Went for a lovely 5 mile circular walk with Gill last Saturday in Essex only 30 mins drive from East London. Some nice views, different terrain and somewhat stretching climbs (for Essex). Wet and muddy in parts after recent rain. We have don…Read more…
Boxing Day walk 2025: Duton Hill, Essex circular 6.5 miles
Went for the traditional Boxing Day walk with Gill, starting at Duton Hill, Essex (near Dunmow), about 40 minutes from East London. Only when we arrived did we realise we’d already done this route earlier in the year (April 6), but it’s a lovely walk, …Read more…
Blackheath & Greenwich Park Walk 2025
Off message but this photo college is from an amended 5 mile walk, Gill and I did on Sunday 30 November 25. It was a walk we have sort of done before but we started in the Isle of Dogs, then took the free foot tunnel to Greenwich (always an inter…Read more…
Pleshey, Essex Walk
On last Sunday 16th Gill and I did a 5.5 mile circular walk around the ancient village of Pleshey. Home to a famous medieval castle (now long gone) mentioned in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”. We have walked in the area a number of times but used this time…Read more…
Portsmouth and the Wayfarers’ Walk
To try and prove that I have a hinterland outside politics, unions, housing and pensions, below is another countryside walking post. While away for the weekend, Gill and I did this 6.5 mile circular route, in the rolling Hampshire countryside.&nb…Read more…
Thundridge Walk
It’s been a while since I last shared a post about a walk, but today Gill and I drove to Thundridge, Hertfordshire (just 40 minutes by car from East London and 2 miles from the railway station in Ware) and enjoyed a beautiful 5.5-mile circular wa…Read more…
Surgery, Canvass then Forest Walk
Busy day. Cycled down to my Newham Council advice surgery in Stratford Library then joined Forest Gate North ward colleagues for a local door knock. Which went well, I experienced a mostly very positive approach to Labour, which I think is down to the …Read more…
Crossthwaite Common, Rake Gill and Holwick Walk: Is this really an overcrowded Island?
Off message. Just been sorting out photos from recent holiday in Country Durham and created college from a tough but magnificent 9.5 mile circular solo walk, I did starting from Middleton-in-Teesdale. This was an orange Pathfinder walk. The …Read more…
View from my seat – High Cup Nick
I came back Saturday from a fortnight holiday in the Pennines walking and sightseeing with Gill. Picture is from a solo “there and back” 8 mile walk along the Pennine way from Dufton to High Cup Nick. A fantastic walk with superb views. Off …Read more…
RAF Hornchurch & Rainham Hall Walk 5 May 2025
Last Monday 5 May 25, Gill and I went for a 6.52 mile walk around Hornchurch Country Park and a visit to the National Trust property, Rainham Hall. The country park used to be the site of a First World war and then Battle of Britain airfield…Read more…
Rainham Marshes Walk
Off message but last Sunday Gill and I finally went for a walk in nearby Rainham Marshes alongside the River Thames. This was a circular route about 7 miles long. We had walked East alongside the Thames in June 2017 in the very last leg of the Lo…Read more…
Lambourne End Walk
Off message. For various reasons (winter lergies, holidays, work, rotten weather etc) I have not been on any walks for a while. Two weeks ago was the first proper local walk, Gill and I, had been on this year – and it was marvellous. Blue skies, sunshi…Read more…
Sunset over Leyton Flats
Walking back home this evening with Gill along Leyton Flats, Epping Forest. The weather forecast for tomorrow is pretty dire, so not sure about “shepherd’s delight”. Read more…
Chiltern Way: Hemel Hempstead to Chorleywood West
Off message. Due to Conference season I have not been posting on any walks lately but this is from last month when Gill and I started on the long distance linear walk, The Chilterns Way. We are planning to do this in stages (as well as other walk…Read more…
“Exploring the Elizabeth Line” – Walk 20 Shenfield to Brentwood via Ingrave & Thorndon Country Park
Gill and I were lucky today to have a perfect warm, sunny spring Sunday to complete this 7.5 mile walk from Shenfield station to Brentwood Station. This was courtesy of this book “Exploring the Elizabeth Line”, which has 23 walks starting (a…Read more…
Havering-atte-Bower 4.5 mile circular walk
Another late post. This is a nice little 4.5 mile circular walk in East London with some great views of London and lovely countryside despite being so near to built up areas. Some rolling countryside and woods but nothing difficult. Started at Bed…Read more…
Colne Valley Wildlife Walk 24.2.24
Yesterday morning I went to a consultation on a proposed LTN in my ward then taking advantage of a better weather forecast for Saturday compared to Sunday travelled with Gill by TFL trains to Rickmansworth. This circular 6.2 mile walk is listed i…Read more…
Did it: London Winter Charity Walk. 26 Miles (42 Kilometres) 8 hours 25 minutes
Finished. 26 miles (42 kilometres) 8 hours 25 mins. Very sore feet and legs, but it’s been a great day. Raised money for a good cause (St Mungo’s Homeless charity) , improved my fitness a bit and it has reminded me what a beautiful city I live in…Read more…
Chorleywood to Chesham walk: Chilterns Society
Today Gill and I had another marvellous walk courtesy of the Chilterns Society 8 miles linear walk from Chorleywood to Chesham. We took the Lizzie line from Forest Gate, changed at Liverpool Street for metropolitan line all the way to Chorl…Read more…
Exploring the Elizabeth Line: Brentwood to Harold Wood
Today Gill and I tested out a walk in a new book “Exploring the Elizabeth Line” by Jeff Lock. The new Cross London East to West (“Lizzie”) rail line from Shenfield to Reading has been a boom for commuters and travellers (but so far somewhat unreliable)…Read more…