Julia organised a weekend of walking for my birthday - although I was not interested in doing anything for my birthday it was lovely to have an excuse to go away walking!
The plan was to walk from Newquay to Padstow (25 miles), have dinner at Rick Stein's cafe on the Sunday evening and then cycle on Monday. And we pretty much did everything!
Friday night we flew down to Newquay - she had investigated doing the night train, but there seemed to be a random stop at about 4am so we didn't fancy that so much. Went for a stroll around Newquay once we'd arrived. It seems to be the stag do capital of the UK - and having seen it once, I don't think I'll need to go back again! Not the most charming town I've been to... Julia spotted a guy in a mankini about 10am on Saturday morning - I think that 'stag' would have had a very long day...
Showing posts with label Walking trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walking trips. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
Wet birthday day...
Monday dawned somewhat damp...
We had the most amazing brekkie at the B&B (which I couldn't finish), then walked the remaining two miles to Padstow to complete the walk. Our original plan had been to do some cycling before getting our train back, but the weather was pretty unappealing so we headed back on an earlier train.
But not before we went to Rick Stein's bakery and bought some fruit scones, clotted cream and jam so we could have our own cream tea on the train on the way back :-). And very nice it was too!
A fab weekend!
We had the most amazing brekkie at the B&B (which I couldn't finish), then walked the remaining two miles to Padstow to complete the walk. Our original plan had been to do some cycling before getting our train back, but the weather was pretty unappealing so we headed back on an earlier train.
But not before we went to Rick Stein's bakery and bought some fruit scones, clotted cream and jam so we could have our own cream tea on the train on the way back :-). And very nice it was too!
A fab weekend!
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Julia paddling on Harlyn Bay
Julia paddling on Harlyn Bay
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
This was actually quite a busy beach - just a well constructed photo to make it look deserted!!
Padstow town
After the most amazingly refreshing shower and rejuvenating cup of tea in the B&B we headed into Padstow for a drink and dinner at Rick Stein's Cafe.
Rick Stein is all over Padstow - cafe, restaurant, deli, fish & chip shop... the list goes on! But we really enjoyed the cafe - the food was lovely, the service was good, and it was nice and relaxed. The restaurant is the uber-posh one - we were a bit more downmarket!
I had crab with chilli and garlic with pasta for a starter, then plaice for the main, then sunken chocolate cake for dessert. Very nice too! Julia went for salt & pepper prawns, sea bream in a thai jungle curry and a cheese board. Lovely birthday meal!
Rick Stein is all over Padstow - cafe, restaurant, deli, fish & chip shop... the list goes on! But we really enjoyed the cafe - the food was lovely, the service was good, and it was nice and relaxed. The restaurant is the uber-posh one - we were a bit more downmarket!
I had crab with chilli and garlic with pasta for a starter, then plaice for the main, then sunken chocolate cake for dessert. Very nice too! Julia went for salt & pepper prawns, sea bream in a thai jungle curry and a cheese board. Lovely birthday meal!
Treyarnon Bay to Lellizzick
Sunday was another 10 miles to Lellizzick farm (a couple of miles outside of Padstow, but where we were staying so we stopped there). We were in room two.
Another great day of walking - fantastic beaches (especially Constantine Bay and Harlyn Bay), walking around the headland past the Trevose Head Lighthouse, and then walking past the observation point at Stepper Point. I was also intrigued by Mother Ivey's Bay which has cursed land apparently...
We walked past a couple of round holes - collapsed sea caves apparently. That was quite odd to think that the ground we were walking over could quite easily be hollow underneath! We saw lots of parts of the cliffs where the sea had worn a hole through it from one side to the other.
We ended up on the estuary so had a wee rest at Hawker's Cove before heading to the B&B. Our feet were feeling two days of walking by then so it was good to take the shoes off and go for a refreshing paddle!!
Another great day of walking - fantastic beaches (especially Constantine Bay and Harlyn Bay), walking around the headland past the Trevose Head Lighthouse, and then walking past the observation point at Stepper Point. I was also intrigued by Mother Ivey's Bay which has cursed land apparently...
We walked past a couple of round holes - collapsed sea caves apparently. That was quite odd to think that the ground we were walking over could quite easily be hollow underneath! We saw lots of parts of the cliffs where the sea had worn a hole through it from one side to the other.
We ended up on the estuary so had a wee rest at Hawker's Cove before heading to the B&B. Our feet were feeling two days of walking by then so it was good to take the shoes off and go for a refreshing paddle!!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Newquay to Treyarnon Bay
Saturday dawned slightly grey, but that is good weather for walking, so once we'd sorted out all the things we'd forgotten to pack we headed off.
We were doing two sections of the South West Coast path - which pretty much just follows the coast so not much danger of getting lost! The scenery all the way around was just amazing - you'll see on Flickr that I've taken a lot of photos of stunning coastal scenery!
Our first stop was The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay - where we were a bit early for lunch so we had an 'extreme' hot chocolate. And it was pretty extreme! We bought sandwiches to eat later for lunch but it took a long time to work that chocolate off! Got a spot on the balcony and watched the families try to keep warm, and also the various surf schools doing their lessons.
Second highlight was the Bedruthan Steps - legend has it the giant Bedruthan used these stones as steps across the bay. Very cool and really quite impressive.
Saturday night we spent at Treyarnon YHA - the only accomodation Julia could find. It was fine - although somewhat dull as the books available weren't that gripping and we never managed to find the TV room! Great spot tho - and right on the path so no danger of not being able to find it!
We were doing two sections of the South West Coast path - which pretty much just follows the coast so not much danger of getting lost! The scenery all the way around was just amazing - you'll see on Flickr that I've taken a lot of photos of stunning coastal scenery!
Our first stop was The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay - where we were a bit early for lunch so we had an 'extreme' hot chocolate. And it was pretty extreme! We bought sandwiches to eat later for lunch but it took a long time to work that chocolate off! Got a spot on the balcony and watched the families try to keep warm, and also the various surf schools doing their lessons.
Second highlight was the Bedruthan Steps - legend has it the giant Bedruthan used these stones as steps across the bay. Very cool and really quite impressive.
Saturday night we spent at Treyarnon YHA - the only accomodation Julia could find. It was fine - although somewhat dull as the books available weren't that gripping and we never managed to find the TV room! Great spot tho - and right on the path so no danger of not being able to find it!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
What a walk it was in the Peak District
Cor - currently recovering from an epic day of walking yesterday in the Peak District. I was meant to be rollerblading today, but I had to pull out. I barely had the energy and inclination to walk to the supermarket and back!
I think it is fair to say that Craig and I learnt many lessons - I just wishing learning the lessons wasn't so exhausting!
Craig had suggested going up to the Peak District for a night a few weeks ago. Camp one night, walk on Friday and a big one on Saturday then back down to London on Sat night. He had a new GPS gizmo he wanted to test, and I’ve always wanted to go to the Peak District (try and meet my Mr Darcy!) so I was very keen. Turned out to be just us as everyone else was busy – they missed a real treat!
Read on for epic adventures in the Peak District... And lots more photos on Flickr as well!
I think it is fair to say that Craig and I learnt many lessons - I just wishing learning the lessons wasn't so exhausting!
- Don't ever not stop for lunch because 'we'll be back in the village in an hour and we can get lunch then...'. That old chestnut 'famous last words' comes into play...
- Don't step into peaty bogs - especially don't do it twice. Like quicksand (I imagine), it ain't that easy to get out of.
- Don't assume that because a trail is marked on an OS map that it will look like a well defined path in real life.
- Do use your common sense at times - you may have a whizzy gizmo gadget, but when you see people walking in the distance, and also a cairn, that is a pretty good clue that there will be a path over there...
Craig had suggested going up to the Peak District for a night a few weeks ago. Camp one night, walk on Friday and a big one on Saturday then back down to London on Sat night. He had a new GPS gizmo he wanted to test, and I’ve always wanted to go to the Peak District (try and meet my Mr Darcy!) so I was very keen. Turned out to be just us as everyone else was busy – they missed a real treat!
Read on for epic adventures in the Peak District... And lots more photos on Flickr as well!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A loop around Edale...
Craig had mapped out a route which was circular around Edale. We took in Mam Tor - but were there way too early to see all of the paragliders who were there when we drove home that evening.
We then took in Kinder Scout which was fantastic and then around to Kinder Fall. It was a fantastic walk - stunning scenery, and it took in so many different landscapes. Rolling peak hills, then a fantastic moon like landscape with incredible rock formations all around. Enroute to Kinder Scout I stepped into a bog (just as Craig told me not to). Straight in, up to my knee and it was stuck fast. Craig tried pulling me out but my leg wasn't moving... At one point I was worried my boot would come off! In the end I gave up and sat down on the boggy edge and pulled my leg out that way. Thank heavens for gaiters and quick drying walking trou!
We were fine up to Kinder Falls. Then it all went a bit pearshaped... The path we were looking for (as it turned out), wasn't a well defined path, but needed to be followed with a compass bearing. Which would have been fine, except we hadn't realised that, so kept finding the path and losing it again (which we couldn't understand why), then it started to rain on and off, and we spent about 1 and 3/4 hours cris-crossing the peaty bog, going up and down boggy bits, trying to work out how to get where we knew we needed to be. Its fair to say we both got VERY stressed at times, but finally we did work it out. However this was all done on no lunch (see top post) and after setting off walking at about 8.10am, we got back to the village of Edale at 4.15pm. It was a very long, very hard day of walking, but it was great. Oh - except for the bit when I fell in the bog again... this time, both legs in, up to my knees.... Can't say it was any more fun the second time.
After another meal at the Nag's Head we then had to drive back to London - well Craig did. We were both knackered - it was a very long day!
We then took in Kinder Scout which was fantastic and then around to Kinder Fall. It was a fantastic walk - stunning scenery, and it took in so many different landscapes. Rolling peak hills, then a fantastic moon like landscape with incredible rock formations all around. Enroute to Kinder Scout I stepped into a bog (just as Craig told me not to). Straight in, up to my knee and it was stuck fast. Craig tried pulling me out but my leg wasn't moving... At one point I was worried my boot would come off! In the end I gave up and sat down on the boggy edge and pulled my leg out that way. Thank heavens for gaiters and quick drying walking trou!
We were fine up to Kinder Falls. Then it all went a bit pearshaped... The path we were looking for (as it turned out), wasn't a well defined path, but needed to be followed with a compass bearing. Which would have been fine, except we hadn't realised that, so kept finding the path and losing it again (which we couldn't understand why), then it started to rain on and off, and we spent about 1 and 3/4 hours cris-crossing the peaty bog, going up and down boggy bits, trying to work out how to get where we knew we needed to be. Its fair to say we both got VERY stressed at times, but finally we did work it out. However this was all done on no lunch (see top post) and after setting off walking at about 8.10am, we got back to the village of Edale at 4.15pm. It was a very long, very hard day of walking, but it was great. Oh - except for the bit when I fell in the bog again... this time, both legs in, up to my knees.... Can't say it was any more fun the second time.
After another meal at the Nag's Head we then had to drive back to London - well Craig did. We were both knackered - it was a very long day!
Friday, July 10, 2009
It began on Friday...
I set off from work on Friday at midday to go and meet Craig at his work. The plan was we would get to Edale, put up our tents (I borrowed mine from Simon’s sister), and then go for a short walk before having dinner in the pub. Ah – the best laid plans…
It was all fine until we got past Junction 25 on the M1. At that point we realised we weren’t slow because of the road works but because there had been an accident between Junction 26 and 27. Too late for us…. About 1.5 hours later (but it felt like much longer), we got to the exit at 26 and headed off. Traffic was still pretty slow though, and a 4 hour trip turned into 7.5 hours. We got to the campsite just after 7pm… It was my first experience of being stuck in traffic like that – I’ve always been lucky and been driving past it in the other direction. Can’t say that I would recommend it.
We got the tents up fairly quickly at the Fieldhead campsite (Craig has used his, but aside from a short demo I hadn’t put mine up properly before) then we headed off to the pub for dinner. It was a two pub town – we ate at the The Nags Head which was fairly standard fare. It is also officially the start of the Pennine Way. We probably would have stayed there but a big group in the other room started singing… What was cute for a couple of songs just turned plain annoying after about 6 or 7 numbers. So we headed off to the Ramblers Inn for another pint and a whisky before bed. Also very underwhelmed with that pub as well - despite its name it was pretty mediocre.
It was all fine until we got past Junction 25 on the M1. At that point we realised we weren’t slow because of the road works but because there had been an accident between Junction 26 and 27. Too late for us…. About 1.5 hours later (but it felt like much longer), we got to the exit at 26 and headed off. Traffic was still pretty slow though, and a 4 hour trip turned into 7.5 hours. We got to the campsite just after 7pm… It was my first experience of being stuck in traffic like that – I’ve always been lucky and been driving past it in the other direction. Can’t say that I would recommend it.
We got the tents up fairly quickly at the Fieldhead campsite (Craig has used his, but aside from a short demo I hadn’t put mine up properly before) then we headed off to the pub for dinner. It was a two pub town – we ate at the The Nags Head which was fairly standard fare. It is also officially the start of the Pennine Way. We probably would have stayed there but a big group in the other room started singing… What was cute for a couple of songs just turned plain annoying after about 6 or 7 numbers. So we headed off to the Ramblers Inn for another pint and a whisky before bed. Also very underwhelmed with that pub as well - despite its name it was pretty mediocre.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Back from wonderful Wales
And as I was clever and took my MacBook with me, I have my posts all ready to go! So read on below for the holiday - I'm about to start uploading my photos as well, but that may take a wee while...
Highlights were:
Highlights were:
- Summiting Tryfan
- Finding the lovely Welsh farmer and realising we were no longer lost in the wilds of Wales
- The great company
Friday, May 15, 2009
Lazy Friday
Friday was a low key day. The Kershaws headed out early-ish, but we just mooched around the house. Owen and I then went to meet them at Beddgelert to go for a wee stroll with them all.
Beautiful wee village - very different from where we were staying. Stunning - although looking quite thunderous as it was a bit grey and cloudy when we were there.
Owen and I then went back to pick Finbarr up and we headed off to try and find Owen's 'ancestral home' - Vaynol Hall, where his great grand-father had been gamekeeper. Cue much amusement, as Owen seems to be from all of the country, but we did find the somewhat imposing entrance to the estate. Which was all we got to see as it was definitely 'Private Property'.
Saturday we had to be out by 10, and we had left by about 9.30. We all felt very sorry to be going!
Beautiful wee village - very different from where we were staying. Stunning - although looking quite thunderous as it was a bit grey and cloudy when we were there.
Owen and I then went back to pick Finbarr up and we headed off to try and find Owen's 'ancestral home' - Vaynol Hall, where his great grand-father had been gamekeeper. Cue much amusement, as Owen seems to be from all of the country, but we did find the somewhat imposing entrance to the estate. Which was all we got to see as it was definitely 'Private Property'.
Saturday we had to be out by 10, and we had left by about 9.30. We all felt very sorry to be going!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The best laid plans...
Very early start today – out of the house by 8.15! The plan was that me, Craig, Owen and Finbarr would head out early, climb Cnicht (5.5 miles – approx time 4 hours) and then meet Sarah and the kids in Betws-y Coed. Oh the best laid plans…
The morning was a bit grey, but not too bad when we set off, and the climb up to Cnicht was ok. Getting closer to the top the cloud started to come down, but we persevered. It was meant to have stunning views, but as you can see from the photos all we saw was cloud. So far so good…
The descent was where it all went wrong… We were meant to be looking out for a lake – quite hard to do when visibility was about 5 feet ahead of us… However Craig had a plan that as long as we headed north east we’d eventually hit the lake. 3 hours later we finally end up at a farm (after walking across very boggy peat bogs, crossing and re-crossing streams, and walking around the corner of a field to be faced with 6 bulls) and found a rather dashing young Welsh farmer who promptly told us where we were – which was miles away from where we were meant to be (about 5 to be precise). We’d gone so wrong it was incredible – thank heavens for finding that farmer!
We learnt many lessons on that walk – like a map and a compass aren’t that useful when you don’t actually know where you are on the map… or when you can’t see any landmarks to map yourself against… However it all ended ok – we ended up back in the land of people again!
The morning was a bit grey, but not too bad when we set off, and the climb up to Cnicht was ok. Getting closer to the top the cloud started to come down, but we persevered. It was meant to have stunning views, but as you can see from the photos all we saw was cloud. So far so good…
The descent was where it all went wrong… We were meant to be looking out for a lake – quite hard to do when visibility was about 5 feet ahead of us… However Craig had a plan that as long as we headed north east we’d eventually hit the lake. 3 hours later we finally end up at a farm (after walking across very boggy peat bogs, crossing and re-crossing streams, and walking around the corner of a field to be faced with 6 bulls) and found a rather dashing young Welsh farmer who promptly told us where we were – which was miles away from where we were meant to be (about 5 to be precise). We’d gone so wrong it was incredible – thank heavens for finding that farmer!
We learnt many lessons on that walk – like a map and a compass aren’t that useful when you don’t actually know where you are on the map… or when you can’t see any landmarks to map yourself against… However it all ended ok – we ended up back in the land of people again!
Me & Fin at the summit with Craig in the distance
Me & Fin at the summit with Craig in the distance
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Perched on the edge of the world in the cloud...
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