Walking Post

Jim Cornall

The weekly podcast from walkingpost.com - interviews and news about the latest in walking, or hiking. Topics include new trails, walking festivals, new books, new gear and clothing, walking holidays and more. If it's news, and it's about walking, you'll find it on walkingpost.com and the Walking Post podcast! Hosted by multiple award-winning broadcaster, writer, editor and photographer Jim Cornall, Walking Post is a production of Ayr Coastal Media Ltd, located in rural Scotland where it never rains (unless you go outside)!

  1. Walking Post podcast 56: Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival

    4d ago

    Walking Post podcast 56: Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival

    This week, we are talking about The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and the walking festival there with Laura Fildes, Telford & Wrekin Council's World Heritage Site co-ordinator and Lynn Turner, chair of the Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival. The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site has joined a new national initiative celebrating the UK’s globally significant industrial heritage, as part of the UNESCO UK Industrial Heritage Trail. Bringing together 22 UNESCO designations from across England, Scotland and Wales, the trail connects some of the country’s most important historic places, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the landscapes, innovations and communities that shaped the modern world. The initiative has been developed through the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO’s Local to Global project, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Ironbridge Gorge is internationally recognised as one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 in recognition of its global significance. Its pioneering role in industrial development from early iron production to the integration of industry, transport and communities within a single landscape makes it one of the most important historic environments of its kind anywhere in the world. Telford & Wrekin Council, as the managing authority for the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, works alongside partners to protect its Outstanding Universal Value while supporting sustainable communities and responsible visitation. By joining the UNESCO UK Industrial Heritage Trail, Ironbridge Gorge is now part of a wider network of internationally significant sites, including World Heritage Sites, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities. The trail can be explored in its entirety or through individual locations, helping people to better understand the UK’s shared industrial history and its relevance today. The Industrial Heritage Map, developed with support from the University of Leeds School of Media and Communication and the Digital and Creative Cultures Hub, will support visitors in planning journeys across the UK’s industrial heritage sites. The announcement comes as Ironbridge Gorge approaches the 40th anniversary of its World Heritage status designation in November 2026 a milestone that will be marked through a programme of events and activity across 2027. For more information on visiting The Ironbridge Gorge, visit www.visittelford.co.uk To get in touch with the podcast with comments, guest ideas, or for advertising/sponsorship opportunities, email us at jim@walkingpost.com

    32 min
  2. Walking Post podcast 52: North South Way Peace Camino

    May 15

    Walking Post podcast 52: North South Way Peace Camino

    Three guests and one story this week. We talk to Paul O'Neill, secretary of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland – Newry Portadown Branch; Jonny Keer, heritage officer, Moneypenny's Forge; and Shirley Hayes, service manager of REACT Armagh, about the new North South Way Peace Camino that runs from Newry, in Northern Ireland, to Carlingford, in the Republic of Ireland. The North South Way Peace Camino is a community-led initiative designed to connect people, places and communities. It is a 40-mile route following the Newry Canal Towpath and the shoreline of Carlingford Lough. The initiative aims to create a shared space where people can walk, connect with nature, explore heritage and take part in activities that support wellbeing and community connection. The Peace Camino is intended to become a community corridor that supports group walks, creative programmes, heritage engagement and community programmes, while also creating opportunities for local businesses, social enterprises and community organisations. REACT CEO Shirley Hayes said the North South Way Peace Camino is a shared pathway for connection, wellbeing and opportunity, that invites people to walk together, strengthen communities and contribute to a peaceful future. The initiative is also being supported through partnership working, including collaboration with Ulster University’s International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE), which will contribute to research and learning on the role of walking, nature and connection in supporting wellbeing and post-conflict recovery. To get in touch with the podcast with comments, guest ideas, or for advertising/sponsorship opportunities, email us at jim@walkingpost.com

    29 min
  3. Walking Post podcast 50: The Ice Age Trail

    May 1

    Walking Post podcast 50: The Ice Age Trail

    The Ice Age Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the US. It runs for roughly 1,200 miles across Wisconsin, following the terminal moraine left by the last Ice Age. It passes through 30 counties from Interstate State Park on the Minnesota border to Potawatomi State Park on the Door Peninsula. The trail is open year‑round and is designed primarily for hiking and backpacking, with some winter sections suitable for snowshoeing and cross‑country skiing. The trail exists through cooperation between the National Park Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local governments, private landowners and the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Its yellow blazes and mix of forest, farmland, small towns and suburban edges make it accessible to both long‑distance hikers and local day‑walkers. The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) is the non‑profit organisation responsible for building, maintaining, protecting and promoting the trail. Founded in 1958, it operates through volunteer‑run chapters across the state, supported by a small professional staff. The Alliance works with state and federal partners to secure land, develop new trail segments and manage conservation areas along the route. Its mission is to create and protect a continuous, permanently conserved footpath that showcases Wisconsin’s glacial landscapes. Beyond trail construction, the Alliance provides guidebooks, maps, hiker resources and community programmes, and it coordinates thousands of volunteers who handle everything from corridor clearing to public outreach. It also plays a central role in the “thousand‑miler” culture — hikers who complete the entire route. Our guest this week is IATA’s Melissa Pierick. To get in touch with us with comments, guest ideas, or for advertising/sponsorship opportunities, email us at jim@walkingpost.com

    33 min

About

The weekly podcast from walkingpost.com - interviews and news about the latest in walking, or hiking. Topics include new trails, walking festivals, new books, new gear and clothing, walking holidays and more. If it's news, and it's about walking, you'll find it on walkingpost.com and the Walking Post podcast! Hosted by multiple award-winning broadcaster, writer, editor and photographer Jim Cornall, Walking Post is a production of Ayr Coastal Media Ltd, located in rural Scotland where it never rains (unless you go outside)!

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