Country Walking

Country Walking Magazine shows you the best of British walks: the biggest views, the hidden gems, the sea cliffs and the mountain summits. All our features come complete with superb writing, inspiring photography and step-by-step instructions so you can follow every footpath yourself. In every issue, you’ll find: - In-depth stories of amazing walks - A booklet of 25 pull-out walks every issue - with OS maps! - Information about hotels, pubs, cafes, tearooms. - Clear, jargon-free tests of walking kit And... every issue our readers tell their walking stories, help us devise new walks and shape the places we go to. If you love walking, this is the magazine for you.

Welcome

IN THIS ISSUE…

The storm before the calm

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS MONTH

THE WALKER'S LIBRARY • It's that time of year when publishers roll out their hottest new titles connecting to walking, nature and the outdoors. We've rounded up four we think you'll love.

‘There's something lovely about seeing a figure in the distance.' • Have you ever been captivated by a mysterious figure standing on a hilltop? Writer Emma Rose Barber says anonymous walkers have piqued our curiosity for centuries… and that we could all learn a thing or two from them.

FORT AUGUSTUS • A village at the heart of one of Scotland's most adored, scenic and legendary glens.

GOLD Rush • In every issue we invite you to spice up your miles by doing something fun, curiously specific or just plain daft. The lucky few who appear on these pages each win a money-can't-buy golden badge! (New challenges over on the right.)

3 ways to strike gold

Your View

Where's Kes? • Every month our favourite spaniel Kes goes walkies somewhere in the issue, and we want him back! Can you help find Kes?

Wildlife for walkers • Three remarkable species to spot in March.

Stuart Maconie • Didn't know there were rules to chatting with your fellow walkers? Every greeting requires location awareness, self-control and precision timing.

REACH FOR THE SKY High Willhays 2039ft/621m • Our journey to the highest points of each national park begins on Dartmoor, with a chance to ponder what standing atop a high point really means.

‘HI, WILL HAYES!'

THE MOOR AND THE MILITARY

PULL A VAST ONE • The Cheviot 2674ft/815m

THE GREAT ENIGMA • Piper's Wait 423ft/129m

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL? • Pen y Fan 2907/ft/886m

MORE MORE MORE Ben More 3852ft/1174m • The high point of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs doesn't give up its magnificent views easily. But they are worth every straining sinew.

THE HAIGHEST PLACE OF HEXMOOR • Dunkery Beacon 1703ft/519m

THE FOOTLESS COLOSSUS • Scafell Pike 3209ft/978m

THE ONE YOU DON'T NOTICE • Round Hill 1490ft/454m

WALKING THE GOLDEN ROAD Foel Cwmcerwyn 1759ft/536m • Pembrokeshire's highest point is, ironically, often overlooked. But this walk shows why there's more to this national park than those world-famous shorelines…

DON'T FOLLOW THE ELLYLL-DÂN!

THE GREAT ENDEAVOUR • Ben Macdui 4295ft/1309m

FROM LANDFILL TO GREEN HILL • Strumpshaw Hill, 134ft/41m

PLEASE TELL THIS MOUNTAIN: ‘YOU ARE ENOUGH' Whernside 2415ft/736m • The highest peak of the Yorkshire Dales is catastrophically underloved. Let's fix that.

Bring nature's bliss to your garden!

‘YOU CAME AND LOOKED AND LOVED THIS VIEW' • Black Down 918ft/278m

THE THOUSAND HECTARE TABLETOP • Kinder Scout 2087ft/636m

THE BIG FINISH • Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon 3559ft/1085m

Make hillwalking a wee bit easier • It's a tough ask, climbing (and just as importantly, descending) a hill. But it doesn't...