Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
After slithering around on muddy paths back in January, I waited for the ground to firm up to return and finish the rewalk of the North Downs Way. This was one of those "I need to get it done, but there's always something I'd rather do" situations, which is why it took over 5 months … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 10: Betchworth to Farnham
No not that one... Things have been quiet on here recently for a couple of reasons: firstly I was planning and then going on a 3 week road trip around the Scottish Isles, which has taken a while to digest and work out how to write it up; and secondly, I've been deep in the … Continue reading Visiting the Giant
Somehow I never made it to the Lake District last year - one of only 3 years since 2005 (when I started regularly going) that I didn't have a Lakes trip. 2020 was due to "you know what", 2023 was a combination of work and deliberately prioritizing other things, and 2025 it just never seemed … Continue reading Scratching the Lakes Itch
Having missed a window of good weather a couple of weeks ago, due mainly to simply not feeling ready for the first backpacking trip of the year, this was my last realistic chance for a trip before Easter. After which I'd have a half marathon to get ready for, and so if I didn't go … Continue reading Dartmoor South to North
Last year I bought a bike, with the intention of using it to knock off some of the long journeys on my list that I may realistically never get around to if I were only using walking. I'd rather do the journey on 2 wheels than not at all, the thinking goes. So for instance, … Continue reading The Downs Link by Bike
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