BUCKINGHAMSHIRE’S Hambleden Valley is one of England’s true hidden gems. Bypassed by through traffic, it is a lovely spot to explore on foot or bicycle if you keep to the path beside the Hamble Brook.

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: 10½ miles/16.7km □ Time: 7 hours ...

Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday in April with a trip to the town where he spent much of his life — today, it’s home to world class theatres, lovingly preserved historical sites and storied places to stay

5 15.6 km / 9.7 miles / 6 hours Ascent 1080m/3543ft

(Photograph taken in 1888) As a family, we first stayed at Rothay Manor in Ambleside in 1953 and it was then that I had my first experiences in fell walking, trout fishing and negotiating the nearby s