hike | camp | paint
What little fitness had been instilled in my legs in Wales already felt like it was ebbing, and so it was time to top them up. The aim was simply to do a long walk and carry a decent load - and to have a bit of up and down. That ruled out staying my … Continue reading Making it up as I go
I was having a sort out the other day and came across some interesting bits of paper... Somehow I've managed to keep hold of the walk directions from two annual sponsored walks I did when I was at school. They're around 30 years old. Just for fun I thought it would be interesting to try … Continue reading Resurrecting Some Old Walks
Dover was miserable as I stepped off the train. A walk through town saw me narrowly avoiding being accosted by some rather dubious-looking characters. Not responding to their calls was probably the smart thing to do. Ironically, by the time I found the Market Square and then followed the NDW I was almost back at … Continue reading The North Downs Way 11: The End
WHEN that Aprilis, with his showers swoot.... So pricketh them nature in their corages; Then longe folk to go on pilgrimages, And palmers for to seeke strange strands, To ferne hallows couth in sundry lands; And specially, from every shire's end Of Engleland, to Canterbury they wend (From the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey … Continue reading The North Downs Way 10: The Missing Canterbury Tales
So I've now completed the Wealdway, my Long Distance Path project for 2015 and it's worth a look back at how it went. Actual v Plan - the stats I planned the walk to take advantage of the various railway stations the route crosses: In Kent and East Sussex railways run broadly east-west and so … Continue reading A Look Back at the Wealdway
I'm no stranger to this particular patch of woodland on the North Downs. Numerous walks have been done through or alongside it, but always solo. This time though I had some company. Stuart (@LoneWalkerUK) was already at the appointed rendezvous when I drove up and so a little under ten minutes later we were heading … Continue reading Screech Wood
A sleepy Saturday afternoon it was in Meopham as I parked the car. A rather leisurely-looking game of cricket was taking place on the green, a cyclist was taking a rest and that was about all there was in terms of signs of life. I threw my pack on my back and headed off down … Continue reading A Camp on Pheasant Down
"Civilisation", or what passes for it in the Medway Valley, was winding down for the night, as we abandoned the car in a lane chosen for its proximity to our target, whilst still being, sort of, a built-up area. We headed up the lane, a party clearly on the go in someone's garage and garden. … Continue reading A Camp in Slug Meadow
Sunday: Tonbridge to Ashdown Forest I got off the train at Tonbridge, and was immediately struck by the relative cold compared with both home and London. It was also trying to rain, but thankfully without much success.  I'd planned this walk to fit nicely in a period of forecast dry weather and really didn't fancy another couple … Continue reading Deer and Detours (Wealdway: Tonbridge to Uckfield)
It's not often that I get this excited about a walk in the days leading up to it, and I don't think it's ever happened for a local walk. But I sat there at the weekend, finalising the route map for the Wealdway and giving some thought to where I might camp on the first … Continue reading Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud (Wealdway: Gravesend to Tonbridge)
I mulled over for ages trying to come up with a witty title for this post, but nothing seemed to work, so I've stuck with the factual. The goal of this walk was actually quite simple - to walk from Erith, where I finished the London LOOP earlier this week, to Gravesend, where I start … Continue reading A 13 mile walk made a lot harder
Thin tendrils of mist swirled around my feet in a vain attempt to escape the strengthening rays of the sun. Coupled with the alarming growth in the size of my feet as I trudged up the muddy field, it felt as though the forces of nature were trying hard to stop me. Add to that … Continue reading Mist and Mistakes
Every year on the weekend nearest to my birthday I go away for one or two nights with the tent. Whilst it's good to get out, the main driver is the fact that my daughter's birthday is 3 days after mine and she somehow manages to pull rank when it comes to any parties scheduled … Continue reading A Birthday Camp
I learned something overnight. Â Something which was actually pretty obvious and staring me in the face the whole time. Â And it's this....you really don't need that much stuff to have an ok time. Â Let me elaborate.... I've always taken far too much stuff on walks, mainly because of the "this might be useful" trap. Â But … Continue reading North Downs Way 9: Dunn Street to Chilham
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