It started with some SW coast path. There were steps! Lots of steps up and on we went - a good start to 3 days walking when the ramblers were used to the flat lands of Suffolk! But it was a good day. We saw Thatcher Rock and Ore Stone and the beautiful Anstey Cove. At this time of year, we were very disappointed to find that the public toilets along the way weren't open! It seems people who visit the area don't need to go to the loo from October through to Easter! Hmmmmm. It was amazing to come across this Blackthorn arched walkway as we were finding our way back to St Marychurch. Day 2 was moor day.....we walked from Haytor round to Rippon Tor and down into Widecombe, onward to go out the other side to see the wild open moor of Hameldown. Again, we were blessed with amazing weather! And on the 3rd day..... So a three day event of variety with some Secret Hills ramblers. A jolly group who tanked up the hills and really enjoyed the flat bits! We also needed to walk off the 4 course meals at the hotel and the rather large cooked breakfasts, not to mention the odd glass of wine! Lovely co-workers in Alan, Paul, Leslie and Pete. Looking forward to the next time!
This is Haytor and you can even see this view from the car park! But why would you just sit there? Do you find it inviting? And imagine the view from up there! This was taken yesterday when the sun was beginning to show and the colours are exactly as I saw them. The haze over the tor was a litttle more dense but you get the general idea here. Haytor is a local favourite when it snows as it is easily reachable from main roads and the slope down to the road is nice and gentle. I wouldn't recommend climbing up the rocks on a windy day though. View of Saddle Tor and Haytor from Rippon Tor - now Rippon Tor is quite a climb but what a view? All very reachable from the road and, if the fog comes down, just go back down again! There is a car park at the bottom of this tor too. Maybe you don't want to join the Ramblers as they walk too fast? Maybe you don't want to walk with a group of strangers in case you can't keep up? Maybe you have personal fears that stop you going out on your own? Help is at hand! Get in touch with me and we can go out there and take it at your pace as well as talking through any aspects of your life that you may like to be motivated to change or improve on a personal confidential one to one basis. Now here is a nice walk. A stroll through the quarry, which is stunning at any time of year and changes all the time, over to see the view beyond Haytor and round to Holwell Quarry, back over Haytor. Two and a half hours and can be extended.... Now you may be thinking that you don't need to go there to see the views as I have posted them here for you!!! Well you don't get the extra benefit of fresh air, a good blast of striding through soft grass and maybe some boggy areas, climbing a few rocks and the opportunity to roll down the hill at the end if you so choose! There's even an old tramway to guide you if you get stuck....but if you take the wrong turn it can lead you to a dead/rocky/boggy end so watch out!
What's stopping you? After several months of "retirement", I realised I had not been doing enough walking on the moor! So today, I rectified that. A lovely stroll along the East Okement River towards Scarey Tor and just a little circuit back to the station at Okehampton. I came across some bullocks and wandered past them merrily - which is a first for me! Crossed some lovely convenient bridges, soaked up the clean air and enjoyed the beginnings of autumn leaves. What a lovely way to start the day!
Sometimes you just need to "get out there" - bite the bullet and take the first step. I felt like a walk on the moor today to clear my head. But it was a bit of a drive, and then I saw the Okehampton Show was on and an incident on the A38, so thought...no, let's go to the sea. My favourite walk along the coast from Budleigh and then down car free lanes to the path along the Otter. I decided to be gentle on myself and do a shorter route today so didn't get to Otterton, which maybe I should have done for a nice lunch at the Mill! Walking through some lanes back to the car seeing a few butterflies, including this peacock and a few meadow browns This walk left me feeling energised and more positive. Life takes twists and turns every day and I find the exercise and fresh air really help to bring perspective. We never know what will happen tomorrow but can only make the best of today.
A couple of walks to go on the list - one on the wide open moor - about 9 miles and another in a little seaside village for a bit of a sea view and some regular countryside... First a walk from Sticklepath to Widecombe and back - this will include Belstone and a ford to negotiate! A towel is recommended on a hot day :) And this is the country walk - some of it! A little stroll to the beach is also an option on this walk. This is the back of Branscombe Village. Views of Branscome on another day - a seaside walk...
Next week, I shall be taking a group of strangers walking around the Sidmouth area. The walking to confidence bit of this will be making sure I gauge the walk to suit the different paces and characters as well as making sure we make the pub for lunch! Otherwise there will be hell to pay!
There are some splendid views in this area, which is one of my favourites, so we will have a great few days. Thankfully, there will be a couple of friendly faces for me on this trip! At the moment, I am making an email list for news on events coming up and other useful stuff to do with walking and life in general, so please let me know if you are interested in receiving this by sending me your email address. Thank you to all those who have already sent me their email addresses. I now need to work out how to construct the email itself! Lots to learn! Hoping to hear from and see lots of you soon! Katie at started on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Sidmouth.....a stroll around the town to get bearings and a stretch after the very long coach journey from Epping Forest, Essex. No sooner had we returned to the hotel, than the sun came out! And all of a sudden Sidmouth ice cream sales went through the roof! Over a period of four days walking we covered much of the Sidmouth area, including a walk from the Donkey Sanctuary back to Sidmouth.... Now this group of walkers have been long distance ramblers in the past but time is taking a toll....but that doesn't stop them! On day two, we walked from Otterton to Sidmouth via Ladram Bay and what fantastic views there were, along with some steep climbs. One lady ventured up to High Peak to see the full view, escorted by me of course! We spent the third day walking along the Seaton - Lyme Regis undercliff. Now that path is not easy going at all and once you are on it there is no getting off! We braved the golf course, read the "alert difficult terrain" sign, put on the sun screen and walked on... Well the coach was meeting us at Lyme Regis and there is no phone signal along the cliff. So on we walked and the terrain became a familiar route of wooden steps followed by roots and slippery mud, more steps, more steps and more roots - up and down - up and down but we plodded on. This would be straightforward but you must remember this group are not as strong as they used to be but with true British spirit, they walked on and reached Lyme Regis in time for an ice cream before jumping on the coach. It was an achievement and goes to show that you don't need to let life stop you doing what you enjoy. On the fourth day, we did a lovely gentle circuit of Branscombe which did end with a super cream tea at the Old Bakery - a must if you are visiting Devon. The beautiful peacock was found at a caravan site we walked through - a welcome pause for a photo after the first hill! A steady walk and a great opportunity to take it easy and enjoy lunch overlooking Branscombe beach before strolling up through the valley to the bakery and the bus. Such lovely company to walk with - this group helped me to learn to take it easy and enjoy the views and take time to notice the nature of the area more and each other's company - thank you Epping HF Group!
So I've had a few great weeks!! Passed my Hill and Moorland Assessment a couple of weekends ago and then went on Torbay Hospital Digital TV! That was a great experience and it's always a bit nerve wracking watching yourself on a video! The way ahead can sometimes seem an impossible journey that is scarey but you still know it is the only way to go. Maybe it is a leap of faith that takes you to the next exciting adventure in your life. Stepping out on to the moor is always a step of faith for me as you never know whether the mist will come down or you will slip or fall in a bog! But I always tell someone where I am going and let them know when I return - so safety first! A shelter and first aid pack are also essential kit. First aid kits are not always what you need in life though. Sometimes we need a whopping great sticky plaster over our emotional distress. A dose of nature can provide this. Step out on to the moor and feel the freedom it provides in space and beauty. The River Mardle provided a barrier which I leapt across in order to climb the hill beyond. This felt exhilarating and gave me impetus for the climb. Up through the snow, where no man had stepped before me! And onwards over the moor into unknown territory but with my map and compass so had an idea where I was. What is your map and compass for life? Do you have set rules and values that you live by? What guides you as you take each step forward? Is it your past and how you got by or do you live by faith? How do you see life? Is it an amble in the park, always looking for the easiest option? Do you take risks and set yourself challenges to find out more about yourself? How do you see the rest of your life looking? Does it look good? When you are lost, sometimes you have to look back to leap forward again. When you are on a safe journey home, it is so rewarding to look at the journey you have travelled. Are you living your life to the full and making the most of every opportunity? Do you wake each day excited about what it might bring? Thoughts to challenge yourself with..... maybe? Not everyone wants an adventure every day but a sense of wonder and some enthusiasm may make for a fuller and more varied life? Do these pictures give you a sense of peace and tranquility? A sense of freedom and space to think and breathe fresh air? Stepping into the unknown - where is your unknown territory? Let me know what you think!
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KatieMake your future work for you. If you are looking for dynamic change in your life, send me a message via the contact form and we can talk through strategies to get your started! Archives
September 2020
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