Off message but last weekend following English lockdown easing, we hired a self catering chalet in the Norfolk broads and had 2 marvellous days walking in the local countryside. It was great to wake up somewhere different. We even went out on Sat…Read more…
Benfleet Downs & Hadleigh Marsh Walk
“Off message” but another lovely post lockdown walk with Gill, 53 minutes by car from Forest Gate. This time in Essex, starting off at at the ruined but still very impressive, 13th Century Castle at Hadleigh, which has great views overlooking Ca…Read more…
Mereworth Woods & West Peckham Walk
Off message but yesterday Gill and I went for our first walk outside North East London since the relaxation in “Lock Down” restrictions. We went to Mereworth in North Kent for this lovely “up and down” 6 mile circular walk. 53 minutes drive from …Read more…
Epping Forest and Theydon Bois circular walk
Today Gill and I went for a glorious 6 mile walk in Epping Forest. We started from Jack’s Hill carpark which was only 21 minutes drive from Forest Gate (the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, drove for at least 27 minutes from Downing Street to the O…Read more…
E7 to Valentines Park Circular Walk (& the “Tottenham Outrage”)
Off message but this morning I was deciding on where Gill and I would go for our weekend Covid exercise/walk and I did consider walking up via Epping Forest trail to Walthamstow and then back via the River Lea and Stratford. It was too long…Read more…
West Ham, Stratford & Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park walk
Picture collage from yesterdays lockdown “3 Park walk”. First was West Ham Park (we had coffee sitting on the bench remembering local Spanish Civil War International Brigader and poet, David Marshall) then Stratford Park (check out the Senso…Read more…
Happy New Year / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda: Despite Covid, Brexit & Boris – Let’s raise a toast to a better 2021
Photo from the Fyfield village bridge across the River Roding overlooking the 13th Century Mill pond.
Essex Way: Fairstead to Cressing circular walk
Another lovely 8 mile walk along the Essex Way (and back). We started today at Fairstead Church and went to Cressing along this national path then turned back to self guide back to Fairstead along alternative routes.
Fantastic ancient green lanes and b…Read more…
Wendover Woods & Cobblers’ Pits walk
Went on lovely 6.8 mile circular walk on Sunday courtesy of the Chiltern Society (check here for free download of map and route).
Started with a little climb out of Wendover into its famous woods and Boddington Hill fort. A little busy at ti…Read more…
Essex Way: Great Waltham to Little Leighs circular walk
Off message but another fantastic country walk along the Essex Way (and back to starting point by alternative route). Got a little wet a couple of times but mostly bright sunshine, refreshing breeze and blue skies.
We hardly saw a soul during the…Read more…
Private Thomas Highgate – the First to be Shot at Dawn (2020 update)
Early in 2014 I posted here on a controversy in the village on Shoreham in Kent on whether to add the name of Private Thomas Highgate to its War Memorial. 19 year old Thomas was the first soldier to be shot for desertion by the British army autho…Read more…
Essex Way: Stagden Cross to Pleshey
The Essex Way is a long distance walk from Manor Park, Newham to Harwich, a distance of 96 miles (you can also start the walk from Epping). Gill and I have been walking in stages along the route (off and on) for a couple of years.
Yesterday, we starte…Read more…
Essex Way (and a Badger)
Off message. A glorious circular walk today, firstly along the Essex Way then self guided way back to starting point at Millers Green, Ongar. The weather was warm and sunny but with a lovely breeze.
On way back we saw a young badger running up a ditch…Read more…
Queen Elizabeth Park Walk – Sunday 19 April
This picture college is from yesterday when Gill and I went for our daily exercise by walking around Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford. This is the former Olympic 2012 Park which I think I have not walked around the park for walking sake since 2012!
Bluebells in Chalet Wood, Wanstead Park
For our hour’s exercise yesterday, Gill and I went for a walk in Wanstead Park to see the bluebells in Chalet Wood. They are simply magnificent this year and appear to be at or near their peak.
The park was not crowded at all and the the pathways in t…Read more…
Self isolating circular walk from Forest Gate via Bush Wood & Wanstead
On Sunday Gill and I took advantage of the lovely weather to walk from home for our hour of exercise. We went via Wanstead flats (Epping Forest) past Jubilee Pond into Bush Wood then Wanstead then home. There is loads of beautiful openspaces and parkla…Read more…
Keep on walking
Advice on the BBC web page confirms that it is still okay to go outdoors for exercise as long as you follow advice to stay 2m apart from others. This advice may change in the future.
Gill and I took advantage of the sunshine today to walk along the Ro…Read more…
Little Hallingbury Walk
Off message but Gill and I went on a perfect little walk today around Little Hallingbury, which is near Harlow, courtesy of Essexwalks.com. The bright winter sunshine and blue skies helped make it special.
The start of the walk is in the hamlet of Gas…Read more…