Ruth Livingstone
My book: Walking the English Coast
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Winfield’s Award
Killer Cows: Cattle Safety
Pip encounters a dangerous herd on the Welsh Coastal Path
Response ID: 328,436,497 Report number: 1222 Location: Ceredigion Coast Path (part of the Wales Coast Path) between Gwbert & Mwnt Date: 04/02/26 2 walkers, no dog, meet about 40 Welsh Black bullocks Pips report: “On the return stretch of our walk we encountered extremely treacherous terrain and a herd of about 40 Welsh Black bullocks […]
Frightened walker asks “Surely the footpath could be fenced off just like it had been done leading up to this section?”
Incident number:1220 Response ID: 328,248,081 Location: Back Forest Farm, River Dane, near Wincle & DaneBridge, Peak District ///wasps.promote.homelands Date 26/01/26 Single walker, no dog SY’s Report: “I was heading back to DaneBridge/Wincle from Gradbach/Black Forest. I’d walked by Back Forest Farm along the path between their fields and came to a gate/stile. As I crossed […]
This walker was rescued by a kind person from Denston Hall
Incident number: 1218 Response ID: 320,795,463 Date of incident: 29.12.2025 Location: Below Denston Hall, Denston Suffolk Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PROW L.Cooper’s story “I saw a group of cows ahead and waited to see if they would move. As I couldn’t get past without going near to them I backtracked and […]
Tag Archives: hiking
149c Minehead, and the end of the South West Coast Path.
I experience a profound moment of transition, discover an amazing piece of sculpture, and realise I have walked further than I thought. Continue reading
149b Hurlstone Point to Minehead
My head spins with vertigo. I feel like I sometimes do when I’m skiing and find myself balancing on the side of a black slope, wondering what on earth I’m doing up here. Continue reading
148b Lynmouth to Porlock Weir
I walk like a pirate through wild, rain-soaked woods on the edge of Exmoor, where I discover an ancient church, walk under bridges built by Byron’s daughter, and give my water bottle away to a passing stranger. Continue reading
148a Lynmouth to Porlock Weir
A wet slog up Countisbury Hill and then an amazing and deserted walk through ancient forests and past secret springs.
If only I could get rid of the flies and find somewhere to sit down. Continue reading
146c Combe Martin to Holdstone Down
I climb up to Greater Hangman – the highest point on the South West Coast Path and the highest coastal cliff in mainland Britain. But experience a strange sense of anti-climax. And then I endure the Valley of the Flies… Continue reading
146b Ifracombe to Combe Martin
I feel dizzy and faint in the heat, but I still manage to enjoy the walk, during which I discover a shipwreck cove, find rampant Knotweed, climb up Widmouth Head, and admire a wonderful view over Water Mouth. Continue reading
145 Lee Bay to Ilfracombe
On a beautiful sunny day, I detour to avoid killer cows, muse on the disadvantages of munching sheep, and take the hard route down into Ilfracombe. Continue reading
144 Woolacombe to Lee Bay
I walk along cliffs where pirates and wreckers once lurked. Continue reading
143. Saunton to Woolacombe
I stumble across an Easter egg hunt, reach Baggy Point where I feel dizzy watching climbers on the rocks, and enjoy a long walk up Woolacombe Sands. Continue reading
142(b) Braunton Burrows and Saunton Sands
I am buzzed by a yellow helicopter while walking across miles of empty sands, along the edge of the largest dune system in England. At the end of the trek, for a moment, I regret the path not taken. Continue reading
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 