Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Organising category for the individual categories of Long Distance Paths and walks on them
...I emerged from the cafe blinking in the afternoon sunlight. Ahead of me lay a lot of work. A climb up to the main road from the village of Dinas Mawddwy, along that a short way and then I was heading up steeply into the woods of Coed Foeldinas. And it carried on steeply, a … Continue reading Cambrian Way #10: Dinas Mawddwy to Barmouth (Days 22-24)
07:52 as I opened my eyes and glanced at my watch - bugger! Could have sworn it was quarter to 7 or so. I leapt out of bed in a semi-panic - I was going to start a big day already behind, and have my choices made for me. This is what comes of downing … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 3: Westwell to Detling
As I turned away from the trail last night, I noticed that there was a problem on the other side of the road - an apparent path closure. I had a brief look at the sign, promising myself I'd mull it over overnight. When it came to it though, I completely forgot, and found myself … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 2: Paddlesworth to Westwell
When I became an Ambassador for the Trail last year, I decided to do a complete re-walk, as it was 2016 when I finished the walk before, and even that had been spread thinly over 10 years. My familiarity wasn't what it could be. Of course in the time since, I've walked parts of the … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 1: Dover to Paddlesworth
Background I chose the YWW to walk as part of my long term quest to complete all* of the National Trails**, with a specific sub-project right now which I am calling "Walk the Chalk" - completing the 4 National Trails that travel through chalk landscape: The North Downs Way, the South Downs Way, the Ridgeway, … Continue reading Yorkshire Wolds Way Reflections
Awake early, but better rested, it was an even earlier start at just after 7am. As I set off, my whole plan consisted of getting to Fridaythorpe. Here would be a cafe, shop and other facilities. As to how far beyond Fridaythorpe I'd get, that was completely up in the air - I was open … Continue reading Yorkshire Wolds Way – Part 3: Near Huggate to Filey
Back at Kings cross station, but a little earlier than last time and no having to run the gauntlet of the security muggles like last time. The journey to Doncaster and then Brough was perfectly pleasant and I alighted in a pretty calm frame of mind - usually there's a lot of excitement mixed with … Continue reading Yorkshire Wolds Way – Part 2: Brough to Near Huggate
St Swithun's Way is (officially) a 34 mile, or 55km long distance path running between Winchester and Farnham, named after a 9th Century Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester. This is the guy associated with the saying about if it rains on St Swithun's Day (15 July), you're in for another 40 days of it. This legend … Continue reading St Swithun’s Way
Miserable London, miserable people in the streets, miserable people at the station. I'd departed from my recent policy of taking the coach whenever possible, as the advance train ticket-split I'd worked out was a reasonable deal when you take into account the timing of the journey and how long it would take. Twenty something on … Continue reading Yorkshire Wolds Way – Part 1: Hessle to North Newbold
Hassocks to Eastbourne: 57km (36 miles), 1,422m ascent (4,665ft) Day 6 Last night's dinner was awesome, and bloody well should have been as I'd carried it from the BP garage. Pasta Arrabiata (of sorts) cooked on a camping stove, reminded me of how great it is to have real food rather than just rely on … Continue reading Walk the Chalk: South Downs Way – Part 3
Cocking to Hassocks: 60km (38 miles), 1,406m ascent (4,613ft) Day 4 The stay at the campsite on the outskirts of Cocking couldn't have come at a better time. I'd avoided a nasty day of rain that would have been very uncomfortable to be out in, and also had a night of respite from the stresses … Continue reading Walk the Chalk: South Downs Way – Part 2
Winchester to Cocking: 64km (40 miles), 1,369m ascent (4,491ft) Day 1 It was a pleasant journey to Winchester. As someone who hasn't commuted in over two years, and with no intention to ever do so again, I hadn't relished piling on a rush hour train along with all the miserable people. But as it turned … Continue reading Walk the Chalk: South Downs Way – Part 1
Last year I managed to make myself go out for a camp in every month, and although some of those were done in the course of a multi-day walk, some were very much a matter of forcing myself out to sleep. For 2022 I wanted to do something a bit different - specifically to make … Continue reading The Elham Valley Way (plus a bit…)
I walked the Great Glen Way (GGW) with my friend Paul in mid October 2021. This trip replaced a previous plan to do a longer route in the south west of England, that was ultimately a victim of fitness levels. The decision to do the GGW instead was a compromise between an easier/shorter route and … Continue reading The Great Glen Way
Alongside this blog series, I also produced a set of videos which can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IZMQDtn4PY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcd9mxUixss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkbk99oR3Fk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Xz_62MaWM The complete set will take about an hour and a half to watch, so a cup of something will be needed!