National Trust Walking Festival 2012 kicks off at Sheringham Park. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Walkers are being urged to vote for their favourite places to wander in a national competition which had a regional launch at Sheringham Park on Monday.

A bid to find the country’s 10 Greatest British Walks is being staged by the National Trust.

But the trust says it is designed to encourage people to explore the wonderful places on their doorsteps - whether they belonged to the trust or not.

Trust regional director Richard Powell encouraged people to vote for their favourite walks in a area famed for its natural beauty and wide open skies.

And trust director general Fiona Reynolds said walks could be “a much-loved family favourite or an ancient route with hidden clues to the history of Britain.

Walkers from around the country are being encouraged to upload information about their favourite walk to the Great British Walk website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greatbritishwalk.

In November a panel of experts including BBC Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury, who recently visited north Norfolk for the BBC Countryfile programme, will decide on the top 10. She said: I’m going to be looking for walks that capture the spirit of a place and take you on a journey of discovery.”

Walkers will need to describe their walk, what makes it so special and plot it on to a digital OS map so that other walkers can follow the same special route. Walks will be shared through online maps and social networking sites using the hashtag #GBwalk. The competition runs until Sunday November 4.