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

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

Captain Cook’s Monument provides a fine finale to this walk in the North York Moors, which is well suited to autumn

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

In and around the Howardian Hills, chefs are crafting dishes that sing of this county’s rich larder, with ingredients like zesty spruce tips and salted rhubarb adding pizazz to locally sourced fish, meat and game