My guest blogger takes a look at the history of walking in the UK – and suggests four lovely country walks for summer.  “Walking is the nearest activity to perfect exercise,” so said Professor Jerry Morris, who was among the first to determine a link between physical activity and cardiovascular disease. This seems so obvious to us now but when this news broke in 1949, it would surely have had people dusting off their walking boots and heading for the hills.

It is a quirk of the history books that this is the same year that a walker’s rights were written into the statute book in England with the protection of public rights of way. Just five years before the law change, 99% of the Peak District was off limits to the walking public. It would appear we’ve never had it so good as now.

The family breaks specialists at Center Parcs are attuned with our need for nature and encourage an outdoorsy lifestyle. Here they offer four stunning walks suitable for families with children over the age of 10. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and walk.

Borger Dalr Geology Walk, Barrowdale.

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 4 miles
• Time: 3 hours (at a push)
• Alfred Wainwright, famed fen-walker, described this area as “the finest square mile in Lakeland.”
• Highlights:
  • The Peace How
  • Dalt Quarry
  • Castle Crag
  • Millican Dalton’s Cave

Stourhead Terrace Walk, Wiltshire

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 5.5 miles
• Time: 2.5 hours (at a push)
• This walk offers spectacular views of the Six Wells valley, King Alfred’s tower and the Stourhead Estate.
• Highlights:
  • The obelisk and great oar meadow
  • The terrace ride
  • Stourhead western estate

 Eastern Moors red deer and edges walk, Peak District, Derbyshire

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 6 miles
• Time: 2.5 hours (at a push)
• A landscape brimming with diverse wildlife this route is perfect for walking, cycling and horse-riding.
• Highlights:
  • Adders, identifiable by the zigzag pattern on their backs. Don’t worry parents though as they are completely harmless.
  • Red deer
  • Heather moorland

 The monument walk at Ickworth, Suffolk

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 5.8 miles
• Time: 3 hours (at a push)
• This walk takes you past the enchanted fairy lake. A good idea for keeping the children entertained, have them hunt for fairies.
• Highlights:
  • Canal lake
  • Walled garden and vineyard
  • Fairy lake
  • Round house
  • The monument
  • Albana walk

This list of four great walks is of course not exhaustive. If you know any great walks that you and the family enjoy, please let us know in the comments below.