Day 56 & 57 – Orkney’s Neolithic Wonderland
Skara Brae – Ring of Brodgar – The Standing Stones of Stenness – Maeshowe, 12Km and 5000 years Although ScotlandContinue Reading
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Day 55 – At the Bottom of Scapa Flow
Orphir to Kirkwall, 16Km This morning the rain was lashing against the window when I woke up. AccuWeather said itContinue Reading
Day 54 – Fields of Fire
Dounby to Orphir, 32Km That’s more like it! Two stages in one day. Change and Forgiveness done. Tomorrow I haveContinue Reading
Day 53 – Growth spurt
Birsay to Dounby, 16km Tomorrow’s theme on the pilgrimage will be Change and this is the photo for tomorrow. ButContinue Reading
Day 52 – The Lovely Evie
Evie to Birsay, 22Km St Magnus is the patron saint of Orkney and pilgrims have been walking the St MagnusContinue Reading
Day 51 – Orkney bound
Keiss to John O’Groats, 22Km then ferry to Orkney Another exhilarating clifftop walk today brought me to the end ofContinue Reading
Day 50 – Fog and Rain
Wick to Keiss, 17Km I’m not going to complain about the weather because I’ve been so fortunate in Scotland. It’sContinue Reading
Day 49 – Fog
Occumster to Wick, 27km (No 75 bus and boat) I looked out of the window this morning and saw …Continue Reading
Day 48 – Onto the Caithness Clifftops
Dunbeath to Occumster, 17Km I was expecting these last four days on the John O’Groats trail to be difficult. I’veContinue Reading
Day 47 – A Glorious Day on the Sutherland Coast
Brora to Helmsdale, 21Km (bus to Dunbeath, 24Km) Rose camped last night and arrived at the Sutherland Inn this morningContinue Reading
Day 46 – a noticeable shift in the scenery today
Golspie to Brora, 10Km There was a noticeable shift in the scenery today. The sea pounds the coast like itContinue Reading
Day 45 – We join the NC500 race to Golspie
Dornoch to Golspie, 22Km Golf is one of those games I would probably enjoy if I played it. I thinkContinue Reading
Day 44 – Onwards to Classy Dornoch
Tain to Dornoch, 13Km For the first time in two years the Royal Burgh of Tain Pipe Band took toContinue Reading
Day 43 – The Royal Burgh of Tain
Alness to Tain, 21Km Tain is such a nice seaside town and has everything you need for a short break.Continue Reading
Day 42 – Coffee and Cake with the Vicar
Culbokie to Alness, 15Km I met Rose at Netherton Farm B&B yesterday, as planned, and we’ll walk together for theContinue Reading
Day 41 – Making straw while the sun shines
Inverness to Culbokie, 21Km The Premier Inn’s restaurant was closed, “no staff”. Wetherspoons was only selling beer, “no staff, noContinue Reading
Day 40 – A Day in the New City
Rest day in Inverness I booked a rest day here in Inverness because it seemed like a good idea. NoContinue Reading
Day 39 – The Gingerbread House in the Woods
Drumnadrochit to Inverness, 32Km Drumnadrochit is the monster epicenter of Loch Ness. There is a theme park (Nessieland) and anContinue Reading
Day 38 – The Troll Bridge
Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit, 23Km Today’s walk was a continuation of yesterday’s lovely walk, high on the Great Glen above LochContinue Reading
Day 37 – Nessie!
Fort Augustus to Invermoriston, 13Km I’m staying two nights here in Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch NessContinue Reading
Day 36 – I will not forget to wear my face mask…
South Laggan to Fort Augustus, 16Km I stayed at the Forest View B&B in South Laggan last night. It wasContinue Reading
Day 35 – Wandering along the shores of Loch Lochy
Gairlochy to South Laggan, 20Km It’s not everyone who has a 45 foot girth Sequoia in the garden. Last night’sContinue Reading
Day 34 – Into the Great Glen
Fort William to Gairlochy, 16Km A canal towpath, like a former railway track, is a dream for the long distanceContinue Reading
Day 33 – Between Two Paths
Rest Day in Fort William I knew I was going to like the West Highland Way and it really wasContinue Reading
Day 32 – The West Highland Way Ends
Kinlochleven to Fort William, 25Km It’s a tough little walk, this West Highland Way. A cursory glance at the mapContinue Reading
Day 31 – Glencoe and the Devil’s Descent
Kingshouse (Glencoe) to Kinlochleven, 14Km There’s usually a good reason why a stage of a long distance footpath is onlyContinue Reading
Day 30 – the heaviest rain so far
Tyndrum to Kingshouse (Glencoe), 31Km My B&B host, Heather produced a pot of homemade marmalade and was delighted to findContinue Reading
Day 29 – Is that a midge?
Inverarnan to Tyndrum, 21Km Today was the first rainy day but it was only an intermittent shower or two, nothingContinue Reading
Day 28 – Farewell to Loch Lomond
Rowardennan to Inverarnan, 25Km It felt like a free ride today on what is the hardest stage of the WestContinue Reading
Day 27 – Loch Lomond
Drymen to Rowardennan, 26Km I liked Drymen. My B&B was centrally located between The Drymen Inn and the “top rated”Continue Reading
Day 26 – Hello to the West Highland Way
Lennoxtown to Drymen, 26Km My hotel last night had a jacuzzi bath with a waterproof TV but I didn’t botherContinue Reading
Day 25 – Thomas Muir?
Kilsyth to Lennoxtown, 16Km I’m just north of Glasgow, it’s just down the road. So close and yet, so far.Continue Reading
Day 24 – Along the Northern Frontier
Falkirk to Kilsyth, 21Km I must have been taught about the Roman Empire at school but I would probably haveContinue Reading
Day 23 – an Engineering Wonder
Linlithgow to Falkirk, 19Km Once again, there was quite a lot to see along the John Muir Way today. AfterContinue Reading
Day 22 – Lost in Time
South Queensferry to Linlithgow, 26Km I booked a 7am breakfast and secured a table with the best view of theContinue Reading
Day 21 – The Three Forth Bridges
Edinburgh to South Queensferry, 27Km I like Edinburgh. There are probably many interesting city walks exploring the streets and buildingsContinue Reading
Day 20 – On The Royal Yacht
Rest day in Edinburgh Whatever you think about the Royal Family, it’s always worth paying £13.50 for a peek behindContinue Reading
Day 19 – Edinburgh Festival
Port Seton to Edinburgh, 18Km Today it was not about the journey but the destination. The JMW did it’s bestContinue Reading
Day 18 – The Black Island
North Berwick to Port Seton, 23Km When John Muir made his 1000 mile walk from Kentucky to the Gulf ofContinue Reading
Day 17 – Going West to East Linton and North Berwick
Dunbar to North Berwick, 26Km I’m walking the John Muir Way backwards. The prevailing winds are westerlies so most walkersContinue Reading
Day 16 – Go West
Rest day in Dunbar If you’re watching a quiz show and there is a question about conservation, national parks etc.Continue Reading
Day 15 – Southern Upland Way, tick
Longformacus to Cockburnspath, 30Km Ho, Ho, Ho said the taxi driver. It’s Long-form-acres and Co-burns-path, he emphasised when he collectedContinue Reading
Day 14 – Twin Peaks
Lauder to Longformacus, 25Km Heavy rain overnight. I could see rain falling all around me today, wonderful dramatic clouds inContinue Reading
Day 13 – some time to savour the delights of Lauder
Melrose to Lauder, 16Km After four consecutive 30Km days on the wilds of the Southern Upland Way, today felt likeContinue Reading
Day 12 – Melrose? I’d rather be reading poetry
Innerleithen to Melrose, 30Km The weather is unbelievable. No one can remember a summer like it. There’s been no rainContinue Reading
Day 11 – Inns and Poets
Scabcleuch to Innerleithen, 31Km That’s a photo of a sheep fold I slept at The Gordon Arms last night, aContinue Reading
Day 10 – Three Days to Melrose
Moffat to Scabcleuch, 29Km The walk this morning was so stunning that I made a quick video (35 seconds) soContinue Reading
Day 9 – A Reservoir
Overfingland to Moffat, 31Km I’ve spent the past three nights on a sheep and cattle farm on the edge ofContinue Reading
Day 8 – 1000 feet inside the Southern Uplands
Sanquhar to Overfingland, 24Km I think I’ve got to the bottom of my flooded boots drama and it’s my ownContinue Reading
Day 7 – first train to Dumfries
A rest day in Sanquhar Lowa has responded to my plight of drenched feet in their nearly new boots. TheyContinue Reading
Day 6 – into rural Nithsdale
Stroanpatrick to Sanquhar, 33Km Having lost “not a few” of his readers yesterday, the author of my Cicerone guidebook wasContinue Reading
Day 5 – in the middle of nowhere
Craigenbay to Stroanpatrick, 29Km Neither of those places actually exist. Craigenbay is just a drop off point for walkers atContinue Reading
Day 4 – The 39 Steps
Bargrennan to Craigenbay, 30Km I started the day with a healthy breakfast. The B&B was full with seven people allContinue Reading
Day 3 – Bothies, Standing Stones and the Wells O’ The Rees
New Luce to Bargrennan, 30Km It was down to the serious business of walking across Scotland today. Little Portpatrick isContinue Reading
Day 2 – Memories of Aquarius
Stranraer to New Luce, 24Km I intended to include a photo of each day’s porridge to give the blog aContinue Reading
Day 1 – I count my chickens
Portpatrick to Stranraer, 15Km Portpatrick is also the start of the E2 European Long Distance Footpath which runs down toContinue Reading
Day 0 – I look for koalas in Scotland
There’s more to Britain than England, of course, so I’m continuing my 2020 northbound journey through Scotland towards the distantContinue Reading
Day 43 – The Pilgrims Path to Holy Island
I risked more smoked salmon with scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning and all was well. Today was more likeContinue Reading
Day 42 – Holy Island in Sight
Wooler to Fenwick I knew it would happen. For the past three weeks my bag has been magically transported fromContinue Reading
Day 41 – A Little Hangover
Kirk Yetholm to Wooler You might have detected from the time and probably incoherent nature of yesterday’s blog that IContinue Reading
Day 40 – The End of the Pennine Way
Windy Gyle to Kirk Yetholm More glorious sunshine, more cloudless skies, more autumn colours on the moors, more English folkContinue Reading
Day 39 – Up On The Cheviots
Byrness to Windy Gyle What weather!! We’ve been blessed with another fine day today. When I was fighting my wayContinue Reading
Day 38 – Five or so on the Moor
Bellingham to Byrness Goodness, what a remote part of the world. It’s an endless land of moors and a fewContinue Reading
Day 37 – Into Wild and Remote Northumberland
Once Brewed to Bellingham It’s not what it used to be, the night life along Hadrian’s Wall. I ate sausagesContinue Reading
Day 36 – Identity Crisis on Hadrian’s Wall
9am taxi this morning because he’s busy ferrying the children to school before then. Today’s walk was only 10Km andContinue Reading
Day 35 – Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Slaggyford to Greenhead A strong wind blew all last night but the day dawned peacefully, a bright sunny day withContinue Reading
Day 34 – Last Train to Slaggyford
Garrigill to Slaggyford Imagine this. You’re walking the Pennine Way and you have two nights in a B&B half wayContinue Reading
Day 33 – Cleared to Cross Fell, over
Dufton to Garrigill “The highest, most remote and most exposed part of the route” says my Pennine Way guidebook aboutContinue Reading
Day 32 – Effective Social Distancing
Langdon Beck to Dufton “Would you like a cooked breakfast?”, Andrew Milnes asked me this morning. “No thank you, justContinue Reading
Day 31 – A Low Force, A High Force and a Stomach Churning Force
Middleton to Langdon Beck and back Today was almost a rest day because I have two nights in the sameContinue Reading
Day 30 – A Triumph
Bowes to Middleton Great breaking news!! 82 year old Pennine Way hiker found safe and well near Keld. He’d hitContinue Reading
Day 29 – Beware the Moss, Beware the Moor, Beware of Long Lankin
Keld to Bowes The mountain rescue teams were out early looking for an 82 year old man who went missingContinue Reading
Day 28 – The Great Shunner Fell and a Pile of Stones
Hawes to Keld It’s a day where the 1:25000 series map becomes a work of art. I could snip outContinue Reading
Day 27 – Wensleydale Cheese
Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes Every weekend a different charity organises their own Three Peaks Challenge in which participants haveContinue Reading
Day 26 – James Herriot Country
Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale And that photo is the fearsome Pen-y-Ghent, today’s big challenge. I’m in the Yorkshire DalesContinue Reading
Day 25 – The Calm Before the Storm
Skipton to Malham Kirk Yetholm is the end of the Pennine Way in case you thought it was almost over.Continue Reading
Day 24 – Stone the Crows
Haworth to Skipton I had just finished my pint at the Black Bull last night and was walking through Haworth,Continue Reading
Day 23 – The Wiley, Windy Moors
Hebden Bridge to Haworth When it comes to Wuthering Heights, some never got beyond Kate Bush. She summed up allContinue Reading
Day 22 – Definitely the 4th Funkiest Place
Hebden Bridge I’m not usually the first to admit that I’m wrong. My plan was to stay in my pubContinue Reading
Day 21 – Off But Not Running
Standedge to Hebden Bridge At 27km, today’s walk was the longest of the Pennine Way stages but also one ofContinue Reading
Day 20 – All set for the Pennine Way
Hattersley to Standedge Actually I’m exhausted and I haven’t even started it. Today was meant to be a quick 16km.Continue Reading
Day 19 – It’s Grim Up North
Bollington to Hattersley I am now working my way around Manchester. It’s always cold and wet here and it wasContinue Reading
Day 18 – The Girl from Cheshire
Leek to Bollington The Premier Inn doesn’t have a loyalty scheme. It’s a shame because I’d be a gold memberContinue Reading
Day 17 – A Moment for Reflection
Kingsley to Leek The storm continued all night. The wind howled. The rain lashed against the window of my B&B.Continue Reading
Day 16 – Rain, Wind, Rugby and Miss Warrington-Evans
Uttoxeter to Kingsley Small mishap last night when I dropped my toothbrush into the toilet. I bought a new oneContinue Reading
Day 15 – This Staffordshire Way is keeping quiet
Rugeley to Uttoxeter Last time, when it asked me to upgrade to a meal I said no. But this morningContinue Reading
Day 13 and 14 – First Cut, Second Cut. First is Deeper
Lichfield to Rugeley It was back to normal as I woke up on Saturday with nothing more than a pleasantContinue Reading
Day 12 – Lichfield at last
Shustoke to Lichfield I stayed in the Old Station Guest House which was ok for the cheap price. I justContinue Reading
Day 11 – I didn’t see the branch
Kingswood to Shustoke I stayed in a hotel called the Punchbowl last night and it was first class and forContinue Reading
Day 10 – She said, “It’s not 1971 anymore”
Last night’s Travelodge was well outside Alcester (pronounced Ulster) and it occupied a prime site on a busy roundabout whichContinue Reading
Day 9 – Fun and Games on the Heart of England Way
Chipping Camden to Alcester I stayed at the Volunteer Inn in Chipping Camden last night. It was okay except theyContinue Reading
Day 8 – The Beating Heart of England
Bourton-on-the-Water to Chipping Camden I stayed last night at The Manse Hotel in Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s a Greene King and excellent.Continue Reading
Day 7 – ah, the Cotswolds.
Woodstock to Bourton-on-the-Water Yesterday I left the Thames Path at Oxford and walked along the Oxford Canal path to Woodstock.Continue Reading
Day 6 – It’s Woodstock and the Summer of Love
Abingdon to Woodstock I forgot to mention that yesterday’s headline was written by Bob Dylan, not me. It comes fromContinue Reading
Day 5 – Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship – My senses have been stripped – My hands can’t feel to grip – My toes too numb to step – Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering
Wallingford to Abingdon near Oxford After a few nice days, today saw the return of normal English weather. The staffContinue Reading
Day 4 – Ghost Town
Reading to Wallingford This pilgrimage is very last minute and because of the pandemic and all the uncertainties of lockdownContinue Reading
Day 3 – The Lockdown Lodge
Marlow to Reading We have an extreme heat wave at the moment so I set off at 6.30. I wouldContinue Reading
Day 2 – Egg McFaceMask
Breakfast options were limited this morning in Windsor. Nothing was open at 7am except McDonalds so I went inside. TheContinue Reading
Day 1 – The War of the Worlds
One of the advantages of starting a pilgrimage from home is that I’m not short of good company for theContinue Reading
Day 0 – My boots are ready….
Had all been well, I would have been wandering down Italy soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine, eating gelato, drinking PeroniContinue Reading
