About

How to read this blog

Some readers might like a few tips on how to read this bog. What you see first is the latest post. Previous posts are listed in the Blog Archive section on the right. The titles of the current month's posts are listed in full - click on one to see it. To go further back, click on a month or year.

Click on any photo to see a full screen version. Thumbnails of other pictures will be at the bottom of the screen: you can click on them to see the other photos. Use the Back arrow or the Esc key to return to the post.

The white box on the top left of the blog screen is a search facility. Type in any search word and all posts which contain that word will be displayed.

A section  on the right lists all the labels (effectively tags, or keywords).  Click on a label to see all posts with that label. Most labels are geographical, but others identify topics or walks where there were particular features (e.g. walled towns, almshouses, follies) or where there are wildlife pictures.

The menu offers an easy way to return to the latest post - just press Home. The other items on the menu are pages on particular topics.

What makes for a good walk

Variety

Different types of countryside, terrain, views. Unless of course the terrain is so magnificent that variety would only detract.

Tracks

Much more enjoyable to walk on than fields or tarmac.

Wildlife

Interesting, varied, numerous, rare ..... birds, plants, butterflies, animals.

Height

Either being up high - walking along a ridge perhaps - or a walk which involves a change of levels. The views are more interesting, and you can see the same things from different perspectives. And there is more effort and sense of achievement.

Sights

Natural (lakes, rock formations, valleys etc) or man-made (stately homes, churches, follies etc), especially where they act as landmarks which can be seen from different points in the walk.

Novelty

Different from what you usually do or from what is characteristic of where you live. Breaking new ground in terms of distance, difficulty, climate etc

Linkage

Although novelty is good, it is also good when a walk allows you to build on past experience and allows you to feel a deeper knowledge of an area or subject.