Oavid Wishart photo

GARETH Hill, in shorts, leads a drop-in group for a walk along Jericho Beach in Vancouver. Hill is the founder of Love Vancouver Walks, and offers a number of Lower Mainland locations for interesting strolls, in addition to winter walks in Arizona'and weekend breaks on Bowen Isiand.

GOING for a walk is pethaps the simplest and most satisfying way to travel — an outing that can range from a stroll along Spanish Banks to being foot-

~ Leave tour buses and traf- fic jams behind, take to heather-covered hills in Scotland or hike over a carpet of summer wildflowers on Whistler’s mountains. Exploring Vancouver is one way to start. With that in © mind, I sought out Gareth Hill; founder of Love Vancouver Walks, which led to a thoroughly enjoyable two- hour,'10-km (6.2 mile) walk,

/ vam hike, ramble or whatever you

want to call it along Jericho ‘beach and through the UBC ¢ Endowment Lands. ‘ Hiltl’s been doing this for a a long time. While studying at the Royal Academy of a. Dramatic Art in London he ‘Jed walks to London theatres and pubs. He taught English and drama at St George's _ School for 25 years and con- tinues to coach rugby, soccer mand cricket there. In the last - few years he’s also been doing *a Will Power Walk tied in to Bard on the Beach (“ar merry. 1 heart gocth all the day”), and _ Reel Rambies takes in movie- set Vancouver houses and ends up — where else? — at :the Burrard and 5th movies, popcorn included.

He does winter walks in ‘Arizona and is planning week- end breaks on Bowen Island. Also coming up is a book on Vancouver walks.

4, Vanier Park, says Hill, is ‘Vancouver's best-kept secret. oa He also likes Stanley Park, and

offers a morning literary lap from the Vancouver Rowing Club through the forest trails. Groups are small and costs range from $3 to $6. Call 731-0968.

_ Ifyou are more ambitious and happy to write a fairly large cheque, there are com- panties such as the British- based Wayfarers offering. week-long walking trips in Britain, France, Italy and Switzerland. You can choose from a gentle doddle around the Cotswolds to a challeng- ing hike from coast to coast. To fit the 190-mile (306 km) route into a week, Wayfarers has selected the best 85 miles 137 km.

The Loire with its chateaux, the glorious Dordogne, the vineyards of Burgundy and Provence await; you don’t have to get off the bus to smell! the lavender and scent of wild thyme and rose- mary. It’s all around. There’s a truck to carry the bags, a station-wagon with refresh- ments — and a lift if you need it. And every evening an appetite for a good meal. Call 800-249-4620.

Progressive Travels of Seattle also has walks in France and Italy and has a new one in the Basque coun- try and another in Portugal. This company also does bicy- cling tours, including a new one in Spain and Portugal. Call 800-245-2229.

Backroads has a large range of walking, and biking trips,

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the final 45 miles (72 km) of the Cumbrian Coastai Way has opened, and you can now follow the trail of St Cuthbert, a Celtic monk who lived in the 7th century. St Cuthbert’s Way starts near the ruins of Melrose Abbey in Scotland, where the heart of Robert the Bruce was recently found, and ends 100 miles (160 km) away at Lindisfarne after cross- ing a causeway uncovered only at Jow tide.

Of course you can also go for a walk with a little white ball and something to hit it with. But that’s another story...

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