Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
There's a nasty rumour making the rounds that I like bagging Dartmoor tors from the comfort of the car - so much so that tors very close to a road have been dubbed "hillplodder tors". Obviously there is no truth in this vile accusation at all. But I have been known to visit tors requiring … Continue reading A spot of Dartmoor “Carbagging”
This trip had been in the diary for a very long time, ever since the day I signed-up to support Terry Abraham's Blencathra film in March 2015. With me opting for the VIP premiere tickets package, this meant I knew pretty much what I'd be doing this particular weekend. Hopes of a more extended trip … Continue reading A Short Jaunt in the Lakes
Dad and I spent a week walking along the coast path from St Ives to Padstow. I'm not going to write a long story about this as it tends to get repetitive, so will confine myself to a few remarks and then leave it to the photos to tell the story... We headed down to … Continue reading South West Coast Path 2016
WHEN that Aprilis, with his showers swoot.... So pricketh them nature in their corages; Then longe folk to go on pilgrimages, And palmers for to seeke strange strands, To ferne hallows couth in sundry lands; And specially, from every shire's end Of Engleland, to Canterbury they wend (From the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey … Continue reading The North Downs Way 10: The Missing Canterbury Tales
Cath (@wellycath), being the incredibly juvenile middle-aged person that she is, could not let the opportunity to visit a comically-named mountain go, and so the Tuesday of Easter week saw Cath, Andy and I set off on the quest. To where I hear you ask ? To here of course.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlRrdbkyV8w A route having already … Continue reading Three for his Knob
Somehow over the last month my mojo has gone awol. I've looked high and low for it and nothing has turned up. Until this weekend... This always seems to happen to me when I'm approaching a period where work takes a back seat and backpacking takes to the fore. The initial euphoria of knowing I'll … Continue reading The Mislaid Mojo
So I was reading this review by Catherine Redfern, aka London Hiker (@LondonHiker), and picked up on the point that these atlases include OS 1:25k mapping, which we all know is the best kind possible. I'd been vaguely aware the atlases existed but somehow this had passed me by. I had a look at A-Z's … Continue reading Review: AZ Adventure Atlas
After last week's 14 mile jaunt around Canvey, the plan was to up the mileage a little bit - essential if I'm to have a hope at completing the 10-in-10 in June (feel free to sponsor me by the way). 16 miles was the target and I plotted a route of just about that - … Continue reading A Walk on the Essex Fens
Plans for the year have been formulated, potential weekends for escapes to the hills have been identified, but still it feels like 2016 is yet to get off to a proper start walking-wise. The New Year trip to Dartmoor was almost a wash out, with only one walk of a respectable length, and then I … Continue reading A Slow Start to the Year
By now anyone who's stuck to rash New Year's resolutions to get fit after the excesses of Yuletide is probably struggling to keep it up, what with the novelty having worn off and the generally depressing state of being back at work for a few weeks now. What's needed is some additional motivation. A few … Continue reading Review: Hi-Tec Trek Go Activity Tracker
I've decided what I'm going to do as my local long distance path project for this year - it's the London Countryway. The London Countryway is a long distance walking trail that circumnavigates London. It lies outside of the two better-known circular London walks - the Capital Ring and the London LOOP - and so … Continue reading A London Countryway – Planning
The plan was hatched at the New Year Dartmoor gathering, and it was simple: the London contingent would meet at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for a look at the Enduring Eye exhibition of Frank Hurley's photographs from the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Shackleton. And there may be a few beers after too. … Continue reading The London Expedition
Yet again a crappy forecast. But it's Dartmoor, so it comes with the territory. If there's one thing Dartmoor's done for me, it's to improve my tolerance for walking in uncomfortable weather. Today looked like a day for further "training" in that area. Jim has gone home and Paul has domestic stuff to do, so … Continue reading The Tors and Rocks of Chagford Common and Gidleigh
The forecast isn't good and I resign myself to a grey and wet day. It takes a while for the gang (@paulgbuck, @jimwonder, @wellycath and me) to get up and get going, but eventually we park in Belstone. Across a patch of grass and then we are into wooded land to the north of the River … Continue reading A Walk in Belstone Cleave
Once again the Moor beckons. I just can't keep away. For the second year running, I'm off to Dartmoor for a New Year walking trip, but a couple of days early this time - to actually see the New Year in. The drive down is pretty much as it always is, with the usual stops … Continue reading The Moor Beckons