Britain’s Royal Trails
Britain ushered in a new Carolean era this May, following the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Consort Camilla. Whilst the pomp and pageantry of the official celebrations may now be over, the festivities have certainly inspired millions around the world to discover Britain’s royal heritage for themselves. From majestic residences, medieval castles and coastal trails to Britain’s largest national park, walk in the footsteps of British royalty as you discover the many trails King Charles III has embarked on throughout his life, and those of his family and ancestors.
Discover a rare glimpse into His Majesty the King’s passion for all things green with a garden tour of Highgrove House, the private residence of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Since he first arrived at Highgrove in 1980, King Charles III has devoted his green thumb to the gardens around his beloved country estate in Gloucestershire, which are now celebrated as some of the most innovative in the country. The tour runs on select dates between April and September, visitors will be led by an experienced guide on a 1.5-hour tour as they explore Highgrove’s award-winning gardens. Afterwards, don’t forget to stop by the Highgrove Shop and pick up some Highgrove Organic Royal Gardens Honey.
Spanning just over 600 acres, the Sandringham Royal Parkland offers a myriad of trails for visitors to explore whether on foot or by pedal. Located in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Royal Parkland surrounds the historic Sandringham Estate, which is the private country estate of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and traditionally where the royal family gathers each year to celebrate Christmas. Open daily throughout the year, visitors can enjoy exploring the two way-marked trails and many more unmarked paths which wind through the dense woodlands and parklands. For those looking to put their navigational skills to the test, the Royal Parkland also offers a 20-point orienteering route, developed in collaboration with the Norfolk Orienteering Club.
Balmoral Castle is the official Scottish residence of the royal family and this year, the grounds and gardens of the historic estate are open to the public daily. Situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and on the doorstep of the Britain’s largest national park, the Cairngorms, it’s not hard to see why Balmoral was widely considered to be Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite summer escape. Visitors looking to explore the expansive grounds can retrace the footsteps of royalty and discover the 11 historical cairns appointed throughout the estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Cairns Walk and Albert's Pyramid Walk. Afterwards, head slightly farther south and enjoy the impressive views of Loch Muick on a 12.5-kilometre circuit hike around the freshwater loch, which is located within the grounds of Balmoral Estate and at the foot of Lochnagar Mountain.
Northumberland’s Coast & Castles Trail
In England’s northernmost county, transport yourself back to the Kingdom of Northumbria and discover a castle-dotted coastline along Northumberland’s 85 mile Coast and Castles Cycling Route. Begin your journey at Berwick-upon-Tweed as you pedal down south to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Cut off twice daily from the outside world due to ocean tides, the tiny five square kilometre island is home to Lindisfarne Castle and the 12th century Lindisfarne Priory, as well as a selection of cafes, pubs and B&Bs. Further down the coast, discover thousands year old castles - from the 1,400-year-old Bamburgh Castle, which acted as a royal palace for several kings to the 13th century and infamous Chillingham Castle, which is rumoured to be one of the country’s most haunted sites. Back along the coast, pay a visit to the remote 14th century Dunstanburgh Castle before finishing your castle journey at Alnwick Castle, the Britain’s second-largest inhabited castle and home to the Alnwick Poison Garden.
In Wales, follow the footsteps of The Prince and Princess of Wales and enjoy the sublime coastal surroundings with a walk along the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path. Their Royal Highnesses enjoyed the early years of their marriage living on Anglesey, where they spent many weekends exploring their backyard coastal setting. At just over 200-kilometres in length, the Coastal Path (which is part of the Wales Coast Path) is a circular path around the entire Isle of Anglesey and can be broken into sections so you can enjoy the walk at leisure over several days. With picturesque beaches, quaint Welsh villages, medieval castles and diverse wildlife, it’s easy to see why this secluded coastal destination appealed to Their Royal Highnesses and the many that came before them.
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