walks

WHEN twenty-something me holidayed in Ayia Napa, ­gorgeous scenery and chic cuisine were the furthest things from my mind.

I was firmly focused on foam parties and feral antics.

Now, 15 years on, I’m back to savour a different side to the party town and see what the rest of Cyprus has to offer.

And while there were still plenty of excited Gen Z holidaymakers on my Tui flight from Gatwick, this trip was to be a much more grown-up affair.

Luxury, relaxation and an itinerary younger me simply wouldn’t recognise.

Ayia Napa’s famous party strip and old fishing port looked very similar as we travelled from the airport, but arriving at the 5* Mare Ayia Napa could not have been more different from my youthful experiences.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

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A ten-minute drive out of town, Mare sits on the edge of the Cape Greco national park, with its turquoise waters, nature walking trails and limestone sea caves.

The resort resembles a sun-drenched Cypriot village with low-rise, whitewashed bungalows featuring terracotta roofs set among winding stone paths.

Young me made do with a hostel. This time, I walked into a modern luxe dream.

Think muted tones, Molton Brown toiletries and Nespresso on tap.

Some rooms have access to pretty gardens, while others have swim-up pools or even a private place to take a dip.

After a long day travelling, I hit the hotel’s adult-only Sky Lounge rooftop bar to watch sunset.

It delivered stunning beachfront views as well as a potent Paloma cocktail of tequila and grapefruit soda. A girl still needs her treats.

On that subject, the all-inclusive hotel has eight restaurants to enjoy, ranging from poolside sushi and charcoal grilled kebabs to Mediterranean meze and dry-aged steaks.

There is also a splash park with slides for the kids, and adults can escape to their own pool with plush cabanas.

By day, there’s a sandy and quiet Blue Flag beach in a calm bay that’s perfect for paddling kids and paddleboarding.

With Tui’s extensive range of tours, there’s the option to explore parts of Cyprus younger me would never have considered.

A Coastal Landmarks trip takes us through the stunning Cape Greco park where we admire clifftop views over the caves and the tiny white-washed Agioi Anargyroi church perched over the water.

Legend has it that if you kiss while making a wish at the Lovers’ Bridge — a natural limestone arch spanning the sea — your dreams will come true.

While I didn’t have anyone to pucker up with, the view alone was worth it.

After a leisurely stop at Cyprus’s most famous stretch of sand, Nissi Beach, for a drink and quick dip, we move on to the Ayia Napa Sculpture Park.

I adored the hundreds of statues, mythical beasts and art installations right next to the Cacti Park, also perfect for a stroll.

We end the day with coffees and cocktails at a beachside taverna in Protaras.

Called Fig Tree Bay, it is named after the single tree that has stood near the beach since the 17th century.

Next day we up the ante on the adventure front with some unique experiences that would normally be the reserve of qualified scuba divers.

Underwater Sea Adventures on Ayia Triada beach take you out to a purpose-built pontoon positioned over a reef.

There are two unusual ways to observe it. On the seabed walk, you wear a huge “space age” helmet that is supplied with fresh air pumped down from the surface via a hose.

Once on, your head and hair stay dry — you can even keep glasses on — while you follow a guided trail along the seabed, little fishes dart in and out.

Or take the pace up a bit with an underwater scooter or Breathing Observation Bubble (BOB).

You sit upright with your head inside a clear dome helmet fed with air as the scooter glides along the seabed doing the hard work for you.

The crystal-clear waters mean you feel like you’re in a Little Mermaid remake, walking, dancing and feeding the fish. It was an incredible experience.

My rediscovery of this one-time party island of my youth wasn’t over yet.

First there was a trip into the hills to see a different side of the island above the town of Paphos.

Aphrodite Hills Resort is perched high on a coastal plateau overlooking the legendary birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess.

The huge estate feels more like a self-contained village, complete with its own central square, chapel and a dozen restaurants.

This is low-key luxury and we were soon in golf buggies zipping through the sprawling grounds, ticking off the Elemis spa, 18-hole PGA championship golf course and Real Madrid-backed kids’ football academy.

But with Aphrodite’s birthplace just below us, we make a pilgrimage to admire Petra tou Romiou at sunset before making our way up to the village of Kouklia for an evening of fabulous food, live music and dancing.

Emboldened by one too many glasses of glorious Cypriot wine, I am first on my feet to join in.

You can take the girl out of Ayia Napa, but you seemingly can’t take Ayia Napa out of the girl.

FORGET queuing for a selfie at some overhyped beauty spot.

Two-thirds of us (66 per cent) now reckon chasing viral destinations means missing out on the good stuff.

According to research by cottages.com, more than half (51 per cent) would rather sniff out a hidden gem than tick off a famous hotspot, with the over-55s leading the charge on 69 per cent.

So what does the nation actually want from a break?

A muddy footpath, a big view and a pint waiting at the end of it? Nearly two-thirds of us (61 per cent) say no UK getaway feels complete without visiting a cosy pub.

We know what we want when we get there, too.

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Traditional pub grub is top of the wish list (67 per cent), ahead of snug interiors (60 per cent) and a beer garden with an incredible view (60 per cent).

Broadcaster Clare Balding has teamed up with cottages.com and walking charity The Ramblers to launch the Pub Walk Collection, which pairs hand-picked routes with nearby cottages and cracking local pubs.

Clare said: “A proper pub walk is a much-loved British tradition.

“For me, the perfect route is four to six miles with dramatic scenery, ending at a great local pub. Some of the most memorable parts of a break can come from taking a different turn, chatting to locals and discovering places that aren’t on every itinerary.”

Jacob Lewis lists ten destinations that require your walking boots and are worth working up an appetite – and thirst – for.

WALK: Start at Conwy Station (LL32 8LD) for a 6.1-mile loop through the lower Conwy Valley, with the castle and river laid out below you.

Three hours, two short sharp climbs, and views worth every step.

PUB: The Albion is built into Conwy’s medieval walls and is arguably one of the finest 1920s pubs left in Britain.

Its Art Nouveau interior alone is worth the walk.

STAY: Ty Llewelyn is a two-bed cottage inside those same town walls, metres from the start of the walk and a few steps from the castle.

Wood-burner on, boots off. Sleeps four. See booking.com.

WALK: From Keswick’s Moot Hall (CA12 5JR), good paths climb steadily above Walla Crag for spectacular views over Derwentwater before looping home.

PUB: The Pocket is a buzzy independent cafe-bar on Lake Road, beloved of hikers straight off the fells.

Offers homemade sourdough pizzas and local craft beer.

STAY: Bonnie Cottage sits near the heart of Ambleside, sleeping four, with a courtyard garden and a woodburner for the evening.

For details see sykescottages.co.uk.

WALK: The 3.7-mile Boscastle Discovery route starts at the harbour (PL35 0HD) and packs a lot in: dramatic sea cliffs, farmland, quiet lanes to Minster Church, then the gorgeous Valency Valley home.

PUB: The Napoleon Inn sits at the top of the old fishing village, a 16th-century charmer with low beams, stone fireplaces and a tiered beer garden with sneaky sea glimpses.

STAY: Greenacres is a proper family blowout, sleeping 15 across six bedrooms with a hot tub and views over the valleys to the sea.

See hoseasons.co.uk.

PEAK DISTRICT

WALK: From Bamford Station (S33 0BN), follow an old railway line to the mighty Ladybower Dam, then climb through woodland to craggy Bamford Edge.

This walk’s around six miles long and has Dark Peak views that show off.

PUB: The Anglers Rest is community-owned, hiker-friendly and right in the Hope Valley.

It serves hearty home-cooked plates and Derbyshire craft ales.

STAY: Fern Cottage has beamed rooms and valley views stretching to Bamford Edge. Sleeps six, and dogs stay free.

For further details see cottages.com.

WALK: Start in Settle’s Market Place (BD24 9EJ) for a short, punchy climb to the trig point. Brief, sharp, and the views are spectacular for the effort.

PUB: The Talbot Arms is family-run with the biggest beer garden in town.

Local real ale and comforting food are welcome after a day on the limestone fells.

STAY: Broughton Sanctuary’s Micklethorn is a grand ten-sleeper near Skipton where you are free to roam 3,000 acres of parkland.

Visit broughtonsanctuary.co.uk.

SOUTH WALES

WALK: From Limeslade Bay (SA3 4JW), enjoy an easy 4.8-miler along the Gower Coast Path to Langland Bay, then back through Mumbles past Oystermouth Castle and the Victorian pier.

PUB: The Vic is an independent boozer in the heart of Mumbles with real ales, craft beers and live acoustic sessions.

Proper free-house spirit.

STAY: Bungalow Highfields is a roomy base sleeping six, with sea views, an enclosed garden and salty air from the doorstep. See cottages.com.

WALK: A gentle 5.1 miles from Corbridge village car park (NE45 5AX) through the Tyne valley, with lovely views and a wander round the town to finish.

PUB: The Pele is a micro bar inside a 14th-century, Grade I-listed, fortified tower in Corbridge.

It only serves bar snacks, but a beer by the medieval-style fireplace in this three-storey tower is certainly hard to beat.

STAY: The Studio at Westfield is a Scandi-style bolthole for two near Bellingham, on the edge of Northumberland National Park.

For details, see cottages.com.

WALK: A 7.3-mile circuit from Mill Wynd, Kelso (TD5 7HP), taking in the ruined abbey and the countryside along the River Teviot.

Three easy hours in a corner of the country most visitors skip.

PUB: The Cobbles is a 19th-century coaching inn just off the town square, now a multi-award-winning gastropub.

Outstanding local beef and game, with craft beer to match.

STAY: Liddel Holiday Properties offers a cosy four-sleeper near Kielder with rolling countryside all around and the river close by. See cottages.com.

WALK: One for the keen hiker.

This 10.6-mile route climbs out of Pitlochry (PH16 5BL) towards Ben Vrackie, crosses to Killiecrankie and returns along the River Garry.

Six hours, and worth every one.

PUB: The Auld Smiddy Inn fills a former blacksmith’s forge and does modern Scottish cooking properly, with venison, Highland seafood and regional ales by the fire.

STAY: Heathergems Apartment is bang in the middle of Pitlochry, metres from the walk start and steps from Blair Athol Distillery.

Sleeps four. See cottages.com.

WALK: A pleasant country amble from Aldborough (NR11 7NW) taking in three churches and a whopping village common.

Big skies, gentle going.

PUB: Cricketers on The Green looks out over the pitch where summer cricket is played.

Its AA-rosette kitchen turns out monthly-changing dishes built on the freshest Norfolk ingredients.

STAY: Dibley Cottage is a beautifully done Victorian bolthole for four near North Walsham, in a pocket of North Norfolk most visitors drive straight past.

For details see cottages.com.

One of the Celebrity Gogglebox stars had to take a minute after watching a terrifying scene

A Celebrity Gogglebox star walked off camera after viewing a creepy horror film that left everyone squealing.

The instalment of the Channel 4 show that aired on Friday (July 3) saw the celebrity armchair critics watching a range of programmes, from Countdown to Clarkson’s Farm. But many looked horrified as they tuned into horror film, Weapons.

The film is about 17 children from the same classroom who mysteriously disappear on the same night at the same time, and Jordan Banjo had to leave the sofa for a breather after watching scenes from the movie with fellow Diversity star Perri Kiely.

Many of the stars on the celebrity edition of the programme were seen looked terrified as they watched a scene where a creepy character called Aunt Gladys (played by Amy Madigan) visited a house and asked for a bowl instead of a glass of water.

Things took a nasty turn when she took a wooden stick she had been fiddling with and dragged it across her hand, cutting it open, which left Jordan gasping.

He held a cushion up to block the screen as a man in the film was then seen opening his mouth and vomiting streams of back liquid.

“I need a break, I need a break,” Jordan said, as Perri exclaimed: “No!”

But the dancer then stood up and moved away from the chair, explaining: “I need a drink. Do you want anything?”

However, he soon rushed back, explaining to Perri that he when he had got to the kitchen he had spotted a bowel of water on the side and it had given him a fright. “No!” he said, sitting back down without having poured the drinks.

Fans were tickled by the scenes, with one posting on X: “So funny.”

Someone else posted on the platform, which was formerly Twitter: “Who doesn’t just love a bit of Celebrity Gogglebox. Always such an entertaining way to spend the time.” “The perfect switch your brain off TV this time of night needs,” they added.

Someone else said that it was “brilliant stuff”.

Another viewer said the series was “top notch”.

Celebrity Gogglebox airs on Channel 4.

Walk with the gods above Amalfi, Italy

If you have a head for heights, then you can “walk with the gods” on the Sentiero degli Dei. It’s cut into the vertiginous hillside high above the Amalfi coast, offering heavenly views all the way to Capri and beyond. Ten breathtaking kilometres later, you’ll rejoin the earthly hordes of Instagrammers in the undeniably beautiful but crowded Positano. A super-convenient combined bus and ferry ticket from Travelmar takes you from any of the coastal towns to the start of the walk, in the lovely hamlet of Bomerano, in Agerola, and from Positano back to your base.
Brian

A stunning hike to Poland’s Eye of the Sea

The Five Lakes hike in the Tatras is the most beautiful in Poland. Starting from the parking lot at Palenica Białczańska, you gain elevation as you head south along a tumbling stream. After two hours, you arrive at the first of five glittering lakes surrounded by an amphitheatre that forms the border with Slovakia. Stop at Dolinie Pięciu Stawów hut to enjoy a hearty żurek (sour rye soup) as you contemplate the lake-pocked landscape. Fortified, climb southeast until, cresting the ridge, Morskie Oko (“Eye of the Sea”), the most storied lake in Poland, comes into view, glittering far below and engulfed by sheer mountain walls, including Poland’s highest peak. At the lakeside hut, you’ll have earned a Żywiec lager. Now, whether to follow the gentle trail back to the car park or push on to Rysy, 1,100m above …
Ryan

Cold dips and butterflies in Georgia

The Svaneti region of Georgia is a hiker’s dream. The Ushguli to Mestia route on the Transcaucasian Trail passes through some of the most dramatic and beautiful mountain landscapes I’ve ever encountered. Ancient stone towers, glacial pools perfect for a cold dip, meadows thick with wildflowers and butterflies, and the occasional wild horse made it feel like a film set. The villages are genuinely welcoming, the food is hearty and the biodiversity stopped me in my tracks. No photograph comes close to capturing it. If you haven’t considered Georgia for hiking, move it to the top of your list immediately.
Aoife

Saunas and reindeer in Swedish Lapland

Over seven days last summer we walked a section of the Kungsleden Trail from Abisko to Nikkaluokta in Swedish Lapland, in the Arctic Circle – and it was a magical experience. It was surprising even to us that we managed to find a holiday that suited a group of four teenagers and two adults. By the end, we all agreed that the lack of internet was a bonus not a bug. The walking was testing enough to be a challenge but also left enough time for card games and enjoying the saunas along the way. The huts we stayed in were great and allowed our packs to be kept light. A highlight was spotting reindeer on the last day.
Paul

Wildflowers and strudel in Austria

The beautiful Wildschönau valley in Austria offers amazing hiking options accessible for the whole family. We hiked between 10 and 15 miles every day exploring this amazing landscape. The meadows of wildflowers were breathtaking. The cable cars in Niederau and Auffac allow you to explore higher routes offering 360-degree panoramas with a little less effort. The signposting of routes was incredible and the free buses allowed us to travel throughout the area easily. The climb to the top of Joelspitze was our highlight, spotting beautiful gentian flowers on the way there, and finishing with an apple strudel as reward at the end.
Barbara

A canyon walk in northern Spain

The Ruta del Cares in Spain’s Picos de Europa is the most incredible hike my daughter and I have ever undertaken. The first 45 minutes from Poncebos take you steeply uphill into the canyon, past abandoned shacks and along spectacular, well-trodden tracks, which plateau out. As a vertigo sufferer myself, I found the track is always just wide enough. The canyon narrows and the path takes you through a series of tunnels before reaching the idyllic hamlet, Caín, and waterfalls where you can dip your feet. You can grab a drink and snacks before returning back to Poncebos.
Joe

Bathing and beauty in Germany’s Black Forest

Hike through the beautiful Black Forest from Kniebis to Baiersbronn (about 7 miles). Take the bus from Freudenstadt to Kniebis, then follow trails via the stunning Ellbachseeblick viewpoint and Sankenbach waterfall before descending into Baiersbronn. After the hike, enjoy an outdoor swim at Baiersbronn’s lido or relax with a meal in town, before taking the train back to Freudenstadt. Public transport is included with the Konus card if staying in Freudenstadt (or other participating Black Forest locations).
George

Family-friendly highs in Switzerland

Last year, my family and I took the cable car up Männlichen, in Switzerland and walked the Panoramaweg at its top. At 3 miles to Kleine Scheidegg, where you can take a train down, this is manageable for little legs and gives glorious views of the Eiger and the Bernese Oberland. Wild and unspoiled it is not, but it boasts the most incredible alpine playground, and if you stop in Wengen on your way up, there is a trail of marble runs that enchanted my children for hours.
Frances

Watching dolphins in the Algarve, Portugal

My most memorable European hike was the coastal path from Ponta da Piedade to Praia da Luz in Portugal’s Algarve. While most visitors crowd the famous beaches, the 7-mile trail threads between honey-coloured cliffs, hidden coves and wildflowers, with Atlantic views almost every step of the way. My tip is to start at sunrise and pack a lightweight breakfast. The early light turns the limestone cliffs gold, the temperature is perfect for walking, and you’ll often have long stretches of path entirely to yourself. We stopped on a clifftop ledge to watch dolphins offshore – a simple moment that made the whole day unforgettable.
Steven

Winning tip: cliffside views of Lake Garda, Italy

The highlight of our recent holiday was the stunning 6-mile walk along the Ponale Path, stretching from Riva at the top of Lake Garda to the Ledro valley. This beautiful cliffside trail takes you through old tunnels carved into the rock and treats you to the most spectacular views of the lake below. Along the route, we encountered lush green fields, picturesque little farmhouses nestled among vineyards and even a cascading waterfall. To top it all off, we enjoyed a refreshing pint and lasagne in the sunny beer garden at Bar sul Ponale before beginning the walk back.
Bev

Lindisfarne and Bamburgh, Northumberland

Day one Circular walk of Lindisfarne (4 miles)
Day two Budle Bay to Bamburgh to (5 miles)

The first swallows are swooping round the headland as I follow the coast path along the western side of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. There are ringed plovers on the beach and a couple of grey seals bobbing out at sea. A barefoot guy is splashing along the tidal Pilgrim’s Way, an ancient post-marked path across shining sands. Lindisfarne is only accessible when receding tides uncover this path and the curving causeway road nearby.

The original 62 miles of Northumberland coast path, which opened 20 years ago, bypassed the island, so I’ve been looking forward to walking this stretch of the England coast path, which opened two years ago.

Very few of us will walk the full 2,700 miles of the King Charles III England coast path, which was inaugurated in March, but a four-mile stroll around Holy Island is an adventure in itself, a shifting landscape of wader-foraged mudflats, dunes, beaches, whinstone cliffs and a reedy blue-and-gold lough.

Waymarked posts lead through grassy sand dunes, freckled with cowslips. Skylarks and stonechats clack and chirrup, while courting lapwings tumble over the fields. Gertrude Jekyll’s little walled garden, on the hillside facing the clifftop castle, is bright with marigolds and purple rock cress.

Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine, bought Lindisfarne Castle in 1901 and hired architect Edwin Lutyens to turn it into a home. Inside the craggy fortress, there are four-postered bedrooms and an elegant drawing room in the old gunpowder store. From the ramparts, a telescope shows the seal colony near two obelisks guiding boats into Holy Island harbour.

Just over the fields are the red sandstone arches of Lindisfarne Priory; these ruins date from the 12th century but a monastery was founded here by Saint Aidan in Northumbria’s seventh-century heyday. I walk past stacks of lobster pots to visit the museum with its carved stone crosses and fossil rosaries. Nearby Pilgrims Coffee offers fancy brews and fresh focaccia.

A stream of cars crosses Lindisfarne causeway, but you can arrive instead on bus 477 from Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mon-Sat in school holidays; otherwise Wed-Sat). A bus ticket gets you 10% off at the castle and 20% off at the priory. With good transport links, Berwick makes an excellent base for exploring this end of the coast path.

Getting off bus X18 at Budle Bay campsite the next day, I continue walking south towards Bamburgh. The original coast path runs inland from Lindisfarne, but there are now 10 miles of seasonally sensitive coastal access, open in June and July, plus this short new year-round path on the south-eastern edge of Budle Bay.

Wading birds forage in the mudflats and miles of moss-green salt marsh. Past ruined lime kilns and coconut-scented gorse, I cross cliffs into dunes, where a grasshopper warbler whirrs among roses and honeysuckle. The Walled Garden cafe, opposite St Aidan’s church, serves huge crab sandwiches with lemon and herbs. Nearby, the Norman keep of Bamburgh Castle has towered for nearly 900 years over the wide yellow sands.

Transport for this trip was provided by LNER. The nearest mainline station to Lindisfarne is Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Walls B&B (doubles from £130 B&B) overlooks the Tweed, or there is a YHA hostel next door (private rooms from £57)
Phoebe Taplin

Around the Wash, Norfolk and Lincolnshire

From King’s Lynn
To Sutton Bridge
Distance 15 miles

Isolation is claimed to be one of the latest trends in luxury travel. If true, then the stretch of the King Charles path around the Wash must be the most extravagant pleasure you can enjoy in England.

For hours I traversed a landscape of no people. No walkers, no workers, no houses, no cars, no noise except the shrill cry of redshank and the babble of skylarks drifting on the wind. If you’re weary of chatter and conflict, this undeniably desolate walk is for you. Every view of vast horizontals of green, brown and blue could be the cover for an album entitled Nowhere.

I set out from King’s Lynn, one of England’s most vibrant ports in the 13th century, which retains a wealth of medieval buildings. The coast path around the Wash, England’s biggest natural bay, requires excursions inland to cross the rivers that feed the largest multiple estuary system in Britain. Several miles can be sliced from the King’s Lynn section by taking the ferry across the Great Ouse from the old port to West Lynn.

I find no sign of life at the bottom of Ferry Lane, only a mysterious notice: “If you require the ferry please make yourself seen BEFORE the time NOT AFTER”. After 15 minutes pondering its meaning, I spot a small boat crossing the turbulent brown water.

I’m ferryman Ben’s only passenger and he’s convinced I’ll be cold in my shorts. “No shelter out there,” he warns. It’s a blustery May day, and I head up the western bank of the river.

The Ouse sparkles silver and blue, but there is only a distant line of bronze representing the retreating North Sea. The sea views are underwhelming yet the effect is rather like being at sea, the seabank a kind of ship, ushering us between the vast prairie fields of the reclaimed Fens on one side and epic salt marshes on the other.

Most of this 15-mile stretch between King’s Lynn and Sutton Bridge borders the Wash. The south-eastern corner of this national nature reserve was first recognised as a precious home for stupendous flocks of wintering wildfowl and breeding waders by Sir Peter Scott, the 20th-century conservationist and artist who helped found the World Wide Fund for Nature.

He would be delighted by the wealth of little and great white egrets along the seabank, and it is only birds I have for company (I encounter just three walkers all day). I eat my packed lunch in the shelter of a stunted hawthorn – notices warn walkers there are no toilets, cafes or public transport on this section.

The grand liminal arena of the Wash, where land and sea blur into one, plays tricks on distances and perspectives. Faraway trees pop up like a mirage above the blue horizon. For a while I entertain myself with “ship or tractor?” when spying a distant machine. I see both.

I pass a mysterious island, identified on the map as the Outer Trial Bank, a test to see if more land might be wrenched from the sea. When I follow the path inland again alongside the River Nene, and pass the old lighthouse where Scott once lived, it is like returning to land after a sea voyage.

Other stretches of the coast path are unquestionably more scenic, but there’s something glorious and trance-like about walking for so long in such space and solitude. On the bus back to King’s Lynn, I glow from this unique experience.

Accommodation is limited around the Wash, but King’s Lynn is a good option, with day walks either side (Hunstanton to King’s Lynn is 17 miles with buses to get you out/back). The Bank House (doubles from £165 B&B) is in the historic old town
Patrick Barkham

The west Somerset coast

From Minehead
To St Audries Bay
Distance 11 miles

Minehead may be the birthplace of the science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke, but it’s a coastal, rather than cosmic, odyssey I’m beginning here, walking 11 miles east to St Audries Bay.

Despite this being one of Somerset’s most well-trodden stretches of coast, few tackle it in one go; tides dictate when beach paths are passable, and return journeys rely on a public transport system that doesn’t yet stretch to moonbuses, so many visitors opt for circular hikes instead. Until now I’ve done the same, but the opening of the England coast path has inspired me to pull on my walking boots and lace together the sections I’ve skipped.

It’s not a propitious start. Coastal erosion has forced a 1½-mile diversion leaving Minehead. Instead of clamouring gannets and the rush of waves, I’m trailed by the rumble of engines as the route follows the A39. It’s not far to Dunster, however, where the soundtrack switches to lawnmowers and willow warblers, and I’m soon at the beach.

Clattering shingle underfoot, I’m buffeted along to the village of Blue Anchor, with its huddle of beach chalets. Along the promenade, I meet angler Steve, who’s hoping for dogfish or conger.

“Will you eat them,” I ask?

“I’m soft,” he smiles. “I throw them back. If I want fish, I go to the chippy.”

From here on, the path gets steeper and prettier, detouring around the headland through woods trimmed with blossom and birdsong. Midweek, the trail is quiet, despite the herds of caravans corralled in adjacent fields.

Approaching Watchet, the path spills on to the grassy earthworks of Daw’s Castle, a clifftop fortress founded by King Alfred to stave off Viking raiders. Fossil hunting is another long tradition along this coast, and when I stop at the town’s Market House Museum, I’m transfixed by a huge ammonite, found on a nearby beach a century and a half ago.

It’s market day in Watchet, and the trail leads past a rainbow of striped awnings to East Quay, the town’s social enterprise arts hub. In its cafe I order a charred sweetcorn and courgette salad and a cheese scone almost as gargantuan as that ammonite.

I’d like to visit East Quay’s art gallery and Watchet’s boat museum, but time and tide wait for no woman along this shoreline. Two hours before low tide, the route across neighbouring Helwell Bay is passable, but I’m cautious as I step over rocks and slippery kelp, mesmerised by the swirling mud and serrated shoreline below my boots as I play seaweedy hopscotch.

Leaving the beach near Doniford Farm Park, the trail winds through a maze of caravans then out into fields before dropping into St Audries Bay. I feel the waterfall here before I see it, its icy spray a reminder not to linger.

Retracing my steps to Doniford Halt, a request stop on the West Somerset Railway, I arrive just in time to flag down a steam train to take me back to Minehead. As we puff along, the landscape I have walked is rewound through the window. There are better coastlines in England for swimming than these estuarine bays, but as a tidal immersion on foot this walk has been stellar.

Train from Doniford Halt to Minehead is £17.50 one-way (west-somerset-railway.co.uk). Doubles at the Foxes hotel in Minehead from £120 B&B
Rhiannon Batten

Chichester harbour, Hampshire and West Sussex

From Prinsted
To West Wittering
Distance 16½ miles

Wild, windswept wetlands stretch to the horizon. Human figures are outnumbered by birds. Church spires and thatched roofs signpost scattered settlements. Can this really be the crowded south coast of England?

My boyfriend and I are walking part of a 35-mile stretch of the King Charles III England coast path, linking South Hayling in Hampshire to East Head in West Sussex, which opened in February. This section includes Chichester harbour, a protected estuary with open water and sheltered inlets, reedbeds, salt marshes, mudflats, shingle banks, sand dunes and a wooded shoreline.

We join the path at pretty Prinsted, after coffee (and directions) from the Southbourne farm shop. We set off east around Chidham peninsula, trying to spot the birds pictured on the information boards. Tens of thousands of wading birds and waterfowl spend the winter here, and in summer it’s a breeding ground for threatened species of seabirds and waders. Early April may not be peak time for birdwatching, but we still see a plethora of gulls and ducks, plus oystercatchers, curlews and a kestrel.

After rounding the peninsula and making our way up the other side, the day’s destination comes into sight across the water. Bosham, a cluster of buildings crowding up to the quayside, looks close enough to touch, but the winding coastal path is deceptive, and we still have a way to go (8½ miles in total).

We are glad to reach the Millstream, a 31-room hotel made from converted cottages, set in a lovely garden. Our room is in a tiny thatched cottage, reached by a little bridge over the stream.

Bosham (pronounced “Bozzum”) is ancient – believed to predate the Romans. Some think this is where King Canute tried to turn back the tide. King Harold II is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry praying at Bosham church, and the manor is recorded in the Domesday Book as one of the wealthiest in England. We visit the Saxon church and see the plaque to Canute’s eight-year-old daughter, who is said to have drowned and been buried here.

More cheerfully, we stop for a pint at the ivy-clad Berkeley Arms before dinner at the harbourside Anchor Bleu. The latter, family-run inn has been welcoming weary travellers since 1741 and has a daily changing, seafood-heavy chalkboard menu. The inspired kelp, samphire and seaweed “seacakes” mean that vegetarians don’t miss out, either.

The next morning, we walk across the harbour (a walkway appears at low tide) and continue south for a couple of miles. The wind is howling and it’s hard going – thankfully the route is flat and the formerly muddy tracks are now smooth paths. Areas along the trail that previously flooded at high tide have boardwalks above the water level, made from recycled bottles, and the paths are designed to be easily “rolled back” in the event of coastal erosion.

We battle the wind to the water’s edge and wave down the ferryman on the far shore. For hundreds of years, travellers have taken the Itchenor Ferry (AKA the Itchy Bosom) across the Chichester Channel to save them a 13-mile detour by foot. Today, the ferry also operates as a taxi service for people going to and from their boats, and on our crossing a bonus spin up the channel to pick up a couple of sailors is included in our £3.50 fare.

We disembark at West Itchenor and stop for coffee and cake at the Quarterdeck Cafe in the bustling boatyard. From here, it’s a six-mile shoreline stroll to the dunes at East Head spit, and the adjacent sandy beach at West Wittering. We are no longer alone – the car park is packed – but the beach is so vast, we don’t mind sharing.

Southbourne station is within walking distance of the start of the walk and Chichester station is a bus ride from the end. Accommodation was provided by the Millstream hotel (doubles from £200 B&B)
Rachel Dixon

The Fylde coast, Lancashire

From St Annes-on-the-Sea
To Freckleton
Distance 11½ miles

Two avocets dip their scimitar beaks into the lagoon. An egret hops on to the bank. A herd of cattle wade knee-deep. In the hazy light it might be a remote outpost on the Pampas. But it is Lancashire, and Preston is just around the corner.

Some walks exhilarate partly because your expectations are quite low. I imagined the coast from St Annes-on-the-Sea to Freckleton to be suburban seaside, with the occasional moment of peace, beauty or wildness perhaps. But it is all of this and more.

I have a few childhood memories of St Annes from visiting my grandad. It still has a 1970s atmosphere: quietish, residential, conservative. Local businesses are sprucing up frontages and gardens for the coming season. A litter-picking campaign has set up shop near the pier.

We walk on the sandy beach until it segues into a greener area, with dunes on the left and salt marsh on the right. The path between is busy with dog walkers and families enjoying the morning sun. Groups of nordic walkers speed past. Two detectorists bleep below the prom. On Fairhaven Lake the pedalos and boats are out.

Soon we come to Lytham, smart and gentrified. We buy coffees from a kiosk on the front before strolling along the Mussel Tank Memorial to visit the free museum inside the windmill. The birdlife is already good – oystercatchers, curlews, herons – and it only gets better as we leave built-up areas behind and stride out on to the edges of the Ribble Estuary national nature reserve – also designated a site of special scientific interest, a European special protection area and international Ramsar wetland site.

Why all the titles? Because this estuarial Eden happens to be the most important site in the UK for wintering wildfowl, supporting more than a quarter of a million ducks, geese, swans and wading birds; it’s internationally important for 16 species of wintering visitors. Spring isn’t bad, either. I’ve remembered my binoculars. As well as the wondrous avocets, we see and/or hear redshanks, skylarks, linnets, sedge warblers, shelducks, goldfinches, swallows, peewits, kestrels – and hares.

I have brought a hat, too, which is lucky. Coast walks are great – you can proceed without navigating or having to look down – but there’s not much cover. As we approach Warton airbase, the path follows a causeway. We have passed lots of benches (and loos), but here we sit on the grass to enjoy a picnic and birdsong.

The Lancashire coast is known for resorts rather than beaches, nature, cliffs or birdlife. The towns are famous; the bits in between overlooked. The King Charles III England coast path could alter this, which would be a good thing; it will spread visitors out, perhaps explode a few cliches. The Lancs littoral turns out to be as generous with fresh air, flora and fauna as it is with fun and frolics.

The Lancashire section isn’t fully open or waymarked, but work is afoot and Cicerone has published a guide and map. The 68 bus runs between Blackpool and Preston, stopping at St Annes, Lytham and Freckleton. The stretch between Freckleton and Preston is best done by bus as the path is forced on to a main road. Trains connect Blackpool, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lytham and Preston. The Rooms Lytham has doubles from £110

A tidal island off Ynys Môn (Anglesey)

With an impressive mix of mountain and sea views, the 130-mile Anglesey Coastal Path is a must-do for those who love a good walk. But like most locals, my perennial favourite is the offshoot trail out to the tidal island Ynys Llanddwyn. Having grown up on Ynys Môn but now living in London, for me it has become something of an annual pilgrimage in the summer months. The mile-long walk along the main beach to the island is manageable and fun for grandparents and grandkids alike – with the white-washed lighthouses offering a rewarding end viewpoint. Pack a picnic, swim in the clear waters and relax – just make sure you’ve checked the tide times!
Lavinia Brydon

Castles, beaches and forest bathing in Dumfries and Galloway

We’ve totally fallen for the pretty coastal village of Portpatrick on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway, where the 212-mile Southern Upland Way starts and ends. Turn right or left at the port and you’ll hit awe-inspiring stretches of coastal path with dramatic rocky cliffs, which in spring are carpeted with stunningly bright wildflowers and nesting birds. See the sun set behind the ruins of Dunskey Castle and dip your toes into the water at one of the little sandy beaches. On a clear, sunny day, the water is the bluest of blue, leading the eye to the coastline and mountains of Ireland. And if a bit of forest bathing is in order, it’s oh-so-easy to return on the enchanted bluebell-scented forest path through Dunskey Glen.
David

Birds and seals in East Yorkshire

The circular Hornsea walk is a superb, accessible route. It’s been really well thought out with ramps and wheelchair-easy pathways on all levels, from the clifftops to the promenade and beach. There are fantastic viewpoints to see the seals or the many species of birds that inhabit the coastline, and the view across to Flamborough Head is magnificent. The blue-flag beach has a gentle slope, allowing full participation in seaside activities for all ages and abilities. There are accessible toilets, changing facilities, plenty of seats along the route, and a free car park.
Elizabeth

Industrial horizons on Teesside

From Redcar (seven miles east of Middlesbrough) wander through Coatham Marsh nature reserve then head to the grassy dunes that lead to the South Gare breakwater. Enjoy the undulating paths and stand atop higher mounds to see wind turbines out at sea and the former industrial landscape before you. Pass the fishers’ huts and walk the last stretch to witness this enigmatic coast at work and play. After refreshment at the South Gare Marine Club, return to Redcar via Coatham Sands. Watch the nimble wading birds work the shoreline and reward your arrival with a tangy lemon top ice-cream.
Leigh

Cliff and cave drama on the Isle of Man

The southern coastal walk is a beauty. Start in Port St Mary and climb to the top of dramatic cliffs atop beautiful secluded beaches. Gigantic sea caves surrounded by huge fissures in the rocks – known as the Chasms – are a highlight. At the far end of the peninsula, look across to the bird sanctuary, on the small island the Calf of Man. Then wend your way up very different cliffs on the west coast and finish at Port Erin, all the while seeing glimpses of Northern Ireland on the horizon. The Sound Cafe at the midway point really is the icing on this particular cake.
Ben

Coast path bliss in Pembrokeshire

I like to walk short sections of coastal paths so I can appreciate every beautiful and inspiring footstep. This spring I did a 9-mile section of the Pembrokeshire coastal path from Manorbier to Tenby – a moderate four-hour walk. I started at the medieval Manorbier Castle, heading slowly past the dramatic Church Doors Cove and sandy Skrinkle Haven, then enjoyed sweeping views of Caldey Island from Giltar Point. By halting for a sip of water or fruit and a chat to fellow walkers, I could appreciate the walk more as I took in views of stunning sandstone cliffs, dramatic crashing waves and vibrant wildflowers while sharing travel tips with other hikers. I ended with a beautiful entry into Tenby via South beach and rewarded myself with a pint and fish and chips at the Lifeboat Tavern, in the maze of streets in the old town.
Nicoletta

The Bristol Channel, from Portishead to Clevedon

One of my favourite paths begins inconspicuously in Portishead, then winds and bobs for 7 miles to Clevedon’s weathered and elegant Victorian pier. Time and again the luscious undergrowth swallowed me up while the trail narrowed to single file, then deposited me into open meadows. Even on a balmy July day, the tranquillity was amazing – I passed exactly one person walking their dog. The Bristol Channel on my right was a constant if moody companion: steely pewter when cloudy, then suddenly shimmering and alive in the sun. Bring water and snacks as there is nothing until Clevedon’s beach-facing cafes.
Anna

Southend’s shellfish and salty air

When people think of Southend-on-Sea, they usually picture the pier and the amusements. Start instead at the Old Town, Leigh-on-Sea, where wooden cockle sheds line the waterfront and the air smells of salt and shellfish. Walk east through Chalkwell and Westcliff, and note how the walk keeps reinventing itself: mudflats and fishing boats give way to a wide Victorian prom. The Thames estuary is vast and surprisingly beautiful here, with Kent shimmering on the horizon. Two hours (if you make it all the way to Shoebury Common beach), a pot of cockles from Osborne’s at the start, and a complete change of perspective.
Rebecca

Life’s a breeze in south Devon

Friends and I are slowly walking the South West Coast Path. Hope Cove to Torcross in south Devon (about 22 miles) is the current favourite section – a two-day walk that can be happily extended. It offers fabulous views, lunch and a ferry in Salcombe, tucked-away beaches including the sometimes-bright-blue waters of Moor Sands for a welcome swim stop, and the bonus of a glorious campsite at East Prawle to break the journey. A short detour provides a perfect post-walk dinner at the wonderful Pig’s Nose. Day two brings seal-spotting at Start Point, finishing at history-making (and geographically interesting) Slapton Sands, with perfect chips from Start Bay Inn.
Amy

Winning tip: dolphin spotting in the Highlands

Starting from the village of Cromarty (20 miles north of Inverness), home to a tiny volunteer-run cinema and community sauna, follow the coast around the headland known as the Cromarty Sutor for a brilliant 5-mile stroll. The path climbs through woodland and passes second world war pillboxes. Views across to Easter Ross are spectacular, and the area is a prime spot for bottlenose dolphins. Eventually, the route descends from the clifftops to MacFarquhar’s Bed, a sea arch where smugglers supposedly tied their ships. The circuit completes back in Cromarty, where you can head for a pizza at Sutor Creek.
Tomos

Love Your Weekend host Alan Titchmarsh questioned Jeremy Vine after the presenter opened up about an embarrassing celebrity encounter.

Jeremy Vine has shared a cringe-worthy story about meeting one of pop music’s biggest stars under rather unfortunate circumstances.

Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh returned to ITV this morning, with the much-loved presenter heading to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent for this week’s episode.

Alan Titchmarsh, 77, was joined by BBC presenter and journalist Jeremy, Michael Flatley and Kate Fleetwood, while dog-in-training Titch also made a welcome reappearance.

The veteran host kicked off the programme by quizzing his celebrity guests about their greatest “pinch me moments”.

Jeremy then launched into a rather risqué anecdote about a particularly memorable bathroom visit during his time at BBC Radio 2, prompting Alan to step in with a cautionary word.

“Behind Radio 2 reception there was a loo…” he began, as Alan interjected: “I think you’re going to take this slightly downmarket…”

“I wont!” Jeremy insisted as Alan questioned: “Is this really necessary?”

Jeremy then explained: “I’ve got to tell this story; I’ve got to unload because I haven’t really told it before.”

Alan then cheekily warned Jeremy that the phrase ‘I’ve really got to unload’ hardly inspired great confidence given the direction the tale was heading, reports the Express.

Undeterred, Jeremy continued: “So behind Radio 2 reception there is a single cubicle toilet and it was always locked because the receptionist said we don’t want anyone going in there for obvious reasons.

“And one day I was bursting and I could see the door unlocked, so I say, ‘Do you mind if I go in?’ and I lock the door and I’m in a seated position…

“You’re on the verge of oversharing!” Alan exclaimed, as Jeremy continued: “I don’t understand what’s going on outside the door because I’ve got no idea.

“But Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has said to reception, ‘I need to use the loo urgently.’

“And reception looks round and the door is locked because it always is because they lock the door to stop people using it,” he clarified.

“So they gave him the master key and I’m sitting in the loo in a seriously private moment and [the door] suddenly opens and Barry Gibb walks in!

“This is the guy who wrote Islands in the Stream!” Jeremy added, as the studio erupted into laughter.

“He walks in a completely continuous movement and I think he made the noise ‘ha?!'” the presenter said, imitating a similar sound to what the Bee Gees sing in their famous track, Stayin’ Alive.

“I’ve only met him once and that was it,” Jeremy concluded, as Alan swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

For her standout moment, Kate recounted the occasion she encountered legendary Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman following a theatrical performance.

She recalled being completely starstruck having previously watched him in classics such as Tootsie and The Graduate, while younger cast members recognised him from the animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda.

Meanwhile, Michael disclosed he had recently had an audience with Pope Leo XIV, describing it as amongst the greatest days of his life.

Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh airs every Sunday at 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.