Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
It's not often that I get this excited about a walk in the days leading up to it, and I don't think it's ever happened for a local walk. But I sat there at the weekend, finalising the route map for the Wealdway and giving some thought to where I might camp on the first … Continue reading Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud (Wealdway: Gravesend to Tonbridge)
The Wealdway is a long distance path that runs from Gravesend in Kent, on the south bank of the Thames, to Eastbourne in East Sussex, where the South Downs terminate in chalk cliffs rising above the English Channel, making it the primary coast to coast walking route in the extreme South East. The path is … Continue reading Planning the Wealdway
Once again I needed to pop into London and once again it was art related. There seems to be a pattern emerging here. This time it was the Works on Paper Fair, for which I’d been sent a free ticket by Matt Forster, an "überpainter" of stylised mountain landscapes in watercolour. With this unlikely to … Continue reading Art meets Science
With the others departed, I spend most of the last evening at the bunkhouse with maps and laminated tors spread out on a table in front of me, trying to come up with a route that fits my needs. With a forecast for a couple of virtually clear days with little wind, an overnight route … Continue reading Dartmoor: A North Eastern Backpack
I pull into the car park at the Plume of Feathers and find Phil, settle into the bunkhouse, while Phil proudly shows me his recent additions to his library - Crossing's book and the Dartmoor 365 book. As I unpack, Phil regales me with extracts from both. First impressions of Crossing aren't great - it's closely printed text and … Continue reading Dartmoor: A Tale of Two Hessaries
The first thing that strikes me as I exit the car after the long drive from home is the cold. It's a four-layer, hat and gloves sort of cold. I soon warm up as I stride onto the hill in pursuit of my first objective: the Coffin Stone. I top a small rise and see … Continue reading Dartmoor: The Quest for Vag and a Coffin
"Now there is an extra dimension to the charms of The Road - it takes me to, or almost to, Dartmoor - a place that is rapidly taking its place among my favourite upland areas. But unlike journeys to other areas, there is no desire to hurry to get there, no wishing the journey were … Continue reading Dartmoor: Paradise Road
A deadline has been pressing on me. The Late Turner exhibition at Tate Britain is due to finish this coming weekend, and I hadn't been to see it yet, even though it had been on since September and I've not had work as an excuse. So I set about rectifying that. Whilst the visit to the Tate … Continue reading A Walk Among the Artists
I've been lucky with the amount of time I've been able to take since the summer as a break from working, but it can't last for ever, and soon work will press on me again. With this in mind, and knowing that one of the ways I keep sane when working is by doing some … Continue reading A New Series of Urban Walks
I threw my rucksack in the boot and sat in the car with a sense of increasing urgency. It was 3:45 and the first signs of sunset were beginning to appear. A decision as to what to do next was needed straight away. A final weather check showed no change in the forecast, and so … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 6: The Camp
I was up in good time today, as I wanted to maximise my options. The forecast remained steady from 24 hours ago and I could see that the wild camp that eluded me last time (well, strictly speaking I couldn't be bothered), wouldn't this time. Equally, if I got a move on with today's walk, … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 5: Some Sun at Last
“It will be quite mild”, said the weather girl on the local news, stood there in her overly fancy dress at 7:30 in the morning. Her colleague, Carol Kirkwood, on the national programme concurred, although being Scottish I imagine anything above about -10C is mild to her. But let me make one thing clear - it … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 4: Brass Monkeys
"Ah, this is more like it. This is what I expect from Dartmoor", were my main thoughts as I trudged across a soggy, bumpy but otherwise featureless landscape through a blanket of fog. It seemed that today was the day of the test - could I handle "proper" Dartmoor ? Sunday 4 January 2014 For … Continue reading New Year, New Dartmoor – Part 3: Bogs and Fogs
“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