ALMOST as traditional as turkey is the walk in the fresh air to shake off the excesses of Christmas and the New Year.
So, just in time for a festive stroll, a package of walks and trails that open up over 85 miles of countryside in the parish of Denby Dale has been launched by the local Walkers are Welcome group.
The Denby Dale Walkers are Welcome have put together 14 trails – eight brand new and six updates of existing walks – to encourage people to explore in and around the villages of Denby Dale, Birdsedge and High Flatts, Clayton West, Upper and Lower Cumberworth, Upper and Lower Denby, Emley and Emley Moor, Scissett and Skelmanthorpe.Š
Ranging from ¾ mile to 14 miles in length, there is something for all walking abilities.
Richard Brook, of Denby Dale Walkers are Welcome, said: “The parish of Denby Dale has beautiful countryside and pretty villages with rich and fascinating heritage and these trails not only make use of the excellent network of public rights of way, but will reveal some of the local history of the area.
“We want people to enjoy the area all year round but are launching the trails now to attract people who may want to ‘blow away the cobwebs’ over Christmas and New Year.”
The trails comprise 12 circular walks and two linear walks.Š
CONTACT: A leaflet on each trail, containing maps, full directions and information on local facilities and public transport,Š is contained in a special pack.
The pack is now available from local libraries or from Denby Dale countryside officer Andy Wickham, tel: 01484-222960/07773 386550 email: andy.wickham@kirklees.gov.uk
Individual leaflets are also available to download from the Denby Dale Walkers are Welcome website: www.denbydale-walkersarewelcome.org.uk, and the Denby Dale Parish Council website, www.denbydale.com
In addition to 2,000 packs containing all the walk leaflets and a general ‘Walking in and around Denby Dale’ leaflet, 3,000 leaflets for each trail have been produced.
The leaflets and packs have been financed by the East Peak Innovation Partnership (EPIP) via the Rural Development Programme for England – jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and managed by Yorkshire Forward – along with a grant from Denby Dale Parish Council.Š
The funding includes money to waymark the trails, improve stiles and provide seating, all of which will hopefully be completed in 2011.
The Denby Dale Walkers are Welcome are working towards affiliation to the national ‘Walkers are Welcome’ scheme.
