Success Stories

Walk England hopes to case study a number of top walks in the near future on these pages.  If you have a favourite walk why not post it on the forum and let us know why it appeals.

Some of the best recreational routes in England are our designated National Trails.  England’s 12 National Trails provide opportunities to walk for short or long distances through some of the most outstanding scenery in England totaling more than 2,000 miles of way marked, managed and promoted routes. Recent user surveys suggest that as many as 34% of people visiting National Trails are aiming to walk the entire length of the route. 98% of visitors say that they are either happy or very happy with the quality of their experience.


Dogs and their owners can get fit thanks to a new activity trail

Flabby pooches are in for a treat now that the UK’s first woodland dog assault course has opened. Set in 200-hectare (500 acre) Coatham Wood in the north east of England, the mile long exercise trail includes pipes, tunnels, posts, beams, steps and hurdles.

The course has been designed by agility experts to offer dogs of all sizes a stimulating challenge. The project could also herald similar facilities being installed elsewhere in woods across the nation.

The trail is thanks to a partnership between the Forestry Commission and The Kennel Club. Paddy Harrop, chief recreation manager for England with the Forestry Commission, explained: “Many woodland users are dog walkers, so we may be pushing at an open door with this innovative actvity trail. The health benefits are not just restricted to the pet, but owners too, who also need regular exercise to keep mind and body together. We have worked closely with the Kennel Club in recent years to make woods more friendly to responsible dog owners and this latest project is one exciting result of this partnership.”

Three years ago the Forestry Commission sealed an agreement with the Kennel Club to make its 202,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of woodland in England as canine-friendly as possible. About one third of people who visit woods are dog walkers.