A Christmas Gift from The National Trust

A Christmas Gift from The National Trust

If you know someone who would enjoy a year's membership of The National Trust for Christmas then this year you could gift this to them and throw in a a pair of free binoculars at the same time!

Even better, you'd only pay for 9 months due to the current "3 months free" promotion and you can postpone the start date for up to 2 months - perfect timing for Christmas.

So this year you can save money while appearing extra generous ;-)

Click on National Trust Special Offer to see all the reasons why this makes a fantastic gift this Christmas.


The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Pub Special Offers for Seafood Fortnight

Seafood Fortnight: 5th-21st Sept 2008

You may have noticed that Seafood Fortnight is upon us and that it is generating a host of special offers from pubs. Keep your eyes open especially near the coast where pubs traditionally specialise in recipes using locally caught fish.

Due to its success over the last 7 years, Seafood Fortnight has now been extended from a week this year, potentially doubling the special offers we should find. A good place to start could be one of the 30 pub walks spread around our coastline that you can download simply by clicking on coastal pub walks.


The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

www.NationalTrust.org.uk - Free Binoculars for New Members

www.NationalTrust.org.uk - Free Binoculars for New Members

Yes, that's right, The National Trust will give you a free pair of binoculars when you join online, plus 3 months free membership (12 months for the price of 9) when you pay by direct debit.

It's over 20 years since I joined The National Trust and I have gained real pleasure from the 700 miles of spectacular coastline, 600,000 acres of beautiful countryside and 300 historic houses that it protects. As a charity it receives no government support and works tirelessly to conserve these key elements of our national heritage.

So, apart from the free binoculars and free 3 months' membership, here are some other reasons why I recommend joining online today:

• FREE entry and parking at more than 300 historic houses and gardens.
• FREE parking at National Trust countryside and coastline locations.
• Your Members Handbook is a complete guide to all of the places you can visit.
• Regional Newsletters packed with details of special events at locations near you.
• Three editions of The National Trust Magazine, featuring news, views, gardening and letters, exclusively for members.
• Plus you can feel good about supporting all the great work The National Trust does to support our precious heritage.

To benefit from this special offer while it is still available or to simply find out more about the great work they do, click on National Trust Special Offer.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Last week the government confirmed that it would legislate to give a legal right of access to the English coastline. This was a very welcome announcement at the Labour Party Conference and followed strong lobbying by Natural England, the Ramblers Association and many others.

The public consultation period only ended on 11 September (see earlier post) so this was an unexpectedly quick decision from the government and no doubt the timing of the conference had a helping hand in this. Whatever the reason though, this is very welcome news for anyone that gets real pleasure from our varied and dramatic coastline.

Read more at The Government Backs Coastal Access

Today's coastal pub walk: Sailor's Return in East Chaldon, Dorset.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Coastal Access - Public Consultation Ends

Coastal Access - Public Consultation Ends

11 September marks the end of the public consultation period of proposals to open up an uninterrupted public access corridor around the English coast. I last wrote about this in June in my post Coastal Access - Right to Roam our English Coastline when the consultation process began.

According to The Ramblers Association, 94% of the English public support the wide-ranging proposals presented to the government by Natural England. Let's all just hope now that the government has been listening.

Read more at Coastal Access and the right to roam our English coastline
See update...

Today's Pub Walk: The George Inn in Middlezoy, Somerset.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

St. Ives wins vote for improved coastal access

St. Ives wins vote for improved coastal access

The Guardian’s ‘Best Seaside Town Award’ has just been won by St. Ives in Cornwall with one of the reasons for it earning this award being cited as improved access for walkers.

The 22 judges included Chairman of the Ramblers’ Association who highlighted members’ enthusiasm for the improved coastal access with public transport around St. Ives helping walkers explore the South West Coast Path.

You might have seen in my previous posting on coastal access that the competition for the Nation’s Favourite Pub Walk has a special "Favourite Coastal Pub Walk" category with its own prize for the person submitting the walk - maybe St. Ives could be the setting for the winning entry for that too!

The coast path here is one of the best stretches in my view with some rugged walking and spectacular coastal scenery. St. Ives also has its share of historic pubs to entice pub walkers and I was already trying to book a last-minute holiday in the area. So keep your eyes open for some new pub walks there this summer (not that I would qualify for my own prize of course)!

To find out more click on coastal access helps St. Ives win award.

Today's pub walk: The Victoria Inn in Plymouth, Devon, which includes a section of the South West Coast Path.


The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Coastal Access - Right to Roam our Coastline

Coastal Access - Right to Roam our English Coastline

Yesterday saw the start of the public consultation over coastal access. The question is whether the right to roam should be extended to grant uninterrupted public access along the length of the English coastline.

Natural England first presented their proposals to Defra earlier this year and I wrote about this then at Coastal Access is on its Way. Public support is very strong for a continual coastal corridor which would bring England into line with Scotland and shortly Wales. However it is strongly opposed by landowners and the battle is not yet won. Read more at Coastal Access and the right to roam our English coastline

To help maintain public and media focus on this initiative, MyFavouritePubWalks.com has decided to add a special "Favourite Coastal Pub Walk" category in its search for The Nation's Favourite Pub Walk. The additional prize will be a copy of "The Walkers Companion", published and donated by The Ramblers Association who have been strong campaigners for coastal access.

Today's participating pub: The Inn with the Well in Ogbourne St. George, Wiltshire.
Prizes offered: 1st - Meal for 2 with wine; 2nd - Bottle of Chianti or Pinot Grigio.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Increased Coastal Access is On The Way

There is much comment about coastal access at the moment following Natural England's recommendation for "a 4,500 km continuous corridor of clear and well managed public access along the entire length of England’s coast." Natural England, the Government's new conservation advisory body, are in for a bumpy ride.

The proposals are brave in their vision but, as with everything, the devil is in the detail. The Ramblers are generally encouraged but want national legistlation and have real concerns over implementation if this is left to local authorities, given their a mixed record in enforcing rights of way. The National Farmers Union of course are up in arms about a statutory approach, calling for local solutions and compensation, while the Country Land and Business Association raise the issue of how this would impact other individual rural businesses too such as gold courses, holiday parks and caravan sites.

The Government is committed to action but will undertake further consultation later in the year. Let's hope talk gives way to real action soon. In the meantime, why not try today's pub walk below which includes a stretch of the South West Coast Path?
See update...

Today's pub walk: The Mussel Inn, Down Thomas, Devon

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Posted: TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007