Summer walks? There's a seductive thought, especially when too much beach bummery has left you craving a leg-stretch and a view that extends further than the end of the pier. A touch of seaside, a trickle of river, a shady green path, a cool breeze, a good picnic view or a nice pub - these are the ingredients of the best summer walks. So where can you find a stroll that will really suit those hot-and-bothered days at the height of the season?
Look no further than these six summertime specials, spread around some of the most delectable walking country in Britain.
1. Best for: shady woodland
Where Along the Undercliff from Lyme Regis to Seaton , on the Dorset/ Devon border.
This fascinating walk starts at Lyme Regis's ancient breakwater known as the Cobb - a place that haunted the imaginations of novelists Jane Austen (Louisa Musgrove's skull-splitting tumble in Persuasion ) and John Fowles (enigmatic Sarah Woodruff staring out to sea in The French Lieutenant's Woman ). For five miles west of Lyme the cliffs are crumbly, shaky and prone to landslips so the area has been uninhabited for nearly 200 years. The jungle of foliage that has developed forms one of the most unspoiled corners of England; the footpath through it is shaded from the sun and brilliant with birdsong.
Map OS Explorer 116.
Route From the Cobb, follow Ozone Terrace past bowling club; right up steps and follow Coast Path signs and a few acorn/yellow arrow waymarks, through Undercliff to Seaton.
Length 8 miles. (Return from Seaton to Lyme with the help of Clapps Taxis 01297 23366).
Refreshments Royal Standard, Lyme Regis.
2. Best for: seaside and country variety
Where The shores and farmlands of Chichester Harbour , West Sussex.
Variety is the spice of this glorious walk. You start with a classic stretch of bathing beach, before heading off through the narrow jaws of Chichester Harbour to make a circuit of the flowery sand dunes of East Head. The path north along the shore gives views of yachts and dinghies sailing on the green waters of the harbour. A sandwich and a pint outside the Ship Inn at West Itchenor, and your homeward path lies through cornfields ripening in the south coast sun.
Map OS Explorer 120.
Route From village car park in Marine Drive, East Wittering, head to the beach and turn right (west) to circuit East Head. North along shore of Chichester Harbour to West Itchenor; back to East Wittering on field paths via Redlands.
Length 11 miles.
Refreshments Ship Inn, West Itchenor.
3. Best for: coastal flowers, birds and seals
Where Blakeney Point , north Norfolk.
The great shingle bar of Blakeney Point, inching westward year by year, is where, between June and September, hundreds of common, little, Sandwich and Arctic terns raise their chicks. Common seal pups are born, and you can see them lying out with their parents. The salt marshes are flushed purple with sea lavender, while on the shingle yellow-horned poppies with big papery petals grow along with snowy drifts of white sea campion.
Map OS Explorer 251.
Route From Cley-next-the-Sea windmill, follow Coast Path signs for 1 mile to beach (there's also a car park here); left (west) along beach, then shingle, as far as you like along Point (most seals and birds around far end).
Length 11 miles from windmill to far end of Point and back; 9 miles from beach car park. Low tide exposes firm sand for easier walking. Restrictions: certain areas (signposted) during May-September breeding season.
Refreshments Sometimes at high tide (when boat visitors are about) at the Old Lifeboat House information centre at far end of Point; or Three Swallows, Cley-next-the-Sea.
4. Best for: little kids
Where Mrs Tiggywinkle walk, Newlands valley , Lake District, Cumbria.
Don't forget your copy of The Tale of Mrs Tiggywinkle . Tinies will love identifying the house where little Lucie lived (Skelgill Farm), Mrs Tiggywinkle's front door (imagination will choose one of the holes in the hill above Yewthwaite lead mines), and the houses in the picture of Lucie on the hill path (Little Town) with the fells of the Newlands valley in the background, just as Beatrix Potter painted them.
Map OS Explorer OL4.
Route Start at car park just NE of Skelgill on west bank of Derwentwater (OS ref 247212; bus 77, 77A from Keswick - ask for Catbells stop). Over cattle grid, up road to Skelgill Farm. Continue past barrier on track above farm; follow track along lower slopes of Catbells. In 1 mile reach Yewthwaite mine ruins. Descend to road at Little Town; return by field path, via two fords marked on map, to Skelgill; road to car park/bus stop.
Length 3 miles.
Refreshments None - take picnic.
5. Best for: festival-goers
Where Water of Leith , Edinburgh, Scotland.
If you're in Edinburgh in August for the festival and feeling jaded from too much fun, drop down to the Water of Leith in its shady little gorge. Walk through the old mill settlement of Dean, then continue down the well waymarked Water of Leith Walkway past Edinburgh's beautiful Royal Botanic Garden (0131 552 7171; www.rbge.org.uk). The river reaches the sea at Leith, not so long ago a depressed area now revitalised with galleries, bars, restaurants and museums.
Map See walks on pp93 and 98 of the guidebook Walking Edinburgh by Robin Gauldie (New Holland Globetrotter Walking Guides); or 'Edinburgh Street By Street' A-Z gazetteer.
Route Lothian bus 13 from Princes Street to Belford Bridge. Follow Water of Leith walkway downriver for 4 miles to Leith. Left along harbour front to Newhaven Harbour.
Length 6 miles (Return from Leith to city centre using Lothian bus 7,10,11,16).
Refreshments Royal Botanic Garden café; the Shore pub, Leith, or any of a dozen excellent eateries here.
6. Best for: energetic folk looking for cool breezes and faraway views
Where Brecon Beacons , Powys, mid-Wales.
When things get too hot and sticky down on the coast, spring up Pen y Fan (2,906ft) and its neighbouring summit of Cribyn (2,608ft), the twin peaks of the Brecon Beacons. You'll generally be rewarded with a cool breeze at the top. The view is pretty cool, too - 50 miles of hills, valleys, farmlands and woods.
Map OS Explorer OL12.
Route Start at Cwm Gwdi car park (OS ref 025249; marked on map, 3 miles SSW of Brecon). Walk an anti-clockwise circuit via Allt-Ddu, Pen y Fan, Cribyn, Bryn Teg. Return via path above Cwmcynwyn and Bailea to Pont y Caniedydd; then Pant and Plas-y-gaer.
Length 7 miles; allow 3-4 hours. Conditions: short strenuous ascents to Pen y Fan and Cribyn; short steep descent off Cribyn.
Refreshments Take picnic.
The National Trust will publish details of 10 British coastal walks on its website tomorrow - see www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Or if walking's not your thing ...
Music and outdoor theatre
· Soho Pride, London , today. Hot-foot it down to the city's gay and lesbian festival, with DJs on Rupert Street and Soho Square, partying until the early hours and a dazzling parade.
· Three Choirs Festival (020 8208 2480; www.3choirs.org), 6-14 August, Worcester . The UK's oldest choral festival.
· Vital 2005, 23 August, Botanic Gardens, Belfast . Tickets £30 (www.ticketmaster.co.uk). Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand and Maroon 5 perform.
· Billingham International Folklore Festival (www.billinghamfestival.co.uk), 6-13 August. Traditional dance and music performances from around the world, this is the UK's largest festival of its kind.
·The Leeds Shakespeare Festival (0113 224 3801; www.britishshakespeare.com), 9 August-4 September, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds. Open air performances of The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream in the romantic derelict abbey.
· Penlee Open Air Theatre (01736 365520; www.penleehouse.org.uk), throughout August, Penzance, Cornwall. A selection of plays showing in August, including Frankenstein and a circus showcase.
Kids' adventures
· Monkey Forest, Trentham (www.trenthamleisure.co.uk), Stoke-on-Trent . Entry £5 adults, £3.50 children. Just opened, the forest is now home to 140 endangered Barbary macaques, pictured below.
· Greenwood Forest Park (www.greenwood-centre.co.uk), near Bangor , Snowdonia. Kids £6.50, adults £7.50. This fun forest park has everything to make kids giddy with glee: Wales's longest slide - a whopping 70m - a tricky maze, stilt-walking, boat rides, den building in the woods, theatre shows and a family roller coaster.
· Crocky Trail (01244 336 161; www.crockytrail.co.uk), Waverton, Chester . From £5, under-fives free. Mucky, slippery, slidy fun outdoors for kids, who'll love crawling through tunnels, clambering up slopes, shrieking down long, steep slides, swinging from trees and racing over the raised walkways.
Food And drink
· Food Lovers Festival (01695 732734), 13-14 August, Stoneyhurst, Lancashire . Taste and buy bakery, cheese, chutneys, meat and watch celebrity chefs' demonstrations.
· Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, 20-21 August. Day-return ferry crossings from £4.70 kids, £9.40 adults, with Red Funnel (www.redfunnel.co.uk). In its 21st year and celebrating the islanders' feat of selling garlic to the French, the festival features 250 stalls selling garlic-based food, including ice cream and beer.
· Great British Beer Festival, 2-6 August, London Olympia. Entry £7. Advance tickets booked through Camra (01727 867201) reduced by £1. Britain's biggest beer festival is expected to attract 45,000 beer-swillers to sample more than 45 real ales.
