Your walks

[Kite159]

Whichever way you go up out of the Calder valley, you are confronted with serious hills!

All the Hills

And hills are better to climb during the summer months when the ground isn't a muddy mess causing potential grip issues

 

[Bletchleyite]

All the Hills

And hills are better to climb during the summer months when the ground isn't a muddy mess causing potential grip issues

No such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes/shoes

I'm definitely envious of people who live near mountains. Though MK is still a nice place for a walk with the linear parks and undeveloped bits. I've gone for a walk in the dark the past few days but I need to remember to take some pics when it's light!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Lunchtime walk into Wigan town centre today, so more urban than some of the other contributions.


Starting point from near the former Trencherfield Mill, now ALRA North and Trencherfield Apartments. The Leeds Liverpool Canal is behind the building.



The hostelries in The Arches under the WCML. Wigan Central (Real ale bar), Hideout (coffee shop/wine bar - best coffee in Wigan), Plata Tapas (guess what that is) and 1984 (bar). All currently closed of course.



... the two stations



Galloways Pie shop! The bakery is back near the first photo; I can see it from my balcony.



Pendolino leaving Wigan NW towards Preston.



The Swan and Railway Hotel. Had reopened a few months before first lockdown. Looking forward to a nice pint of Draught Bass there sometime later this year.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Here's the route I took (from memory) plotted on OS and walking from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden. If done as a forum walk I'd suggest not choosing one of the hottest days of the year and forgetting to bring more than a litre of water

There are loads of variations on that theme depending on how energetic people are feeling, Mytholmroyd or Hebden to Todmorden or Walsden, including what’s still a nice walk along the canal bank if roughly 1000 feet from the valley floor up to Stoodley is too daunting a prospect.

And in normal times there are loads of nice pubs too!

 

[scotrail158713]

I met a friend for a nice circular walk recently. We met in the station car park on the old railway line by Ormiston in East Lothian, then headed along the path to the end near Carberry.
Then along the main road for a short period before a downhill which would eventually take you into Dalkeith. It’s at this point you get a lovely panoramic view of Edinburgh and Midlothian (photo below although I must say it doesn’t really do justice to the view).



(a view of Edinburgh and Midlothian, with Arthur’s Seat in the centre, and the Pentlands beginning to rise up on the left)

There’s an option towards the bottom of the hill to go towards Dalkeith - better not to do that currently though as that’s Midlothian

.
Instead we headed down around the edge of Whitecraig, along the main road for a short time before heading up to Fa’side Castle. I should say there’s more lovely panoramic views from here - didn’t take any photos though.
Then out the other end of the castle, into Elphinstone, and back onto the old railway line to the car park by Ormiston.

A very enjoyable few hours walking!

 

[Hadders]

I've done quite a few walks round Milton Keynes recently with a friend. A couple of weeks ago it was very wet and we had to divert a couple of times.



Then the following week the weather was much better

 

[Kite159]

That looks an interesting path underneath that bridge, I guess former railway line?

 

[Hadders]

That looks an interesting path underneath that bridge, I guess former railway line?

It's in North Loughton Valley Park. Underneath the walkway is the Loughton Brook with the WCML above!

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[ChrisC]

I have been walking along the Southwell Trail in Nottinghamshire a few times recently. With so much rain and a big increase in the number of people out walking, footpaths over fields have been churned up so much that many are becoming impossible. The trail has quite a good surface and has not got too muddy.

It is part of the the old Midland Railway which used to run from Rolleston Junction near Newark, on the Nottingham to Lincoln Line, to Mansfield.

 

[PY33]

Getting a little bored with repeating the same loops in the local neighbourhood. Noticed that the diesel-hybrid 230s are on test on the borderlands Wrexham - Bidston line.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Someone else has already shown how green Milton Keynes is by documenting their walk, but I doubt anyone not from MK will have seen one of these on their walk as I did today!

(Attached: picture of Starship delivery robot - they deliver small orders from local Co-ops, Tesco Expresses etc)

 

[JonathanH]

I walked to the east of Reigate / Redhill yesterday, crossing the Brighton line at Earlswood and then crossing the Tonbridge line, doing so just at the right time to see trains passing (somewhat easier on the first route than the second). After the muddy conditions on a walk last week, I chose to keep to quite roads and pavements.


[Picture shows 12-car 377 formation about to take divergence of Quarry Line north of Earlswood]


[Picture shows 3-car 377 working Redhill to Tonbridge service passing through east Redhill with bare trees on each side]


[Picture shows road bridge below Redhill to Tonbridge railway line between Redhill and Nutfield with large embankment above bridge]

Today, I walked across to Redhill - not quite cold enough for the snow to settle on the roads but enough to make the railway somewhat white.

[Picture shows snowy scene of Redhill to Reigate dual-track railway line from Burts Bridge]

 

[Kite159]

That road doesn't look the nicest to walk along (3rd picture)

Saturday I headed to the Newton Tony area (nearby village) to walk in a wooded area (judging by the state of the footpaths, it gets used but infrequently as it wasn't muddy) [Although it did mean a short section of walking along the main A338, but that part had decent verges in order to jump up on if required]


Afterwards I did a circular route around the RSPB Winterbourne Reserve, crossing over an old railway bridge used by the old Bulford Camp branch, before walking along a section of the embankment from the car park





Started to get a bit chilly nearer the end

 

[High Dyke]

The Swan and Railway Hotel. Had reopened a few months before first lockdown. Looking forward to a nice pint of Draught Bass there sometime later this year.

One of the few places I've found Draft Bass. I enjoy a pint in there when passing/visiting the town.

Took a wintry walk along part of Grantham Canal today. Starting out from home and heading out of town takes me passed Baird's maltings - the last one of many the town once had, but sadly due to close soon. Onwards passing the fire station - just as a 'shout' comes.



Onto the canal itself. I'm already in the process of walking the whole route to Nottingham (in stages); and am about two-thirds of the way there. This is the point where the culvert under the A1 emerges, 32 miles from Nottingham. The canal itself opened in 1797. However, the opening of the Grantham to Nottingham railway in 1850 foreshadowed the eventual demise of the canal. In 1861 the railway company obtained control of the canal. By 1921, after a series of mergers and takeovers, control was vested in the London and North Eastern Railway Company. It is interesting to note, however, that while the two main railway bridges crossing the canal near Plungar are dismantled, the canal is still intact!

The second overbridge you arrive at takes a minor road from Harlaxton village over the Harlaxton Cut (also known as the Drift). The canal restoration volunteers have built a new pontoon on the site of the Harlaxton Wharf. Here an information board explains the history of the area and in particular the marks on the bridge where the tow ropes for the barges cut into the stonework.

Leaving the canal at this point I then headed towards the village of Barrowby, about a mile and a half away. Here I took the short lane down to All Saints church, passing the Reading Room and Village Green on the way. How a nice pint in the White Swan would've been appreciated; maybe another time?



I returned home by one of the main routes to the village from Grantham, this time crossing over the A1; the traffic tailed-back due to an accident further south; (so that's where the fire engine went!) Down passed the sports stadium - the football pitch hardly used this season, and home again.

 

[D1024]

My wife and I attempted our regular walk from the house up the hill and round the local farm tracks yesterday but we didn't get far!...

 

[SuspectUsual]

A few from yesterday, last walk before (hopefully) a thaw

 

[JonathanH]

I walked north from Reigate yesterday over the M25 and to Hooley. Still a bit of ice at the edge of the road and snow on higher ground. Back in Merstham, I went down one heavily churned path which was icy enough that it wasn't that impassible but it does seem better to keep to the side of quiet roads rather than paths at the moment.


View of the M25 at the Reigate Hill Interchange. Light traffic.


Wintry picture on the road from Reigate Hill to Upper Chipstead


Crossroads in Upper Chipstead - directions to Hooley and towards the London outskirts


Above the tunnels on the Quarry line at Hooley showing ventilation shaft in a snowy field


Northern end of the M23 showing the dead end where the road would have continued into South London instead of joining the A23


View from Reigate Hill showing some some ground covering of snow but greenery showing through

 

[Mojo]

Been on two walks this weekend. Yesterday was to the Black Park which I really liked; don’t think I’ve been to a pine woods before, it almost looked like some of the forests I’ve seen in Canada or USA!

I also got a shot of a really cool ice formation at the side of a road near Iver.

 

[_toommm_]

Last Wednesday, I went on a 15 mile hike over Ilkley and Burley Moor. There were some challenging gradients, and the snow made for some precarious descents toward the end of the walk. Watching the sun set at the end of the day was well worth it though:

I've had to downsize some of these photos quite considerably so the resolution isn't the best:

 

[xotGD]

Last Wednesday, I went on a 15 mile hike over Ilkley and Burley Moor. There were some challenging gradients, and the snow made for some precarious descents toward the end of the walk. Watching the sun set at the end of the day was well worth it though:

I've had to downsize some of these photos quite considerably so the resolution isn't the best:

View attachment 90698View attachment 90699View attachment 90700View attachment 90701

I trust you didn't go "Baht 'at"!

 

[_toommm_]

I trust you didn't go "Baht 'at"!

Ermm… baht ‘at of course means…

 

[DB]

Ermm… baht ‘at of course means…

Living in Yorkshire you should know that!

It means 'without a hat'.

 

[_toommm_]

Living in Yorkshire you should know that!

It means 'without a hat'.

Somehow the council estate upbringing didn’t pull through!

It was without hat, I don’t get along with them.

 

[richw]

Have been for a walk round my local lake.
walked to town a couple of times.
Understandable from OP quote why people are exercising out less this lockdown compared to lockdown 1. Lockdown 1 the weather was beautiful here. This lockdown it’s rained the whole time!

 

[roversfan2001]

I walked from Lostock Hall into Preston and round the first few miles of the Guild Wheel on Saturday morning.


[Picture shows the divergence of the lines at Lostock Hall Junction, with Lostock Hall station visible in the background]


[Picture shows icicles hanging from the old ELR bridge over the River Ribble]


[Picture shows ice sheets forming on the water at Prince Albert Dock in Preston]


[Picture shows a thick layer of ice covering the Ribble Link canal at the lock at Lea, just behind Preston North End's training ground]

I covered 8.5 miles, which is the longest single walk I've done. Sunday's plan is to cover the next 9-10 miles of the Guild Wheel, hopefully in warmer conditions than I faced this weekend.

 

[backontrack]

Snow! It snowed last week in the southeast, here's some photos from my Canterbury wanderings.

 

[High Dyke]

Undertook a walk of four counties yesterday, in glorious sunshine. Starting out from Stamford the route took me through riverside meadows and out into the country; heading through Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. On the way you pass the site of Stamford Spa, with it's domed cover. Beyond the A1 the River Welland meanders along, but erosion of the river bank is noticeable.



Continuing on brings you to the edge of the village of Tinwell. Here you join a bridleway for the 'yomp' up to Easton-on-the-Hill, making the first crossing of the Midland railway route between Peterborough and Leicester.



Climbing up the hill affords a decent view of Ketton Cement works. Onwards to All Saints church and time for a rest at the Ramblers View point.



Heading back to Stamford means crossing the railway again, and then retracing the route through the meadows. Passing the site where Ermine Street crossed the river on its journey between London, Lincoln and York.

 

[Techniquest]

That looks like it covered quite a distance, and that it was highly enjoyable Thanks for sharing that nice scenery!

I fully intend to do some more walks soon. There's distance-based challenges coming up on Strava in March, one is 50km and another is 100km. If I wanted to, I'd clear both in about 6 work days, as I do an average of 12km a day with my commute and shift. Sometimes much more. However that's cheating, indoor walking for me doesn't really count for these challenges. Other people may disagree of course.

I have left a number of rural routes ready for March, ready to colour in on my OS map. I still have a few bits of suburbia to do on said map, again they will be left for March. Hopefully before too long all the bridleways and footpaths will dry up so I don't need wellies for them

I will soon have plenty of photos to add to this thread, indeed I have tons from 2019 and 2020 of my local area. Uploading them all with captions on Flickr is a long, long overdue task on my to-do list!

 

[xotGD]

Four counties on one walk is quite an achievement. There must be other parts of the country where the county boundaries make it doable.

I guess I could follow the Leeds - Liverpool canal to reach Lancashire via North Yorkshire to make 3 counties (if you class West and North Yorkshire as 'proper' counties) but it would then be a loooong trek to reach Greater Manchester.

 

[Kite159]

An unplanned 12 mile walk today from near Thruxton Circuit (got dropped off after helping take an old cooker to a local scrap dealer) to Amesbury via the village of Shipton Bellinger & along the old Bulford Camp branch turned bridleway next to the fence at Boscombe Down airfield. Some good views of the countryside due to some hills.

One footpath used seemed to be rarely used as it was a case of crossing a grassy field trying to follow the route on the OS map app with no evidence on the ground where the path went, just some little round signs every now and again. Even then I got lost a bit as I was following a farm track and must have missed a sign (thankfully the track rejoined the proper footpath a short distance later)

(Unplanned as I was going to head elsewhere and whilst the ideas was floating around I hadn't researched distances, even when I got dropped off I had other ideas in my head)

Sunday making use of the weather, I headed to Wherwell to walk my last few paths in the Harewood Forest area and part of the Test Way long distance path in the village. Including walking along part of the old railway line from Fullerton - Hurstbourne line which is one of those paths not marked as right of way on the OS Map, but is clearly used by locals (as it links two footpaths together). Quite a deep cutting in places due to the land being quite hilly

Pictures to follow when I get round to sorting them out