Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
“Turned out nice again”, quipped one of the group of 5 guys as they passed a dozen or so yards parallel to me, heading up into the clag for the dubious delights of the top of the hill. I continued my squelch downhill to the dry sanctuary of the car. Today really hadn’t turned out … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 2: Turned Out Nice Again
It’s a long drive down to Dartmoor, but today it flew by, helped by the fact that most of the traffic was heading the other way, leaving the south west in the post-New Year reluctant crawl back to work. Almost before I knew it, the distances to Exeter were falling into single digits, and the … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 1: Back on the Moor
I suppose, having looked back at 2014, I ought to do a post looking forward to 2015. I usually try to avoid posts like this as writing down plans here is usually the kiss of death to them. So I'm going to keep this as brief as I can and try not to over-commit. 1. … Continue reading 2015 Plans
For January to June, see the previous post. July Having already been to the Lakes four times in the year, a record for me, I deliberately switched my attention elsewhere, and resumed my assault on the Cambrian Way. Just as the first time, my plan was a little too ambitious and I so burnt myself … Continue reading The Ploddies 2014 – Part 2: July to December
In my last post, I introduced the idea of the hillplodder.com awards aka The Ploddies. It's now time to get down to business and look at the things and experiences that have made the year and are worthy of special mention. I was going to do this as a list of awards, but have changed … Continue reading The Ploddies 2014 – Part 1: January to June
Awards have been very much in the limelight in the outdoors blogging world recently, with controversy surrounding at least one prominent award for Outdoor Blog of the Year (note, not necessarily "Best" given that the shortlist itself is more of a popularity and "who has more friends" contest - a better description would be "Most … Continue reading Yet More Awards – Plus Introducing Even More Awards
I'm up and raring to go today, my last full day for this trip. The forecast is good and I've deliberately saved this walk for today because of it. The bus whisks me out to Hawkshead Hill and I jump out at High Cross - strategically chosen because it's the nearest point to my target … Continue reading Autumn in the Lakes: Stragglers and Shadows
Having been spoilt by a couple of days of great weather and some delightful colours on the fells, the forecast for today wasn't looking so good - clearly I've used up my quota of decent conditions. Â Either that or nature has decided that as it is now December, it ought to get on with winter … Continue reading Autumn in the Lakes: Business as Usual
It's really rather nice sitting here by Derwentwater taking in the views and attempting to transfer them to paper, and I don't regret the way today's plans have worked out at all. Never has a walk plan changed so much as today's has. Having made sketchy arrangements to meet up with Paul (@paulgbuck) for a … Continue reading Autumn in the Lakes: Arty Stuff
All is dark when I finally arrive in Windermere, after some nail-biting moments on the train journey up, wondering if I would make my connections at Preston and Oxenholme. Not wanting to wait for the bus, when there's a taxi right here, I hop in the car and minutes later am at Ambleside youth hostel, … Continue reading Autumn in the Lakes: Nature’s Palette
The Cox Tor and Pew Tor Figure of 8 We repeat the process of 24 hours before and assemble in the Fox Tor before piling into cars for the short drive out to the start of the walk. Â Mist shrouds the top of North Hessary Tor as we drive out of Princetown, with the top … Continue reading Falling in Love with Dartmoor – Part 3: Some Strange Behaviour
It’s not a brilliant night’s sleep, due to Strange Bed Syndrome, and the fact that I never sleep that well in a dorm. I’m relieved when light comes and it’s time to get up. We head for the Fox Tor for breakfast and to await Rich’s arrival from the overnight sleeper to Plymouth. I glance … Continue reading Falling in Love with Dartmoor – Part 2: Granite and Funny Names
“…Dartmoor contains such a rich variety of landscape, as many boulders, foaming rivers and twisted trees as my heart could ever desire. . . . ” ― Alan Lee The Pull of the Moor I’m driving along the road from Moretonhampstead, an exercise in narrow twisty lanes and dodging big puddles of standing rainwater, none of which … Continue reading Falling in Love with Dartmoor – Part 1: The Introduction
I mulled over for ages trying to come up with a witty title for this post, but nothing seemed to work, so I've stuck with the factual. The goal of this walk was actually quite simple - to walk from Erith, where I finished the London LOOP earlier this week, to Gravesend, where I start … Continue reading A 13 mile walk made a lot harder
Shiny golden circles adorned the forecast for today and it would have been criminal not to have taken advantage of the conditions to finish off the LOOP, especially as one opportunity had already been passed up last week. I made my way out to Sidcup to pick up the LOOP for the last time, but … Continue reading Endgame (London LOOP Part 12)