Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
One of my To Dos this year is to finish my re-walk of the North Downs Way. I originally walked it between 2006 and 2016, but it was very sporadic: 4 sections in 2006, 5 in 2011 and the final 4 in 2016. Given how long it took, after becoming an Ambassador for the trail … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 9: Merstham to Betchworth
One of my To Dos this year is to finish my re-walk of the North Downs Way. I originally walked it between 2006 and 2016, but it was very sporadic: 4 sections in 2006, 5 in 2011 and the final 4 in 2016. Given how long it took, after becoming an Ambassador for the trail … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 8: Otford to Merstham
One of my To Dos this year is to finish my re-walk of the North Downs Way. I originally walked it between 2006 and 2016, but it was very sporadic: 4 sections in 2006, 5 in 2011 and the final 4 in 2016. Given how long it took, after becoming an Ambassador for the trail … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 7: Halling to Dunton Green
Although I'm not going to be on the 2026 TGO Challenge, thoughts have already turned to 2027 when I should be back in the game, assuming I get in of course. This would be my 7th Challenge, and as I always use a new start point that I've not done before, this would mean I'd … Continue reading TGO Challenge Start Points
Another year has gone by when I've been very bad at keeping the blog up to date. My focus has been split between several different activities, including now running and cycling. So this index post to the year's activities doesn't have much to link to. Anyway, let's give it a go... A bit of the … Continue reading 2025 Summary
Running-wise 2025 has really been about one thing - the Brighton marathon. Training for this started in November 2024 and the race was in early April 2025, meaning I did very little else in the first quarter apart from training for it. Along the way, I ran a half marathon PB in Victoria Park in … Continue reading 2025 in Running
I bought a bike in January, with the intention of building up to bikepacking at some point later in the year. This would enable me to more effectively whittle down my list of journeys by doing some of those I'd struggle to do walking on two wheels instead. What with all the running then a … Continue reading 2025 in Biking
I’d been planning to be in the Lake District this week for some time, but the weather chose that exact time to rebel. Facing the prospect of up to 95 kph gusts and lots of rain, I looked around for alternatives – anything just to get out for a couple of nights. And so I … Continue reading Washed Away
I'd been planning to be in the Lake District this week for some time, but the weather chose that exact time to rebel. Facing the prospect of up to 95 kph gusts and lots of rain, I looked around for alternatives - anything just to get out for a couple of nights. And so I … Continue reading A Couple of Days on the South Downs
What's Happened So Far ? In Part 1, I walked from King's Lynn to Cromer over 4 days, choosing to split the walk in two there rather than struggle on legs that just weren't playing ball. A couple of weeks later, I was on holiday, when my wife spotted this: I remember taking a tick … Continue reading Norfolk Coast Path – Part 2: Cromer to Hopton-on-Sea
For some time now, ever since I heard of the Dartmoor Ancient Boundary Walk, or Perambulation, I've had it on my list of must dos, but it's taken a while to find the right window to go for it, and balance the desire to do it with my long list of other things I want … Continue reading Dartmoor’s Hardest Walk: The Ancient Boundary
Introduction The Norfolk Coast Path (NCP) is part of the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, as well as being part of the England Coast Path (ECP) (or King Charles III England Coast Path to be technically but also pointlessly accurate). It's signed as the Norfolk Coast Path from where I started in … Continue reading Norfolk Coast Path – Part 1: King’s Lynn to Cromer
[Planned route, excluding FWAs, in blue. Actual route in red] For 2025, I chose the little-used start point of Ardrishaig - this year only 5 out of the circa 300 starters used it. Now, I'm still relatively early in my Challenge "career", and haven't yet exhausted the more popular start points, so why pick Ardrishaig … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2025: Ardrishaig to Aberdeen
Day 12: Ballater to Aboyne 20.9km and 51m of ascent. Total distance so far: 299.0km There were 6 Challengers staying on the main tent field, and I was very much the last to go. But even so I was away by 0840, which timed it just right to pop into the Co-op to buy something … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2025 – Part 4: The Deeside Way, Ballater to Aberdeen (Days 12-15)
Day 9: Blair Atholl to Bynack Lodge 28.1km and 597m of ascent. Total distance so far: 227.3km Woken by the %^&*ing crows, I decided to not try to go back to sleep, and instead opted for an early start (0650). Due to an oversight, there was no porridge for breakfast this morning, and a hasty … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2025 – Part 3: Blair Atholl to Ballater (Days 9-11)