AS hotel names go, this one’s a little unusual. Across Church Street, where I’m standing in the Welsh Border town of Chirk, is the Hand Hotel. Parts of it date back to 1610, during the reign of James

We love the Yorkshire Dales, but in summer it can get quite crowded, with walkers off on adventures up the peaks and the less energetic strolling around the picturesque market towns and villages. In a

■ Distance: 7¾ miles/12.5km ■ Time: 4 hours ■ ...

CHOSEN BY… SIMON WHALEY Disused Oswestry to Whitchurch ...

One of the most picturesque inland waterways in the world, the Caledonian Canal is a magnet for leisure boating, cycling and walking. It stretches diagonally across the Scottish Highlands, linking som

■ Distance: 6 miles/9.7km ■ Time: 3 hours ■ ...