Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
I needed a walk of about 5 days to fit a weather window in late July. I had no idea what to do: I wanted something meaningful rather than just pootling around in the Lakes or Dartmoor, but a 5 day time frame didn't leave me a lot of scope. I could easily find something … Continue reading Hadrian’s Wall Path
Three weeks after the Giant's Head half marathon, and it was time for "the big one" - Race to the Stones. This was the second event added to my 2026 calendar, way back in October 2025, and inspired by watching a YouTube video: I'd previously been unaware of it. So I watched that video, and … Continue reading Race to the Stones
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
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
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
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
When we started the South West Coast Path, back in 2008, we never expected that it would take until 2023 to finish it. At that time, we didn't even expect to do it all - it was just a pleasant revisit of the scene of some past family holidays. It was only after completing that … Continue reading Finishing the SWCP
After I abandoned the westbound walk at Detling in August, a few other bits of walking got in the way of picking it up again - a trip to Snowdonia in September, the West Highland Way in October, and not least the Kent Pilgrims' Festival in September. The latter involving walking all the way east … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 6: Detling to Halling
Now that the pressure of leading my own walk was over, I could relax a bit and simply follow. Sometimes it's nice to just be pulled along by someone else: no decisions to make, just put one foot in front of the other and enjoy the walk. First, though, I had to get to the … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 5: Kent Pilgrims’ Festival Days 3-5 (Wye To Dover)
In the first post of this series, I mentioned that I was co-leading two days of walks as part of the Kent Pilgrims' Festival. Along with that my co-leader, Mike, and I offered to assist the walk leaders of the other 3 days with their walks - help manage the group / bringing up the … Continue reading The North Downs Way Again – Part 4: Kent Pilgrims’ Festival Days 1-2 (Aylesford to Wye)
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