Civil Parishes and Communities

'Walks around the Parish of Abberton & Langenhoe by our Footpath Officer.'

Gordon Davis

Local Footpath Walks 'Eight walks around the Parish. Of varying lengths, the walks take in many of the local points of interest. Easy maps and directions, along with historical background make this an ideal guide for newcomers to the area, or for those that want to know more about the local area and its history.'

'Appleton Parish Council asked us to provide some circular walks that residents can enjoy by walking from the Parish Hall. They are intended to entice you to see some or even all of the network of paths within the Parish ... '

Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society

'Aston Cantlow Parish is a beautiful place to walk in the countryside and it is excellent exercise to help to keep you fit & healthy ... You can download lots of local walks from Aston Cantlow in PDF format that were produced in conjunction with the Aston Cantlow Parish Path Volunteers.'

'Baildon is a fantastic place to walk. Although Skipton claims the title "Gateway to the Dales", many think that Baildon could just as easily hold that accolade.'

Descriptions of a series of circular walks issued by Parishes in Barnack Ward.

'Berkhamsted lies on the western edge of Hertfordshire, bordering the Chiltern Hills ... Together with the adjoining village of Northchurch it is separated from other towns and villages by lovely countryside, all of it in the Metropolitan Green Belt and much of it classified as being an area of outstanding natural beauty.'

'Bollington is beautifully situated on the edge of the Peak District, surrounded by spectacular countryside and served by a comprehensive network of footpaths just crying out to be explored. Its industrial history can be appreciated from many of the local walks, not least the towpath alongside the Macclesfield Canal and the Middlewood Way which provides a safe walking, cycling and horseriding route along the former Macclesfield to Marple Railway. Whether you wish to be part of a serious walking group, join in with a sociable ramble or explore the countryside by yourself there is something for everyone.'

'The Parish Council has published a selection of circular walks which ... you will be able to print off and take with you on your walk. They are all included in the new Welcome Pack which we hope to give to all newcomers to the village. ...'

Download from the Website PDFs of walks around and about Boxley: 'You can leave your comments and feedback about each of the walks using the feedback form provided.'

Note also: Vinters Valley Nature Reserve 'is your local wildlife oasis tucked away between the Vinters Park and Grove Green housing estates and also close to Vinters Community School ... You are welcome to visit on any day of the year and spend some time exploring the reserve on one of the many pathways provided, or just to sit and breathe in the quiet atmosphere on one of the seats dotted around the reserve'.

Walderslade Woodlands 'There are numerous paths, and you can spend hours peacefully walking along them, imagining that you are deep in rural Kent rather than just a few hundred metres from a motorway.'

'The East Devon parish of Broadhembury, with a population of some 700, lies partly within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It includes the historic and picturesque village of Broadhembury and surrounding hamlets of Kerswell, Luton, Colliton and Dulford.'  Suggested Walking Routes,

'Walking leaflets are available from Brockworth Community Centre, or download ...' Five circular walks of from 2.5 to 5.0 miles.

'There are some excellent walks around the village and its surroundings, detailed in a booklet developed by the Bromham Footpaths Group. This is a band of dedicated walkers who meet every Thursday morning and spend a couple of hours exploring and re-visiting our byways and footpaths before returning to a local hostelry for tales of derring-do!'

'A guide to some interesting and pleasant walks in and around the villages of Broomley and Stocksfield, Northumberland. All the walks described on this page start at Stocksfield Station.'

'A Guide to Popular Walks in and around Bruton, Somerset.'

Bruton Town Council

Buckingham Town Council is the local Council for the town of Buckingham in the County of Buckinghamshire. The Town Council provides a wide range of services and facilities including the cemetery, parks and green spaces, allotments and many others.

'Bucklebury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England. The village is about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Newbury and ranges between 1 and 3 miles north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066. Bucklebury Common is just over 1 square kilometre (0.39 sq mi) and is one of the major village commons in the ceremonial and historic county of Berkshire.'

Bradfield, Bucklebury, Stanford Dingley [Fancy Free Walks] (PDF)

'Here, we have detailed a few walks that have been walked by Parish Councillors over the years ... Burrator is one of the largest and most sparsely populated Parished in England, over 5945 hectares. Ancient manors and hamlets are found at Hoo Meavy, Meavy Barton, Goodameavy, Lovaton and Welltown. There are four larger settlements within the Parish: Meavy, Sheepstor, Dousland and Walkhampton.'

'We have miles of footpaths and bridle ways in the Parish and all will take you through beautiful, rolling countryside ... I have almost 20 walks starting from Burwash with many of them connecting the local villages. There are a mixture of long and shorter walks some of which intertwine, but each have their own character. I decided it would be a good idea to share the walks and by creating a Website it would give all fellow walkers the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and views available in this area.'

Burwash Parish Council

'If Cawthorne was situated in the Cotswolds or even the Yorkshire Dales, it would be a tourist "honeypot", as it is it remains one of South Yorkshire's treasures and a vital lung for the more developed local areas.'

'Croxley Green has eighteen designated public footpaths and a number of others which have yet to be formalised. The footpaths vary markedly in nature from short "cut through" urban footpaths between local roads to ambling rural footpaths.'

Croxley Green Boundary Walk [Croxley Green Residents Association]

'Deal is charming to explore on foot, from gentle walks following the sea to Sandwich or Kingsdown, to more demanding long distance footpaths... A great way to discover Deal’s fascinating and notorious past of smugglers, revenue men, women of the night, murders and shipwrecks is by following the historic town trail.'

'The Parish Paths Partnerships Scheme is an initiative to ensure that the entire rights of way network is legally defined, properly maintained and well publicised. It has the support of the National Association of Local Councils and is Devon County Council funded.'

Devon County Council

'Dinas Powys (the modern-day standardised spelling - it was previously also spelt 'Dinas Powis') is a large village and a community in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales which takes its name from the Dinas Powys hillfort that dates from the Iron Age ... Despite the addition of several housing developments over the past fifty years, the old village centre of Dinas Powys still has a mostly unspoiled and almost rural feel, retaining a large village common and a traditional village centre complete with a post office and a range of small independent shops, public houses, restaurants and community facilities ...'

Two short walks - with variations - starting from the NoBody Inn in Doddiscombsleigh.

'The idea to produce some Community Walks arose from the Community Plan consultation which highlighted the fact that many people did not know where the local open spaces, playing fields and parks are or the potential walks they could do in our area. We are very lucky that we have good access to green space and countryside from Downend and Bromley Heath. Each of the walks starts from one of the Open Spaces in our Parish so we hope you will get to know these and that lots of you will then be able to stride out and enjoy the walks we have chosen.'

'The Parish of Ecclesfield covers an area of about 22 square kilometres of north Sheffield and is one of the most highly populated Parishes in the North of England. It comprises much of Ecclesfield and all of Chapeltown, High Green and Grenoside.'  

'Eccleshall has a very extensive Parish, the second largest in the County, comprising some 20,000 acres. There are 134 public rights of way in the Parish listed by the County Council and set down in the DEFINITIVE MAP. Considerable work has been undertaken by the Parish with the agreement of Landowners, farmers and Staffordshire County Council to improve the network of Rights of Way. Stiles have been installed, finger pointer posts, waymarking and bridges built ...'

'Edington is situated on the northern escarpment of Salisbury Plain ... It is surrounded by very attractive countryside which offers an excellent variety of footpaths, many of which offer spectacular views from Salisbury Plain.'

'In 1997 Esh Parish Council launched its leaflet "Esh Parish Walk", with funding from the Parish Paths Partnership ... The walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete and apart from a steep climb near the start, is not strenuous.'

ALERT At Review, the description of the Walk seemed no longer to be accessible from the Council Website; but still was from the Wikipedia Page now instead linked to in this Record.

'This is an ECC-funded community-based scheme that enables local volunteers to look after and/or promote their local Public Right of Way network. More information is contained in the P3 manual. If you want to volunteer, the Public Rights of Way and Localism Officer will be able to put you in touch with an existing local group, or help you start up your own group.'

Essex Highways

'These walks were compiled by Waverley Borough Council and are intended to help you enjoy Frensham Common and encourage greater understanding of the area.'

'Owing to the way that the rural district's boundaries are drawn, Frindsbury Extra (which is basically a continuation of the parish of Frindsbury in Strood) has the villages of Wainscott, Upper and Lower Upnor plus other outlying settlements while Frindsbury parish, which contains the parish church of All Saints, does not. Nonetheless, Frindsbury Extra parish, with its neat rows of houses stretching down the hill on whose crest the boundary is now drawn, still contains some six thousand inhabitants, and is the third largest population centre in the district.'

'Galleywood is very fortunate in having a network of footpaths and bridleways, totalling 23 km (14 miles): these are set out on the free Galleywood Parish Footpaths Map (3rd Edition). Galleywood Parish Council is very pleased to release walks 1-6 of our "new look" walk leaflets for 2014.'

'Walks In and Around Loch Awe: 9 Easy Walks from Dalmally Post Office.'

'The ancient township of Grampound, together with the hamlet of Creed, lies in the centre of Cornwall, sheltered in the beautiful valley of the River Fal. Settled since prehistoric times, from within the ancient parish of Creed and the old manor of Tybesta, Grampound grew as a main crossing place of the Fal, a focus for travellers and traders moving betwen west Cornwall and England. Thus Grampound became one of the most important towns in Cornwall and has a rich and vibrant history.'

'The countryside around Grimsargh is very picturesque and brimming with interesting wildlife. We are hoping that increasing numbers of people will get out & about to appreciate it. It is our intention to develop a series of walks around Grimsargh and the surrounding delightful countryside areas ... '

'As a village on the outskirts of Chester, Guilden Sutton is linked by a series of footpaths including the Longster Trail reaching from Pipers Ash to Helsby Hill. These paths provide a valuable resource for everyone and the information included here is to help make that possible.'

'Hadlow has a range of footpaths, walks and countryside trails for you to explore. In particular, two routes are available for leisure walkers to follow ...'

Hadlow River Walk [Kent County Council]

'Hagley is a large village and civil parish in Worcestershire, England. It is on the boundary of the West Midlands and Worcestershire counties between the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley and Kidderminster. As of December 2016 it had an estimated population of 6,097.' [Wikipedia]

Hagley Parish Council | Hagley Historical and Field Society

'The area around Hassocks provides ample opportunity to get out and explore the countryside, with its lovely villages and the nearby South Downs.'

Leslie Campbell

'The Council has devised 4 circular walks in the Community for residents and visitors to the area who enjoy walking in the open countryside ... The Council also sponsors the Community Walks Group which provides free conducted walks every Friday.'

Information on walks around and about the town including a series of leafles covering interesting features in and around Hayle - both historic and present-day.

'Been for a walk lately? – How about a stroll through the ages along the Centenary Walk or celebrate with Royalty on the Jubilee Walk! You might just be surprised at the number of attractive walks that are situated in the Hockley parish and now you will be able to easily identify them ... !'

'There is an array of formal and informal leisure opportunities available in and around the town, and, of course, the vast wilderness of Dartmoor National Park and the tranquil South Hams countryside offer both families and the serious walker a plethora of inspiring routes.'

'A series of leaflets depicting circular walks of varying lengths and styles has been developed by Kelvedon Parish Council. There are six routes available ... These leaflets are available to download ... in the original (full colour) or printer-friendly (black and white) versions.'

PDFs of four Walks - each of about 3.7 miles in length: 'Kingswood is fortunate in having in excess of 19 miles of Public Footpath. Historically these were used as routes to work, places of worship and of course short cuts to Public Houses and other very necessary destinations ...'

'Leaflets can be downloaded here or packs are available from Liss Parish Council Office at £3.00 per pack.'

PDF of Leaflet offering 'four circular walks (Blue, Green, Orange and Red) all starting at Bealings Village Hall. The Car park at the Hall can be very busy so please contact the Secretary Bealings Village Hall to avoid disappointment'.

Details of four Walks around and about: 'Llanfrothen, Croesor and Rhyd are rural villages at the foot of the Moelwynion and Cnicht. The area is especially beautiful and has attracted artists, writers and craftsmen over the centuries, and it continues to inspire its inhabitants'.

'Three circular walks (Coastal, Pilgrim and Farming) bring to life the cultural distinctiveness of the Llanybri locality featuring the stories, heritage and artefacts associated with (i) pilgrims and holiday-makers passing by; (ii) local characters making a living on coast, river and marsh and (iii) farming life in days gone by.'

'Llantrisant Community Council has a footpath agency agreement with Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council to maintain the 27 miles of public rights of way within the wards. The paths cover a wide variety of landscapes from riverside rambles to fields and commons. Native woodland to cobbled streets.'

'With numerous local walks around the village and surrounding countryside ranging from 3 km to 18km and forest walks from 0.5km to 9km Newcastleton has something for everyone.'

'The Village Visitor Guide -  available from the Village Shop, the Cliff Top Café or the Parish Clerk - is a perfect starting point to familiarise yourselves with the layout of the village and immediate area.'

'The smallest type of administrative area in England is the parish (also known as 'civil parish'); the equivalent units in Wales are communities. Scotland also has communities but their councils are generally a channel of opinion to other authorities rather than an administration in their own right. Northern Ireland does not have any similar units.'

Office for National Statistics

List of Civil Parishes in England | List of Communities in Wales | List of Community Council Areas in Scotland [Wikipedia]

'Short walks exploring the hidden parts of Perton. Based on the 40/45-minute walks offered twice a month by Perton Walk and Talk. Each walk can be completed in less than one hour.'

'Pirbright is a great place for walkers, with its acres of commonland and rich network of footpaths, originally created to link farms to each other and to the church and centre of the village ... (A) pamphlet of nine local walks was commissioned by the Parish Council as an aid to residents and visitors wishing to explore our attractive village and the surrounding countryside.'

'A working party under the umbrella of Friends of Rhydymwyn Valley (FORV) ... produced a 64 page book called Rhydymwyn and Hendre - A Tale of Two Villages. The book covers a whole range of subjects including both modern and ancient history of the villages, has many excellent illustrations, maps and photographs, as well as featuring memories from residents and former residents. Use the history book as a guide for a short walk around Rhydymwyn - places marked in red appear in the book ...'

Two Short Walks in Mold | Cilcain Community Council

'A few years ago, RPC developed a series of leaflets documenting 3 mile, 4.5 mile, 5.5 mile, 7 mile, 8 mile and 8.5 mile circular walks around the parish. If you are a keen walker or good at writing or design we’d love you to help us update them ...'

'Take a walk around Saxmundham following the Town Trail, or search out some of the many footpaths.'

'The Shinfield Parish Volunteer Group have created six leaflets, each one about a different walk that you can do in the parish. The walks are generally short and not too taxing.'

'We offer opportunities to volunteers to help us manage the 5500 kms of Public Rights of Way within the County ... The P3 scheme began in the early 1990’s and has thrived ever since, there are now some 60 groups carrying out thousands of hours of work each year.'

Shropshire's Great Outdoors

'Six walks varying in length from 3.0 to 6.7 miles have now been compiled, tested, described and plotted on maps, photographed and published in individual "envelope"-sized pamphlets ... a full set of which can be obtained from village shops and pubs. However if you prefer you can download the walks individually from this Website.'

'All the walks begin at St Andrew's Church South Stoke. They vary in length but in the main are circular (ring) walks. No special equipment is required, but stout walking shoes are recommended as well as liquid refreshment.'

'The St Fillans Path Network gives access to a variety of landscapes, from woodland to riverside, open hill to lochside. They offer magnificent views over Loch Earn and the surrounding hills. All the routes on this website are fairly straightforward but stout walking shoes/boots are recommended ... These walks were developed with help from the local community, in conjunction with the National Park Ranger Service.'

'Welcome to the website for the North Worcestershire communities of Stoke Heath, Stoke Pound, Stoke Prior and Stoke Works ... There are a number of walks in the Parish that enable visitors to experience all aspects of life in our Parish. The parish has the services of a Footpaths Officer who is responsible for the management of footpaths in the Parish.'

'Stondon is a thriving village situated in mid Bedfordshire. Like many villages there is a lot more to Stondon than you might think! The village includes areas known as Lower Stondon & Upper Stondon - we prefer to call it Stondon.'

'Here we have a selection of walks around the Parish of Sutton Benger beautifully drawn and handwritten by our very own Sutton Benger Wainwright, Norman Davis ...'

'Walks around Talaton: Use them or lose them !'

Chris Harwood

'6 circular walks within the parish which have been prepared by members of the Footpath Committee with the help of volunteers under the Parish Paths Partnership Scheme (P3).'

'Five circular walks have been developed in partnership with Flintshire County Council Footpath Inspector and the Ramblers Association with funding from Cadwyn Clwyd via the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Rural Development Fund.'

'Contains a number of walks in and around Tring. Each walk has a leaflet which you can download and print out.'

'Entitled Vale Trails, the series of five coastal and five inland walks have been developed by Creative Rural Communities, the rural regeneration arm of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, in conjunction with Vale of Glamorgan Ramblers and Valeways.'

Vale of Glamorgan Council

Descriptions of Walks and Open Spaces in and around West Moors including links to The Village Trail (originally the subject of this Record), and A Nature Trail.

'Three walks for a Summer's evening ... Westleigh has numerous footpaths, and several forgotten byways suitable for circular walks, short enough for an evening stroll, longer routes to build up a thirst and right out into the sticks to earn a slap up supper.'

'Parish Walks - enjoy, explore and walk our picturesque village.'

Details with maps of over thirty walks around and about Wickhambrook.

'Back in 2001, the Parish Council published a leaflet detailing six walks around the village and surrounding area. This was updated in 2010 with a further four walks, which you can explore by following the links.'

Terry King

Witchford Open Spaces Group

Details of eight suggested Walks around and about the Parish.

Fourteen 'Discovery Walks in and around the Parish of Witley – walks of various lengths exploring the historic landscape, wildlife and built heritage of the civil parish of Witley, Surrey'.

'The Countryside Service has opportunities for people to volunteer as: [1] Tree Wardens - - - : [2] Parish Paths Wardens - - - : [3] Countryside Site Work Party Volunteers - - - : [4] Health Walks Leaders - - - : [5] Worcestershire Wardens Partnership - - - : [6] Parish Paths Partnership (P3) Scheme - - - : [7] Countryside Access Volunteers Scheme - - - : [8] Community Greenspace Team Advice and Support to Local Communities.'

Worcestershire County Council

'Wythall is situated in the north east corner of Worcestershire, within the District of Bromsgrove and the County of Worcestershire. The village shares borders with Solihull and Birmingham and has a population of over 12,000 spread amongst several areas which includes Majors Green and parts of Walkers Heath.'

'It is possible to go for a walk on the shores of "Afon Heulyn", the Menai Strait, or across the fields towards Bethel. Or, what about a circular route around the village using parts of "Lon Las" and the village's public footpaths. In Allt Gam and Penrallt you can feel as though you're in the middle of the country whilst in the centre of the village ...'