a simple phrase to prick the conscience of people he meets: "I'm relying on the kindness of strangers as I make my way". These 12 words have opened doors, literally, to homes of people just five minutes after meeting them. His strategy is not to knock on doors but to engage people he meets about water conservation, the issue for which he is raising money. Read more on Water Aid.

No time to exercise?

Struggling to fit exercise into your daily routine? Here are two schemes to help:

• Natural England’s Walking the way to Health programme encourages you to enjoy your local natural spaces and benefit your health by taking part in health walks. As the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks, WHI aims to encourage people to do regular short walks in their communities. Over 525 local health walk schemes are supported – find your nearest using the Walk Finder.
• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recognises we all lead busy lives and that it is hard to find the time to take up an intensive exercise regime. Their leaflet The Lazy Exercise Guide identifies a number of activities you can easily build into your daily routine.

Leicestershire Round goes Audio‏

The Leicestershire Round is on the radio. Chris Baxter, the afternoon presenter on BBC Radio Leicester has recently walked the Round and 10 minute recordings of his travels are being featured on his programme for the next two weeks. They're also available as RealAudio files on the BBC Leicester website. Along with some nice mellow music it's reminiscent of Julia Bradbury's walking programmes on TV.
[provided by Andrew]

New map shop from OS

The Ordnance Survey has recently relaunched its online map shop to make it easier to find the maps that you are looking for. Simply enter the location you want to visit and the OS will take you to a range of products that will help you get the most from your holidays and days out. Checkout OS Select which gives you the opportunity to decide exactly where you want the centre of the map to be - whether it is your house, a town (anywhere in Great Britain), your favourite walk or even a tea shop!

Leading group walks (and other tips)

As midsummer approaches, here's advice on leading group walks in remote areas or demanding conditions, in a helpful factsheet from the Ramblers. There are lots more helpful tips on the Ramblers website.

See also:
- Preparing for hiking

- Long Distance Walkers Association

Ideal job for mountain lovers?

In a first for Scotland, a Unesco chair has been created at Perth College UHI in recognition of the institution's work into maintaining mountains and their communities. Martin Price, director of the Centre for Mountain Studies, will take on the new chair in Sustainable Mountain Development, where he will work with international partners to promote the field. Professor Price was appointed the world's first Professor of Mountain Studies in 2005; in 2007, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former US vice-president and environmental activist Al Gore. See also: 'I like mountains because of the physical challenge and the aesthetics'.

New teashop for Snowdon!

[above: Infusion climbed Snowdon in 2004]

An £8.3 million visitor centre, is to be formally opened today (12 June 2009) on the top of Mount Snowdon, Wales's highest mountain. Although Hafod Eryri, comprising a rail terminus, cafe and visitor centre, opened its doors to the public in May, the official opening will be carried out by the Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan who will unveil a special mountain stone set into the rear terrace of the new building. Eryri in English is Snowdonia but there is no translation for Hafod, an old Welsh term for residence on high land. Check out the Snowdon Summit Blog for more information.

Ramblers Get Walking Day (30 May)

Saturday 30 May is the Ramblers Get Walking Day. Local Rambler groups have organised 138 short walks across England, Scotland and Wales. Most are on the Saturday but there are also some walks on the Sunday too. All walks are short (2-5 miles), across fairly easy terrain, and open to everyone. The walks will be led by friendly, experienced Walks Leaders, who will be waiting for you at the meeting point. Check the Walk Finder to see where your nearest walk will be. The Ramblers provide a Get Walking leaflet with tips and hints.

Social networking through travel clothing?

Both Craghoppers and Rohan have recently launched "communities" to bring together people who wear their clothes. Strange idea? Well, I've certainly had discussions with other holidaymakers also wearing Rohan gear, and I often note the brands people wear when we pass each other on the hills. Check out the sites and see what you think:

• Rohantime: the place to capture the spirit of Rohan Clothing. Share your knowledge, experiences, stories of travel, outdoor life and Rohan Clothing on Rohantime… And you can even follow Rohantime on Twitter.
• Crags Community: less developed but offers competitions, photo gallery, blog posts and info on the clothing.
  

Bluebells in Charnwood

It is the peak time for viewing bluebells in and around Charnwoood at present. The following sites are recommended if you want to wander walk through bluebell-carpeted woodlands: Serpentine Wood on the Calke Abbey Estate, Outwoods in Charnwood near Loughborough, Jackson’s Bank in Staffordshire or Staunton Ridgeway through Spring Wood Nature Reserve, near Staunton Harold.

See :

- Rolling Out The Blue Carpet in The National Forest

- The National Forest leaflet showing where to see wildlife, including wildflowers.

New members of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club

Paul, Peter, Phil, Simon and Tricia completed the Three Peaks of Yorkshire challenge in eleven hours.

National Forest Walking Festival

The National Forest Walking Festival will run from 16-25 May 2009. Volunteers will be leading 42 walks over the 12 days, including several evening walks. Walks will range from 1 - 12 miles in length. You can download the Walking Festival brochure on the NF website.