Walk This Way with Pitchup.com

Winter walking and outdoor accommodation across the UK

Discover the UK’s stunning outdoors on foot this winter. Pitchup.com offers outdoor accommodation in some of the best walking areas across the country. Walking not only offers a sense of adventure and discovery but studies have shown that walking helps reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and asthma, and it’s an activity suited to all ages and abilities. Here are some walking destinations that Pitchup.com proposes this winter: 

Penrith, Cumbria
Just on the edge of the national park, peaceful Penrith offers excellent walking country to explore waterfalls, woodland and low fells, all with exquisite views. The north eastern fells of the Lake District are within easy reach. For stunning views of Ullswater, The Quiet Site is the ideal base for walking in Penrith. Offering splendid seclusion in the fells above the lake, returning here from a long walk is the perfect way to unwind.
 
Accommodation: The Quiet Site
Glamping fans will be lulled by the lovely views of Ullswater at the Quiet Site. Camping pods sleep up to two adults and two children and come complete with power and heating. They start from £35 per night.

As the name suggests, this is a peaceful site, free of excessive amenities.  There is however, a delightful pub on site for quenching the thirst of weary walkers, set in a converted seventeenth century barn with games room, TV room and an upstairs playhouse and soft play area to keep the kids busy.

More information: The Quiet Site

Richmond, North Yorkshire
This northern corner of the Yorkshire Dales is an ideal location for walking fans. Teesdale is one of England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with glorious walking and cycling on the various National Cycle Network routes in close proximity. A night in a pod at Hillcrest Park makes a perfect stopover for those following the cross-country Walney to Whitby route.

Accommodation: Hillcrest Park
The standard pod is ideal for glamping. The insulated wooden structure provides comfortable accommodation for two adults and two small (under 10) children, with an additional ‘family’ pod suitable for up to four adults. There are all the essential amenities on site to take care of everyday needs and for those arriving in a hurry, the owners will even arrange for a basket of essential items to be left in the pod.  Prices start from £30 per night for the standard pod and £40 for the family pod.

More information: Hillcrest Park

Winkleigh, Devon
For walkers who like to enjoy ambling along country lanes without the hassle of traffic, the Tarka Trail is the perfect choice. The trail leads walkers through largely unspoilt Devonshire countryside through woodland, farmland and along rivers. The Tarka Trail runs in a 180 mile figure-of-eight through landscapes little changed from those described by Henry Williamson in his classic 1927 novel Tarka the Otter, making this sensational historic walking country.

Accommodation:
Jubilee Park Farm is a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers. It’s moments off the trail and also within easy reach of many attractions and activities including a fishing lake.  Ideal for winter visitors is the farm’s comfortable two-bedroom holiday lodge (with one double and one twin room). The farm is offering 25 – 50% off for winter holidaymakers until January 2014, with prices starting from just £75 for three nights, for up to four people.

More information: Jubilee Park Farm

Norwich, Norfolk
The flat county of Norfolk is a perfect choice for walkers who enjoy endless views, easy rambles and above all, almost no hills.  The city of Norwich is surrounded by miles of walking tracks: around the Broads, through the woods and along the River Yare on the Wherryman's Way path. Whitlingham Broad Campsite, the area’s newest site, is located within 80 acres of country park and is the ideal base for walking breaks.

Accommodation:
Whitlingham Broad Campsite has the fine city of Norwich on its doorstep and the Norfolk Broads in its back garden. This is Norfolk’s newest independent site spread over the upper and lower fields, with loads of great walks from the site. Walkers can bed down in ‘Lola’ the shepherd’s hut, a warm, cosy, hand-crafted space with woodburning stove, double and single bed, covered cooking and dining area, barbecue, duvets and bed linen, kindling and firewood. Lola starts from £60 per night for up to three people.

More information: Whitlingham Broad Campsite

So get the boots on this winter with Pitchup.com and walk around crisp tree-lined woods and routes that will not only introduce new locations but keep you feeling healthy in the colder months.

For more information visit www.pitchup.com

ends

Media information:

Cass Helstrip, Samantha Marsh or Jardine Howlett at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Jardine.howlett@whitetigerpr.com 07866 508737

Notes to editors

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of outdoor accommodation in the UK, Ireland and France. The site provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book an outdoor holiday with total ease. The customer experience from landing on the home page through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages. The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for accommodation based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions. Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available. Pitchup.com features over 5,000 UK wide camping and caravanning sites/parks with France recently added into the equation. It enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one off campsites and unique outdoor accommodation options, which may not have previously had a web presence.