Up To The Top

Exploring England #21

Walking – it’s what people do when they visit the Peak District National Park. Some enjoy a gentle stroll through a pretty village while others take on the challenge of hiking the 431 km Pennine Way National Trail.

Somewhere in between the two extremes are 3,005 km of walking tracks with right of way through farming land.

Let’s go – through the gate

up the hill

over the stile

to a vantage point at the top of the ridge.

Walkers are rewarded with expansive views of the village of Castleton and the limestone hills bordering the Hope Valley.

Imagine the views when they go even higher!

Visit Restless Jo for more Monday Walks

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ Atop

Which Shoes to Choose?

Exploring England #6

The best way to enjoy the dramatic scenery of the Jurassic Coast is by walking, and there are hundreds of kilometres of paths and trails you can take.

Some climb over high limestone cliffs,

while others lead to small isolated beaches.

One thing is certain – whichever path you decide to take, you need to think carefully about your choice of footwear.

At Lulworth, there are several walking tracks suitable for those looking for spectacular photographic opportunities. The path to Durdle Door starts off easily, although the wind blowing off the English Channel is icy.

Despite the chilly breeze and warnings of crumbling cliff edges, many walkers find places along the way to enjoy expansive views of the rugged coastline.

To reach Durdle Door, a set of steps winds down from the cliff top to the beach below. The steep steps are hard going at the best of times, but after heavy rain they’re muddy, slippery and difficult to negotiate.

By the time you’ve reached the bottom, you could be a few centimetres taller, with a new platform sole of mud on your shoes. If you’ve chosen real platform shoes, it’s a good time to discard them before setting out across the shingle beach.

It’s worth the effort though. The hard Portland stone of Durdle Door contrasts with the softer chalk cliffs stretching away in the distance.

The pebbly beach drops away steeply into the ocean, making it the perfect platform for special photos.

Eventually, it’s time to retrace your steps and return the way you came – you just have to walk back up!

Join Jo for more Monday Walks

Walking up, Looking Down

Holiday in Hawaii #21

We didn’t have to walk too far or climb too high to have a great view of our surroundings when we hiked the Diamond Head Summit Trail. The hike to the top of the volcanic crater is only 1.3 km and reaches an elevation of just 171 metres but the scene from the top is spectacular.

Our walk started at the Diamond Head Visitor Centre, and from the wide cement path on the floor of the crater we could see our destination at the summit.

The track ahead looked steep, but looks can be deceptive. It was a gentle uphill walk along the inside wall of the crater, with many tight corners and switchbacks and glimpses of the view as we rose higher.

At the top of the track there were several flights of steps. The first set of 74 led to a dimly lit tunnel which ascended through the crater wall for 75 metres. Up another 99 steps and then a spiral staircase and we found ourselves in a Fire Control Station on the outer rim of the crater.

From there the track wound around the outside edge of the crater before another 54 steps led up to the platform at the summit.

More than one million people visit Diamond Head each year and many of them were on the trail with us. But it was worth waiting patiently for a spot at the summit – once there we spent some time enjoying the view of the southern coastline of Oahu, from Koko Head to Waikiki.

As well as the long distance views, there was plenty of wildlife to see on the trail. Far away and close up – it was a big reward for a little effort.

 

Enjoy more beautiful walks with Jo on Monday.