The search is on for the nation's favourite walk with Wicken Fen one of eight walks nominated across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To launch its in-augural Festival of Walking (22 -30 October), sponsored by PruHealth, the National Trust are asking the public to vote for their favourite walk from a choice of eight walks nominated by celebrity supporters.

Wicken Fen was nominated by archaeologist, author and broadcaster, Francis Pryor, who fell in love with Wicken's unique fenland landscape whilst a student at Cambridge.

Francis describes Wicken Fen as "good for the soul" and the perfect place to "feel in touch with a world our distant pre-historic ancestor's would have recognised".

The public can vote for their favourite walk at
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walkingfestival. Other celebrity nominated walks include:-

1. Croome Park, Worcestershire -Toyah Wilcox, singer, songwriter and actress
2. Noss Mayo, Devon - Adam Hart-Davis, broadcaster
3. Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland - Zoe Salmon, TV presenter
4. Low Newton, Northumberland - Val McDermid, crime writer
5. Lake Windermere, Cumbria - Paul Rose, Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society
6. Ham House and Gardens - Omid Djalili, Comedian
7. Powis Castle, Wales - Sian Lloyd, weather presenter

-ENDS-

Notes for editors

The Walking Festival aims to help people discover more ways to have fun outdoors and get back in touch with nature. From 22nd to 30th October 2011, during the half-term school holidays, more than 1,000 events, including barefoot walks, silly walks and themed walks for all ages will be taking place at National Trust places across the country. There are wildlife walks, heritage walks and more than 800 walking routes available to download from the National Trust website.

Images are available to download from the ftp site
https://ftp.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Username: PressOffice
Password: NTpressuse
Folder: Celebrity walks

About the National Trust:

With more than 250,000 hectares (660,000 acres) of countryside and 710 miles of coastline across England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with the National Trust.

The National Trust cares for 300 inspiring historic houses and gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From former workers' cottages to the most iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. People of all ages, individuals, schools and communities get involved each year with its projects, events and working holidays and over 61,000 volunteers help to bring the properties alive for the Trust's 3.8 million members. Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

About PruHealth: PruHealth was launched into the UK market in October 2004 as a joint venture between Discovery and UK insurer, Prudential, in response to a growing need for consumer-directed private medical insurance products.
PruHealth received several industry awards, including the Most Trusted PMI Provider at the 2010 Moneywise Awards, the Best PMI Provider at the 2009 Moneyfacts Awards, Best use of Marketing to Intermediaries (Brokers) at the 2010 Health Insurance awards and the award for the Best Individual PMI provider at the 2010 Health Insurance Awards and 2010 Cover Excellence awards.