This autumn the National Trust is holding it's first ever Walking Festival to encourage the public to explore the great outdoors and get back in touch with nature.

The festival, sponsored by PruHealth, runs over the half term holiday from 22 to 30 October, with thousands of the members of the public expected to take part nationwide.

An exciting programme of walks are planned at Anglesey Abbey and Wicken Fen ranging from Little Ambles (up to 3 miles) to the whopping 16 mile Lodes Way Challenge.

The programme of walks includes:-

Wildlife Discovery Trail (Self guided)
Anglesey Abbey (up to 3 miles)
Saturday 22- Sunday 30 October, from 10.30am -5.30pm

Five Miles from Anywhere Walk
Wicken Fen (5 miles)
Saturday 22 October, 11am - 3pm

Children's Garden Discovery Walk
Anglesey Abbey (up to 3 miles)
Monday 24 October,11am, 1pm & 2.30pm

Seasonal Garden Highlights
Anglesey Abbey (up to 3 miles)
Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 October,11.30am & 2pm

Statues of Anglesey Abbey
Anglesey Abbey (up to 3 miles)
Friday 28, October, 11.30am & 2pm.

Lodes Way Challenge
Anglesey Abbey (16 miles)
Sunday 30 October, 9am.
Tickets £8, includes lunch at Wicken Fen. Transport back to Anglesey Abbey will be available for a small donation for those only wishing to walk half the route.

Walkers will be able to 'capture' their favourite views through two giant 8ft x 5ft picture frames which are being installed at Anglesey Abbey and Wicken Fen during the festival. Pictures can be uploaded on to the Trust's Facebook page using a QR Code.

To launch the festival, National Trust staff and volunteers across the East of England are taking part in mass walk outs on Friday 21 October. A party from Wicken Fen will be walking to Ely to hand out flyers promoting the festival in Ely's Market Square. A walk taking in the seasonal highlights of the gardens, community allotments and historic Lode Mill is planned at Anglesey Abbey.

More details of the Walking Festival can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gonewalking 

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Notes to Editors

1. QR Codes - A Quick Response code is a readable barcode that is programmed to take people to a specific website.

2. Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre is located of the A1123 near the village of Wicken. 9 miles south of Ely &17 miles north-east of Cambridge via the A10. The postcode for SatNavs users is CB7 5XP

3. Anglesey Abbey is situated 6 miles NE of Cambridge on the B1102, sign posted from A14 J35.

4. 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 

5. 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.