Early morning walk along the coast

With my walk along the West Highland Way only a week away I thought I had better go out for a 10 mile  training walk along the coast to keep my fitness levels up. Some days things don't work out as you quite expect them to and I had difficulty motivating myself, along with  sore feet at the end of the day. I have come to realise that "bad" days are part of the long distance walkers life but are equally matched by special days where walking seems effortless. On reaching the wood above Branscombe I heard the Rooks  calling to each other from their Rookeries high above my head. Early in the morning, at this time of the year the birdsong is wonderful. A small Wren was defending his territory with beautiful song and the smell of wild garlic wafted through the woodland. May is my favourite month and the trees are just beginning to show a lush greeness and the Bluebells are also  at their best. As I  descended through the woods at Salcombe hill the scent from the Bluebells was wonderful and  smells very similar to Hyacinths . At the end of my journey at Sidmouth I had  a ice cream before I caught the bus back home. A mixed day but valuable experience for what lays ahead over the next few weeks.

Preparations for the Big Walk

I am hopefully off again on my big walk from Lands End to John O Groats in May. With this in mind I have started back into regular training to get my feet used to the demands of walking 18 miles a day for the two week period  that I'm tramping through the Scottish Highlands. So far since the start of my journey from Lands End I have travelled the length of England and have reached Glasgow in Scotland.

In May I plan to walk along the West Highland Way and pick up the Great Glen Way at Fort William. My final stop will be at Inverness at the end of the Great Glen Way. This then leaves about 150 miles to complete the journey, which I hope to walk in 2017, to get me to John O Groats.

Part of the last few weeks training has been in the sunshine of Lanzarote and on  the South West Coastal path here in East Devon. My feet are getting tougher so hopefully all will be well for May.

Planning the next stage of the Big Walk, Glasgow to Inverness via The West Highland and Great Glen Way

I have been working today on planning the next stage of my Big Walk from Lands End to John O Groats. God willing I intend to start out from Glasgow on Tuesday 17th May. This will involve a 174 mile walk over 11 days to Inverness through stunning Highland scenery. My proposed route is as follows:

Glasgow to Milngavie 10 miles

Milngavie to Balmaha 19 miles

Balmaha to Inverarnan 21.5 miles

Inverarnan to Tyndrum 12.5 miles

Tyndrum to Kingshouse 20 miles

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 8.5 miles

Kinlochleven to Fort William 14.5 miles 

Fort William to Laggan 21 miles

Laggan to Invermoriston 19 miles

Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 14 miles

Drumnadrochit to Inverness 14 miles

I plan to arrive at Inverness on Friday the 27th of May and have chosen this time of year for the walk  to hopefully get better weather conditions and avoid the worst of the fearsome midges! I hope you will follow me on my journey in May and with that in mind a few photos of the last time I was there albeit on my bicycle!

Reflections on an Autumn fog

When I set out this morning the air felt cool and the sea reflected a wonderful Autumn light.Autumn has many memories for me including the foggy morning walks on Salisbury Plain as a 12 year old in search of mushrooms. Foggy mornings in Autumn are special and I can remember walking for miles without seeing anyone tying to make out the indestinct shapes ahead of me. In a fog everything seems upside down and confusing. As the morning moved towards midday gradually the sun would break through and images that I had mistakenly thought were one thing turned out to be another thing entirely. As I walked this morning the coolness of the air reminded me of my early walking adventures and how these "foggy" days apply to my life just as much today. Often I am concerned about things that worry me or I wish I had done better. Or perhaps it may be a future concern about things yet to come that I cannot see clearly . My "foggy" morning memories act as a continuous reminder that sometimes we just have to wait until things become clearer and more distinct before taking decisions or being too concerned.
Walking for 10 miles once a week always gives  me time to think about about issues that are  important to me and are on my mind and also gives me  a chance to pray about them. I always return from my journey more trusting  and  certainly less "foggy ".
Today's walk involved  interesting random scarecrows prepared for the Branscombe village fete. I rested by one of them who at first I half mistook for a real person waiting for the bus. The hedgerows were full of late summer butterflies making the most of  the ripest blackberries.
From the woods Buzzards called to each other and the sea shone like silver as middle aged men fished off  the shoreline for mackerel. What a privilege it is to enjoy these Golden hours.

Bothwell to Glasgow-13.2 miles

Leaving Bothwell, it was a grey drizzly morning as I worked my way around the road works. Nipping through traffic queues,crossing many busy roads I made it to Uddingston then on through the wealthy suburbs. Large public parks and small local examples of well loved landscapes were there for all to see. As you near the city  centre you are struck by the number of wonderful public buildings, many of them Georgian or Victorian. The city is bustling and culturally rich. Finding where you are staying in a big city is always a bit of a lottery. I asked some locals if they knew the road I was staying in, but no seemed to be the frequent answer. I found the road a short distance from our encounter,so much for for local knowledge. I have reached journeys end at last and hope God willing to set out again for  for the West Highland Way and The Great Glen Way next year. Hope you can join me on that journey.

Lesmahegow to Bothwell-18 miles

It was a strange start to this morning as I set out on the road. Firstly I expected it to be much brighter than it was. Instead the sky was black with drizzle in a strong westerly breeze. The other thing that was different from my expectations was the distance I would have to walk. I had thought it would be 13 miles and it turned out to be 18. I threaded my way through small villages and was by now on the outskirts of Greater Glasgow which could be seen in the distance from the advantage point of the hills. Down green leafy lanes  I walked to a crossing point that took me over the River Clyde to pick up the Clyde river walkway. This trail follows  the river into the city centre. I was going as far as Bothwell which is 13 miles from the centre. The woodlands were full of Bluebells and in the sandy river bank Sand Martins nested and flew up and the river to catch flies. As I drew near Bothwell I passed Strathclyde Loch where rowers trained and joggers jogged.Geese  by the side of the Loch protected their young and I had to fend one of with my map. I was glad to reach my destination and have a roast lunch and a pint of Guinness.

Abingdon to Lesmahegow - 18.0 miles

Breakfast done I hit the road again for a long day following the cycle route to Lesmahegow. It was a lonely chilly walk a cross the bleak hills, the road spreading out before me and disappearing like a dot on the horizon. It takes a particular mindset to walk this type of road where cars or human company are in short supply. I found myself talking to sheep and ponies who at least made eye contact with me before taking fright and running off. Arriving at Lesmahegow I found a truckers cafe and had  some lunch.

On arrival at my B and B a warm bath soothed my feet and I reflected on my journey.