Nature Trail

Nature Trail

What is it? 

A nature trail is a planned outdoor walking route, along which are posts marking varying points of interest for people to stop and observe. They can include things such as nature, environmental features and objects of technological and cultural importance, and generally the marker posts have some information displayed for the walkers’ perusal.

What does it involve?

These sorts of trails can involve many different things, but they are all generally based around walking on a circuitous route or from point A to B. The lengths of the trails can vary from reasonably short 30 minute walks to taking many hours to complete – there are different types to include all sorts of different features.

Why do it and what are the benefits?

A nature trail is a great and easy way to get interested in the surrounding environment! The presented information means it requires no research on the things around you, so it’s hassle free and a alternative way of learning.

What equipment do we need?

You shouldn’t need any equipment other than appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear!

Who is it suitable for?

As long as you make sure the length and intensity of the nature trail is suitable for the ages of the students, it should be suitable for pretty much anyone!

Costs?

Most nature trails are generally free to access, but more specialist walks may have a guide available, which would have some costs! Make sure to check ahead of time.

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Nature trails can take you a reasonable distance away from any towns, so if you have students with unpredictable medical conditions you must ensure you can call for medical help and that assistance can access your location easily! Also, young children should always be supervised carefully when in an unsecured outdoor location!

How do we include?

The nature of the outdoors means that the terrain can be rough or unpredictable, so those with physical disabilities may have issues navigating the route. Check with the trail’s organisers to find out the specific details.

Doing it abroad?

Foreign nature trails will be fascinating! They can give you a chance to see and learn about some of the features of different countries while seeing them in real life as opposed to pictures in books. Do some research beforehand to see what is going to be available in the area!

Main website: 

See specific venue websites for information about their nature trails.

 

See the list below for venues and providers who deliver this activity:

Mount Grace Priory

Ruin of a 14th-century Carthusian priory
Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
0

Set amid woodland in North Yorkshire, this unusual monastery is the best preserved Carthusian priory in Britain.

Mount Grace Priory is the perfect tourist attraction for a relaxing and peaceful day out. Discover how the monks lived 600 years in the reconstructed monk’s cell and herb plot. 

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Torridon

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

With some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Scotland, Torridon is a magnet for walkers, geologists and naturalists.

The estate includes some of Scotland's finest mountain scenery, comprising Liathach, 1,054m (3,456ft) which has seven tops and Beinn Alligin, 985m (3,230ft), composed mainly of Torridonian sandstone dating back 750 million years.

Routes to the high tops, and others along the coast, are detailed at the Countryside Centre. You’ll also find information about the wildlife on the estate, part of which is in the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.

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St Peter's Pump

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

In the Six Wells Bottom National Trust Valley, near Stourhead and King Alfred's Tower, stands the impressive Grade I listed St Peter's Pump.

Built in 1474, the pump originally stood near St Peter's Church at the west corner of Peter Street, Bristol and was used by residents as a main water supply.

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Lindisfarne Island

Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
0

Lindisfarne is a delightful, unspoiled, historic island lies just off the extreme Northeast corner of England near Berwick-upon-Tweed. The small population of just over 160 persons is swelled by the influx of over 650,000 visitors from all over the world every year.

It is a holy and inspirational place which is famous for producing the Lindisfarne Gospels, the oldest and best-known version of the first four books of the New Testament.

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Loughwood Meeting House

17th-century thatched Baptist meeting house
Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
0

Discover Loughwood, one of the earliest surviving Baptist churches in the country. Founded in secret during a time of great persecution towards non-conformists, this beautiful chapel is set into the hillside and looks out over the rolling east Devon countryside with views of the Axe Valley.

Step through the front door to travel back in time and explore this place of worship which has remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century.

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Buildwas Abbey

Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
0

Impressive ruins of a Cistercian abbey, including its unusually unaltered 12th century church, beautiful vaulted and tile-floored chapter house, and recently re-opened crypt chapel.

Situated in a wooded Severn-side setting, not far from the Iron Bridge and Wenlock Priory.

Don't Miss
  • The chapter house with its amazingly intact tiled floor and decorative stonework
  • The remains of the fine 12th century church
  • Taking the nature trail, including the abbey fishponds
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Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors

Excellent walking country with ancient woods and tumbling streams
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

A wonderful place to discover spectacular views of the Peak District, ancient woods, parkland and heather moorland. The spectacular White Edge Moor overlooks the Derwent Valley and forms part of the long gritstone edge stretching from Stanage towards Birchens Edge south of Chatsworth House. If you have time, discover the old quarry workings at Bole Hill.

Places to visit

Here are some of the places you can visit at Longshaw and Eastern Moors

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Unst & Yell

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Visitors to Unst and Yell in Shetland are in for a treat – dramatic scenery and abundant wildlife coupled with a tangible and very special sense of remoteness.

The National Trust for Scotland owns pockets of land on both islands and they are easily accessible from mainland Shetland by regular vehicle ferries.

Unst, Britain’s most northerly inhabited island, offers a varied natural habitat with features ranging from dramatic cliffs and sea stacks to sheltered beaches, expansive moorland and freshwater lochs.

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Carneddau and Glyderau

Experience the wildest scenery that Snowdonia has to offer
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

A 21,000-acre mountainous place, acquired in 1951 from the Penrhyn estate, includes the Cwm Idwal Nature Reserve renowned for its arctic alpine plants. There are eight tenant upland farmson this land, 9,000 peaks above 3,000 feet and the famous mountain Tryfan where Edmund Hilary trained for his ascent of Everest.

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Woburn Abbey

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

Welcome to Woburn Abbey which has been the Russell’s family home since the early 17th Century. We hope you will enjoy exploring the beauty and history of The Abbey and its treasures, collected by our ancestors, who were as passionate as we are to share this experience with you. There is always something new happening in the house as we discover more about its history, so join us and be part of Woburn’s ongoing story.

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