Vivienne Crow was staying at Newfield Hall as a guest of HF Holidays, which organises walking holidays in the Yorkshire Dales and other UK and European destinations. Self-guided, three-night breaks at

■ Distance: 7 miles/12km ■ Time: 4 hours ■ Grade: Easy

Swaledale isn’t all barns and drystone walls... This Yorkshire Dales walk takes you over open moors to discover the local mining heritage.

NEWCASTLE AND MARDU CIRCULAR Level Easy Elevation gain 217m Length 6.1km (1hr 49min) Description This round-the-hill loop trail from Newcastle leads through peaceful rural landscapes and small village

It’s been a long mile, trudging uphill in the rain, across uninspiring fields, past rickety ruins of long-abandoned farm buildings, mud slowly working its way up my waterproof trousers. Sometimes walk

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