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Organising category for the individual categories of Long Distance Paths and walks on them
The first backpacking trip of the year always feels a bit weird in the lead up: typically, it being, or having recently been, winter, there may have been a bit of a gap since the last one, and it's as if I've forgotten what preparing for a trip is like. This is one reason why … Continue reading The Clarendon Way
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
Just one more day to do, but the longest daily distance of all, and a deadline to do it by. Our train was booked for 19:50, which shouldn't have been a problem, but nevertheless it was still a deadline. If you add time to clean up and have a celebratory pint and meal, the real … Continue reading The West Highland Way – Part 5: The End (Kinlochleven to Fort William)
Breakfast in the Real Food Cafe set us up well for the day ahead. Back at the hotel we shouldered packs and grabbed parcels to drop off at the Post Office - although we could have simply walked up the main road from the hotel, we still had to do the bit of trail through … Continue reading The West Highland Way – Part 4: The Good Bit (Tyndrum to Kinlochleven)
Whilst it was a shock to suddenly find myself solo, it wasn't a huge surprise and I'd mentally prepared myself for it - by now I can recognise the signs. And so, I strode out towards Ptarmigan Lodge not too discombobulated by the sudden change in my circumstances. Here was the well-known honesty stall, but … Continue reading The West Highland Way – Part 3: That Accursed Loch! (Rowardennan to Tyndrum)
Milngavie really must be quite proud of the fact that the West Highland Way starts there, as they've taken every opportunity to draw your attention to the fact. Leaving the railway, there's various "to the West Highland Way" signs and the murals in the underpass before you get to the actual start point, itself with … Continue reading The West Highland Way – Part 2: To The Loch! (Milngavie to Rowardennan)
Well, this post may be titled "Introduction", but this trail barely needs one. One of the more popular trails, maybe even the most popular of the Great Trails in Scotland, I felt as though I already knew it quite well before I even set foot on it. Which is, of course, nonsense, but it's fair … Continue reading The West Highland Way – Part 1: Introduction
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)
...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