Lockdown is lifted and we can journey into the ancient forest again. An early start. On our short drive, the trees gradually reveal themselves in layers of green. The view is softened; we are watching the day form itself into shape. The mist feels like a fine spring rain, yet suspended in mid air. The…
Tag: hiking
Almanac: Fallow deer, uncurling ferns and foxgloves
Barely a drop of rain has been felt for over eight weeks. My 12 year old son and I have decided to make the most of this last day of sunshine, before the much-longed for storm arrives tomorrow. If we take the footpath that winds through the fields, to the north of our village, it…
Almanac: Storm chasing, lichen and muddy boots
I welcome the promise of rain. Our plants desperately need it and I can feel the storm coming. The air feels heavy, the sky seems closer. It is only midday and yet the familiar bright tones of the garden seem washed out in the dim half-light belonging to dusk. As the clouds roll over the…
Almanac: Leafy canopies, wild flowers and a woodland glade
A late afternoon in April. It is the hour of long shadows and changing light; the best time to see the hidden glade. A gentle breeze drifts across the farm fields as we make our way towards the woodland. In comparison to the areas of ancient forest nearby, our local wood is small, only 30…
Almanac: An early morning hike through English farmland
This morning I am up early, pulling on my walking boots and heading out into the fields before the day has fully started. The natural world seems so alive to me in springtime. The hedgerows stretch upwards towards the blue skies, straining to grow. I instinctively want to steer clear of the nettles that are…
Travel Diaries: Scotland Tour – Hiking in the wild North West
[Scroll for video] Today we are pulling on our hiking gear and setting out for a trek along the river. Our cottage is a former hunting lodge. A map on the wall shows an old stag stalking route that leads out towards the sea loch, with a note saying we are welcome to use it…
Almanac: Winter woodland – The delight to be found in the simplest of things
Dusk falls in the winter woodland. The birdsong echoes out more clearly without the rustle of summer leaves. My 18 month old daughter has recently learnt the word, “another.” From behind me, where she sits in her carrier, she excitedly calls “tree!” A pause. “An-o-ther tree!” A pause. We wait. Luckily, she has been distracted…
Almanac: Winter frosts, finding shadows and the missing trees
A frosty cold morning, one Sunday in January. On days like this it is best to get outside quickly, before the sun has a chance to melt the crispness away. The frost creates beauty wherever it falls. We encourage the children to listen to the crunch underfoot. This is rare and a special part of…
Almanac: Winter … and a welcome return to tree climbing
Our visit to Bradgate today is a special one. It is a welcome return to tree climbing. Our second eldest son has spent the last six months recovering from a broken arm, caused by a painful cyst in the bone. To our immense relief, he has had an all-clear that everything has healed and he…
Almanac: Autumn colours on a crisp November morning
It had rained for days, weeks, it seemed like endless months and then, one Sunday, it suddenly stopped. The ground would be water-logged and our boots would likely sink in to the mud to a depth of a foot – but it felt so good to finally get out and hike. It was at this…
Almanac: Autumn Hike to the Castle Ruins
A completely blue sky in autumn, after days of low dark clouds and rain. We could not stay inside today. Pulling on wellingtons, we crossed the village, climbed the hill and picked our way through muddy fields towards Bradgate. Everywhere looks different. Buildings in the far distance that were obscured by tall crops just a…
Travel Diaries: Wales Tour – Mount Snowdon, on a Late Summer’s Evening
Setting off in the late afternoon, you are not expecting to conquer the summit of Snowdon, as the trecherous darkness can fall very swiftly. Instead, you can cherish having a little piece of this most beautiful mountain to yourself, away from the tour buses and crowds, just as the sun begins to set and the…
Tiny Potager 