The Wandle Trail

I haven't tried this trail out yet, in fact I only just found out about it, and only then because it's not featured in the Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England. Someone doing a review of the book was rather annoyed that their favourite walk wasn't included and being the curious person I am , I decided to investigate.



The Wandle Trail is a good one day walk for a seasoned walker as it's 14 miles long (20km) and it gets its name from the River Wandle which it follows from Croydon to the Thames at Wandsworth.



Having walked loads in and around London with my East End Girls - http://www.walkerscoach.com/meeting_others.htm I'm not at all surprised to hear that the walk "allows you to enjoy the heritage, flora and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of south London’s most industrialised landscape".



The trail is mainly off-road and passes through the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth. As it's in built up areas there are of course points where you can access public transport and there are numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants where you can have a break and recharge. There are also local attractions such as Merton Abbey Mills, Deen City Farm and Wandsworth Museum and the Wandle Trail Art Programme is providing numbered gateways, viewing platforms and distinctive waymarkers. A travelling ‘waste wall’ will be the focus of community rubbish collection events - Wandle Trail arts website . In fact it sounds like the kind of trail you could do bot by bit over a number of weekends to take everything in.



The river has been used since the industrial revolution and is dotted with mills, offering glimpses into local history. More than ten parks and green spaces lie on the route, providing a great opportunity to see local wildlife and escape the hustle and bustle of south west London.



The Wandle Trail partners (the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, Groundwork Merton and Sustrans) have published a map leaflet which shows links to other cycle routes and public transport - Wandle Trail leaflet and map


Finally there are places where the ground is uneven which makes the trail difficult for wheelchair users and even those with prams but improvement work is in progress. The leaflet describes alternative routes for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, where necessary.

Heading to Mallorca? Ideas for walking and hiking.

It's not all nightclubs and parties, take yourself away from the coast and you can find yourself in a very different world where there are breathtaking views and fantastic walking and hiking. The island offers walking for all ages and abilities.

The first thing that caught my eye was the existence of the Dry Stone Route which is a 90 kilometre path, much of which dates back to the Moorish occupation of the island, on which you can walk the length of the island. I love walks like this.

The island’s best walking region is said to be around Lake Cuber which is a man made reservoir in the Sierra Tramuntana. Like many other similar reservoirs, in drought times, you can still make out the outline of the settlement which was flooded. In this area you can see falcons, ospreys, black vultures with a near three metre wing span and even eagles circling the peaks. If you like circular walks, Lake Cuber offers one of the best offering a rugged, steep downhill path which leads to the first of a network of tunnels housing the irrigation pipes bringing freshwater from the mountains into the reservoir. You'll need stout boots and torches on this walk as you have to make you way through the five tunnels which are dark and uneven. Worth it though as the views, on emerging from the tunnels are stunning. From this point it's back towards the Lake again and more wonderful sights.

Another recommended walk is along the cliffs from Soller to the fashionable town of Deiá. This walk takes you past Robert Graves’ house. In the centre of Deiá try out the tapas and then walk or take the bus back to your starting point - guess it depends on how much sherry or Sangria you've had!

If you are looking for more strenuous hikes then you might want to try out some of the paths built by the Austrian Archduke Louis Salvador. These paths take walkers to the foot of peaks, like the Teix (1060m), from where you can see the entire coastline – from Soller to Valldemossa.

Finally for the fit and/or adventurous how about the six hour descent down through the Torrent de Pareis, through gorges and across massive boulders, to the sea. There are fixed iron rings and ropes to ease your way down but you would be advised to bring your own ropes just in case. You can stop at Sa Fosca, a subterranean cave and lake complex which offers potholing adventures for the experienced. Do take loads of water especially when the weather is hot as people have died from dehydration in the oven like atmosphere in the gorge in the summer. If you make it to the end, your reward lies in plunging into the sea at Sa Calobra.

The best months for walking are January, April and May, September, October and November so plenty of scope for you this year or add it to the plan for next. I'm just salivating at the thought of all the possibilities and in true East End girl style I'm looking forward to the stops to people watch, enjoy the food and the odd glass of wine too.

Yosemite's Half Dome.

I visited Yosemite for the first, and only time so far, in July 2007 and loved it. The whole experience made me realise just how insignificant I am in the scheme of things as everything was so huge and I, so small. This wasn't a bad realisation as it brought home to me the need to get less caught up in the small things that didn't really matter.

We spent 3 days in the park getting a feel for it, following some of the trails, spotting wildlife, including a bear and marvelling at the wonderful scenery.

For me, a walker, I just wanted to take off and hike but this wasn't really the right time for the big ones and on my 'to do' list is definitely the plan to return for the sole purpose of hiking the longer trails.

One hike that appealed took in the majestic Half Dome which I got to see from a number of places in the Park and I was able to get different perspectives on this amazing Rock Outcrop. Some day.

Today I read that on May 15th, just yesterday, the cables to the summit of Half Dome have been installed which now enables the completion of a grueling 17-mile round-trip hike during which hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation and are treated with stunning views of Vernal and Nevada falls. Oh, I want to go......

The route means that after passing the falls, weary travelers reach the cables and are close to the goal of the trek. The series of metal cables are placed on Half Dome's steep granite shoulder and are an aid to help hikers reach the summit. It's a popular trail and as you can see, the route is sometimes crowded.

If you are planning on walking the trail, Yosemite advises taking appropriate precautions and be prepared for rapidly changing weather. Rain, thunder and lightning are all common in the Sierra Nevada, especially in summer and fall, and hikers should not attempt to summit the dome when lightning appears possible.

Enjoy this place and Half Dome and whether you hike it or just view it, you will be amazed.

Another section of the Thames Path.

Last March myself and the East End Girls started the Thames path national Trail at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel with the aim of walking to the source of the Thames about 184 miles away.

Due to the shorter winter days and the distance we have to travel to start walking, we stopped in September having done 6 sections of the walk covering approx 114 miles.

Here the girls are at the start of the walk at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel.

Walking the Thames Path has been a fantastic experience and it's amazing to watch a river change as you walk along it's length. We started back on the track last month and are now over half way.

On Sunday, we were walking a 10 mile stretch between Shiplake and Tilehurst and here are the motley crew at Shiplake Station rearing to go.

On this occasion, we were walking along a much more rural part of the Thames with interesting obstacles on the path almost as soon as we joined it. It required careful concentration as to where you put your feet!! not something we encountered on the Central London part of the walk.

Here, as well as house boats there were numerous cabin cruisers and a boat that caught my attention right at the start of the walk and continued to do so as it travelled the same direction as us.

Here's the Baltic Bear at Sonning Lock. The lock keepers cottage here was very pretty covered in Wisteria as you can see from the photo.

The lock provided a much needed loo stop and the opportunity for refreshments but on this occasion we were pushing on as we were only about an hour into the walk. Here are some of the girls checking out the map.

As you can see the sun was shining on us, something we normally achieve and my legs had their first outing of the year.

From Sonning it was on along the Thames to Reading sometimes walking on narrow paths such as this one below and at other times on wide expanses of meadowland.

On approaching Reading, office blocks appeared to our left and we were reminded of the industry, mainly new technology, along the Thames corridor and the interesting juxtapositioning of the gently, lazy Thames and the fast pace of the new technology and pace of life going on in these buildings.

Modern buildings, both residential and commercial appeared while on the river numerous people in family groups and couples enjoyed the sun and the river lazing on the banks, running, flying kites, cycling etc.

We were now starting to think of lunch and set our sights on one of the many cafes and pubs at Caversham Bridge and as usual we found just the right one. Thanks here to Lindsey, who being a local lass had done her research. In fact here's Lindsey looking happy and relaxed (some of the rest of the group in the background) - she's hoping to win the raffle we bought tickets for as the prize is a trifle!! This girl likes her food.

Only two and a half miles further to go from here which we walked in less than an hour and viewed the many amazing properties en route. Some were huge, one even had it's own helipad!!

We finished at Tilehurst at the station and the sight of next month's start then it's on to Cholsey another 11 3/4 miles further on and closer to the source. Figure with a long weekend in September that we can finish in September.