Walking Archives - Page 4 of 5

Walk The South West Coast Path From Lyme Regis To Seaton, England

Although this walk is part of the South West Coast Path, it is mostly within the wooded Undercliff National Park. It’s also surprisingly challenging and took much longer than expected for the distance (7 miles/11 km in 4.5 hours) so I thought I’d share the journey. You can walk either way and get the 9A bus back to whichever end you started at.

It’s well sign-posted all the way.

South West Coast Path sign Photo by JFPenn

The first mile out of Lyme Regis is through fields and up behind the cliffs. You’ll pass a little fence with portrayals of the women who made Lyme Regis famous in the world of Paleontology and Geology, Mary Anning being the most well-known.

Mary Anning on a fence on the SW Coast Path. Photo by JF Penn

After about a mile, you enter the Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. The woodland has grown over cliff rockfalls over many generations and forms part of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site, protected for its biodiversity.

Walk The Kennet And Avon Canal Between Devizes And Bradford-On-Avon, England

Walking

You can walk (or cycle) this section of the Kennet and Avon canal in either direction. There’s a train station at Bradford-on-Avon and plenty of buses to Devizes. I’ve detailed the route from Bath to Bradford-on-Avon in this article.

In April 2021, I took the bus from Bath to Devizes (#272) and walked all the way back (around 37km). Definitely possible on a summer day when there is more light, with a lunch stop at Bradford-on-Avon (around 20km).

Devizes is a small town with plenty of places to get coffee and food. There are well-kept public toilets (20p in cash) sign-posted from the main square and on the way to the canalside where the Devizes Wharf has more amenities.

Walking The Pilgrims’ Way. Six Days From Southwark Cathedral, London, To Canterbury Cathedral

Walking

The Pilgrims’ Way has two possible starting points: Southwark Cathedral in London or Winchester Cathedral. The two paths cross at Otford. I chose to walk from London as this is the route of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, as well as the way Becket himself traveled between the two cities.

This is the day by day, more practical experience of the journey. You can read/listen to my lessons learned from the way here.

Preparation and resources

I walk regularly so I was well-trained for a multi-day walk although I had never done six days solo before. I did a one-day navigation course to brush up on my map-reading skills, for which I was grateful. Check out my multi-day kit list here.

Walking the Pilgrims Way guidebook and maps. Photo by JFPenn

I used The Cicerone guide, Walking the Pilgrim’s Way by Leigh Hatts, which is excellent. I also carried OS Maps of the entire route. To reduce the amount of paper, I cut out the sections I needed and pulled out the section I needed each day.

My book, Pilgrimage, Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, is out now.

Pilgrimage Kickstarter Banner4 — My book, Pilgrimage, Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, is out now

Walk Your Own Race: Lessons Learned From Walking A 50km Ultramarathon

Walking

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“It’s not the mountain we conquer, it’s ourselves.” Edmund Hillary

As I write this, I’ve started four ultra-marathons and finished three of them. I did the Race to the Stones 100km in a weekend (2016); Cotswold Way 50km (2017); Isle of Wight 50km (2018 — I dropped out at 22km); Chiltern Challenge 50km (2020). I’ve learned something new each time and my most recent event went absolutely perfectly. In this episode, I’ll share some of my thoughts, tips, and lessons learned.

Why would you want to do an ultra-marathon anyway?
Preparation and practical tips. Here’s my day hike kit list.
Event day
Walk/run/live your own race
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination
Sometimes, it’s OK to give up. The importance of self-care.
What’s your next challenge?
Books about walking

Header photo by Fidel Fernando on Unsplash

Solo Long-Distance Walking In England With Holly Worton

Walking

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“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin

Walking for a longer-distance can bring clarity of mind, a reconnection with nature, and a sense of well-being that does not emerge with a short stroll. It takes time to settle into your physical body, and walking an ancient path can help take you into that deeper state. In this episode, I discuss our mutual love of long-distance walking with Holly Worton.

Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books around business mindset and personal growth, as well as long-distance walking and the wisdom of nature. She’s also the host of the Into The Woods Podcast.

Show notes

How long walks help us disconnect from our wired world
Planning and navigating the South Downs Way
Bucket list long walks
Tips for avoiding hiking mistakes
Preparing for all kinds of weather
Dealing with fears and having the right mindset
The restorative powers of nature
Recommended books about walking

You can find Holly Worton at HollyWorton.com

Header photo by Cat Bassano on Unsplash

Walk The Kennet And Avon Canal From Bath Spa To Bradford On Avon

Walking

Bath might be a UNESCO World Heritage city with the draw of the Roman Baths, Georgian architectural splendor, and the medieval Abbey, but just a stone’s throw from the tourist mayhem is a wonderful walk along the Kennet and Avon canal.

It can get busy on sunny weekends, but often it is a quiet and peaceful haven of natural beauty alongside the ever-changing life of the canal. I walk this route regularly, whatever the weather, and it never fails to delight with its infinite variety. In this article, I’ll take you through the main parts of the route as well as where the coffee and rest stops are, plus some recommended reading. Although my pictures are mainly from sunny days in spring and summer, it’s a great walk in every season.

Walking the Kennet and Avon canal. Photo by JFPenn

This walk is from Bath Spa railway station to Bradford-on-Avon. You can do the walk either way. It’s about 17km in total, a flat footpath with plenty of refreshment stops and photo opportunities along the way. You can’t get lost because you just follow the towpath! Allow at least 4 hours, especially if you want to amble or have a pint or a coffee on the way.

Walking

Preparation and resources

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