Walks And Walking – Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks – St Stephens Coastal Walk North Yorkshire

St Stephen’s Coastal Walk – North Yorkshire

St Stephen’s has stood majestically upon Robin Hood’s Bay since 1821. Echoing its ocean views, the church is engulfed in nautical history with graves bestowing tragic tales of forlorn seamen lost at sea. Walk from St Stephens’s church to Robin Hood’s Bay and see the stunning coastal views which are great for families wanting to combine culture and entertainment.

Expect to see: Breath-taking coastal and seaside views Walking Distance: 1.2 miles, 26 minutes Walk Suitable for: Families  St Stephen’s Church Walks – Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, YO22 4PN

Walks And Walking – Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks – St Michaels Historical Countryside Walk Shropshire

St Michael’s Historical Countryside Walk – Shropshire

This hidden gem sits in a quiet, idyllic valley west of Bridgnorth. With its stone walls and moss-covered roof this Norman church looks as much a part of the landscape as the trees that surround it. St Michael’s Church is located on an Elizabethan estate and is less than half a mile away from Upton Cressett Hall and Gardens, one of Britain’s most exquisite Tudor Houses. This walk is perfect for heritage enthusiasts and picnics.

Expect to see: Charming village scenes in a traditional countryside setting  Walking distance: 0.5 miles, 15 minutes from St Michael’s to Upton Cressett Hall and Gardens  Walk suitable for: Romantic amblers St Michael’s Church Walks – Upton Cressett, Shropshire, WV16 6UH

Walks And Walking – Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks – St Michaels and St Martins Riverside Meander Gloucestershire

St Michael’s & St Martin’s Riverside Meander – Gloucestershire

This picture postcard medieval church is nestled on the edge of the river Leach. Perfect for a leisurely walk along the banks of the meandering river to Horseshoe Lake, St Michael’s & St Martin’s is just a stone’s throw from its sister church at Eastleach Turville on the opposite bank.

Expect to see: Idyllic scenery that inspired poet John Keble Walking distance: 3.9 Miles, 1 hour 18 minutes Walk suitable for: More ambitious walkers St Martin’s & St Michael’s Church Walks – Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire, GL7

Walks And Walking – Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks – St Andrews Hilltop to Reservoir Walk Northumberland

St Andrew’s Hilltop to Reservoir Walk – Northumberland

Perched on Grey Mare Hill, keen hikers and photographers alike will appreciate the ambitious 289m climb to reach St Andrew’s, Shotley, and its rewarding breath-taking views.

Expect to see: Awe-inspiring panoramic views Walking distance: 3.4 miles, 1 hour 11 minutes Walk suitable for: Hikers St Andrew’s Church Walks – Shotley, Northumberland, DH8 9SJ

Walks And Walking – Churches Conservation Trust Top 10 Church Walks – All Saints Bluebell Woodlands Walk Oxfordshire

All Saints’ Bluebell Woodlands Walk – Oxfordshire

All Saints’ Church, Nuneham Courtney is a jewel in the heart of the Nuneham Park House grounds. Overlooking the Thames, the 1760s church is a monument to wealth and taste, with dazzling Italian fittings, magnificent memorial sculptures and busts. Just a 30 minute walk away is Bluebell Wood, an enchanted forest filled with springtime flowers.

Expect to see: A carpet of bluebells and wildflower meadows in late April and May Walking distance: 1.6 miles, 32 minutes from All Saints’ to Bluebell Wood Walk suitable for: Families All Saints’ Church Walks – Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PQ

St Mary’s Norman Town Walk – Kent

Dating back as far as the Saxon era, St Mary’s, Higham, is steeped in history from Norman influences to Benedictine nuns. The church is only four miles from the centre of Rochester for visitors wishing to combine country and town visits with a pleasant Kent walk across the marshlands. Continue the Norman theme and stop by the impressive fortress of Rochester Castle.

Expect to see: Ancient Norman ruins along your way. Walking distance: 4.6 Miles, 1 hour 33 minutes – St Mary’s Church to Rochester Castle Suitable for: Active walkers St Mary’s Church Walks – Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7LS

St Mary’s Nature Walk – Hampshire

This dazzling and colourful Victorian jewel of a church overwhelms the senses. A truly exhilarating building, tall and imposing, St Mary’s, Itchen Stoke was inspired by the soaring elegance of 13th-century Sainte Chapelle in Paris, chapel of French kings. Walk alongside the exquisite Alresford sluices to nearby Old Alresford Pond, a medieval oasis well worth investigating in this gorgeous Hampshire walk.

Expect to see: Otters and wildfowl Walking Distance: 2.2 Miles, 43 Minutes Suitable for: Families  St Mary’s Church Walks – Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, SO24 0QU

St Mary’s Rural Walk – Somerset

If legend is to be believed, St Mary’s, Stocklinch Ottersey, and close by St Magdalene’s were built by two sisters vying for the affections of their local vicar. St Mary’s stands on an old water source, one of Somerset’s many healing wells, and is an hour’s stroll away from Barrington Court, a National Trust Tudor House with stunning grounds and a fascinating past making it a Somerset walk to remember.

Expect to see: Wonderful tombs and monuments Walking distance: 2.3 Miles, 48 Minutes Suitable for: Families  St Mary’s Church Walks – Stocklinch Ottersey, Somerset, TA19 9JN

St Mary’s Stately Walk – Hampshire

This prairie church is said to be all that remains of the Norman Gains Castle. Take in Mottisfont Estate, a glorious National Trust property and gallery set in beautiful riverside gardens, the village of King’s Sorbonne and stately Compton Park.

Expect to see: Countryside vistas that inspired Jane Austen Walking distance: 6.1 miles, 2 hours Suitable for: Active walkers  St Mary’s Church Walks – Ashley, Kings Somborne, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6RJ

St Peter’s Classic Cambridge Walk – Cambridge

Ideally located for a day out in Cambridge, this simple building is a haven of tranquillity from the busy streets around it. Walk the outskirts of the city and take in all that Cambridge has to offer from stunning views of the river to the historic university buildings.

Expect to see: Coe Fen meadowland and River Cam Walking distance: 2.5 miles, 50 minutes Suitable for: Families and sightseers  St Peter’s Church Walks – Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0AJ

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