The Rotary Club of North Wirral is encouraging local people to take part in the 24th annual Wirral Coastal Walk and raise money for charity while enjoying some of the area’s breathtaking natural beauty.

Taking place this Sunday (March 21st), the event is expected to attract thousands of walking fans who will make the 15-mile journey from Seacombe Ferry to Thurstaston Country Park.

Jim Costello, from the Rotary Club, told the Wirral News that the walk presents an opportunity for local people to take in the natural beauty of the Wirral’s coastal areas and do something positive for charity.

“Each year the Wirral Coastal Walk provides thousands of people of all ages the opportunity to raise funds through sponsorship for charities, organisations and clubs of their own choice,” he added.

The first Wirral Coastal Walk was organised in 1987 and since then the event has grown into one of the biggest of its kind in the north-west.

Martley Circular Walk is a must for bird watchers, with walkers able to see some of the country’s scarcest birds on the route.

Julie Royle, from Worcester News, says the abundance of wildlife is an exciting part of the route, with rare birds including skylarks spotted by many who complete it.

There is a very good chance that walkers will see buzzards, with the writer stating that an image of the bird is used as a waymark for a new Martley Circular Walk.

“Look out for wildlife on this easy walk in pleasant countryside. Lapwings, skylarks and little owls are among the more scarce birds you may see,” Ms Royle wrote.

She goes on to add that the majority of footpaths and walkways are in excellent condition, with local volunteers working hard to maintain them.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council recently unveiled a series of new walks in Surrey, which include a bluebell walk in Banstead Woods and a heritage walk around Earlswood Common, Reigate Life reported.

Tryfan, one of Wales’ most popular peaks, is to be resurveyed later this year to see if it does measure 915m as currently thought.

Three amateur mountain surveyors – John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips – will use high-precision Global Positioning System technology to see if the summit actually reaches the height registered.

Should the team find that it does not reach this point, the peak, which is located in the Ogden Valley in Snowdonia, could lose its status as an elite peak.

Mr Phillips said that if they discover that it is not as tall as previously thought, it will affect those who enjoy climbing mountains in the region.

“We are interested in whether or not it is indeed above the 3,000ft mark. It would certainly make the challenge of visiting every Welsh 3,000ft summit in a single journey easier if it wasn’t,” he added.

According to mountain climber Nigel Spencer, Tryfan is popular because it offers a variety of both climbing and scrambling.

A new programme of springtime guided walks and talks in various parts of Surrey has been revealed by the local council.

Rangers at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have devised more routes for walkers to explore following a successful first programme last autumn, Reigate Life reported.

Open until the end of May, the routes available include a heritage walk around Earlswood Common and a bluebell walk in Banstead Woods.

All of the walks are free and led by countryside rangers, with families welcome and, in some cases, dogs as well.

Julian Ellacott, borough council executive member for the environment, told the newspaper that last autumn’s programme was so well received that the local authority though it right to create another one.

“They are a great way for people to get out and enjoy their natural environment and learn more about the nature and countryside on their doorstep,” he added.

While in the area, keen walkers could follow the trail from Reigate to Holmwood, which will take them through the Low Weald of Surrey and the Mole Valley.

With recent research suggesting that spending time walking in the countryside is an effective way of relieving stress, the National Trust is offering city dwellers the chance to explore the great outdoors for free.

On March 20th and 21st, the conservation group is giving people up and down the country the opportunity to experience some of the UK’s most stunning areas of natural beauty and enjoy some clean air.

Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, said: “Our free weekend is the perfect chance to escape the stresses of our busy lives and get outdoors and breathe in some springtime fresh air.”

As part of the promotion, the National Trust is giving away free jars of air to those who live in the city.

The air has been captured from rural walking routes and coastlines, including Lake Windermere and Box Hill in Surrey.

There are a number of beautiful locations where visitors can enjoy a good walk, with the National Trust recommending Cragside in Northumberland and Lyveden New Bield in Northamptonshire.

There are many areas in the UK where one can enjoy a walk surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, with High Weald among the very best, it has been claimed.

Annabelle Thorpe, writing in the Guardian, stated that the area boasts luscious green countryside, quaint villages and “a lattice of routeways”, making it a wonderful place for people to walk.

She pointed out that thousands of years ago, High Weald was England’s biggest centre of pannage – the practice whereby pigs would be driven into woodland to where they could eat acorns and fatten up.

“The Domesday Book records more than 150,000 pigs in the Weald and the tracks used by ancient drovers still remain to be walked upon. There are more than 2,000 rights of way in the Weald, from gentle circular walks to long-distance trails,” Ms Thorpe added.

In recognition of its unique character, High Weald was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the government in 1983.