Coming up on this Sunday's Countryfile - 5 July
Julia tests out the UK’s only Via Ferrata based in a disused slate mine at Honister in the Lake District. The network of cables, bridges and ladders reconstructs the route miners would’ve once taken to work. Today the path allows walkers to reach parts of the fells usually only accessible by experienced climbers or mountaineers.
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If you’re looking for something the whole family can enjoy this summer, how about trotting? Also known as harness racing, it’s a popular spectator sport. Each race is a mile long and involves at least six horses which can get up to speeds of 30mph. Jules heads for his local training track to give it a go but will his knowledge of horse riding be enough to get him through?
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The naked gardeners
There are as many as 10,000 gardens all over the country which are open to the public. But if you want to get really close to nature, you could head to Abbey House Gardens in Wiltshire. Matt meets naked gardeners Ian and Barbara Pollard and finds out why they believe stripping off is the only way to commune with the natural world.
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If wildlife’s your thing, then summer’s the best time to catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most elusive creatures. And there are plenty of bat walkers all over the country to get you going. Julia heads to the Tamar Valley in Cornwall in search of one of our rarest species - the Greater Horseshoe Bat.
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With the Lake District now one of the most visited areas in the UK outside London, there is a price to pay. Path erosion on the fells can be a real problem and Matt lends a hand to the Fix the Fells project which uses a helicopter to transport the stone needed to do the repairs.
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One the best ways to enjoy the British countryside is camping and if you want to get really close to nature then wild camping may be just the ticket. The idea is to camp without any creature comforts - so no flushing toilets or shower blocks. But how do you know where to set up your tent and how to camp responsibly? Daffyd Morris-Jones is a farmer but he also teaches outdoor activities and skills. He shows Adam Henson and his son, Alfie, what it takes to be a wild camper. Their adventure takes an unexpected turn – and it’s all down to the British weather.
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For over 25 years Staintondale Shire Horse Farm has been teaching people about the historic importance of shire horses to agriculture. But this long running tourist attraction may itself become a part of history. Julia finds out more when she gets close up and personal with the gentle giants of the countryside.
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Jules explores a spectacle which is on his doorstep – the Devil's Bridge Falls set in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains.
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