Articles

  • A Year of Tents

    I started backpacking to walk the South Downs Way in two-day sections, camping overnight. I walked the entire trail carrying a MSR one-person tent, the Hubba NX. I have no problems with this tent, it’s easy to pitch and has enough room for a solo walker and their kit. This year I started to consider… Read more

  • Ancient tracks and historical reality

    I spent some of last summer walking the North Downs Way. For much of the time this runs at the top of the ridge parallel to “The Pilgrim’s Way” which tends to be at the bottom. Occasional the two merge, mainly when the North Downs Way descends from the crest. The “Pilgrims Way” is a… Read more

  • Cygnet Time

    Due to the lock-down my five hour walks in the Kent Weald and North Downs have been replaced by the allowed one hour in urban London. Luckily Tooting Common, Clapham Common and Brockwell Park are nearby so there is plenty of green space nearby. A highlight of Brockwell Park during spring is the hatching of… Read more

  • A Hint of Spring

    On this week’s walk, during March, I saw two butterflies and a large bee. Not certain if there is enough nectar for them yet. It is not clear if this is a hint of spring or an indication that winter never really happened. No spring lambs or flowering Bluebells though as the woods are full… Read more

  • The importance of a halfway pub

    My last walk involved 4 hours of unrelenting rain. It was surprisingly enjoyable and provided a test for my newest kit. I think one of the reasons it wasn’t a bad experience was the promise of a pub halfway along the route. When it is too cold or wet to picnic a pub in the… Read more

  • Walking Prerequisites: Trekking Poles

    I have been hiking for 8 years but have only just started using trekking poles. Slow on the uptake but with the evangelism of a recent convert I now consider them essential, increasing walking speed and stability and easing the strain on my aging knees. The height of the poles should be set so that… Read more