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September Newsletter
from Contours Walking Holidays
Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter, bringing you a selection of stories, offers and advice to help you get out on the trails during perhaps the best walking season of the year!
The summer may not have been the best the UK has ever seen, however autumn still holds plenty of potential for walkers, so there's no need to hang up your walking boots just yet! Not only do we have a fantastic offer to entice you out onto the trails this autumn, but we also have a great blog from regular contributor Sarah Rowell offering advice to help you make the most of the end-of-season kit and clothing sales. We also have more wonderful pieces of artwork from frequent walker Wendy Forrest-Charde, as well as our usual assortment of facts and tips for making the most of your walks.
Thank you for reading and happy walking!
Painting the Trails
By Wendy Forrest-Charde
While many people would choose to take photographs of the amazing sights discovered along walking trails, one of our regular walkers, Wendy Forrest-Charde, has a wonderfully original way of remembering her walking holidays. She uses a variety of watercolours, pastels and charcoal to create miniature pieces of artwork that capture special moments, often taking her kit with her on the trails so that she can paint and sketch right there and then.
The small pictures are all vignettes from Wendy’s personal diary, and act as a visual reminder of her recent walking holiday along the Cotswold Way. By sharing these little pieces of art, Wendy hopes that other walkers become inspired to do the same.
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Do you have an idea, article or account of your walk that you would like to share? Send an email to newsletter@contours.co.uk to contribute to our newsletter.
Shopping Time for Walkers
By Sarah Rowell
Early autumn sees potentially not only some of the best walking conditions in the UK, but also provides an opportunity to refresh and update your walking wardrobe. This is the time to use your free evenings to check out the end-of-summer season sales held by retailers – such as Contours’ retail partner Cotswold Outdoor – or online discount sites, such as my personal favourite, SportPursuit.
The latter website is one where I have picked up some real bargains over the years, including clothing and accessories which have become core essentials to take on my outdoor adventures. But you do have to be disciplined, as with all sales shopping; there has been many a time when the item and its price reduction have seemed like such a great bargain that I have nearly reached for the buy button, despite the fact that I already have something similar which does exactly the same job and is still in good nick at home.
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Head to the Hills in September for...
Ospreys
CC Taken by texaus1
It’s your last chance to see these fish-grabbing raptors before they set off on their epic migration to Africa, flying roughly 162 miles per day. Head to Loch Garten on the Speyside Way in Scotland for the best chance to spot them in the wild.
Misty Mornings
CC Taken by John Mcsporran
Dawn in the mountains is especially magical in September, as the mist settles over lochs and deep valleys, and watching it drift upwards in the mornings is a special, calming sight to behold. The West Highland Way in Scotland is one of the best places to enjoy this natural phenomenon.
Midge-Free Walking
CC Taken by Eric Brochu
As the days begin to cool, flying insects become less of a pest and a huge hurrah rises from hill-walkers everywhere; itch-free walking is here again! Go anywhere you please and make the most of this new-found freedom!
Weird Mushrooms
CC Taken by Pexels
All kinds of fabulous fungi start popping up in September. See if you can spot the eye-catching scarlet fly agaric, and remember your nose-pegs in case you catch a whiff of the foul-smelling dog stinkhorn! Why not explore the various woodland areas across the UK and see what weird mushrooms you can discover?
Featured Posts
Beautiful Cornwall in Winter
Cornwall is always gorgeous but, in the cooler months, far from the crowds of summer holidaymakers, the coastline gains a quieter kind of beauty.
Read more...
Previous Newsletter
Last month we had an insightful article from Nicky Jacquiery offering advice for new walkers considering their first long-distance walks, and Beth Pipe returned with her pick of five great things to see along the Cumbria Way. Don't miss out! Read more using the link below.
Read more...
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We are delighted to be able to reintroduce our Autumn Short Break offer for 2016, which has been fully revised with much more choice to help you find your perfect getaway.
The autumn season is perhaps the best time of the year for walking, with bursts of colour and plenty of fascinating wildlife to look out for, which is why we are offering 10% off the total booking cost for a select range of short breaks, enabling you to get out on the trails during this incredible season.
Click here to find out more.
Tree of the Month
Prunus Sargentii
Sargent's cherry
CC Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
Prunus Sargentii, commonly known as Sargent's Cherry or North Japanese Hill Cherry, is a species of cherry tree native to Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin. It is one of the earliest trees to produce bright autumn colours, often displaying fiery oranges and reds as early as mid-September. It is classed as a small tree, growing to a maximum of 10m. It was introduced elsewhere around 1890 from Japan by Charles Sargent, former director of the famous Arnold Arboretum in Boston, USA.
The Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival
On Sunday 18th September this year, the National Trust’s Lodge Park in Aldsworth will be hosting the first Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival; a celebration of everything to do with the Cotswolds and it’s stunning scenery.
The event promises to be a great day out for the entire family, including a food and drink marketplace, a chance to see rural crafts being made and the opportunity to test the new Cotswold Electric Bikes, as well as livestock displays, a dry stone walling competition, local music, dance performers, short guided walks and much more.
To learn more about the Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival and to book your tickets, visit the Cotswolds AONB website here.
Cicerone Publishes "The Pennine Way –
The Path, The People, The Journey"
Cicerone’s latest book explores the fantastic Pennine Way in a piece of travel writing which offers an insight into Britain’s oldest and best-known long-distance footpath. It is a thoughtful and often humorous story about our enduring relationship with a simple path, and why a demanding walking trail through the hills of Northern England has been inspiring and tormenting walkers for over 50 years.
If you are interested in purchasing this book from Cicerone, visit their website here and use our exclusive discount code PENNINE to receive 30% off the price!
We will also be hosting a competition on our Facebook and Twitter pages very soon for the chance to win one of two copies of the book, so keep your eyes peeled for more information and get involved!
Competition Time: 'Guess Where?'
To win this month's competition, can you identify this castle?
 (click image to zoom)
The first correct answer will receive a £10 Contours Walking Holidays gift voucher. Good luck!
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