Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Last week I was all packed and ready to go on this walk, but for one thing - my fitness. Â On the morning of the walk I realised my ribs were still not healed enough for it to be a sensible thing to do. Â So reluctantly, but in hindsight pleased with myself for making the … Continue reading North Downs Way 8: Detling to Dunn Street
Dropped off at the picnic site, I started by walking back up the road to the exact spot where I'd stopped the day before and walked along again to the picnic site off-road. It was still a bit hazy over the Medway valley, but it was already warming up nicely. With legs still smarting from … Continue reading North Downs Way 7: Blue Bell Hill to Detling
I thought I wouldn't get much more walking in this year, but with a delay in starting work (due to not having any yet!) and a spell of fine weather, the opportunity was too good to miss. I decided last week that after several weeks of holding off due to uncertainty around my work situation, … Continue reading North Downs Way 6: Wrotham to Blue Bell Hill
5 years after I started the North Downs Way, I walked down the lane from the centre of Knockholt Pound, retracing my steps on my last day. We skirted around the edge of the Chevening estate and followed waymarkers through the woods. Emerging at a stile liberally festooned with NDW arrows on every side we … Continue reading North Downs Way 5: Knockholt to Wrotham
With time on my hands, now that I don't have to go to work for several months, and with (hopefully) an improvement in the weather on the way, it's time to start getting out and about. Â I'm scheduled to do the Cumbria Way at the end of this month, and after a winter's relative inactivity … Continue reading Training for the Cumbria Way
I rose early, for a Sunday, to make sure that I got to the start point in good time, as getting there involved a train into London, a walk across London and a train out the other side. Â But just my luck that engineering works mean the first train from home I can get is … Continue reading North Downs Way 2: Guildford to Westhumble
With walking now firmly established as my main hobby, I wanted a project that could keep me ready for the hills inbetween trips, and I settled on the North Downs Way. Â It's an obvious choice really as I live just over the Thames in Thurrock, and so is relatively easy to get to. Â Also having … Continue reading North Downs Way 1: Farnham to Guildford