What can I say except that this is one of my favorite walks. The only downside of my normal route is that it always feels a little short. So, having examined the map I tried to plot a route that hit the coast a bit further west extending the coastal section of the walk. That done I rustled up some friends and crossed my fingers for some good weather...
...and the weather Gods smiled as the forecast rain the day before never appeared and it turned into a lovely day.
The start was Sheringham Station on the North Norfolk Railway and I got there early in order to grab a few photos before the others arrived.
GWR - Polished, just like it should be!
Soon enough though the meeting time arrived and I got acquainted with Norfolkboy while we awaiting for Scaredybob and co to appear. Soon enough the pony tail appeared along with a worrying limp but Bob assured us she'd be ok and we hopped on the train with not a moment to spare. A little route fettling along the way and we got to Holt. A little look around the station and off we went towards Kelling Heath.
Black 5 - Filthy, just like it should be!
And they're off...
I wonder if I can lead a walk from the rear??
The Holt Flyer
The Heath is a very pleasant wander and the heather is just starting to come out. Should be gorgeous in a few weeks time...
Kelling Heath
After the Heath it's the drop down into Kelling itself and judging by how much lower the path is that the trees that path has been there for 100s (1000s?) of years. Always nice to feel like you are treading over ground familiar to generations of people.
Not sure what's growing on this tree though...
In Kelling we paused at the war memorial before heading into one of the walk's bonus features - a splendid tea room and second hand bookshop. Great pot of tea even if the others did think I got lost on my way to the table - I was buying a book!
War Memorial.
Bob sniffs out the tea room beyong...
Kelling Tea Room and second hand bookshop
Giant Umbrella
Lovely pebble finish to the buildings round Norfolk
From Kelling we crossed some stubble fields on our way to Salthouse and the beautiful church there.
Salthouse Church
Lovely Weathervane
Salthouse Church
The Church was quite unusual in that all the stained glass had been removed. However, rather than ruining the atmosphere the plain glass flooding the church with light. The architecture was as lovely as expected and the real bonus was the art exhibition inside. On until the 24 August I recommend it if you get a chance.
Busted...
Thirsty?
World's largest thistle?
From here the sea beckoned with only a minor detour for ice cream and to say hello to a horse. A chance to view some modern transport also...
Crossing Salthouse Marshes we admired this common blue butterfly and our first view of Norfolk's Striding Edge! The first of many pill boxes to be found along this coast line as well.
Common Blue
Salthouse Marshes
Norfolk's Striding Edge !?!
Pill Box
A word of warning though to anyone who does walk this way. The shingle beach is hard going as your feet push back rather than pushing you forward. Heavy going and noisier than you would think...
Our Destination - the little bit of land
which seems to jut out to sea.
A military coastline during the war there are pill boxes galore along here. I suspect it wont be too long before the sea claims some of them. More disturbingly though were the guns that have re-appeared! Some later research shows that these are probably part of the Gun Pit restoration at The Muckleburgh Collection.
The Guns of Kelling Hard
Looking back along the coast
From here we climb up onto the cliffs as they rise up and take us back to Sheringham. A gentle walk the views out to sea are wonderful and once we reached Sheringham's look out point we sat down and admired the view back along the coast we had just walked.
Weybourne Mill
Black 5 returns to Sheringham also
View back from Sheringham lookout
A truly lovely walk with some lovely company. A pleasure to meet Norfolkboy. Bob - delightful as ever, lovely to meet your daughter and your friend David. Until next time my friends...
However, I've decided I am going to share this post, Mainly because (CONFESSION ALERT) I enjoy wild swimming... Will it ever be as safe as swimming in a pool? Probably not, but, it needn't be as dangerous as some people think it must be.
At the risk of this sounding like a manifesto the world is an increasingly sanitised place with people isolated from some of the realities. Meat comes from animals, milk from cows (1 in 3 children don't know where milk or eggs come from) and the outdoors is a beautiful place if you treat it with the respect it deserves.
Basically, I'm all for people getting out into the wilds but do think before you leap or you might do something reckless without realising it...
As for wild swimming, I discovered this a few years ago and really enjoy it. Connected to nature, admire the scenery and wildlife while you swim and no chlorine to make your eyes water. Yes, it can be dangerous but people can get injured or killed while crossing the street also. There is no such thing as "risk free".
The Green Cross Code was invented to teach people how to cross the street safely. Maybe we need to do a similar thing for the countryside or before long people will only be enjoying it from within 100 yards of their cars!
So, how to minimise the risks when wild swimming:
1) THINK, THINK, THINK!
Where can I get out?
What might be under the water?
How well can I swim?
How fast is the water?
What are the tides like?
2) Walk in slowly.
a) it means you are likely to be in a spot you can get out from.
b) you are less likely to go beyond the warmer surface water (as the deeper water can be very cold) as opposed to jumping in.
c) you aren't going to crash head first into a submerged rock / shopping trolley.
3) Swim with others as they can see / help if you get into difficulty.
4) Make sure you can be seen by other water users such as boaters. e.g. hat, brightly coloured swim cap.
5) NO ALCOHOL!
6) Fresh not stagnant water. Less likely to catch something...
7) Swim upstream first if there is a current. That way you don't have to swim against the current on the way back when you are more tired...
These bits of advice are based upon my experience of wild swimming and do seem to be broadly similar to advice given out in articles such as the Lakeland Rangers above or the OSS advice here. Now, I don't know what happened to the man in the Lakeland Rangers article and I'm not going to speculate. Maybe the advice would have helped, maybe not... as I said above, nothing in this life is without risks of some sort.
Just so long as we are not stopped from doing something by a nanny state as it deems it too perilous...
Now, you are all adults which means you can ignore all of this if you want (indeed, I often swim alone). Just be sensible and enjoy the activities and risks you find acceptable and enjoy doing.
Now I'll be the first to admit that it's been a bit quiet here recently. Partially due to work and partially due to e being a bit slow posting stuff. Organised by "Bob" this was a lovely walk along the Southern Edge of the Peak District Taking in the Tissington Trail, Limestone Way and High Peak Trail.
So, having met up a total of 15 walkers set off in 4 cars from Carsington to Thorpe and eventually we all made it... Quite how we lost 2 cars on a single track road I'm not sure but there you are.
From Thorpe we set off along the Tissington Trail. One of many former Peak District railway lines that is seeing new life as a path for walkers and cyclists. There's a lot to be said for them as they are easy walking with little gradient and generally take you from one village to another. They also tend to be very scenic.
Tissington arrived very quickly and pretty much everyone availed themselves of some kind of ice cream or ice lolly. It was going to be a very warm day! It was also the first of the very pretty villages we passed through along the way. Interesting place...
Tissington Pond
Tissington Church
Tissington Hall
Artisan Shop
Straw Woman in her Garden
Out of Tissington we picked up the Limestone Way to Parwich and the first pub stop of the day. Ice cold orange and lemonade never tasted so good...
Moo-ve it
Ever get the feeling you are being watched...
Parwich
Sycamore Inn
From here on we passed by Ballidon Quarry and through Royston Grange. The sun was really strong now after starting with a bit of an overcast. Sunscreen and a hat - good move!
After a bit of ascent we came to the High Peak Trail (another former railway line) and followed it to Longcliffe were we had a rest stop. Mental note: watch Beefy's rucksack just in case he forgets it when you all set off again!
High Peak Trail
Longcliffe
Still, we didn't laugh too much...
Why the long face?
Nearly home we dropped down to Brassington and then over the hill to Carsington with only two pub stops for more liquids...
