StephenHunter
Established Member
I'm planning to do another bit of the Capital Ring in February or March once the weather's a bit better.
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Walking and Rambling discussion
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Kite159
Veteran Member
Makes sense, as I did part of the Capital Ring last month from South Kenton towards Hendon and that got a bit muddy in the Fryent Country Park. This year, I'm hoping to clear some more of both the Capital Ring & London Loop.
Iskra
Established Member
Today I walked from Dent to Ribblehead via the bridleway that skirts Great Knoutberry Hill and Wold Fell. You really appreciate now dramatic the landscape is from that height. I then dropped down to Dent Head viaduct where the road was closed but the sign saying that was placed too far back along the road for anyone coming off the bridleway to see it. A horrendous detour was on the cards but I negotiated passage through the construction site via unorthodox means. The next challenge was a run-in with some locals (geese) in a farmyard on the ascent of Blea Moor, where I had to use my tripod (non-violently) to keep a pair at bay. Ironically, there was a sign on the farm gate saying they were friendly. They were not! There was some fascinating railway infrastructure on this section, but I was also a little disappointed with some of the Victorian cultural vandalism on display, with the spoil heaps ruining the landscape somewhat. Once Blea Moor was climbed the paths became a bit soggy and I encountered my first fellow walker of the say. It was all down hill from here and of course things got busier once the main Yorkshire Three Peak path was joined near the signal box. The weather cooperated and so did the trains. All in all a beautiful day. At the end, I warmed up at The Railway Inn with a pint by the coal fire, which was a perfect end to a brilliant hike.
I did both of these during lockdown (once we were allowed to, so semi-lockdown I guess). After a couple of day walks I started carrying a bin bag and litter picker. I know it's part and parcel of a walking route around the city, but I was disappointed with just how much litter there was still.
I thought about cycling them but rights of way made a lot of it quite tricky and I think I worked out I'd spend as much time off the official route as on it.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sadly for some, using a litter bin seems to be too complicated. Just see trains when people leave rubbish on the table when there is a well signposted litter bin behind their seat or they pass a bin when leaving the train.
Just sheer laziness and having no respect for the environment.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Has anybody walked the "South Tees Cycleway" path between the Stockton/Thornaby area towards Middlesbrough (along the 'south' bank of the Tees)?
THC
Member
Ipswich to Felixstowe, 18 miles. I headed out of the station, straight onto the riverside path to Ipswich Waterside, passing all the new development attracted by the university in recent years. Woodland walks through three parks led me out of Ipswich and under Orwell bridge before descending to the east bank of the river and a mile where, were it just a bit warmer, I could have been on a tropical beach somewhere! Many twists and turns brought me to, then round, the container port, before a straight mile to Felixstowe beach and one more along the shoreline brought me to the town centre for the train home.
THC
THC
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
I’ve been watching this thread for a while, I’m now ready to comment. Well done to everyone on some fantastic walking!
THC, that walk of yours there looks awesome
It’s an area I really need to get back to, I believe the last time I was in Felixstowe there were still Anglia liveried 153s around! 
Today I got into the hiking spirit and did Knighton to Knucklas. Probably not my best choice of day, given the epic wind and hail that came down just at the end of the adventure. Jeepers that was a soaking! Less than 4 miles but it was a good adventure, on this walk I stuck to the roads but I’ve got inspired to do the Heart of Wales Trail. So much so I’ve ordered the book today, bring on some epic walks this year
I tried to share photos, but apparently they’re too large. The scenery was great though!
THC, that walk of yours there looks awesome
It’s an area I really need to get back to, I believe the last time I was in Felixstowe there were still Anglia liveried 153s around! Today I got into the hiking spirit and did Knighton to Knucklas. Probably not my best choice of day, given the epic wind and hail that came down just at the end of the adventure. Jeepers that was a soaking! Less than 4 miles but it was a good adventure, on this walk I stuck to the roads but I’ve got inspired to do the Heart of Wales Trail. So much so I’ve ordered the book today, bring on some epic walks this year
I tried to share photos, but apparently they’re too large. The scenery was great though!
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Copy and paste them with the snipping tool.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Copy and paste them with the snipping tool.
I might be being a bit dippy-duck, is this a tool included in the forum’s post creator? I’ve not used this snipping tool before so I’d appreciate some guidance
Iskra
Established Member
Welcome back!I might be being a bit dippy-duck, is this a tool included in the forum’s post creator? I’ve not used this snipping tool before so I’d appreciate some guidance
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Only posting on a very much part-time basis at the moment, as an experiment. I was even going to relaunch my trip reports, to the extent I started typing one earlier this month. Never finished it!
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
It'll be on your computer somewhere - you might have to search the programs list for it.I might be being a bit dippy-duck, is this a tool included in the forum’s post creator? I’ve not used this snipping tool before so I’d appreciate some guidance
Simply draw it round the photo you want to post; that will copy it in a fairly small file size and you can then paste it directly into your post.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Not sure if my phone will have such a function, however I’ll have a look.
@Kite159 and I did a nice little adventure of a walk from Shirley to Lea Hall yesterday, following the Cole Valley Route which was surprisingly nice
We’d done the first part between Sheldon Country Park and Stechford many months ago, the remainder to Shirley had been on the list for way too long. We could have finished the walk at Stechford, however we had a challenge to complete on Strava so extended the walk to Lea Hall 
That’s high up my list now I only need 5 HoW stations. At least being roads the route won’t suddenly vanish as I have found to be the case with some of the Schroedinger-esque footpaths in Central Wales.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ouch! I’ve not yet had that problem in Wales, however I’ve also not done much exploring off-train yet. I have today received the Heart of Wales Trail book, as I am fully expecting to get cracking on that later this year.
Mind you, I said that about a lot of routes last year, so we will see! Now I have the book I have more motivation to get on with it!
As for Knighton to Knucklas, I had it along the country lane via Skyborry, it is a bit of a hilly and twisty single-track road with very few passing places. So if you do it, keep your wits about you but you’ll be all good
Including a few little extra bits around Knighton Station and the viaduct at Knucklas, it came in at 3.94 miles which took me around 57-58 minutes to do. At my normal pace, it would have been quicker but I did stop a few times to re-tie laces and take off/put back on waterproofs, as well as of course a few photo stops and map checks.
THC
Member
You must have very long legs! I walk at what I thought was fair lick of about 3.5 mph, which is slowed every time I stop, whether to take a picture or anything else, but there's no way I could walk that pace unless round a track. With all the stops I usually average 2.8 to 3mph across a walking day in easy terrain, slowing down where hills are in the mix.
THC
Had to resort to a rather hair-raising walk along the A483 (not to be recommended!) a couple of years ago when two or three footpaths that the OS map insisted would get me from Cynghordy to Sugar Loaf all failed to materialise or disappeared into an unavoidable sea of mud.Ouch! I’ve not yet had that problem in Wales, however I’ve also not done much exploring off-train yet. I have today received the Heart of Wales Trail book, as I am fully expecting to get cracking on that later this year.
Mind you, I said that about a lot of routes last year, so we will see! Now I have the book I have more motivation to get on with it!
As for Knighton to Knucklas, I had it along the country lane via Skyborry, it is a bit of a hilly and twisty single-track road with very few passing places. So if you do it, keep your wits about you but you’ll be all good
Including a few little extra bits around Knighton Station and the viaduct at Knucklas, it came in at 3.94 miles which took me around 57-58 minutes to do. At my normal pace, it would have been quicker but I did stop a few times to re-tie laces and take off/put back on waterproofs, as well as of course a few photo stops and map checks.
Kite159
Veteran Member
And other than the section near the railway viaducts at Stetchford, it was a reasonable quality path.Not sure if my phone will have such a function, however I’ll have a look.
@Kite159 and I did a nice little adventure of a walk from Shirley to Lea Hall yesterday, following the Cole Valley Route which was surprisingly nice
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Oh, I don't think it exists on phones.
...but you could do a screenshot of the photo itself and post that instead of the actual photo file? Pretty sure all phones have a screenshot function?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Hi, thanks for the reply
I’d not class my legs as long really. 30” inside leg when it comes to trousers I believe, so nothing significant.My legs are fast though, for me a slow walk is between 4.0-4.3mph. Anything less than that, which does happen if I’m carrying a lot of shopping for example, is very slow and I usually wonder what has happened to me! From memory, my average speed is usually around 4.5mph, although very much not so on softer terrain. A walk across fields would certainly drop that average!
I should imagine that walk along the A483 was grim, I’ve been along it as a passenger in a car and I’m not a fan of any part of that road! Some beautiful scenery, don’t get me wrong, but it’s quite telling that I wouldn’t ride a bike on it.
Indeed, in drier conditions no doubt that bit would have been better. Very much worth doing though, certainly inspired me to do some more walking adventures again soon
Which has actually given me an idea for early March, I’ll advise when I get it confirmed but it will be a walk you’d want to do
Should be an option somewhere. Just been and cropped one of Sunday’s photos down, let’s see if that works. It doesn’t have the same feel of the original but it’s working by the looks of things.
For reference, this is Knucklas Viaduct, taken from the road that goes under it
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The worst bits were where the road went around rocky outcrops and there would have been nowhere to squeeze into if there had been any large oncoming vehicles. Fortunately those that there were didn’t want to hit those rocks either and didn’t have to pass stuff coming my way at just the wrong moment. Definitely not to be repeated, though.
D6130
Established Member
A rather interesting-looking bird of prey gliding over the viaduct there!Hi, thanks for the reply
My legs are fast though, for me a slow walk is between 4.0-4.3mph. Anything less than that, which does happen if I’m carrying a lot of shopping for example, is very slow and I usually wonder what has happened to me! From memory, my average speed is usually around 4.5mph, although very much not so on softer terrain. A walk across fields would certainly drop that average!
I should imagine that walk along the A483 was grim, I’ve been along it as a passenger in a car and I’m not a fan of any part of that road! Some beautiful scenery, don’t get me wrong, but it’s quite telling that I wouldn’t ride a bike on it.
Indeed, in drier conditions no doubt that bit would have been better. Very much worth doing though, certainly inspired me to do some more walking adventures again soon
Which has actually given me an idea for early March, I’ll advise when I get it confirmed but it will be a walk you’d want to do
Should be an option somewhere. Just been and cropped one of Sunday’s photos down, let’s see if that works. It doesn’t have the same feel of the original but it’s working by the looks of things.
For reference, this is Knucklas Viaduct, taken from the road that goes under it
Techniquest
Veteran Member
A rather interesting-looking bird of prey gliding over the viaduct there!
Never noticed that! Well spotted
THC
Member
Campsea Ashe to Darsham, 17 miles. From Wickham Market station, two miles away from the town for which it is named, I joined the East Suffolk Line walk for the second day, having walked the first north from Ipswich before Christmas. Flooded meadows along the Deben were a portent but I came prepared, for after five miles of wet but passable meandering through the Alde valley I came to my own flooded path. Off with the boots and socks and up with the trousers for several hundred metres wading either side of the flooded river. Once on the other side a handy towel and fresh socks were applied and on I went north, to higher and drier ground, before descending to Saxmundham. Once past the town I carried on north for more twists and turns, eventually passing through Yoxford and finishing beside the A12 at Darsham. Two days left to Lowestoft.
THC
THC
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Kite159
Veteran Member
More adventurous than walking part of the Marriott Way path, even though that got a bit muddy in places (due to recent heavy rain)
johnnychips
Established Member
@THC what’s that blue stuff in your second photo? 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Yesterday I got my power walking feet on and tackled a 10.6 mile walk from Leigh Bus Station to Tim Hortons at The Trafford Centre. My route took me along the guided busway first of all, then the Tyldesley Loop Line then Roe Green Loop Line (part of it, there’s more of it that I’ve yet to do which takes one most of the way if not fully to Bolton) to Monton Green then, briefly following the roads, onto Bridgwater Way to the river, where I joined the B road to the Trafford Centre.
Thoroughly enjoyed my walk until 8 miles in, as breakfast had been light and worn off ages before I got to the end. Not to mention the only cup of coffee I’d had before then had worn off by that point. The weather had also gone from very pleasant for February, almost spring-like, to very much winter-like, so I wasn’t enjoying the final 3 miles! The canal bit was good, on Bridgwater Way, however not as fun as the loop line bits which form part of Route 55 and had an excellent surface the whole way.
The wind had got most infuriating and the rain started just as I got to my sanctuary from the weather, Tim Hortons, where I collapsed into one of the big chairs and warmed up massively with my well earnt coffee. To say my feet hurt by the end, with a pretty good speed (13:24/mile average according to Strava, my fastest was 11:37/mile) considering the gradients on the busway and running out of water and energy way before the end, well that’s an understatement!
I’d attach some photos, well more of them but the forum can’t handle them and to be honest, I haven’t the patience for playing around half the millenium making them smaller. I have better things to do, although my big pile of admin isn’t getting done very fast either!
Yes, before anyone asks, I have got my eyes set on the rest of the Bridgwater Way, as well as linking up the end of the walk from Trafford Centre into Manchester itself. I also have my eyes set on the rest of the Roe Green Loop Line, I’ve seen tonight there’s the Linnyshaw Loop Line too which also needs doing.
Of course, there’s plenty of other routes in Manchester to tackle too. There’s a massive one that stretches west alongside the A580 that I really want to tackle, although when that will be I have no idea. The Ashton Canal needs finishing, the Rochdale Canal needs cracking on with properly too.
Of course, I do plan to take to two wheels and ride along that busway route and the loop lines. When I will have time to do so, I’m not sure. I want to go back to Manchester ASAP, perhaps this will be the catalyst to doing so!
Thoroughly enjoyed my walk until 8 miles in, as breakfast had been light and worn off ages before I got to the end. Not to mention the only cup of coffee I’d had before then had worn off by that point. The weather had also gone from very pleasant for February, almost spring-like, to very much winter-like, so I wasn’t enjoying the final 3 miles! The canal bit was good, on Bridgwater Way, however not as fun as the loop line bits which form part of Route 55 and had an excellent surface the whole way.
The wind had got most infuriating and the rain started just as I got to my sanctuary from the weather, Tim Hortons, where I collapsed into one of the big chairs and warmed up massively with my well earnt coffee. To say my feet hurt by the end, with a pretty good speed (13:24/mile average according to Strava, my fastest was 11:37/mile) considering the gradients on the busway and running out of water and energy way before the end, well that’s an understatement!
I’d attach some photos, well more of them but the forum can’t handle them and to be honest, I haven’t the patience for playing around half the millenium making them smaller. I have better things to do, although my big pile of admin isn’t getting done very fast either!
Yes, before anyone asks, I have got my eyes set on the rest of the Bridgwater Way, as well as linking up the end of the walk from Trafford Centre into Manchester itself. I also have my eyes set on the rest of the Roe Green Loop Line, I’ve seen tonight there’s the Linnyshaw Loop Line too which also needs doing.
Of course, there’s plenty of other routes in Manchester to tackle too. There’s a massive one that stretches west alongside the A580 that I really want to tackle, although when that will be I have no idea. The Ashton Canal needs finishing, the Rochdale Canal needs cracking on with properly too.
Of course, I do plan to take to two wheels and ride along that busway route and the loop lines. When I will have time to do so, I’m not sure. I want to go back to Manchester ASAP, perhaps this will be the catalyst to doing so!
THC
Member
Midleton to Youghal, 26km / 16 miles. It was a close-run thing when reinstating the railway to Midleton whether they would continue all the way to the coast but the Greenway won out and so from there it's all walkers and cyclists today. The walk was a head-down affair, occasional glimpses of east Cork through the trees lining the old route. The villages of Mogeely and Killeagh gave some relief before the end of the line, just short of the old Youghal railway station, from where I continued round the coast road, finishing in Youghal proper for the bus back to Cork.
THC
THC
