Remember back in 2020 when we were only allowed outside once a day for one hour for vital exercise? Well, after a few circuits of the local rec, I decided in May 2020 that if I was going to go outside for a walk every day, I might as well make it worth while and … More I’ve walked 2km a day every day for 4 years
While I was at my cottage last week, in a rural bit of Somerset, I wanted to go for a walk. I had my daily 2km to walk – yes, even when I’m on holiday – and I’d invested in the cutest map. I knew Ordnance Survey offer custom maps (see my Single Map series … More A custom map, a muddy field and an unexpected hillfort
I think it’s time for the Polar Bear Winter Festival to veer sharply from the wistful (“I miss Iceland and Svalbard and still can’t travel!”) to the everyday. I try to be outdoorsy and walking in winter is definitely a thing you can do. Enjoying the great outdoors is fine in summer. Everyone wants to … More Walking in winter
It is November 4th and I walked 1000km in 2021! (Ok, it’s November 15th and I finished a week and a half ago but I needed my medal to arrive before I posted this) Last year I did a similar challenge, aiming for 500km of exercise in 2020. I achieved that by September and was … More I walked 1000km in 2021!
My first post-lockdown real thing was that I met up with my friend Catherine for a countryside walk a couple of weeks ago. Catherine is a nature connection guide and feminine rewilding coach, a retreat host, a wanderer and an artist and all that makes her a very good companion for a country walk. She’d … More A Single Map: A walk and a nature lesson
I haven’t done A Single Map in a while – well, not on the blog. I’ve done walks on my map most weeks in real life. We met a lot of cows on this most recent walk! We were using the Sturminster Newton walks again – the last of the five long ones – but … More A Single Map: walking with cows
We’re back on my Single Map today with another country walk and we’re going from Fiddleford to Piddles Wood. One of Dorset’s most endearing qualities is the ridiculousness of some of its names. A few years ago that spawned a quiz called Dorset Village or NFL Player? and I particularly enjoyed that one of the … More A Single Map: Fiddleford to Piddles Wood
I definitely didn’t plan to do three A Single Maps in a row but then again, why not? We’re in lockdown, we can’t go anywhere and it’s a beautiful time to appreciate what’s on your doorstep and get some exercise in the fresh air. Today I’m on the trailway! There are plenty of these trailways … More A Single Map episode 5: walking the trailway
Today I’m going to investigate a wood! I know, this is the second A Single Map post in a row, although I didn’t mention it beyond the title last time. Actually, I went to Tarrant Rushton Airfield twice (well, three times – we went again on Friday!). I didn’t mind. We went in November which … More A Single Map episode 4: “Just a wood”:
Welcome to the former RAF Tarrant Rushton. I’m not a person who writes a lot about 20th century military history. If I’m writing about history, it’s far more likely to be the 9-11th centuries. I love a bit of Saxon or Viking or Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture. I’ve complained, recently, about the 17th century being too … More A Single Map episode 3: Exploring Tarrant Rushton Airfield
I Am A Polar Bear 