John Hayes

Heading to Zaragoza after #hiking near Riglos. The trains in #Spain are amazing but the countryside feels hollowed out as car based tourism destroys what's left of local services. Once out of the mountains the countryside is huge and empty with barley fields dedicated to feeding pig farms.

Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way, says naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham

If Bioethanol isn't bad enough, overgrazing by sheep, often in national parks, is even worse - www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If 10 per cent of UK sugar beet goes to bioethanol that's 25,000 acres. To get the equivalent energy from solar farms you need 3,000 acres. As well as being a poor energy producer sugar beet is not good from a bio-diversity perspective, involves lots of diesel to produce it and strips out top soil.

A bit esoteric, but can anyone explain why people in the countryside seem so upset about solar farms but are happy to live with thousands of acres of sugar beet fields destined for bioethanol plants. #R4today.

"You know what to do ..."

meme via @occupydemocrats.bsky.social

Horrible wet day 7 #cycling on the #Camino Portugués with a westerly gale welcoming me into Porto. No big hills but lots of little ones so by the time I'd finished it added up to a 1000ms of climb over 72 km. Go again tomorrow but the forecast stays grim.

Day 6 #cycling the #Camino to Albergaria-a-Velha. Still dull weather, rain followed by sun. Route a real mix of rural and semi-urban, better on a bike than walking. Not much to see at Albergaria-a-Velha but was treated to dinner by the Dutch guys I met on Day 2. Good to chat. Porto next

Dull weather turns to rain on Day 5 #cycling the #Camino Portugués to Coimbra forcing a short-cut to a tough route. Lovely flowers, great mid-morning coffee/sandwich stop but a lot to endure. Weather improved at Coimbra which is a great place - good #veggie food at Fangas restaurant and free fado

The real Day 4 #cycling the #Camino Portugués, dull weather, poor light but great cycling. Empty country roads, some challenging single track (for me) and 950m of climb. Unfortunately there is nothing to see in Ansiao but I did manage to hold onto my #veggie diet with lovely aubergine croquettes

Day 4 60km #cycling the #Camino Portugués leaving the flat lands and hitting the hills to Tomar This is full-on bull fighting country with railings going up in Azinhaga for the weekend street run. Chatted with 2 guys from Holland the first cyclists I've seen so far. Tomar is lovely, a great stop.

Day 2 #cycling the #Camino Portugués and a lovely hot flat 60km ride to Santerém. After fueling up on bread (v sweet) and coffee cycled empty roads and farm tracks to a stunning hill top town. Lots to see in the home of Portuguese Gothic with the old square a great place to finish with a beer

Day 1 #cycling the #Camino Portugués, 36 km Lisbon to Vila Franca de Xira. Prepping for a new cycling guide out next year. Mixed route, lovely Tagus estuary views, some traffic and wet stretches. Destination is famous for bull fighting but cars pack the streets most of the time. Good first day!

Big sky, hard dry surface, with just skylarks for company, blissful #cycling on the #southdowns

#Hiking into #Hastings from the wonderful Hastings Country Park, great view and a lovely walk.

Prepping massive quantities of celeriac for the soup course at Junk Food Project Kemp Town #Brighton - great fun with a great team - around 100 meals served with food that would otherwise have gone to waste #food #cooking

#BBCnews appears to have rowed back - today they added a reference to Jayne Wayper. Unfortunately, compared to the Guardian's reporting of the statement from yesterday it is incomplete missing the requirement under FCA rules to investigate such an allegation if a breach of the rules had happened.

Why hasn't #BBCnews included the statement from Jayne Wayper in their expenses article on Rachel Reeves. Balanced reporting should mean that the statement from the woman responsible for HR and disciplinary matters at HBOS, and which contradicts the BBC narrative, be included. Pathetic journalism

Exactly, what a dreadful non-story, shame on you #EvanDavies and #BBCNees

Dog rose in February! - apologies for focus

Left our lovely hotel in Monda and #hiked 20km to an even nicer one in Istàn. The only complaint is that there was too much asphalt and not many veggie options. Come on #Spain get modern! Local walks tomorrow and then Malaga for a broader cuisine. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...

Brilliant #hiking on the GR243 from Monda to Tolox, 800m of easy climbing over 20km. Great weather, great views, flowers, baby lambs and finished with a couple of beers in a tiny crowded bar full of locals who had been there all day - perfect. #travel #Spain

Staying at Monda in the lovely castle/hotel doing some local walks. #Hiking about 14km up and down a 500m hill we visited Santa Cueva - a cave full of trinkets where a wish will bring good luck. More perfect walking weather so I guess Santa is already doing the business. #Travel #Adventure

A sea of yellow flowers

Not sure if it's gorse or broom

Clear blue sky and dramatic scenery

Early February and almond blossom

Ojen to Monda, #hiking Stage 32 on the GR249, amazing weather. Such a treat after weeks in grey England, #Andalucia is the perfect winter hiking escape and apparently sunshine is almost guaranteed. www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...

Yesterday's huge storm made walking impossible but today, #hiking Stage 31 of Andalucia's GR 249 was excellent - big 1000m climb from Marbella to Ojen and rough surfaces made for a tough but enjoyable day. #travel #adventure www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...

#Stage 29 of Andalucia's GR249, big walk, mainly great but spoilt by a horrible stretch near a huge municipal tip. Perfect weather though at the beginning of February, lots of flowers and big views. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...

First #hiking day in Andalucia, February and clear blue skies but with a chilly north wind. Short circular north of the beautiful hill top town of Casares with great views down to Gibraltar and over the straights to Africa. Great day but wish I had packed warmer clothes.

I wish!!

Let's have more Red Routes - the rest of Western Road is an obvious priority with illegal parking on double yellow lines slowing down buses and creating a pedestrian and cycling nightmare

The beauty of Red Routes for walking, wheeling, cycling - and driving!
Thank you, @brighton-hove.gov.uk @trevmu10.bsky.social

Despite thousands of pilgrims descending on the city from all directions, Santiago del Compostela, works. Lots to see, great restaurants and a fun place in its own right, a fantastic place to finish a great #cycling trip. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...

Day 15 Camino Sanabrés off-road to Lalin Today was a big adventure, I'm not quite sure whether it was a great day or a nightmare, but it was a big adventure. Firstly a bit of c...

The weather, landscape and #cycling changed as the #camino reached Galicia with the cows leaving a special welcome on the roads. Another tough day wrapped up with a deluge which cleaned the bike but left me cold and wet.
www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...