Kite

The red kite around Oxford are a sight worth seeing. Re-introduced with chicks from Spain some years ago they have flourished. This year a reciprocal arrangement was made as the Spanish numbers were critically down.
The kite here are flying over the houses in one of the villages and seen against the building rain clouds.

Summer walks

The current hot weather is limiting our walking to early morning locally. There have been few butterflies this year - until yesterday on the hilltop we found many on the brambles. While walking up the hill we saw a few Holly Blue butterflies and at the top were Hedge Brown.

Spring flowers

As we walked recently there were primroses and violets, just about at the end of their season. The bluebells were starting to flower and the cherry blossom was coming out too. Final photo is of a red kite flying.

A walk in Devon

A winter walk in Devon took us to Stover Park. We went past the lake and along the frosty footpath.

Near here there is a memorial to the 250 men of the Canadian Forestry Corps who worked at Stover during WW1. They were foresters and sawyers and felled the trees on the estate to supply wood to the troops for railway sleepers, huts, trenches etc as well as fuel.
All the figures are carved from wood and are life size.

December

Just to wish everyone a Happy Christmas

South Molton, Devon

Our latest walking holiday took us to South Molton. Very hilly but enjoyable.

The Trans-Pennine Trail

A recent holiday took us to Penistone and some time to walk on the Trans-Pennine Trail. This mostly follows the line of the old railway so is fairly level at this point. The trail itself runs from Hornsea to Southport on a mix of disused railways, canal paths and other walking routes. It is part of the cycling network and some parts are bridleways too. At Penistone the remains of the old turntable housing can be seen just off the path.

Thatching

During recent walks we watched the thatchers at work. The special thatching straw is extra long and the end finisher was being woven into a peak. The following week we walked back to see the nearly completed ridge and then later again to see the finishd work.

Easter 2021

The Good Friday walk through town had to be cancelled again due to Covid restrictions. However this year the cross was placed at the top of the hill and a prayer vigil organised during the day, with strict control of numbers and distancing. We joined one small group (3 of us) for an hour at mid-day.

View fom the hilltop

Walking on Dartmoor

With no likelihood of ever returning to Spain and the Camino we have been walking on Dartmoor, Devon, England. Some photos from our walk in late October - pre the second lockdown.

San Martiño de Mondoñedo

The Basilica de San Martiño de Mondoñedo is on the Ruta do Mar which we walked in 2015. In 2018 we visited by car from Mondoñedo itself.

Photos from Spain

Back in 2018 we promised to upload photos of our time in Spain and we never got round to it. Now would seem a good time to revive memories of the trip so (hopefully) we will be posting here over the next few weeks with photos from that trip.

Celorio; Asturias, N Spain

Local walks

For the past 3 months we have been walking locally for daily exercise. Photos are few but back in April these trees were lovely.

No walking planned now for this year

Sadly all our plans for 2020, like those of many others, are cancelled as we stay at home due to the Covid-19 lockdown. We wait to see what will happen later in the year but will nor be looking to going to Spain for the foreseeable future, which is very sad.

Spain 2020

We are planning to visit Spain again this year, walking around various places in Asturias and the Picos de Europa. Training for walking is affected by the ongoing bad weather but there is plenty of time before we go. We would be walking out from chosen destinations rather than walking a pilgrimage route this time so are not needing to be so well prepared as in previous years. As ever - watch this space.......

Goodrich Castle

One place we visited, on a trip out from Ledbury, was Goodrich Castle (English Heritage site). It is very impressive and well worth the walk from the parking area.

Views from outside the walls and of the keep and a range of buildings inside.

Ledbury

Two years ago we stayed near Ledbury and visited there again this autumn. There are many good walks in the area and interesting places to visit. British Camp is an iron age fort which we have visited before. A good walk, but curtailed by the rain. However we did reach the top but this year did not continue to walk along the ridge, returning instead by the path round the lower side of the main fort.

Moel Famau and Offa's Dyke

Moel Famau is the highest hill in the Clwydian range at 555mts Our walk started from the car park for Moel Famau and went uphill through the woods. The first more gentle section soon becomes much steeper. On our first walk we took the steep route to a point near the 'scenic' alternative before returning downhill for lunch.

On our full walk we took our lunch with us. There are marked diversions for a slightly easier walk so on the first section we chose this and the zig-zag path made the ascent better. Views from the point where the paths joined were excellent as it was a clear day.

The next steep section again has a marked alternative and this is the more scenic route. This was a good choice as it was clear enough to see Snowdon from this path.

The track wound around and uphill until we could look down onto the Offa's Dyke path, the two tracks meeting below the steepest section we tackled just before the Jubilee Tower. From the tower, built n 1810 for the golden jubilee of George III, it was possible to see not only Snowdon but also across the Dee.

We then turned downhill and walked Offa's Dyke back down to the other car-park, then the footpath parallel to the road back to the Moel Famau car park (also bus stop and toilets) Total approx distance 5 miles, including the diversions.

Track through the woods
and
before the 'scenic' split

The scenic turns left, the main track goes uphill
and
the scenic track

The view looking down to Offa's Dyke
and
the Jubilee Tower

View of Snowdon from Moel Famau
and
Jubilee Tower from the Offa's Dyke path

Offa's Dyke path

Spring 2019

Staying near Ruthin (N. Wales) we walked in the area and a short distance on Offa's Dyke. This was followed by time near Castleton with further walking in that area. More and photos to follow.

A good decision

We are relieved that we did change our plans as the ferry we would have been using has had an engine fire. Thankfully no-one was injured but the ferry is currently out of service. Our outgoing service would have been affected and possibly our return as well. Meanwhile we continue with our plans for Offa's Dyke and Tideswell later in the year, with a return to Ledbury planned for a further walking holiday in the autumn.

Spring is here

We have continued to walk through the winter, but mostly on the road. We have taken few photos. However now that spring is here we are again walking the footpaths locally, when it is not too muddy underfoot. Hopefully we will soon have more new places to visit and more photos to add to this blog. Meanwhile here is a photo from our time in Spain in 2018.

Changed plans

With continuing uncertainty over Brexit and the paperwork needed for the car we have cancelled our plans for Spain. Instead we will walk part of the northern end of Offa's Dyke and the area of the Peak District around Tideswell. The former we have had in mind since we walked other section several years ago. The latter is a return to the area where we spent our honeymoon.

So far these plans seem to be working out well.

So - once again - watch this space......

Plans for 2019

We hope to travel to Spain and re-visit some of the places we have been to previously as well as some new areas.

Watch this space......

Link from Ruta do Mar to Camino del Norte

If walking the Camino del Norte it is possible to walk from Ribadeo on the Ruta do Mar along the coast, past As Catedrais, and then inland through Villaronte to the Basilica of San Martiño de Mondoñedo.

From San Martiño de Mondoñedo instead of going on towards Foz and the Ruta do Mar (signed Obispo Santo) you can turn south to Mondoñedo itself. The route should be marked 'Camino de San Rosendo', although it might be necessary to ask the directions from the Basilica to the first sign. This brings you back onto the Norte in Lourenzá and then to Mondoñedo. Follow the road into town and take the second exit at the roundabout just past the Hotel Montero (with private albergue). Pass the cemetery on your right and keep uphill between the houses, pass the Church of Santiago and follow the signs to the Cathedral. At the Fuente beyond the Cathedral the two variants of the Norte are signed. (Also on one of the approach roads to the Cathedral).

A further alternative is to walk the coast as far as Foz before turning inland and following the red Camino de San Rosendo signs. This too will bring you through to San Martiño.

Basilica of San Martiño

Signs in Lourenzá

Spain 2018

We have now returned from our time in Spain and have enjoyed a number of lovely walks. Once we have prepared our photos we will post more fully here.

Plans and changes for 2018

Our journey is still planned but with some minor variations as to the route.

We will visit Suances, Naves and Soto de Luiña as planned; then a Casa Rural near the Estacas de Bara before going to Mondoñedo; after that we head east to Pravia before going to Corao; then finally Ongayu which is not far from Suances as we return home.

Sea view - Suances

Walking in 2018

Planning is going well for walking a few sections of the Camino del Norte and also the Camino do Mar. This latter is the route from Ribadeo heading west towards Ferrol which we walked in 2015.

So far we expect to stay in Suances (off Camino); Naves (near LLanes); Soto de Luiña; Viveiro (Camino do Mar); Mondoñedo; then head east again to Carao (on the LLanes to Covadonga link) and finally the Picos de Europa on our way home.

Church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores,
near Barro - Camino del Norte