Exploring and learning while out on outdoor adventures.
The Flower of Suffolk is one of those quintessential Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) events that blend community spirit, challenging terrain, and a “do it at your own pace” ethos. Back in the summer of 1997, my father signed us up for the 26-mile route starting at Framlingham Sports Centre, unaware that we would be …
Continue reading “Flower of Suffolk: A 26-Mile Ramble in the Baking Heat”
Last Adventure with Bloxham School When reflecting on my life so far, I see these transition points where one chapter closes and another begins. The summer of 1997 captured that feeling perfectly for me. One chapter was ending, and another was about to start. Fresh from A-level exams, I joined a group from Bloxham School …
For me nothing quite says “post-exam freedom” like a low-key wander through the Forest of Dean with a good friend and plenty of countryside pubs to discover. Fresh off my A-levels, I hitched a ride with a group from school who were heading to the forest for a Duke of Edinburgh expedition. Hedley and I …
Continue reading “A Wander Between Pubs in the Forest of Dean”
Hot on the heels of my adventure on the Isle of Rum, legs still sore and mind still buzzing, I found myself, just days later, gearing up for another epic outing: the YHA Peak Marathon. It was great to revisit my diary notes from all those years ago, and I’ve written them up here. Organised …
Continue reading “The YHA Peak Marathon from Edale to Ilam, 1997”
Falmouth to Treworthal – A Journey Begins Saturday, May 4th, marked the beginning of the next section of our exploration of a bit more of the south west coast path. An early morning start with the alarm jolting me awake at 4:30 a.m. I made it to the 5:30 train from Bristol, a quiet ride …
It felt like the start of an adventure sat in the Eurostar lounge waiting to board the first train out of London to Paris and on to Munich with our bags packed with the plan for doing a section of the Salzburger Almenweg and some sightseeing on the way to and from Austria. After zooming …
A great trail across the Lake District. Swapping the more normal fastpacking kit for plenty of warm clothes and a tent as we followed the Cumbria Way signs. Each day as we headed north we got to experience the changes to the landscapes across the Lake District through fields and on into the fells and …
Continue reading “Winter Backpacking Trip along the Cumbrian Way”
“Memories are the treasures that we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls, to keep our hearts warm when we are lonely.” Becky Aligada After all our preparation we stepped out of the land cruiser at Syabru Bensi and with our guide and porter we headed towards the Langtang valley. After a year …
Continue reading “Langtang, Helambu and Gosainkund Trek in Nepal”
Lao Tzu said that ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ This post covers some of my thoughts on how we took that first few steps preparing for our family trekking trip to Nepal. Nepal has always had a special place in my heart and the idea was hatched to go …
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‘Where is started for me’ As I was preparing my presentation for a work conference in the USA and then putting my thoughts to what I needed to pack for my trip a work colleague suggested that as I was changing flights, just taking hand luggage would improve my chances of all my luggage arriving …
Continue reading “Packing and travelling light, the kit list I still use”