Ruth Livingstone
My book: Walking the English Coast
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Winfield’s Award
Killer Cows: Cattle Safety
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 […]
We can’t walk on footpaths as blocked by cattle in Lower Weare Somerset
Incident number: 1216 Response ID: 318,553,250 Date of incident: 23.11.25 Location: Lower Weare, Somerset, the public foot path just by the primary school, 2nd field in, (what 3 words /// lurching.truly.relocated) Status: Single walker with dog on lead on PROW Gino’s story “The first field by the school sometimes has female cows, the next field […]
Trampling Incident involving serious injuries In Dorset. (Near Morden)
Incident number: 1215 Response ID: 318,377,455 Date of incident: 6.11.25 Location: Near Morden, Dorset, (WTW ref is chuckling.pounces.pianists) Status: Between 3 to 5 people with dogs on lead on PROW Michael’s story “We were on the public bridleway that crosses the field onto Wareham heath. Cattle and calves were about 50 meters away and peaceful. […]
Tag Archives: walking
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
142(a) Chivenor to Braunton Marsh
Horsey island is a beautiful open space of water and marshes. But I have to watch my feet continually. The bank is eroded in places, with gaps and overhanging mini-cliffs. Continue reading
141(pm) Barnstaple to Chivenor
It should be easy walking – flat and a good surface. But I find it hard work. A collection of boats ahead cheers me up. Not exactly a luxury marina, but a sort of informal mooring of everyday boats, the sort I enjoy looking at.
141(am) Instow, Barnstaple, Chivenor
I pass rusting wrecks and abandoned jetties. A sign tells me it is a “Wildlife Refuge” – although I see no sign of any life, wild or otherwise. Inland there are wet areas and clumps of grass. And a marching army of poles.
Continue reading
140(pm) Appledore to Bideford and Instow
In a small square is a statue of Charles Kingsley, historian and novelist, famous for The Water Babies and Westward Ho!. He spent some of his childhood years in Clovelly and some in the village of Barnack, close to my home town of Stamford. Continue reading
139b Peppercombe to Westwood Ho!
“The next section of shoreline is up-and-down,” my husband warns me. He has already walked this part of the coast, in order to meet me.
“How many ups-and-downs?” I ask. Continue reading
139a Clovelly to Buck’s Mills
On Hobby Drive, through the trees I get a sudden view of Clovelly. I am surprised to discover how little progress I have made in 30 minutes of easy walking. Continue reading
138b Clovelly
Clovelly is an impossible village. Ridiculously steep slopes. Inaccessible. Beautiful. The only safe harbour between Boscastle and the waters of the Bideford/Barnstable estuary. Continue reading
136b Marsland Mouth to Hartland Quay
And here is a little desk in front of large windows. And notepaper, pens, water, glasses. It looks like a study. Somewhere a poet might sit. A modern “Hawker’s Hut”. Continue reading
135a Bude to Northcott Mouth
The 15 mile walk from Bude to Hartland Quay is graded “severe” and would take me well over 10 hours at my usual walking speed. I only have 6 hours of daylight. Continue reading
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 