Walking Holidays -

Walking Experiences

Kinsale Harbour, Ireland

Some time ago......... I arrived at Kinsale, the fishing and tourist village on Ireland’s south-west coast. Kinsale is famous for the historic Battle of Kinsale, in which the Irish and the Spanish fought the English, but lost in 1601, during the reign of Elizabeth I, was a turning point in Irish history. Quite chilly with a fair wind. I walked … [Read More...]

Coast to Coast, UK, Grasmere-Patterdale 1

We were on the Coast to Coast walk across northern England and had overnighted at Grasmere in the Lake District. The fifth day: Our fellow breakfasters were an American couple who had walked the Coast to Coast path three years ago. Every year they return to Grasmere for a couple of weeks to indulge their passion for daily rambles in the … [Read More...]

Assisi and St Clare

A brief detour from the Via Francigena, the 2000 km pilgrim path which joins Canterbury to Rome. We had arrived in Assisi, the home of St Francis, Italy’s patron saint, and checked into St Anthony’s Guest House. St. Anthony’s was well designed for pilgrims and travelers; a coffee machine, white and red wine in the fridge, a library, laundry … [Read More...]

Walking Gear

What were medieval Pilgrim's motivations and gear?

Le Puy - Conques, Les Faux to Aumont Aubrac This was the fourth day of walking and we knew that tomorrow was a rest day. The walking had been challenging but not too tiring. A grateful pilgrim appreciates a good rest when it presents itself or is planned for. We left the efficient and pleasant Hotel L’Oustal de Parent and rejoined the GR 65 at … [Read More...]

Wet weather gear for Camino and other journeys

Sometimes - even plastic - when it rains!PONFERRADA, CAMINO, SPAIN: .We left the hotel, walked past the Ayunamento, over the bridge and out through the suburbs of Ponferrada, the first of which was Compostilla, a lovely area with neatly spaced house blocks with large luxury houses. We passed a modern neo-Romanesque church with a statue of the … [Read More...]

Boots on the Camino

Good friends in Obradoiro Plaza SantiagoWell, they have been such good friends along with my feet. 300 odd kilometers along the famed Camino from Leon to Santiago, as well as two previous years of good walking. Boots are so important for a good walking journey. . It was only when we were walking up to O Cebreiro (see previous articel) that we … [Read More...]