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By HELEN NICHOLSON and CHRIS LEADBEATER


Tis the season: Work off a little of that festive excess with one of our ten country walks


The last of the mince pies has been polished off, the belt has been undone another notch, and you’re starting to feel the first symptoms of cabin fever after being cooped up indoors for days.

We all know that a bit of exercise is in order after a week of festive excess. But if you aren’t ready to hit the gym (and surely it’s far too soon to be thinking of that), how about a gentle stroll instead?

In a bid to inspire you to clear away the leftovers, strap on your walking boots and head outdoors for a bracing ramble, TravelMail asked the National Trust to pick its ten favourite New Year walks.

'There is something really special and uplifting about going for a walk on new year's day with family and friends,' says the National Trust’s Mike Collins.

'It's a great way to blow away the cobwebs whether climbing hills or wandering through rolling countryside.

'A wintry landscape can be as spectacular as any other time of the year when nature can be at its starkest, with the low winter sun, and you can find a nice pub to warm up in after a bracing walk.'
Best feet forward…


Georgian splendour: Bath is a fine spot to begin an English country walk

Bath, Somerset

Distance: 6 miles
What: Savour the spectacular views over the Georgian city and across the Mendips.

This leisurely walk offers the chance to journey through history from an Iron Age hill fort to 18th century follies, and stroll through hidden valleys, tranquil woods and patchworks of small meadows, all rich in wildlife.

Highlight: Little Solsbury Hill, the site of an Iron Age fort, offers the perfect vantage point for stunning views over Bath. Its grassy limestone slopes support a variety of plants and wildlife, including skylarks, which are regularly spotted in the area.

Look out for: The National Trust’s Prior Park landscape garden is a hidden jewel near the centre of Bath. It was created in the 18th century by Bath philanthropist Ralph Allen, who also owned most of the buildings on the Bath skyline. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/priorpark for details.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bath_skyline-walk.pdf


Painter's paradise: Flatford Mill still resembles the pastoral outpost captured by Constable's brush

Flatford & Constable Country, Suffolk

Distance: 4 miles
What: Explore the countryside that painter John Constable knew and loved with a walk around the picturesque Stour Valley and Dedham Vale. The area was made famous by the 18th-century landscape artist, and many of the idyllic views captured on canvas are still easily recognisable today.

Highlight: The riverside hamlet of Flatford is the setting for some of Constable’s most famous paintings, such as The Hay Wain, The Mill Stream, Boat-Building Near Flatford and The White Horse. The Bridge Cottage is home to a small exhibition on Constable and a National Trust tearoom.

Look out for: Cattawade marshes is where the freshwater of the River Stour meets the tidal estuary - and is a great place to spot waterfowl and waders.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-flatford-constable_walk-2.pdf


Food for thought: The fishing village of Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk is famous for its mussels

Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk

Distance: 3.75 miles
What: This walk offers the chance to enjoy the north Norfolk coast and its wildlife, along with fine views from Barrow Common and the site of Branodunum Roman Fort.

Explore the fishing village of Brancaster Staithe, which is famous for its mussels, discover all about the colourful history of the fishing industry at Brancaster Quay and enjoy impressive views across the nearby saltmarsh.

Highlight: Barrow Common is a great vantage point, looking across to Brancaster and out to sea. In winter, geese fill the skies as they fly to roost in the evenings and feed on sugar beet tops in fields.

Look out for: The abundant wildlife – along with pink-footed and Brent geese, several species of wading birds can be seen in the tidal areas. Also, look and listen out for Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Sandwich terns, which can be seen flying with sand eels or whitebait in their beaks, to feed their young on nearby Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-brancaster_staithe-walk.pdf


Peak condition: Rearing to 1695ft, Mam Tor offers splendid views across the Peak District

Hope Valley, Peak District

Distance: 3 miles
What: Unearth hidden history and savour the views from the Mother Hill on a scenic walk through the Hope Valley. This area is also famous for the Blue John Cavern, where the rare gem has been mined in the local caves for the last two centuries. Stop at one of the show caves to see the gem close up.

Highlight: Standing at 1,695ft (517m) high, Mam Tor is one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the Peak District. It stretches north over the Edale Valley to Kinder Scout and the Derwent Moors. To the south and east are Winnats Pass, Castleton and the Hope Valley.

Look out for: A large grassy bank and ditch is all that remains of Mam Tor hill fort, which was once home to a Celtic tribe. The ditch and bank were part of fortifications that would have been topped by a large wooden palisade or fence. You can step back in time with a National Trust audio trail.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/mam-tor-walk.pdf


Feeling sheepish: A walk to Buckden Pike takes you through classic Yorkshire countryside scenery

Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales

Distance: 3.75 miles
What: Find remnants of the lead mining industry within the beautiful, diverse landscape of Upper Wharfedale. From upland hill farms and hay meadows along the River Wharfe to wild moorland and far-reaching views at Buckden Pike, this walk takes in classic Yorkshire Dales farming landscape of rolling hills, dry-stone walls and hay meadows.

Highlight: An energetic walk to the top of Buckden Pike will reward walkers with fabulous 360-degree panoramic views of the Yorkshire Dales. Visit the Polish aircrew war memorial at the south end of the ridge, where a Wellington bomber crashed in bad weather in 1942.

Look out for: The nearby village of Kettlewell provided many of the locations for the hit film Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-upper_wharfedale-buckden_pike-walk.pdf


Northern soul: A walk to Alderley Edge means a stroll through pristine Cheshire countryside

Alderley Edge, Cheshire

Distance: 4.5 miles
What: A stroll that begins at Alderley Edge railway station, and cuts through woodland scenery 12 miles south of Manchester – all the while offering hardly a hint that the route runs close to the North-West’s great industrial city. Alderley Edge itself is a rocky escarpment with views across Cheshire.

Highlight: Armada Beacon, the highest point of Alderley Edge. Long ago, this was a Bronze Age burial mound. In Elizabethan times, it was the site of a beacon, that would be lit to warn of invading forces as tensions between England and Spain erupted into naval battle in 1588. Hence the name.

Look out for: Engine Vein, a fault in the rock, heavy with copper, that has been mined at various times by everyone from Bronze Age scavengers and Romans to 19th century industrialists.

Full details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/alderley_edge_station_walk-4.pdf


Open mouthed: Boscastle is a great start point for a walk along jagged Cornish coastline

Boscastle, Cornwall

Distance: 4 miles
What: A slice of Cornwall at its finest, shadowing the gap-toothed coastline on the northern edge of this distant county. This route starts in the seaside village of Boscastle, tiptoes along jagged cliffs, then veers inland, following the line of the Valency River as it meanders in a vague easterly direction.

Highlight: The Valency Valley, an expanse of meadows laden with wild flowers (albeit not in winter, when it’s more likely to be the equally picturesque frost and leafless trees) – the sort of West Country scene that might have inspired Thomas Hardy to grab his pen. Which, in the case of this walk, it did.

Look out for: Minster Church, perched between the village of Minster and the close-knit trees of Peter’s Wood. Dating to the 12th century, this is as delightful an English sight as you could hope for.

Full details: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-boscastle_walk.pdf


Infernal pursuits: Make a date with Lucifer (or just have a gentle stroll) at Devil's Dyke in Sussex


Ditchling Beacon, South Downs, Sussex

Distance: 5 miles
What: A romp through the South Downs (that takes in some of the South Downs Way) – an up-hill-and-down-dale experience that runs east-to-west from Ditchling Beacon (all 250 metres of it, one of the highest points of the South Downs) to Devil’s Dyke. Fabulous views of Sussex come as standard.

Highlight: Devil’s Dyke, the end of the walk. There is nothing diabolical about this V-shaped valley (even if medieval lore had Lucifer himself carving it by hand). It was a tourist attraction in Victorian times, even boasting a funicular railway – but is rather more peaceful in these 21st century days.

Look out for: The lumps in the ground just south of the village of Clayton. These are not natural features but tumuli, ancient burial mounds. And the pair of windmills here are known as Jack and Jill.

Full details: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-devil_s_dyke-walk.pdf


Onwards and (mainly) upwards: Stretch your legs in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Horseshoe Ridge, Brecon Beacons, Powys

Distance: 9 miles

What: A true cobweb-remover for those with sufficient energy (and the right equipment. Strong boots and clothing are advised for this walk, as the weather can change quickly). This is a lengthy jaunt through the Brecon Beacons that begins with the steep ridge of Craig Fan Ddu, and barely lets up.

Highlight: Pen y Fan, a peak that puts the ‘high’ into ‘highlight’. This is the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons – indeed the highest peak in Britain south of Snowdonia. How high? 2907ft (886 metres). Which, while shorter than Everest, is the sort of challenge that requires a hearty breakfast.

Look out for: Red Kites swirling in the sky. One of Britain’s native birds of prey, this spectacular species has been spotted coasting on the thermals, looking out for its lunch, above Craig Fan Ddu.

Full details: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-brecon-walk.pdf



Best foot forward: Pembrokeshire has some marvellous sights to reward walkers - including Pembroke Castle

Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire

Distance: 3 miles

What: A waltz through a watery wonderland, just upstream from the picturesque South Wales port of Milford Haven. Here is a marshy haven where birds probe for fish and winter trees are reflected in the surface of the Daugleddau – the river that this walk shadows on its curl through the countryside.

Highlight: Garron Pill, a tidal estuary where estuary birds – wigeon, greenshank, curlew, little egret – gather. A stretch of peace and quiet, Garron Pill is lined by ancient oaks – arboreal beasts whose roots, over the passage of time, have punched through the bank and into the water. Bring a camera.

Look out for: Lawrenny Quay, although you can’t miss it, as the walk begins here.

This outpost has a marina and, in the shape of the Quayside Tearoom, a place to stop for post-stroll refreshments.

Full details: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/lawrenny-3.pdf


source: dailymail

By NEIL ENGLISH

Picture postcard: The resort of Verbier offers full-on hustle and bustle


Where do you go if you’re looking for the perfect place for some family skiing fun at Christmas? Most Brits head for the famous resort of Verbier, for its wealth of terrain and its high-octane nightlife and full-on hustle and bustle.

However, for many young families all this can be overwhelming, despite the allure of its fabulous slopes.

But there is a Swiss ski resort you can go to – very close by but missed by most of the British Verbier crew – where on Christmas Eve Santa paraglides in and hands out gifts galore to the children and the mood is much more homely and authentic.

The Christmas destination for the discerning skier is Nendaz, located in the heart of the Four Valleys ski area, which includes Verbier on its fringes. It is relatively new to the British market and increasingly referred to as the ‘thinking man’s Verbier’.

Nendaz sits conveniently between Verbier and Veysonnaz and below Siviez, which lies further up the valley at 5,676ft, and the purpose-built cluster of now tired-looking apartments of Thyon, 6,562 ft up the ski slopes. Precious few skiers venture from Verbier over to Nendaz or the other Four Valleys ski sectors, thereby wasting their expensive, all-areas ski passes. Conversely, the bulk of Nendaz’s skiers are well placed to explore the whole area, get to lunch in Verbier if they wish and ski back in time for tea.

Families can have a great time if they stay within the Nendaz ski sector, which enjoys 43 miles of its own groomed slopes, plenty of off-piste and 17,000 tourist beds, mostly in self-catering apartments. Specialist chalet company Ted Bentley added even further value to my Nendaz visit.


Pristine: The slopes and chalets at Villars have opened for the new season


Founded by fellow British ski enthusiast and entrepreneur David Merrifield (Ted is his son), this company has neatly filled a niche in the Nendaz market with a portfolio of four luxurious chalets all managed with friendly but painstaking care to make ski holidays as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Ted Bentley will ferry you to the lifts in the company’s own bus. Each chalet offers great views and has a soothing hot-tub or sauna and professional chefs to guarantee delicious fare at breakfast, tea and dinner. There are also fine quality wines, many of which come from these parts as the canton of Valais is Switzerland’s largest wine producing region. The ensuite bedrooms are adorned with Egyptian cotton sheets and there are warm robes for all.

If you are travelling with young children, Ted Bentley have their own nanny service and will happily shop locally in advance, at supermarket prices, for nappies and formula milk products so that you can keep the space in your suitcase free for ski gear and other essentials.

For more information on their chalets, see www.tedbentley.co.uk or call 01934 820854. Chalet Alice, sleeping eight, is available on full chalet board from January 15-22, from £695 per person. Chalets can also be booked on a room-only basis.

Return flights with www.snowjet.co.uk from London Stansted to Sion for that week cost from £179 per person. Flights from London Gatwick to Geneva with www.easyjet.co.uk start from £42 per person. Allow approximately £70 per adult for the return train fare to Sion from Geneva.

Villars Christmas
There is another option for a Swiss Christmas. About an hour’s drive away in the neighbouring canton of Vaud is Villars, which officially opened its Christmas market, ski lifts and slopes for the new season yesterday. And for the first time in its long history the most vulnerable, low-lying pistes have opened with the help of a brand new artificial snow-making system.

To celebrate this expensive upgrade, which is designed to guarantee snow runs in and around Villars, all visitors were invited to ski the opening Saturday for free.

Villars aficionados are already eagerly anticipating the 13th edition of the 24-hour charity ski race which was established and is still supported by Formula 1 motor-racing teams.


Fundraiser: Villars's annual 24-hour ski race


The event involves recreational and semi-professional teams of four to eight people skiing for a 24-hour period in relay, doing as many laps as possible to raise money for excellent causes. Many are British charities, helping the disabled or young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The driving force behind the huge success of the event has been Barbara Pollock, former wife of Craig Pollock, ex-director of the British American Racing F1 team.

Sadly, Barbara lost her long battle with breast cancer in spring this year. In January, when she attended the 12th annual 24-hour event, Barbara said: ‘Regardless of what happens to me, I very much hope this event goes on without me.’ Her legacy lives on in spectacular style.

There are still places to register a team for the 13th event which takes place over the weekend of January 15 and 16.

For more information visit www.bcv24hvillars.com, call +41 2449 54138 or email info@bcv24hvillars.com.


source: dailymail

By DAVID ROSE

Off the tourist trail: A castle overlooking Kotor Bay in the newly independent Montenegro


Its fur was white with a streak of grey and it sat magnificently by the roadside, staring into the distance. We had no doubt what it was. On a lonely route high in the Durmitor mountains of Montenegro, we had just encountered our first full-grown wolf. We stopped and fumbled for our cameras, but by the time we were ready it had ambled into the undergrowth.

Somehow, it didn’t seem so surprising. Having gained its independence from Serbia as recently as 2006, Montenegro can often feel untamed, its tourism far less developed than it is, for example, in neighbouring Croatia.

As for the interior, a dizzying assembly of lakes, mountains and precipitous limestone canyons, it is truly wild and often empty, with few tourist facilities at all.

Meanwhile, anyone contemplating a holiday in Montenegro needs to know that driving on its narrow, winding, single-carriageway roads requires care.

Unprotected drops of hundreds of feet are common, as are bus and taxi drivers who seem to think that driving on the wrong side of the road when negotiating a tight blind bend is acceptable. On the other hand, to see the country properly, driving is pretty much the only feasible way for a family to get around. Just make sure you have strong nerves and good insurance.


Untamed: Wolves roam the Durrmitor mountains


Having flown to Dubrovnik in Croatia and picked up a rental car, my wife Carolyn, our sons Jacob, 11, Daniel, six, and I drove across the border and spent two-and-a-half weeks in Montenegro last August.

The package holiday industry here is in its infancy, and apart from just one big resort, Budva, much of which resembles a garish Adriatic Blackpool, there are relatively few hotels. However, we found a good selection of self-catering accommodation on the internet and, determined to experience as much of the country as possible, we divided our holiday between two spacious and well-appointed apartments. Neither cost us more than £550 a week, and both came equipped with stunning panoramas and large shared pools.


Delightful backwater: David, Daniel and Jacob take a boat trip


In the sea, the water was always crystalline, and the beaches spotless. Moreover, the weather was perfect the whole time, with cloudless days and maximum temperatures in the low 30s. But there is much more to Montenegro than buckets and spades and snorkelling.

We spent our first week at Muo, a village deep inside the Montenegrin coast’s jewel – the Gulf of Kotor, a 15-mile-long fjord with white limestone walls that at their loftiest, beneath the summit of Mount Lovocen, are almost 6,000ft high. Kotor itself, at the far end, is a small walled city, an ancient stone Venetian-Gothic labyrinth of shady alleys and sunny piazzas, most with pavement bars and restaurants.

Their Italian-style ice cream is as good as it gets. There is also a Byzantine cathedral dating back to the 9th Century.


Venetian: The island of Sveti Stefan which is linked to the mainland via a causeway


The beaches in this area were the best we found, while Przno’s fishing harbour proved to be a delightful spot in which to watch the sun set from its waterside restaurants. There were further cultural attractions nearby, too, such as Bar Stari Grad – a semi-ruined Ottoman city. Our last night was Carolyn’s birthday, and we booked a table at what was reputed to be Przno’s finest restaurant, Bianca. It looked delightful, perched on a cliff overlooking the end of the beach, with a lovely terrace and starched white tablecloths. The menu was tempting, the wine superb, and the bread and olives on which we nibbled were of the highest quality.


Travel facts
Thomson Airways (0871 231 4787, www.thomson.co.uk/flights) offers flights direct to Dubrovnik from London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham throughout the summer. Return fares start from £179.

For car hire contact Gulliver Travel (www.gulliver.hr).
Package holidays are available through Travelsphere (0844 567 9960, www.travelsphere.co.uk), Balkan Holidays (0845 130 1114, www.balkanholidays.co.uk) and Inghams (0208 780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk).
For information on Montenegro visit www.visit-montenegro.com


source :dailymail

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.




BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate the Town Hall at La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.




BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.




BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate the Town Hall at La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.



BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate the Town Hall at La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.



BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate the Town Hall on La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.



BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.



BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 20: Christmas lights illuminate the Town Hall at La Grande Place on December 20, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.


Holiday season in Brussels / Parfum de Noël à Bruxelles



source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages