Millennium Footpath

Posted on 11/10/201708/10/2017 by Alastair

It turned out that my walk this week was along the Millennium Footpath – another one! If “millennium” means one thousand (as in years), then I think there must be a millennium of “Millennium Footpaths” in Britain and probably many more around the world. This one is alongside the River Ouse as it flows out of York in the North East England.

I suspect that this footpath was already here and frequently used before the turn of the century. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with giving that or any other name to a walking route, as anything that encourages people to walk and enjoy their surroundings is good in my book.Continue reading→

My Walk this Week – Out Along the Ouse

Posted on 09/10/201708/10/2017 by Alastair

My walk this week is another one along the River Ouse – not into York this time, but out, in the opposite direction. It’s a short circular walk that took me about 90 minutes from door to door with not more than half of that being by the river.

There are a number of inhabitants along this stretch of the river – some use house boats, others old trailers and even tents (they may have been wild campers). Continue reading→

Following the Creek

Posted on 27/09/201724/09/2017 by Alastair

On my recce walk this week on the marshes with other project workers, we were told that, basically, we would follow the creek. This turned out to be important!

The creek, although well hidden in the expanse of marshland, is still the only clearly identifiable feature – as long as you stay close to it.Continue reading→

My Walk this Week – Project Recce Walk 2, Llanrhidian Marshes

Posted on 25/09/201723/09/2017 by Alastair

My walk this week features the second of our project recce walks for a schools project on the Gower Peninsula. This time we were walking across the open tidal marshes in the Burry Inlet near Llanrhidian on the north Gower coastline.

I know the area quite well but hadn’t been to this particular location. The tide was out and the sense of expansive space was wonderful. Continue reading→

Project Recce Walk – Cliff Path to Caswell Bay

Posted on 01/09/201724/08/2017 by Alastair

The path on this third section of our recce walk for a schools project in the Autumn runs along the steep cliff edge between Pwll Du and Caswell Bay on South Gower. Along the sometimes hair-raising path there were wonderful views of a beautifully coloured sea.

It was warm and bright at this stage of our walk and the flora and fauna were taking advantage of it with beetles, lizards and wildflowers showing themselves while others enjoyed the breeze and calm surface of the water. Continue reading→

My Walk this Week – Project Recce Walk, Bishopston Valley

Posted on 28/08/201723/08/2017 by Alastair

My walk this week follows one of the routes we will be taking on a schools project this Autumn. A recce had to be made and a risk assessment done and in Bishopston Valley on the South Gower coast there are plenty of risks, particularly when it has been wet.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained and the young 13 and 14 year olds we will be taking along this exciting footpath will hopefully enjoy the challenge. Continue reading→

The Density of Bracken

Posted on 23/08/201718/08/2017 by Alastair

The density of the bracken on the steep hillside down which I was climbing cautiously, is common on the open commons of the Welsh landscape. While bright green in the Spring and Summer, it changes the hills to bright red in the Autumn when the light is right.

We are having August weather this year as if we were already in Autumn and the bracken is now beginning to change colour. However, it was still bright and thick on this walk back at the end of June. My poor knees were aching from the steep descent (I much prefer climbing) and I had to sit down to give them a break half way down the slope. Continue reading→

Colour in the Valley and Some Cautious Sheep

Posted on 09/08/201705/08/2017 by Alastair

Colour and sheep were significant features of this first part of my Cwmdu walk up Cwm Sorgwm between the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains in Wales.

The colour was largely the vast array of greens common to the Welsh countryside and hills, but also other colours such as the purples of thistles and foxgloves. The sheep too,Continue reading→

Category Archives: Nature