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National Trails

From Source to Sea by Tom Chesshyre

Published August 10, 2023

From Source to Sea by Tom Chesshyre

Obviously, I picked this up because of my obsession with long distance paths, and the Thames Path being one particularly high up the list. This was a really good read, but it did have me wondering in places - what is it trying to be? There’s a lot of discussion about pub prices and hotel hospitality, alongside slightly bizarre meanderings around the fallout from Brexit. But then there are great river anecdotes, meeting random people and setting up interviews and tours along the way. It’s well written, atmospheric and enticing, but then sometimes frustrating and (as admitted by the author) purposeless. Worth the read, though, for sure.

A trail of two countries

Published May 11, 2023

A trail of two countries

My obsession with the UK's National Trails has taken a bit of a backburner recently, but I decided to go in search of another starting point. This time, I looked for the trail that practically divides two countries - Offa's Dyke Path. The path is a wobbly straight line hovering around the border between England and Wales, following the 8th century Dyke construction by King Offa. Lots of history. I …

Where have you Brean?

Published October 2, 2020

Where have you Brean?

Our progress on the South West Coast Path this year has been slow, or more precisely, non-existant, given everything that has been going on in the world. And because I am the kind of person who doesn't focus on finishing one thing but quite quickly flits off to another project, I've found another path! This time, the England Coast Path! Why do 630 miles when you can do 2,795? In …

SWCP scrapbook

Published September 8, 2019

SWCP scrapbook

When the sun's been out, we've been sneaking quick trips to the South West Coast Path at various points along its length. None of them have been particularly exciting trips but there are enough now to make a quick scrapbook. This batch includes a walk returning by train, a walk returning by bus, a walk that was stopped by a massive hill that we just couldn't face, and a trip …

Newquay rocks

Published September 7, 2019

Newquay rocks

Been flitting around here and there on the South West Coast Path, and whilst you can't deny the beauty of the Jurassic Coast, there's something very special about Cornish shorelines as well.

The long way round

Published July 7, 2019

The long way round

Beautiful Lulworth Cove with blue skies and turquoise seas, and a horrid pebble beach. Best to stay on the cliff-tops.

Follow the Acorn by John Haughton

Published December 19, 2018

Follow the Acorn by John Haughton

It's only natural that with a growing interest in the South West Coast Path, I sought out books from those who have walked it already. There are a few, but this one seemed like a good place to start. Here we have tales of a walk split into two sections but still done properly - walking miles each day and stopping at B&Bs each evening.

A view to change hearts and minds

Published October 14, 2018

A view to change hearts and minds

Our third and final South West Coast Path adventure of the summer was all about cliffs. The theme of our adventures so far has been spontaneity and this was another one that we hadn't really planned out. It was the kind of trip that saw us driving along a coast road and eventually just deciding to take the next left turn to end up at a beach. Unfortunately, the beach …

Putting the stud in Studland

Published October 13, 2018

Putting the stud in Studland

It feels a bit incongruous to write about the beautiful sunny days of summer when autumn has more than arrived, but I want to catch up the final two stretches of South West Coast Path we walked this year, before settling down to make plans for the next batch. So, after finding the start of the path, our next adventure was another that came about by accident – we hadn’t …

Step up to the street

Published August 26, 2018

Step up to the street

My obsession with the South West Coast Path has only been steadily growing since we found the beginning and the end of the long distance trail. I bought a guide book and I've been plotting and planning how, when and where we can walk the different sections. Because although, just recently, I managed to get Mr C to finally admit he might have an inkling (albeit with great reluctance) to …

From little acorns

Published July 10, 2018

From little acorns

I’ve long been intrigued by the UK’s National Trails. They are long distance footpaths scattered around the UK that follow historical or geographical patterns, like Hadrian’s Wall, the Thames, or the best of the lot, the South West Coast. The South West Coast Path is the best of the lot because, as it says in the title, it follows the coast – and the sea is the best geographical feature …