Slow Ways

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An empty tarmac road winding down and up through grassland into distant woods. Large oaks scattered on the grassland. Windsor Great Park.

One of the gnarly old oaks seen in Windsor Great Park. Twisted bare branches easily visible against a pale blue wintry sky. Ascegh One slow way.

Eghsta One slow way was blocked. But not this part along the Thames Path. Bonus coal post next to a muddy path with benches boats and bins on the right. A very full Thames seen on the left through trees. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/temporary-diversion-near-runnymede-bridge/?trail=thames-path

Statue of a bird on a plinth (cormorant? kingfisher?). Footbridge over the River Colne as it joins the River Thames near Staines.

#SlowWays between Ascot and Ashford via Egham & Staines. Lovely walk including Windsor Great Park and the Thames Path. Unfortunately the Thames Path was blocked at Runnymead but used the diversion provided by @thamespathnt.bsky.social .All good.

Fantastic! So pleased you enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing. 👍⭐❤️

On Saturday, me and a few mates walked a muddy but glorious 17 miles from Ledbury to Hereford along the Herled Two route from @slowwaysuk.bsky.social. A superb day out. Highly recommend getting your friends out for this sort of thing.

Intricate and complex flower of a double Snowdrop with yellow anthers and white petals striped with green.

Two cup-shaped fungi with cream exterior and scarlet interior. The common name is Scarlet Cup or Scarlet Elf Cup.

Bullrush seed head with the dark brown outer case split open and the fluffy white seeds pushing out.

Plum-coloured, velvet-textured growths of Jelly Ear fungus on a mossy branch.

Some natural highlights from today's @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walks from Hamilton to Bellshill and from Bellshill to Motherwell...

Perfect!

😍

Another Cumbrian @slowwaysuk.bsky.social ticked off. WinKen (Windermere > Kendal) only had the one review, so into the fields, hills, lanes and tracks I went.

Lots of varied terrain, and a pub in the middle. Good moderate upland route.

Bench made out of 10x scale Meccano (red and green) and beyond is the little but real bridge, also Meccano. Between them is the top lock of six, behind a wooden fence.

Looking up the top lock to the Meccano Bridge. The lock is full of overgrown grass and other plants. There are six locks here in two staircases of three.

A view from the side of the aqueduct as ot crosses the River Orwell. It's made of grey-brown stone with four brick lined arches.

A wide angle view looking across the central bridge of three crossing the River Irwell side by side. From left to right, aqueduct, inaccessible utility bridge, narrow stone pack bridge.

In the middle of my @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk along the Manchester, Bury and Bolton #UKCanals I took a small detour to see the famous Meccano Bridge and the derelict Prestolee Locks and Aqueduct. ♥️
@myfavouritebench.bsky.social #bench

Crossing the busy A59 using the towpath of the Rufford branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You'd hardly know there was a steady stream of cars as you go under the pretty bridge.

A church in pretty Bretherton village with an unusual steeple with a huge high open arch that you can see right through.

A potholed puddle filled farm track passing the high walls of a prison.

Further along the farm track we pass lots of derelict military buildings.

The original Tarleton to Leyland @slowwaysuk.bsky.social route was SatNavForCars so I followed @hikinghistorian.bsky.social 's alternative and it was excellent! Full of interest and much less road walking.

More #slowways walks today!

SanWin One (Sandiway > Winsford) starts well, but halfway in becomes a disaster: bridlepaths that vanish into hedges; stile shenanigans of all colours (wobbly, broken, missing), and a very navigational wobbles. Shame, as it looks good on the map, just not in reality!

Bagshott sands, near, erm... Bagshott. Dry path of bown duff through tall ruddy Scott's Pine. Sands and gravels drain fast, parched in Summer, but dry underfoot in Winter.

Flooded path. Tall trees reflected seem taller as up, greenish, into the blue sky and down, brown, reflected into the ground like roots.

An alleyway,speckled hedge to the left, smooth greenish wood fence to the right. A tall, proud, leafless tree stands overlooking the scene.

Brown beech hedgeto the left (private property); hawthorn to t he right, both neat. Wind looking leaflets tree stand centre. That's where you're headed...

This weekend's #SlowWays. Winter trees on a Woking, Lightwater, Ascot walk. Stark, but beautiful. Made taller by reflection. Puddles. Look up, look down, Winter walks, don't frown. Also waterproof boots.

Green Way guardian on Maidenhead's Green Way. I do like public artworks on pathways. http://maidenheadcivicsoc.org.uk/group/2086/Projects/Documents/prow_green_way_leaflet.pdf

Paddocks and rides, tall wood fence to the right. Many paths have become hemmed between hedges.

A lot of tarmac on this route and tbh, a bit monotonous. Not a lot of mud though. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Maiasc/10588#reviews

Yey!, soft ground, some respite for the feet. Slightly muddy narrow brown path between hedges, Winter bare and spikes. Light and a road up ahead.

Very much an area for horses. #SlowWays between Maidenhead and Ascot. A curious route between paddocks and private property.

Wow! How far did you walk through that??

Perhaps I should have taken account of the "RSPB Adwick Washland" area marked on the map before attempting this #SlowWays walk from Mexborough to Bolton upon Dearne yesterday. Almost certainly fine when there hasn't been weeks of rain, and never more than knee deep, but pretty cold.

😍

Wide gravel path leading to a wide wooden gate on the right and a smaller metal gate on the left, with a stone stoop between them. There's a tree-lined field beyond, and a beech hedge nearby on the left with its autumn leaves still clinging on, adding a splash of colour on a grey day.

Just a nice scene near Eccleston Lancashire from my @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk.

Grassy path enclosed by a fence each side.

Grassy path enclosed by a fence and a wall.

Muddy path enclosed by a fence and a hedge.

Muddy path enclosed by a fence each side.

On Thursday I followed in the footsteps of @goodbinary.bsky.social @hikinghistorian.bsky.social and @runhikebikeexplore.bsky.social walking #Lancashire @slowwaysuk.bsky.social.
Adlington Coppull Eccleston Leyland. There were a lot of enclosed footpaths!

❤️

Yes! Planning to walk from Calstock to Yelverton via the Calstock Ferry (calsyel two). I wanted to walk it over Christmas, but ran out of time - so fingers crossed to this weekend.

Photo from the top of a sandwich dune looking down onto two people walking on Saunton Sands beach.

Looking forward to the weekend already?

Got any adventures planned?

#SlowWays #Devon #SauntonSands

Photo from the top of a sandwich dune looking down onto two people walking on Saunton Sands beach.

Looking forward to the weekend already?

Got any adventures planned?

#SlowWays #Devon #SauntonSands

Who should we be following?

We love:

✅ Walking 🚶🏽‍♀️👩🏽‍🦽🤸🏽‍♀️
✅ Outdoor adventures
✅ Active travel
✅ Inclusion and accessibility
✅ Citizen action projects
✅ Tech for good
✅ Discovering new places

Got any tips and suggestions of individuals, groups and start packs for us (all) to connect with?

Thanks Helen! Very helpful👍

Would love personal recommendations too ❤️

Who should we be following?

We love:

✅ Walking 🚶🏽‍♀️👩🏽‍🦽🤸🏽‍♀️
✅ Outdoor adventures
✅ Active travel
✅ Inclusion and accessibility
✅ Citizen action projects
✅ Tech for good
✅ Discovering new places

Got any tips and suggestions of individuals, groups and start packs for us (all) to connect with?

Another #SlowWays walk in wintry sunshine yesterday, making a walkable route from Broughton Astley to Kibworth Beauchamp in Leicestershire.

A row of planes, the trees not the aircraft, with a wide path. No leaves yet.

A wintery path, muddy browns predominant. The path and trees. Sad bramble, a patch of grass and hints of ivy are the only greens. Can't wait for Spring.

A coffee stall under a rail bridge. Masochistic joggers pretend to ignore the coffee and warm pastry smell.

More planes, yes trees again, alongside a railway, a path between. Lots of trees for a city walk.

Two short #SlowWays today Streatham to Balham to Clapham Balstr2 &Clabal1. Essentially a lovely stroll through Tooting Bec and Wandsworth Commons.

View along the walking/cycling route into the far distance. To the left is the two lane guided bus track. It runs along the route of a former mining railway track.

A bus at a bus stop. There are paths connecting this to local housing. There are several information boards along the route, describing the history of mining in the area, wildlife, and route construction.

A board showing a map of the 7.5k route.

A Park and Ride next to the route, and a view along the tracks, which looks like railway tracks. Normal road buses have small side wheels attached which run along the inside of the rails. Errant cars will be trapped by a pit which the buses will miss as they are wider gauge.

Some pictures from last week's first @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk from Tyldesley to Leigh (between Manchester and Wigan). On the #ActiveTravel track alongside the Guided Bus line. Excellent much-loved #RapidTransit #Carfree route, replaced 100,000s of car journeys 👍
Love the car trap in picture 4!

😍

An old warehouse and offices seen across the canal with their reflections. There's a green and black narrow boat moored up against them. There is ice just below the surface of the thawing canal and it looks as if the ducks are walking on water.

A view of Pennington Flash which is a mining subsidence lake, now a nature reserve. Seen from the towpath through a wooden artwork bench which has lots of names carved into it.

A canal side artwork formed of several lock gates. It has UNLOCK carved on it, and is surprisingly tall. You can see the lock paddle shutter which would have allowed water through when operating the lock.

A cute farm bridge over the canal, with stone buttresses and metal platform and railings over the top.

Some pictures from last week's second @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk from Leigh to Platt Bridge (between Manchester and Wigan). Largely along the Leigh branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
#UKCanals