hike | camp | paint
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
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
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
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