While browsing the web in relation to our new web site Walking Holidays Special. I came across this delightful video gallery from independent Spanish walking holiday specialists, Hike Pyrenees, comprising of some stunning views from their favourite walks in the Valle de Tena, Spanish Pyrenees.
A new coastal walking path has been opened in Sydney, Australia. Covering 100 kilometres and called the Great Coastal Walk, it runs from Barrenjoey around Sydney Harbour to the Royal National Park.
Offering the opportunity for a magnificent 7 day adventure, the path can be conveniently divided into a Northern Beaches Walk from Barrenjoey to North Head, which would normally take 4 days to walk and a Southern Coastal Walk, which would take 3 days. Each of these can be further broken into distances and times to suit individual hikers. Downloadable brochures are available from the Walking Coastal Sydney website, which provide detailed maps and transport information, including suggestions for day walks and circular trips.
The Walking Coastal Sydney project is designed to promote public access to, and enhance the appreciation and recreational enjoyment of Sydney's coastline and estuaries; their website is a really valuable resource for recreational walkers in the region.
Further to Monday's post about European Cultural Routes, here is a nice slide show of the botanical garden of Villa Hanbury in Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy, posted by fraste2. The garden was created by Sir Thomas Hanbury, who later donated land that was to become Wisley Gardens, the showpiece of the UK's Royal Horticultural Society.
Liguria is a great, unspoilt, region of Italy, check out Walking Liguria featured in our guide.
Today, the UK government published a draft Marine Bill which would provide protection for the UK's coastline and seas, and which would also give the public, freedom to walk around the entire English coast.
The proposed legislation contains the creation of a network of marine reserves, a new Marine Management Organisation and extends the right to roam. However, it could be a couple of years before it becomes law. More.
Here is a great resource for anyone hiking or trekking in Switzerland. Wandersite specialises in information on trekking trails in Switzerland and the border-region. You can choose a hike from their huge list of trails. There are lists of one-day hikes, two-day hikes, winter hikes and a trekking list, which includes more than 100 long distant walks. Each walk includes a summary of distance, walking time, altitude and region. At the end of each description there is additional information, such as maps, hotels, restaurants and links.
M. Beyeler took the picture while hiking around the Bäderhorn, Berner Oberland, Switzerland.
40 Years ago San Francisco, USA, became synonymous with the 'Summer of Love'. Today this spirit of friendship lives on in the city and one group who reflect this is City Guides. Founded 30 years ago, City Guides is a non-profit organization with more than 200 trained volunteers who lead free, yes free, history and architectural walking tours in San Francisco. Their motivation is to preserve and perpetuate the history and folklore of San Francisco and to celebrate its rich history of cultural diversity. They are all volunteers who love their city, and enjoy sharing it, so if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to contact the City Guides.
Tours are offered all year, rain or shine. In May and October, they organise additional walks and this October feature some of San Francisco's lesser known neighborhoods. Naturally, there are special Ghost Walks arranged for October 30 and 31, when visitors can enjoy other spirits which are said to pervade the city.
