One of the best things about hiking and about travelling in general is that, every now and then, you are running into something totally unexpected. Something that you did not even know existed when you set out in the morning and that, in the evening, has enriched your understanding of that particular town, region or…
Hikers can explore the Sussex Coastal Culture Trail from Eastbourne to Hastings – all 29 km of it – comfortably in two or, better still, in three stages. Such a longer trip ensures a better balance as otherwise, there is a risk that your Sussex Coastal Culture Trail experience will be all trail and no…
For many years, traditional seaside resorts have been in a state of crisis, but there are signs that they are springing back into recovery. There is life in the old dog yet. The glory days of old-style seaside resorts – in Italy and France but particularly in the UK – was a time when nearly…
The most famous building in Dartmoor National Park is not open for visitors. On our last afternoon in Dartmoor National Park, we made a trip to the highland moors. We could not go hiking anymore, there was no time left for that, but better a cursory view than no view at all, so we took…
A walk to the birthplace of Dartmoor’s most famous son gives you a taste of both town and country The southwest corner of Dartmoor is Drake country: Sir Francis is still the most famous and most glamorous local boy, with a reputation that has lost little of its shine after more than 400 years. Many…
Today, we shall make one last visit to the South West Coast Path, albeit one with a difference. On this stretch of the trail, you will (probably) meet more people than on all of the other stages together and (certainly) see more concrete, too, but what this part of the path may lack in scenic…
Whether you are spending 2 days or 2 weeks in the Southwest of England, there are a few things you should consider before tying up your walking boots for a South West Coast hiking trip: 1. The South West Coast Path appears to be made for long-distance hiking, but … … while a strategy of…
From the sublime to the ridiculously picturesque is but a few steps on Devon’s premier hiking trail Coastal walks come in one of two varieties: there are the idyllic ones, featuring gardenlike landscapes full of picturesque little villages. The Italian and French Riviera is full of such calm and civilized walks. This is nature on…
Encounters with scenic views and low-flying objects on our walk from Thurlestone to South Milton Sands Our trip to South Devon has started with a series of pleasant surprises. Firstly, the trip from London was a lot shorter and more convenient than I had expected, clocking in at roughly three hours. I had always assumed…
Whatever type of walk you may fancy, the South West Coast Path has exactly what you want When we still lived in Britain, we made one big and – in hindsight – regrettable mistake: that was treating the M25 motorway (which, in practical terms, separates London from the rest of Britain) like a frontier to…