British hiking?

[Disney]

I am going to Oxford for 6 weeks and plan on doing a weekend hike or two while there.

Two questions. I'm planning on using my whisperlite and need to know how easy it is to get white gas over there. I assume it's fine, but I just wanted to make sure.

Second, can I get some reccomendations on where to go? Classes stop at noon on Thursday so I'll have 3.5 days to travel and hike. I might jump over to Ireland as well for an overnight.

Much appreciated.

[wilconow]

if you go to ireland, check out glendalough, county wicklow, just south of dubliln

[Chalumeau]

There are several "long" hiking trails in the UK which you might like to sample:

The South West Coastal Path is 630 miles long starting at Minehead in Somerset and ending at Poole Harbor in Dorset. For more information see: http://www.swcp.org.uk/

Heading further North the Pennine Way is a 270 mile trail along the Pennine mountains from the Peak District to the Scottish Border. For more information see: http://www.thepennineway.co.uk/

If you want to venture into Wales you could try the Brecon Way - a 100 mile walk in the Brecon Beacons National Park - for more information see: http://www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org/psBeaconsWay.htm

In North England there is the Coast to Coast path - a 190 mile trail: for more information see: http://www.lehigh.edu/~wwt1/C2C/c2c.html

If you get up into Scotland you might like to walk part of the West Highland way - a 95 mile walk from Milngavie (just outside Glasgow) to Fort William (in the Highlands): For more information see: http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/


You will find that as well as these "long" walks, there are many day hikes around the country.

I hope you have a great time and enjoy the walking - say hello to the UK for me (I was born and raised there!):)

[Rollergirl]

I am currently over here now only thirty minutes from Oxford in Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire), and I must say that what the English do right is walking! They've got wakling footpaths everywhere along fields of wheat and barley, through poppies and sheep grazing lands, near historic buildings, etc.

I don't know what your time and budget constraints might be, but since you'll be in Oxford, I say you stick with the Ridgeway--a UK National Trail! It runs right along Oxfordshire which means you'd have easy access--not too much fuss with trains and the like! http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/index.asp?PageId=1

White gas is everywhere, that shouldn't be a problem--hasn't been for me!

Good luck! I wish I was still going to be here when you started your hike; alas, I'm leaving tomorrow!

Muchas Smoochas,
Rollergirl

[Marta]

Just walk on into your local bookshop and you will find excellent maps and hiking guides. You should be able to hike from your front door out into the country on the footpaths and go for as long or as short as you like. Just make sure you bring a rain jacket at all times! Even if the sky is a clear blue when you leave the house.

For a week-long hike, the West Highland Way is spectacular. For a weekend, the village of Castleton, in Derbyshire, is about as cute as it gets, and very interesting geologically.

Marta

[Chalumeau]

Good suggestion Rollergirl - I had forgotten about the Ridgeway (having never lived in that part of the country).

Public rights of way (footpaths) criss-cross the entire UK countryside - often the best thing to do if you want to do day hikes is to wait until you get to the area in which you are staying and then just ask the locals.

Oh yes, Marta is quite correct - always be prepared for rain...not that it necessarily rains as much in the UK as US residents tend to think but it comes on suddenly:)

Hope you have a great time.