Any season is great to go exploring and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re looking for an amble or an invigorating hike, the English Heritage have curated a selection of walks that take in some of their most atmospheric properties.

Their walks have been created to take into account varying levels of ability. Please only set off if you are comfortable with the distance and difficulty level indicated. These walks are also intended as a guide only – use your usual mapping tools to plan your walks, make sure you plan ahead for any stops and facilities requirements, including parking, toilets and refreshments.

There are some circular walks, but others are one way only. Please make sure you check this and plan your return journey before setting off. If you are visiting any of the English Heritage sites within the walk, please make sure you pre-book your ticket in advance, and note that you will need to arrive for your allocated timeslot. Here’s our favourite 5 but check out their website for even more.

1. Rievaulx Abbey to Helmsley Castle, Yorkshire

Directions

1 The ruins of Rievaulx Abbey mark the start of the trail. From the abbey, turn left on to Rievaulx Road. 2 Beyond the extent of the grounds, turn left and follow the path, then a minor road near Abbot Hag Farm. 3 The trail heads across farmland from here, passing below Griff Lodge and continues ahead. 4 Enter the woods and follow the trail downhill, entering into the midst of the woods. 5 Continue onwards, passing through a gateway, to hug the fringe of the wood on your left-hand side. 6 This final stage joins the Cleveland Way, taking a left and heading through the fields towards a kissing gate with the town of Helmsley on the horizon. 7 A clear track leads to the car park by Helmsley Castle.

Need To Know

OS reference: OS Explorer map OL26 Distance: 2.5 miles/4km (1 hour 30 minutes walking, plus time to visit the properties) Difficulty: 1/5 Terrain: A gentle walk on paths and country road with some steep steps Access: This walk is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs Dog walking: Suitable for dog walkers Refreshments: Drinks and food are available at the Rievaulx tea room and there is a picnic area at Helmsley (Rievaulx Tearoom shuts half an hour before the abbey) Stay: Refectory Cottage, Rievaulx Abbey; www.english-heritage.org.uk/cottages Sat nav: Starts Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley, YO62 5LB (01439 798228), ends Castlegate, Helmsley, YO62 5AB Grid reference: Rievaulx Abbey (grid ref SE575855) to Helmsley Castle (grid ref SE612837)

2.Dunstanburgh Castle circular walk Northumberland

Directions

1 From the Tourist Information Centre in Craster, cross the road and follow the public footpath signed to Dunstan Square. The path leads under a canopy of overhanging trees. 2 After about 100m, go through a gate; the path which leads below the whinstone ridge is indistinct in places but the direction is clear. 3 At the kissing gate turn left onto a track and go through a five-bar gate. Once through the gate head up the field towards Dunstan Square Farm, keeping to the left side of the field. 4 At the farm go through the gate and turn right to follow the track straight ahead through another gate onto a concrete road. After about 1 mile/1.5km the road reaches Dunstan Steads. 5 Once through the Dunstan Steads turn right onto a narrow road which heads towards the sea and Dunstanburgh golf course. 6 At the end of the road go through the gate and immediately turn right onto the golf course, following the waymarker arrows. Please keep to the fence line and beware of flying golf balls. 7 After 1km, the path rejoins the coast by crossing to the left hand side of the green. Follow the path south through a kissing gate. The route skirts the inland side of Dunstanburgh Castle. 8 Once you've finished exploring the castle, the path heads south and follows the coast to the village. 9 At Craster harbour, turn right and head back to the Tourist Information Centre.

Need To Know

OS reference: OS Explorer map 340 Distance: 4 miles/6.4km (2 hours walking plus time to explore the castle) Difficulty: 2/5 Terrain: country and coastal paths that are mostly flat Opening times: Please check the English Heritage website for updated opening times Access: not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs Dog walkers: suitable for dog walkers Grid reference: starts and ends at Craster Tourist Information Centre (NU255198) Sat nav: starts and ends at Craster Tourist Information Centre, NE66 3TW

3.Castle Acre Priory and Castle Acre Castle and Bailey Gate circular walk Norfolk

Directions

1 The trail starts near the Norman castle. Follow the footpath waymarked Nar Valley Way until you reach a pond. 2 Turn left and walk through the kissing gate along the waymarked trail. Head southwest towards the small village of South Acre, keeping the River Nar to your left and crossing it by a ford. At this point, there is an excellent view of the ruins of the Cluniac priory just to the north. 3 Follow the waymarking through a wood and on until you crest a hill at a crossroads. The trail leads through a couple more crossroads on to an ancient drove road that was used in Roman times, passing Bartholomew’s Hills Plantation on your right. 4 This next section is waymarked as the Peddars Way. From South Acre, the route passes the village’s church and South Acre Hall before following tracks through pastoral farmland above the Knar valley to arrive just east of West Acre. 5 At West Acre the route heads east along the Nar Valley Way back towards the village of Castle Acre. It passes through Castle Acre Common, designated an Site of Special Scientific Interest. 6 Beyond Castle Acre Common, the route passes north of the entrance to the Cluniac priory just before entering Castle Acre village. Then, after skirting 12th-century St James’ Church, the track peters out into a grassy path that skirts the 13th-century stone Bailey Gate. 7 Turn left and walk along the lane, past the old castle gate, to the village green.

Need to know

OS reference: OS Explorer map 236 Distance: 6 miles/9.6km (four hours with visits to the properties) Difficulty: 2/5 Terrain: A gentle walk on established footpaths, crossing a wooded river valley and open fields Access: This walk is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs Dog walkers: This walk is suitable for dog walking Sat nav: Starts/ends Castle Acre, King’s Lynn, PE32 2XD (01760 755394) via Castlegate, Helmsley, YO62 5AB Grid reference: Castle Acre Priory (grid ref TF817151) to Castle Acre Castle and Bailey Gate circular walk, Norfolk.

4.Tintagel Castle circular walk Cornwall

Directions

1 From Tintagel Castle, follow the signs to join the South West Coast path and head south west. Continue for 2.5 miles until you reach Trebarwith Beach. 2 From Trebarwith Beach, leave the SWCP and walk out of the village on the road. Follow this path for a mile until you reach the village of Treknow. 3 Continue through Treknow, heading north. After half a mile turn left onto the B3263, then after 200 feet, take the left hand road, just before Trewethen Barn. 4 Walk along this road for half a mile – you’ll see St Materiana’s Church on your right. At the church, you can either rejoin the SWCP and follow it back to the castle, or turn right onto Vicarage Hill and walk into Tintagel village and back to the castle’s car park.

Need to know

OS reference: OS Explorer map 111 Distance: 4.6 miles/7.4km (2 hours walking, plus time to look at the castle) Difficulty: 2/5 Terrain: undulating coastal path and minor roads Opening times: Please check the English Heritage website for updated opening times Access: not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs Dog walkers: suitable for dog walkers Grid reference: starts and ends at Tintagel Castle (SX050890) Sat nav: starts and ends at Tintagel Castle car park, PL34 0HE

5.Walmer Castle and Gardens to Deal Castle Kent

Directions

1 The trail starts at Walmer Castle and Gardens, taking a left from the car park on to the seafront path through the town of Walmer and into adjoining Deal. 2 When the walking and cycling paths split, continue on the walking path as it bends to the right, then immediately left, until the paths cross and rejoin. 3 The walk finishes just past Deal Castle by the Millennium Milestone. To visit the castle, cross from the path to the far side of Marine Road and follow the road as it turns left, turning right on to Victoria Road. 4 Finally, either continue ahead towards Deal Pier, or pick up train connections from Deal back to Dover Priory, and on to London St Pancras International.

Need to know

OS reference: OS Explorer map 150 Distance: 2 miles/3.2km (three-and-a-half hours, visiting the properties) Difficulty: 1/5 Terrain: An easy walk following the coastal path, with good waymarking and no steep cliffs Opening times: Walmer Castle: 1 Apr–30 Sep, daily, 10am–6pm (closed 7–9 Jul). 1–31 Oct, daily, 10am–5pm. 1 Nov–23 Dec, Sat–Sun, 10am–4pm. 24–26 Dec & 1 Jan, closed. 27–31 Dec, daily, 10am–4pm. 2 Jan–11 Feb, Sat–Sun, 10am–4pm. 12–18 Feb, daily, 10am–4pm. 19 Feb–29 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Deal Castle: 1 Apr–30 Sep, daily, 10am–6pm. 1–31 Oct, daily, 10am–5pm. 1 Nov–23 Dec, Sat–Sun, 10am– 4pm. 24–26 Dec & 1 Jan, closed. 27–31 Dec, daily, 10am–4pm. 2 Jan–11 Feb, Sat– Sun, 10am–4pm. 12–18 Feb, daily, 10am–4pm. 19 Feb–29 Mar, Sat–Sun, 10am–4pm Access: This walk is suitable for families and wheelchair users Dog walking: Dogs must be on a lead Stay: Garden Cottage or Greenhouse Apartment, Walmer Castle and Gardens; www.english-heritage.org.uk/cottages Sat nav: Starts Walmer Castle, Kingsdown Road, CT14 7LJ (01304 364288); ends Deal Castle, Marine Road, CT14 7BA Grid reference: Walmer Castle and Gardens (grid ref TR 3776 5009) to Deal Castle, Kent (TR378521)

For more historic walks and details on these wonderful historic English Heritage properties, check out…

English Heritage