Blog - Page 2 of 6 - Beth Foot Forward

Week 48 – Stranraer to Ayr

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 28th August to Tuesday 3rd September 2019

Stranraer to Glenapp 9.88 miles
Glenapp to Ballantrae 9.59 miles
Culzean Country Park to Maidens 3.73 miles
Culzean Country Park to Ayr 12.56 miles

Total miles this week 35.76

Total miles to date 2063.24

The fake “ruined” archway, the entrance to Culzean Castle

One of the many lovely trails throughout Culzean Country Park

Approaching Maidens

Week 47 – Dumfries to Ardwell and Portpatrick

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 21st to Tuesday 27th August 2019

Dumfries (Burns circular walk) 5.53 miles
Portpatrick to Stranraer 11.77 miles
Ardwell to Stranraer 12.37 miles

Total miles this week 29.67

Total miles to date 2027.48

Burns Walk, Dumfries, next to the River Nith

Southern Upland Way, Portpatrick to Stranraer

Knockquhassen Reservoir, Southern Upland Way, Portpatrick to Stranraer

Week 46 – R&R in Litherland, Liverpool

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 14th to Tuesday 20th August 2019

I came off of the trail to rest my body, catch up with admin tasks and relax my brain. So this week was limited to a nice short(ish) walk

Litherland to Liverpool 8.18 miles

Total miles this week 8.18

Total miles to date 1997.81

“The Desmond Family Canoe Trail is a five-year youth project, and the coast to coast canoe trail that has been created has launched. August 2019 will see the start of the 162 mile trail open for adventure.
“It is the longest of its kind in the UK. A privately funded youth engagement project, spanning over 160 miles from Liverpool to Goole.
“Our ambition with this project is to provide a variety of new and exciting ways for 16 – 25 years olds to connect with their local waterways. In turn they can protect and continue to care for them.” (Canal and River Trust, 2019)

“Liverpool was a pioneer in railways with the earliest examples of the world’s first innovative rail infrastructure found in the city. There are spurious claims from around the world of first in rail tunnels. Americans claim the oldest tunnel under streets is the Atlantic Avenue tunnel of 1844, in New York – sealed up in 1861 it was forgotten until rediscovered in 1980. London claim the Brunel tunnel under the River Thames. The Liverpool tunnels pre-date any tunnel in New York or London.” (LocalWiki)

Guerilla advertising from local T-shirt company Sine Missione

Week 45 – Beckermet to Maryport

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 7th to Tuesday 13th August 2019

Beckermet to Whitehaven 10.41 miles
Whitehaven to Maryport 15.59 miles

Total miles this week 26

Total miles to date 1989.63

Whitehaven. There were a row of these knot sculptures, each with the description at the base.

Slag sea defences. Whitehaven to Maryport

“The Alauna Aura”, which “reflects the history and development of Maryport”

Week 44 – Pilling to Beckermet

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 31st July to Tuesday 6th August 2019

Pilling to Glasson Dock 11.03 miles
Glasson Dock to Hest Bank nr Morecambe 12.75 miles
Hest Bank nr Morecambe to Arnside 7.73 miles (abandoned due to numerous footpath issues) 7.32 miles
Ulverston to Askham in Furness 10.16 miles
Ravenglass to Beckermet 11.16 miles

Total miles this week 52.83

Total miles to date 1963.63

Statue of John Eric Bartholomew AKA Eric Morecambe

Askam Pier. Not really a pier!
“Remnants of the steel industry remain in Askam, as evidenced by a pier, consisting of slag from the works, that juts out into the bay toward Millom” (Wiki)

Week 43 – Leasowe to Fleetwood

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 24th to Tuesday 30th July 2019

Leasowe to New Brighton 4.51 miles
Liverpool to Formby 13.77 miles
Formby to Southport 7.88 miles
Lytham St Anne’s to Bispham nr Blackpool 13.13 miles
Bispham nr Blackpool to Fleetwood 8.37 miles

Total miles this week 47.66

Total miles to date 1910.8

Anthony Gormleys “Another Place” on Crosby beach

Tribute to members of the the emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coast Guard) who “gave all or part of their lives”. Blackpool.

Celebrating the Sea Swallow book. Cleveleys to Fleetwood.

Detail from the “shipwrecks on the Fylde coast 1643-1873” memorial, Cleveleys.

Week 42 – Llanfairfechan to Leasowe

Posted on July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 17th to Tuesday 23rd July 2019

Llanfairfechan to Llandudno 14.91 miles
Llandudno to Abergele 11.89 miles
Abergele to Point of Ayr 13.3 miles
Point of Ayr to Flint 13.05 miles
Flint to Neston 12.64 miles
Neston to Leasowe 12.01 miles

Total miles this week 77.8

Total miles to date 1863.14

Approaching Conwy Castle, Llanfairfechan to Llandudno

Conwy Castle, Llanfairfechan to Llandudno

“Llandudno was the holiday destination resort of the real Alice in Wonderland, Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll and for whom he based his worldwide famous story on, Alice in Wonderland”

The TSS Duke of Lancaster, “a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1979, and is currently beached near Mostyn Docks”. Point of Ayr to Flint.

Week 41 – Cemaes to Llanfairfechan

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 10th to Tuesday 16th July 2019

Cemaes to Llaneilian 11.9 miles
Llaneilian to Meolfre 10.2 miles
Meolfre to Glan-yr-afon 11.72 miles
Glan-yr-afon to Bangor 12.82 miles
Bangor to Llanfairfechan 13.09 miles

Total miles this week 59.73

Total miles to date 1785.34

Penmon Priory and dovecote, Glan-yr-afon to Bangor

Menai suspension bridge, Bangor to Llanfairfechan

Week 40 – Bangor to Cemaes

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Beth

Monday 1st to Tuesday 9th July 2019 Anglesey

Bangor to Dwyran 11.66 miles
Dwyran to Aberffraw 12.60 miles
Aberffraw to Anglesey Airport 9.91 miles
Anglesey Airport to Trearddur 11.21 miles
Trearddur to Porth-y-Felin 9.91 miles
Porth-y-Felin to Llanfwrog 9.96 miles
Llanfwrog to Cemaes 12 miles

Total miles this week 77.25

Total miles to date 1725.61

Nelson’s Statue looking out onto the Menai Strait, Bangor to Dwyran

This sculpture by Ann Caitlin Evans depicts the “gafrod” of marram grass, harvested and drying in the sun. Newborough residents used to harvest the grass every two years and weave it by hand to make mats for their homes. Dwyran to Aberffraw.

These sculptures were designed by pupils from Newborough school 2013. Dwyran to Aberffraw.

Sculpture in Newborough Forest. Dwyran to Aberffraw.

The wall of a private estate, Dwyran to Aberffraw

Old brickworks gallery, Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, Trearddur to Holyhead

Detail of the pedestrian bridge, Holyhead

Week 38 and 39 – R&R near Brecon, Wales

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 19th June to Sunday 30th June 2019

I spend this week having some R&R near Brecon, so although well away from the coast I wanted to share the beauty of the area. A different sort of walk to my norm; inland at Llangynidr, a 3 mile stroll along the Usk Valley Way following the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal. Then an evening walk along the edge of Llangorse Lake, the largest natural lake in South Wales. Situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, it’s a haven for wildlife. Later during my break we had a short walk up to the top of Allt yr Esgair. Great views of Llangors Lake and the winding river Usk.