Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
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
I've been out and about quite a bit (for me) in 2015. This has quite a lot to do with the goals I set myself at the start of the year: Spend more on walking and less on gear: Sort of Achieved - a shaky start as the end of year sales usually sees me … Continue reading 2015
At the start of the year, I set myself the objective of camping out every month of the year. Twelve camps that shouldn't be too hard should it ? After all I tend to do more than that each year. But what I've struggled to do is maintain my tent-dwelling evenly over a year, and … Continue reading Camp of the Year 2015
Like a fool I passed up the chance of a camp the weekend before Christmas when the weather was clear and warm, and so put myself in the position of having to do a last minute camp in order to successfully complete my one wildcamp a month challenge. Having managed it all the way up … Continue reading Last Camp of the Year ?
So I've now completed the Wealdway, my Long Distance Path project for 2015 and it's worth a look back at how it went. Actual v Plan - the stats I planned the walk to take advantage of the various railway stations the route crosses: In Kent and East Sussex railways run broadly east-west and so … Continue reading A Look Back at the Wealdway
The sun was still trying to inch its way up into the sky as it I got back to the car from last night's camp, and such was the direction I was headed in that I found myself driving almost head-on into the sun for most of the drive. Irritating but a positive sign for the … Continue reading A Long Man and a Long Walk (Wealdway: Berwick to Eastbourne)
Moonlight bathed the tent in streaks of silver, filtered by the straggling branches of the bush sheltering us from the big open field, and from the gaze of any passers-by foolhardy enough to be out on this cold night. In terms of other life, all was quiet - no birds, no small mammals, not even the … Continue reading The Last Wealdway Camp
It's a little known fact** that the version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist that we all know and love is in fact not the original version serialised starting in 1837. For instance, the most famous scene originally went thus... ...The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself … Continue reading Can We Have Gruel Instead ?
It’s been a couple of years since anyone’s sent me gear to review – not because I haven’t had the offers, but simply because I only accept those offers that fit into the type of activity I do and are the sort of thing I would at least consider buying myself. And being able to … Continue reading Target Dry Element Jacket – Updated Review
Dirty cloud obscured the rising sun, with just a small distant patch of orange beyond Great Mell Fell and some reflected colour to the west to betray the start of a new day.  A cacophony of barking, baying and yelping accompanied the start of my climb above the kennels at Gategill, and I could still … Continue reading On My Tod
I'm no stranger to this particular patch of woodland on the North Downs. Numerous walks have been done through or alongside it, but always solo. This time though I had some company. Stuart (@LoneWalkerUK) was already at the appointed rendezvous when I drove up and so a little under ten minutes later we were heading … Continue reading Screech Wood