Golden sand beaches, rugged cliffs, sunsets and sunrises over the sea, lighthouses, cakes with lashings of icing, seals, red squirrels, and the occasional paddock with a cute looking cow – those are the highlights of the Anglesey Coastal Path. This long-distance walking trail and adventure delivered (check out the photos below). Over 11 days, my … Continue reading Five mindset lessons from hiking the 229km Anglesey Coastal Path, Wales
Walking and walks
Volcano number 30 – Mt Taranaki
Mt Taranaki looked beautiful in the golden dawn light, its 2,500m high volcanic cone brilliant against the morning’s clear sky. I hadn’t done enough training really for the 1,600m ascent of the New Zealand volcano but it had been on my bucket list for years. Reaching the summit would mark it as volcano number 30 … Continue reading Volcano number 30 – Mt Taranaki
Volcano number 29 – Mt Maunganui
Mt Maunganui - it's one of those easy-access New Zealand bucket-list volcanoes. So being in Tauranga over the weekend, it was a must to climb to the 232m high summit. Also known as Mauao or affectionately as The Mount, this volcano, which marks the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, is ancient and now extinct. Mauao means … Continue reading Volcano number 29 – Mt Maunganui
I’ve started Parkrun – this is what I’ve learnt
Photo not from Parkrun but a walking event from a couple of years ago A couple of months ago I started Parkrun - the Saturday morning 5km community running event.But I don't run (because I'm not a runner) - instead I walk. If I'm honest I've always been a bit put off by Parkrun by … Continue reading I’ve started Parkrun – this is what I’ve learnt
Volcano number 28 – Rarotonga
When your tour guide gets out of the car in the middle of nowhere holding a machete there are several thoughts likely to flit across your mind. For me, it was: S*&! is this guy going to murder us?? AND Jeepers creepers, this hike might be wild and hard core. Thankfully, the latter thought was … Continue reading Volcano number 28 – Rarotonga
Volcano number 27 – The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
What’s the first thought that comes into your head when I say wake up at 3:30am? Mine was: I don’t want to do that, this is going to be hard, I’ll be so tired, I might sleep through my alarm. Amazing really what our ego mind likes to tell us so that it can keep … Continue reading Volcano number 27 – The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Volcano number 26 – Helvellyn
Helvellyn – It’s a mountain (and a volcano) I’ve wanted to climb for years. One of those illusive ones that I could have done a number of times but just never got round to. That was, until earlier this month, when my fiancé and I made our way up to England’s Lake District for a … Continue reading Volcano number 26 – Helvellyn
#WalkNZ – Finally reached Bluff
I've done it! I've finally reached Bluff, the southern most point and finish of the 3,000km (1,864mile) Te Araroa Trail down the length of New Zealand. This was the final six days of the trail (plus one rest day) that I had left to complete after Covid lockdown put an end to the walk in … Continue reading #WalkNZ – Finally reached Bluff
Volcano number 24: The Munro volcano
It’s late September 2020. I’m in Scotland and I’m about to climb my first Munro – a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4m), of which there are 282. It also happens to be a volcano and the UK’s highest mountain. Ben Nevis stands at a glorious 4,411 feet (1,345m) and is beautifully imposing. It is … Continue reading Volcano number 24: The Munro volcano
Volcano number 23: The private volcano
April 2020 was spent in a yellow motel room in the small tourist town Te Anau in New Zealand. That first Covid lockdown put paid to my #WalkNZ adventure – just seven days from the finish line in Bluff. Once things opened up in New Zealand, and the rest of the world was still on … Continue reading Volcano number 23: The private volcano