The Grand Union Canal has been adding to the life of the town for more than 200 years. Originally an industrial artery, in the 21st century it gives us a distinctive set of leisure options.

Walking

The surface of the towpath is variable, especially in wet weather. There is wheelchair access at several points. At intervals, plinths explain the role of the canal in Berkhamsted’s development. Colourful panels on or around some of the bridges echo the exuberant artwork of the modern narrowboats. If the sights and sounds along the towpath aren’t enough to hold the attention of younger walkers, there are playgrounds at the back of the Moor and by Canal Fields car-park.

Cycling

The Waterways Board says it welcomes cyclists on the towpath but it urges them to get a permit first. The permit costs nothing. Download one from www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/permit

Fishing

A national rod licence can be obtained from any Post Office. British Waterways leases this stretch of the canal to the London Anglers Association. Day tickets cost £4. On this stretch of water, anglers catch roach, bream, some carp and gudgeon.

Birds

You will always see mallards and moorhens and probably swans, coot,s herons, wagtails and, on the Moor, geese; very occasionally, a kingfisher.

Activities

Anyone with a vessel may use the canal, but to use the locks they must seek permission from the Waterways Board. Owners of canoes and kayaks will probably find it easier to carry their craft around the locks. Diversions on the towpath include, periodically, live music at Canal Fields, Morris dancers, displays of narrowboat art and funfairs on the Moor. Based on the canal but performing at pubs around the town, the Mikron waterborne theatre makes occasional visits.

Picnics

There are picnic tables and benches at Canal Fields. Elsewhere, the benches tend to hug the towpath.

Towpath for cyclists, walkers and joggers

If you’re walking or running with a purpose, you may need to know distances and conditions under foot. In the table (right) the distances are objective but the index of towpath quality is purely subjective. In many places, puddled stretches and reasonable surfaces alternate. For cyclists, off-road tyres aren’t completely necessary – hybrids are fine.

It’s time to bare some skin again – so you need to make sure you’re looking your hottest for summer. That means smooth skin, gorgeous shiny locks and clothes to sizzle in.

Skin

Your skin needs to glow and look healthy, which can be a challenge when you’ve been wrapped up in jumpers and coats for months.

“To get your skin silky smooth and supple you need to make sure you exfoliate and hydrate it properly,” says Jane Calderwood, spa trainer at Champneys. “Work a gentle exfoliator into dry skin before you get into the shower. Then rinse off and follow with a generous layer of moisturiser to lock in moisture and stay bright. “Exfoliating will help to maintain your tan for longer, and also increase the effectiveness of any other products you use such as fake tan.” (We love Champneys Citrus Blush body scrub)

It’s also essential to wear sunblock, as there’s little point in making your skin look great if you then let it get red and burnt. Go for a minimum of factor 20 to make sure you’re properly protected from damage and ageing.

Angela Douglas from Serena Beauty and Day Spa suggests a cream fake tan. “When you have a cream fake tan your skin is exfoliated as well, which helps the tan go on more evenly,” she explains. “It also leaves your skin feeling more moisturised.”

Make-up and face

Keeping make-up light and fuss-free is the most important message.

“Ditch the foundation for summer,” suggests Jane from Champneys. “A tinted moisturiser, such as Champneys Illuminating Beauty Balm (£12) is the perfect alternative for fresh, dewy skin and an instant lift.”

Changing your eyebrows could also transform your face, says Natalie Lupton from the Hair Secret. “The fashion for eyebrows this

summer is groomed, but quite thick and dark to make a real feature on your face,” she says. “The best way to achieve this look is to go for HD brows, which is where they’re threaded and waxed into a shape to suit your face, and then tinted. “You could also get your eyelashes tinted which can really bring out your eyes so you don’t have to wear as much mascara during the summer months. If you do still want a more dramatic look in the evening, you can then add a touch of lengthening mascara.”

Feet

Feet can really suffer in summer, and sporting dry, hard skin when you’re wearing flip-flops and sandals is not a good look. File your feet gently every night (on dry skin) and use a good foot cream to soften and smooth them. For an even better result, leave it on the skin overnight and cover with socks. By morning your skin will be much smoother and softer. If you really want a treat, then a pedicure is the answer.

Hair

The sun can really take it out of your hair, leaving it looking dry and frizzy, so you need to give it some TLC to keep it glossy all summer long. “Try an intensive treatment to get it in tip-top condition first,” says Natalie from the Hair Secret. And the salon has just introduced a brand new straightening treatment.

“It’s also essential to protect your hair from the sun, sea and chlorine,” adds Karen Adams of Diffusion in Tring. “You should always use sun protection on your hair because it can get as damaged as your skin in the sun. Once it’s in good condition, have a few highlights to give your hair that sun-kissed, summery look.”

De-fuzz

You can’t put your legs on display without a little bit of attention. And if you don’t want to spend all summer shaving them, try waxing. “It’s perfect as it keeps your legs fuzz-free for four to six weeks – and it’s like having a good exfoliation as it removes all the dead skin,” explains Angela from Serene.

Get in shape

If you have a holiday coming up and want to look your best in your bikini, try iLipo. It’s a surgery-free alternative to liposuction, which targets the fat stored in your body and helps zap it away. “It’s perfect for helping you drop a dress size in a month or even less,” says Angela from Serene. A course of eight usually costs £800, but Angela is offering 20% off that to Berkhamsted Living readers. See her advertisement on page 47 of the summer 2012 issue

If you’re wondering how to keep the children entertained over the summer holidays, here are some cheap – and even some free –  ideas in the Berkhamsted area that won’t break the bank:

Bash Club, Berkhamsted

Every year the Bash Club in Berkhamsted runs a holiday club for children aged between four and 12. On the schedule are arts and crafts, outdoor play such as football and basketball and trips to the nearby park. It’s based at the Berkhamsted Youth Centre in Lagley Meadow near the sports centre, and runs from 8.30am until 6.15pm every day. A full day is £25 and a half-day is £18. For more details on dates go to www.berkhamstedchildrenscentre.org or call 01442 863323.

College Lake, Tring

Take the children for a lovely walk to see birds and wild flowers at this gorgeous nature reserve just north of Tring. There are frequent walks and tours, and opening hours are 9.30am until 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. There is a café on site too, open between 10am and 4pm. Entry is free, but you are expected to pay a £3 parking fee. www.bbowt.org.uk/reserves/College-Lake or call 01442 826774.

Espinosa Chute Centre

Espinosa Chute Dance Centre will be running day courses and week-long workshops in everything from ballet to street dance and musical theatre. Although dates are to be confirmed, you can ring or check their website nearer the time. www.esponisacentre.com or call 01442 818283. Prices start from £20 for a day course, up to around £110 for a week.

Berkhamsted Arts & Crafts

If your kids like to be crafty, send them to a workshop at Berkhamsted Arts and Crafts on Lower Kings Road. With workshops in jewellery-making, felt-making, collage, comic book design, painting, drawing and sculpture among others running most Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the holidays, it’ll keep your little ones busy. Prices are from £10 to £25. For course details nearer the time go to their website at www.art4crafts.co.uk or call 01442 866632.

Swan Youth Centre

Every year Berkhamsted’s Swan Youth Centre runs an Inflatable Fun Day on Canal Fields next to the skate park. Dates are still to be confirmed for this year, but it’s free entry for teenagers. For more details nearer the time, go to www.swanyouthcentre.co.uk, or call 01442 384349.

Wendover Woods

There are guided walks through the woods at Wendover, as well as a six-mile bike trail to follow, which should keep the children occupied for a day – and all you have to pay for is parking, which is £1.50 for two hours, or £5.50 for the day.

The XC Centre, Hemel Hempstead

With high ropes, a climbing wall, a skate park and even caves for pot-holing, the XC Centre in Hemel Hempstead will keep them entertained for hours, and it doesn’t cost the earth. A three-hour session in the skate and BMX park is £6.70 for non members and £5 for members; an hour on the high ropes is £7.70 for non members and £2.50 for members, while an hour on the climbing wall is £9.20. For more details go to www.thexc.co.uk or call 01442 228792.

The Pottery Project

Supervised workshops for children aged 7+ are run from the Pottery Project on Northbridge Road throughout the holidays from around £12 per child. For more details contact www.thepotteryproject.co.uk or call 01442 865544.

Art classes at the Stables Studios Art Centre,

Pouchen End

From 23 July until 17 August, the Stables Studios Art Centre in Pouchen End is running children’s summer holiday art classes. Sessions run from 10am until midday and cost £12.50, and include sculpture, life drawing, pottery and painting. For more details go to www.thestablesstudios.co.uk or call 07815 740664.

Ashridge

With more than 2,000 acres of woodland to discover, you’ll never get bored at Ashridge. But if you fancy something a bit more structured than just walking round, there are guided walks and activities happening over the holidays. The Summer Trail, for example, is a guided family walk round the estate every day from 21 July until 3 September from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It costs just £2 per child and there’s a reward at the end. Ashridge’s big project for the summer holidays is the National Trust’s nationwide campaign 50 Things to do before you’re 11¾. It’s designed to get children out doors and reconnect them to nature. At the Visitor Centre children (and parents) can pick up a ‘scrapbook’ of ideas for things to do throughout the year. You can tackle the 50 activities anywhere, but Ashridge will line up opportunities for the following over the summer:

Climb a tree
Roll down a really big hill
Camp out in the wild
Build a den
Run around in the rain
Fly a kite
Play conkers
Make a mud pie
Set up a snail race
Balance on a fallen tree
Eat blackberries growing in the wild
Take a look inside a tree
Feel like you are flying in the wind
Make a grass trumpet
Hunt for fossils and bones
Watch the sun wake up
Climb a huge hill
Hunt for bugs
Track wild animals
Discover what’s in a pond
Call an owl
Go on a nature walk at night
Plant it, grow it, eat it
Find your way with a map and compass
Find a Geocache

Email ashridge@nationaltrust.org.uk, or call 01442 851227.

Natural History Museum, Tring

With one of the largest collections of stuffed wildlife in the country, the Natural History Museum in Tring is a great place to while away a wet afternoon. Entry is free too, so you can visit as many times as you like. But there are always events throughout the summer, such as the Minibeast Hunt on 3 August, where you can track ferocious predators and prey across the wildlife area. It costs just £3 per child. And if you’re looking for something in the June half-term holiday, why not try Fossil Fabrication at 10.15am on 7 June, where you can create your own fossil from plaster of Paris for just £3 per child. For more details and to find out about any other events (which are announced nearer the time) go to www.nhm.ac.uk/tring

Brasserie Blanc

262 High St, Berkhamsted HP4 1AQ
01442 285480

Ley Hill Music & Beer Festival
Ley Hill, times and acts tba.

Berkhamsted Diamond Jubilee Party
High St, Berkhamsted School and Ashlyns, 11am-11pm. The High St will close from 11am-5.30pm for a street party organised by Berkhamsted Town Council with plenty to do or, on stage, song and dance to enjoy. At the Deans’ Hall down Castle St there’s afternoon tea, a fashion show and displays. From 7pm the focus moves to Ashlyns, where the evening culminates in the lighting of a beacon and a fireworks display.

Great Gaddesden Jubilee Party
Gaddesden Park, 7pm. The highlight will be the lighting of one of the 2012 registered beacons between 10-10.30pm. The evening is a free event for the local community – bring a picnic and enjoy an evening in beautiful parkland in front of Gaddesden Place, overlooking the Gade Valley. There will be a bar and burgers, a bouncy castle, children’s games and live screening of the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace.