Walking and Rambling discussion

[High Dyke]

Section 18 London LOOP.

Images. Map and walk photographs

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2025 ==

London LOOP Section.19

Images. Map and walk photographs

 

[778]

Section 18 London LOOP.
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Images. Map and walk photographs

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2025 ==

London LOOP Section.19
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Images. Map and walk photographs

Did you take the alternative route for section 19?

 

[High Dyke]

Did you take the alternative route for section 19?

Round the site of RAF Chigwell? Yes I did. Years of growth have made the balloon pads difficult to see, but I did find the Intone stone, and read its mysterious story. It's a bit of a walk down the hill to the tube station.

 

[bspahh]

Time Out has an article:

A new map shows 10,000 walking trails across the UK​

Slow Ways wants to ‘connect every town, city and national landscape in Britain’ and make rural walking accessible to all

The map is online at

Slow Ways - help create a network of walking routes connecting Great Britain - Home page

The Slow Ways national walking network connects all of Great Britains towns and cities. Created by you. Search to find a Slow Way walk near me.

www.slowways.org

A paper map of the UK network is available from https://www.urbangood.org/collections/folded-maps/products/slow-ways-walking-network

It shows routes which have been scored and validated by users. It doesn't include some long distance footpaths.

 

[Iskra]

Yesterday I walked some of the Solway Coast in Dumfries & Galloway- stunning scenery and during peak tourist season I barely saw a soul!

 

[Paul1160]

Great pics.Looks like the place to go to avoid the crowds!

 

[ChrisC]

Yesterday I walked some of the Solway Coast in Dumfries & Galloway- stunning scenery and during peak tourist season I barely saw a soul!

The Solway Coast and indeed the whole of Dumfries and Galloway is a lovely unspoilt area where you can completely get away from the crowds and walk all day hardly seeing anyone. I first discovered it over 40 years ago and have been back many times. The whole area from Dumfries right over to the tip of the Mull of Galloway is worth visiting with some stunning inland scenery as well as the coast. It’s 7 years now since I was last there and I must return soon.

Last Saturday I walked in a completely contrasting area across on the East Coast of England in East Yorkshire. I did the walk right to the tip of Spurn Point, which is somewhere I have always wanted to go, and so pleased that I have now been before I get too old to be able to walk the distance! There were quite a few people at the Spurn Point Discovery Centre and on the nearby beach but very few people walking further down the point and I didn’t see anyone down the far end beyond the lighthouse.

I started my walk at the Visitors Centre near Kilnsea and headed south. The whole of the Spurn Point area and Nature Reserve is now only accessible on foot. A large section of the road, around half a mile in distance, was washed away during storms a few years ago meaning a section of the walk is quite heavy going through sand and shingle and it can be underwater at high tide. After this section I then continued right down to the lighthouse along the road which runs on the landward side of the spit with views over the Humber marshes towards distant Grimsby and Cleethorpes. It was around 3 miles from the car park to the lighthouse. Beyond the lighthouse to the end of the point is almost another mile is a bit harder going being very up and down through sand hills. I returned to the Visitors Centre walking the whole length of the point on the seaward side along an almost completely deserted sandy beach. The full walk is around 7 miles and took me about 4 hours to complete. It isn‘t a walk to hurry as you need to keep stopping, not just to enjoy the views but also the remoteness and unique area that due to erosion and weather is constantly changing and may not even be there in years to come.

 

[D6130]

The Solway Coast and indeed the whole of Dumfries and Galloway is a lovely unspoilt area where you can completely get away from the crowds and walk all day hardly seeing anyone. I first discovered it over 40 years ago and have been back many times. The whole area from Dumfries right over to the tip of the Mull of Galloway is worth visiting with some stunning inland scenery as well as the coast. It’s 7 years now since I was last there and I must return soon.

Last Saturday I walked in a completely contrasting area across on the East Coast of England in East Yorkshire. I did the walk right to the tip of Spurn Point, which is somewhere I have always wanted to go, and so pleased that I have now been before I get too old to be able to walk the distance! There were quite a few people at the Spurn Point Discovery Centre and on the nearby beach but very few people walking further down the point and I didn’t see anyone down the far end beyond the lighthouse.

I started my walk at the Visitors Centre near Kilnsea and headed south. The whole of the Spurn Point area and Nature Reserve is now only accessible on foot. A large section of the road, around half a mile in distance, was washed away during storms a few years ago meaning a section of the walk is quite heavy going through sand and shingle and it can be underwater at high tide. After this section I then continued right down to the lighthouse along the road which runs on the landward side of the spit with views over the Humber marshes towards distant Grimsby and Cleethorpes. It was around 3 miles from the car park to the lighthouse. Beyond the lighthouse to the end of the point is almost another mile is a bit harder going being very up and down through sand hills. I returned to the Visitors Centre walking the whole length of the point on the seaward side along an almost completely deserted sandy beach. The full walk is around 7 miles and took me about 4 hours to complete. It isn‘t a walk to hurry as you need to keep stopping, not just to enjoy the views but also the remoteness and unique area that due to erosion and weather is constantly changing and may not even be there in years to come.

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Could you still see any evidence of the former military railway which ran out along Spurn Head?

 

[ChrisC]

Could you still see any evidence of the former military railway which ran out along Spurn Head?

Now you mention it, yes I did see some rails at some point on my walk. I think it was in the area close to the lighthouse. I must admit I didn’t think much about it as I was concentrating more on the general landscape of the area and the wildlife.

 

[Iskra]

Today, I did a 15mi circular around Big Water of Fleet viaduct, including walking some of the old Portpatrick railway trackbed and taking in the old Gatehouse of Fleet station, which coincidentally is nowhere near Gatehouse of Fleet!

 

[THC]

Three days, 90 miles, two sore feet...

Wendover to Milton Keynes, 28 miles. Day 1 of 3 up the Grand Union canal towpath, the first seven miles along the Wendover arm to Bulbourne before turning up the main line to Marsworth, passing the currently-closed Aylesbury arm, then skirting various villages across the north Buckinghamshire plain to Linslade and Leighton Buzzard. After a few miles of twisting and turning, the canal struck north for Soulbury Three Locks, before passing Fenny Stratford and its 12-inch lock for the final couple of miles to Milton Keynes marina and a very welcome bed for the night.

--
Milton Keynes to Daventry, 36.5 miles. Day 2 of 3 and out with the lark for a full day's walking up the Grand Union. The first eight miles through MK's various suburbs and villages were very pleasant, before I left the new city behind at Wolverton. and headed into Northamptonshire at Cosgrove. The Boat Inn at the canal village of Stoke Bruerne was my lunch stop for a spot of gongoozling and a visit to the canal museum shop to liberate a book or two.

Back on the towpath briefly before heading up and over Blisworth Tunnel, before rejoining it to pass over Weedon, alongside the M1 and West Coast main line railway for a few miles (v noisy). I turned away from the noise at Buckby for the last couple of miles to Braunston tunnel east portal, then took what I thought was the path over the top to find myself inside a locked building site! Once I calmed down I managed to scramble under a fence to freedom and my hotel for the night. I am done. Until tomorrow!

--
Daventry to Warwick Parkway, 24 miles. The final day of 3 along the Grand Union canal northwards was a day of lock flights. From the summit down to Braunston, the Clapham Junction of its day, to pick up the Oxford Canal for five miles to Napton Junction. From there I took the old Warwick and Napton Canal down Calcutt and Stockton flights, past the staircase at Bascote and the HS2 works before a quick pint at Leamington bridge 40 set me up for the final couple of miles to the old Warwick & Birmingham canal and the start of Hatton lock flight. For today that remains a flight of fancy - it will keep for another day.

THC

 

[Iskra]

Three days, 90 miles, two sore feet...

Wendover to Milton Keynes, 28 miles. Day 1 of 3 up the Grand Union canal towpath, the first seven miles along the Wendover arm to Bulbourne before turning up the main line to Marsworth, passing the currently-closed Aylesbury arm, then skirting various villages across the north Buckinghamshire plain to Linslade and Leighton Buzzard. After a few miles of twisting and turning, the canal struck north for Soulbury Three Locks, before passing Fenny Stratford and its 12-inch lock for the final couple of miles to Milton Keynes marina and a very welcome bed for the night.

--
Milton Keynes to Daventry, 36.5 miles. Day 2 of 3 and out with the lark for a full day's walking up the Grand Union. The first eight miles through MK's various suburbs and villages were very pleasant, before I left the new city behind at Wolverton. and headed into Northamptonshire at Cosgrove. The Boat Inn at the canal village of Stoke Bruerne was my lunch stop for a spot of gongoozling and a visit to the canal museum shop to liberate a book or two.

Back on the towpath briefly before heading up and over Blisworth Tunnel, before rejoining it to pass over Weedon, alongside the M1 and West Coast main line railway for a few miles (v noisy). I turned away from the noise at Buckby for the last couple of miles to Braunston tunnel east portal, then took what I thought was the path over the top to find myself inside a locked building site! Once I calmed down I managed to scramble under a fence to freedom and my hotel for the night. I am done. Until tomorrow!

--
Daventry to Warwick Parkway, 24 miles. The final day of 3 along the Grand Union canal northwards was a day of lock flights. From the summit down to Braunston, the Clapham Junction of its day, to pick up the Oxford Canal for five miles to Napton Junction. From there I took the old Warwick and Napton Canal down Calcutt and Stockton flights, past the staircase at Bascote and the HS2 works before a quick pint at Leamington bridge 40 set me up for the final couple of miles to the old Warwick & Birmingham canal and the start of Hatton lock flight. For today that remains a flight of fancy - it will keep for another day.

THC

Good effort!

On the topic of sore feet, how do you avoid blisters doing such distances? I tend to struggle above 20 miles, although much depends on the type of surfaces travelled.

 

[THC]

Good effort!

On the topic of sore feet, how do you avoid blisters doing such distances? I tend to struggle above 20 miles, although much depends on the type of surfaces travelled.

My three days were pretty much all on towpath so very hard going underfoot in parts. Some minor blisters in such instances are unavoidable, although it was only after the second day this time round that they were noticeable. I always carry Compeed and put one on as soon as I notice any rubbing but by then it's usually too late. I've tried two pairs of thin walking socks, as that is often touted as a way to avoid blisters, but that hasn't worked. So I limit the blisters wherever I can but not always successfully.

THC

 

[styles]

Good effort!

On the topic of sore feet, how do you avoid blisters doing such distances? I tend to struggle above 20 miles, although much depends on the type of surfaces travelled.

I have a twist in my gait, which makes me more prone to blisters and having to repair and replace shoes more often.

I have found that for the back of my ankle/heel, preemptive compede works well. In my walking boots I also stitch in place a small patch of merino wool to the heel to reduce the friction. Ever since I started doing that (maybe a decade ago now), I haven't had a heel blister, and I've done >40 mile days in that time.

 

[John Webb]

Today, I did a 15mi circular around Big Water of Fleet viaduct, including walking some of the old Portpatrick railway trackbed and taking in the old Gatehouse of Fleet station, which coincidentally is nowhere near Gatehouse of Fleet!

Interesting. The line serving Gatehouse of Fleet featured in the Dorothy L. Sayer's novel "Five Red Herrings" in which various train journeys play a role.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2025 ==

Three days, 90 miles, two sore feet...

Wendover to Milton Keynes, 28 miles. Day 1 of 3 up the Grand Union canal towpath, the first seven miles along the Wendover arm to Bulbourne before turning up the main line to Marsworth, passing the currently-closed Aylesbury arm, then skirting various villages across the north Buckinghamshire plain to Linslade and Leighton Buzzard. After a few miles of twisting and turning, the canal struck north for Soulbury Three Locks, before passing Fenny Stratford and its 12-inch lock for the final couple of miles to Milton Keynes marina and a very welcome bed for the night.

--
Milton Keynes to Daventry, 36.5 miles. Day 2 of 3 and out with the lark for a full day's walking up the Grand Union. The first eight miles through MK's various suburbs and villages were very pleasant, before I left the new city behind at Wolverton. and headed into Northamptonshire at Cosgrove. The Boat Inn at the canal village of Stoke Bruerne was my lunch stop for a spot of gongoozling and a visit to the canal museum shop to liberate a book or two.

Back on the towpath briefly before heading up and over Blisworth Tunnel, before rejoining it to pass over Weedon, alongside the M1 and West Coast main line railway for a few miles (v noisy). I turned away from the noise at Buckby for the last couple of miles to Braunston tunnel east portal, then took what I thought was the path over the top to find myself inside a locked building site! Once I calmed down I managed to scramble under a fence to freedom and my hotel for the night. I am done. Until tomorrow!

--
Daventry to Warwick Parkway, 24 miles. The final day of 3 along the Grand Union canal northwards was a day of lock flights. From the summit down to Braunston, the Clapham Junction of its day, to pick up the Oxford Canal for five miles to Napton Junction. From there I took the old Warwick and Napton Canal down Calcutt and Stockton flights, past the staircase at Bascote and the HS2 works before a quick pint at Leamington bridge 40 set me up for the final couple of miles to the old Warwick & Birmingham canal and the start of Hatton lock flight. For today that remains a flight of fancy - it will keep for another day.

THC

I did from SE London to Leamington in two days on a bicycle along the GU towpath back in the early 1960s - my paternal grandmother lived in Leamington. But I admit I came back by train!

 

[bspahh]

On the topic of sore feet, how do you avoid blisters doing such distances? I tend to struggle above 20 miles, although much depends on the type of surfaces travelled.

I once did the West Highland Way. I had a brand new pair of Bridgedale socks. On the first couple of days, I found out the hard way, that new thick fluffy socks are not a good idea if they squish your foot into the boot.

I got a pair of 1000 mile socks from Crianlarich which were much better. They had two thin layers, which were thinner than the Bridgedale ones. I had no problems for the rest of the walk.

 

[Kite159]

Good walk, especially with the section of towpath on the 'shared' section being quite poor* in places when I walked it last year.

(Mainly Erosion)

 

[THC]

Good walk, especially with the section of towpath on the 'shared' section being quite poor* in places when I walked it last year.

(Mainly Erosion)

The towpath from Braunston to Napton Junction is still poor in patches, albeit much improved overall on when I first walked that way twenty years ago. It is however nothing as compared to the horror show that is the Grand Union Leicester line towpath near Welford, where erosion and root systems have combined to make walking it challenging in the extreme.

THC

 

[Kite159]

The towpath from Braunston to Napton Junction is still poor in patches, albeit much improved overall on when I first walked that way twenty years ago. It is however nothing as compared to the horror show that is the Grand Union Leicester line towpath near Welford, where erosion and root systems have combined to make walking it challenging in the extreme.

THC

God bless the Leicester Arm and all it's rural & remoteness

 

[THC]

Takeley to Newport, 17.5 miles. From the old railway station I headed west to pick up the Harcamlow Way footpath through a very lovely part of north Essex. Starting around Takeley village, I headed north past Stansted airport to the old abbey site at Tilty. Three miles north of there, once the young River Chelmer alongside finally dried out, I came to the windmill and parish church at Thaxted, reputedly the largest in England. There was (and still is) a lot of money in these parts. From there I headed downhill in a westerly direction to Debden, crossing the watershed and a young River Cam before finishing at Newport for the train home.

I've walked to three Newports this year - Isle of Wight in May, south Wales in July and finally Essex today. All very different, each with their charm.

THC

 

[Acey]

Anybody here done any "Munroe bagging " ? A busy working life,my wifes ill-health and living darn sarf ( Bromley Kent ) meant we couldn't add many to our tally and of course there were always lots of non-Munroes that were a better climb ,so we only managed 26 or so ! The best day we had was on the twin peaks of Gleoraich and Spidean Mialach ,perfect weather ,totally alone except for the Raf buzzing below us ! ps Ben Nevis and Ben More were done as day trips !!

 

[High Dyke]

Took advantage of good pennine weather to cover another section of the Rochdale Canal. Walked from Littleborough to Todmorden.



Images: route map of walk. The southern portal of Summit Tunnel and Gauxholme viaduct.

 

[Acfb]

I got the train to Dunkeld&Birnam on Saturday and did the circular walk up round Birnam Hill etc with amazing views from Stair Bridge etc.

The Sunday before I got the train to Reston but only just had enough time to walk all the way to St Abbs and back within three hours. I didn't have enough time to do the circular walk around St Abb's Head.

 

[D6130]

Took advantage of good pennine weather to cover another section of the Rochdale Canal. Walked from Littleborough to Todmorden.

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Images: route map of walk. The southern portal of Summit Tunnel and Gauxholme viaduct.

Shame I didn't know that you were in the area @High Dyke.We could have met for a drink afterwards.

 

[High Dyke]

Shame I didn't know that you were in the area @High Dyke.We could have met for a drink afterwards.

Yeah, sorry about that. It was a bit of a short notice plan.

 

[Bradford PA]

Took advantage of good pennine weather to cover another section of the Rochdale Canal. Walked from Littleborough to Todmorden.

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Images: route map of walk. The southern portal of Summit Tunnel and Gauxholme viaduct.

That really is an excellent, informative walk. I have been right through from Sowerby Bridge to Rochdale but the middle section that you have just done is the most interesting. How they managed to fit a broad canal in together with a river, road/s and a railway into such a narrow valley is a real feat of engineering. One gets such great views of the alternative routes as one goes along with the occasional criss-crossing. It also means that there are plenty of nearby options for refreshment and public transport en route.

 

[Kite159]

Couple of short walks in the East Midlands today (making the most of the sunshine before the rain comes) with Loughborough to Barrow Upon Soar along the Soar Navigation (linking up with the section I did last week from Barrow to Leicester), quite peaceful at times with a changeable towpath. Before heading towards Beeston to walk the Nottingham & Beeston Canal into the city centre, decent year-round tarmac towpath and quiet at times (certainly unexpected as I was expecting it to be more urban/industrial).

Just the short section from Loughborough to the Trent with the Soar Navigation (which involves a double back towards East Midlands Parkway due to the lack of a crossing over the Trent at the junction), plus the section from the junction with the Erewash Canal with the Trent towards Beeston along the Trent [then I will probably continue along the path alongside the Trent towards Wilford].

-----

Thursday, with the weather forecast being better than expected, I headed towards Maidstone to walk from Maidstone to Aylesford alongside the Medway before heading to Beltring, walking towards East Peckham to walk the Medway Valley Way towards Tonbridge, very peaceful at times and very rural.

 

[Ediswan]

Whistles, do walkers still carry whistles, and know how to use them ? On the various "mountain rescue" TV shows, casualties are shown shouting for help, shining torches, using mobile phones, never (that I recall) using a whistle.

 

[Iskra]

Whistles, do walkers still carry whistles, and know how to use them ? On the various "mountain rescue" TV shows, casualties are shown shouting for help, shining torches, using mobile phones, never (that I recall) using a whistle.

I have one attached to my map case. Alas, after carrying it religiously on hikes for many years; I haven’t carried that with me for 2-3 years now due to the improving mobile phone network coverage and the ability for the OS Map App to work offline.

 

[styles]

Whistles, do walkers still carry whistles, and know how to use them ? On the various "mountain rescue" TV shows, casualties are shown shouting for help, shining torches, using mobile phones, never (that I recall) using a whistle.

I do carry one yes but in all honesty if I have to rely on that I won't be very happy.

I take a PLB with me as well as a satellite communication emergency device.

My PLB was about £230 and comes with a 10 year battery guarantee, and if you are unlucky enough to have to use it they'll replace it for free providing you write them a sort of testimonial about it. For me, £23/year for an emergency beacon which works on kayaks in the Adriatic or hills in the Highlands is well worth it.

I'm sure a whistle could help me in a proper whiteout to some extent, so I keep one with me, but I'll be in dire situations if I actually have to use it.

A bit like a compass. I'd have failed my Mountain Leader assessment if I'd constantly relied on that to know where I am.