[This walk was completed on Saturday 18th May, 2024]
Today, I will be mainly road-walking along the notorious A9. But, first, I follow a minor road under the overpass, and take a path up the hill. Great views. Dunbeath doesn’t seem very large from up here.
[This walk was completed on Friday, 17th May, 2024]
I cycle back to the cemetery in Latheron. The old chapel is now the Clan Gunn heritage centre – but it is closed. Chain my bike behind a public toilet (also closed) and set off for my road-walk to Dunbeath.
[This walk was completed on Thursday, 16th May, 2024]
I walk down to the harbour at Lybster. It is a pleasant stroll along a road, in watery sunshine.
[This walk was completed on Tuesday 14th May, 2024]
It is a beautiful place to have lunch. On flat rocks, with waterfalls cascading down the slope above, and a ruined building perched in the distance.
[This walk was completed on Tuesday, 14th May, 2024]
From the bus stop on the main road, I walk along the little lane that leads to the Whaligoe Steps. Past the row of little cottages, past a number of vehicles trying to get into the tiny car park (which is full), until I reach the end of the tarmac.
[This walk was completed on Monday, 13th May, 2024]
Leaving Sarclet Haven behind, I carry on along The John o’Groats Trail. I’m tired now – this walk seems longer than I anticipated – but I must be nearly there. Another geo to walk around, fringed with pink thrift flowers. Turrie Geo, I think
[This walk was completed on Monday, 13th May 2024]
I cycle the long, straight road into Wick, find the side road that leads past the Trinkie swimming pool, and reach the car park at the end of the lane. Then, I realise I forgot to bring my bicycle lock! (It’s been a year since I walked the coast, and I have forgotten my usual routine.) So, with some difficulty, I drag my Scooty bike down a grassy slope, and leave it hidden from the road, lying against some rocks.
Rehabilitation after cancer treatment is: “a process of regaining and refreshing old skills, learning and refining new ones to enable you to live the sort of life you want,” according to Dr Harvey. I knew what life I wanted. I WANTED MY OLD LIFE BACK.
It was going to take time. One big milestone was tucking into toast and marmalade. I hadn’t been able to eat toast – or bread of any type – for many months. It tasted scrumptious!
I was right about my radiotherapy “wound” taking 6 weeks to heal. In fact, my ability to eat had become dramatically better at around 5 weeks. And now my fitness began to improve too.
So, I began going for longer walks. First just round the block, then round two blocks, then down the road to the nearest park. What a delight to see the cheerful yellow of crocuses in the park. At one point, I thought I would never live to see the spring. Now, spring was springing.
One week into the New Year, and my family came to visit – all three daughters and all three grandchildren – for a belated Christmas / early birthday celebration. I was still feeling awful – and tried not to show it. But my birthday flowers cheered up the room.
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Report: 1243 Date: 14/5/26 Location: The incident happened on the Dales Way. In the field between the railway line on Lambrook Beck and the Beck houses. This field is in the Dales Way between Sedbergh and Burneside. Rajiv’s post: We were walking on a public footpath on the Dales Way when our path was blocked […]
We published a post recently about being careful while planning new walking routes for fear of meeting cattle Ensuring Safety on a Walking Holiday: Cattle Management – Cattle Safety . This fear is not unusual, and is well founded, we have hundreds of reports where walkers have been frightened or hurt. Below are three recent […]
Report number: 1244 Date: 15/5/26Location: Greywell Hill Estate. Nr Odiham Hampshire. ///reverses.motel.ambitions 1 person no dog Graham’s report: “I was following the bridleway on a bicycle. The cows were 50 yards away from me, I was moving away from them when they came running towards me. Aggressively charging me, pawing the ground with their hooves. […]
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 