On a beautiful sunny Sunday, we set off to walk the Mahinepua Peninsula Track, described as one of the best coastal walks in Northland. It is only a short walk, 3km one way but what it lacks in distance it makes up for with stunning rugged coastal scenery from the first step to the last. This linear walk takes about two hours to complete, however you can easily spend the entire day stopping to enjoy the dramatic views, searching for shells on one of the beautiful golden or black sand beaches, picnicking in a sheltered cove or cooling off with a dip in the clear blue ocean. The walk begins at Mahinepua Beach, a pretty, secluded sandy cove, that is accessed via a single road.  The road is not serviced by any tourist or public transport, so it really is an oasis of calm and a road less travelled. On a glorious Sunday in the New Zealand summer, we only bumped into a couple of other walkers along the way. The trail starts on the left-hand side of the beach as you face the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean.  There is a small section of gravel road at the start of the walk but turn around at this point for a sweeping view back towards the beach.  The road gently meanders uphill leading onto a grassy path to reach the track which winds its way along the coastline, offering panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the endless expanse of the sea. As you make your way along the narrow path, you are rewarded with picture perfect views that just keep on coming. The first short climb of this undulating path then leads down to a small, picturesque beach with a lovely, sheltered cove; a great first stop off for a swim or mooch on the golden sand. Back on the track, the path becomes steeper but wooden steps have been built into the vertical climb up and over several headlands. The steps add a great visual to the walk along the spine of the peninsula and allow you the opportunity to stop regularly whilst you take in the dramatic views of the stunning coastline on both sides of the promatory; rugged hills, rocky pools and dark waters to the left with sandy beaches, crystal clear sea and calm bays to the right. As you reach the top of the steep steps the vistas make the climb worthwhile and you are greeted with amazing, far-reaching views to the Bay of Islands, and far south over the Cavalli Islands to Cape Brett. The path to the navigational trig point meanders closely along the edge all the way allowing you to take in the wild beauty of the native bush track with beautiful blooming manuka and kanuka trees juxtaposed with the stunning coastal views. Take a moment to catch your breath and sit at the bench to soak up the natural beauty that surrounds you. The path continues, heading gently downhill before a slight climb to the trig.  A sign warns walkers not to proceed right up to the trig as the path can be hazardous at times. Set against the blue sky the wooden structure offers a wonderful visual contrast to the natural scenery and this marks the turnaround point of the walk. The walk back on the same path continues to be a joy; more downhill than uphill, the views are just as breathtaking a second time. For such a short walk, the rewards are huge. This walk takes you through a gloriously diverse landscape of lush native bush, sandy beaches, and rugged cliffs, rich with colour - turquoise waters, azure blue sky, tropical greenery and golden sands, showcasing the natural beauty of New Zealand's North Island at its best. The Mahinepua Walk is a journey of discovery and wonder, a chance to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of New Zealand's coastal wilderness. With every step, you are reminded of the power and majesty of the natural world. Walked 10th March 2024 🥾

Imagine a place just one and a half miles wide and three and a half miles long and where would you think of? I don’t think for a minute the joy that is the tiny Channel Island of Alderney would spring to mind. This ‘rock’ quietly set in the English Channel, a minuscule dot on a world atlas and a small and insignificant mark on a map of the British Isles might not be a destination on many people’s radar. I headed to this tiny island in early August 2023, excited for a summer break. I had 6 days to explore this Island, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands. It’s 3 square miles make it the third largest Island in the Channel Islands and the second largest in the Bailiwick. Alderney may be a small island but it’s diverse landscape and big sky creates a feeling of space, variety and richness. I was visiting my sister who has lived there for the last 5 years and it was very special to go and experience ‘her Alderney’. My Alderney experience started when I boarded the tiny 19-seater plane from Guernsey to travel the 13 miles across the sea to my destination, a 15 minute flight with the pilots in full view of passengers, it was definitely different to any plane journey I had been on before. As the plane lands in Alderney passengers are greeted by waves and cheers from Islanders waiting to meet their visitors, it really sets the tone for what is such a friendly, warm and welcoming island. I arrived in the middle of ‘Alderney Week’, the Channel Islands’ biggest annual carnival and apart from a quick look at the festival programme, I did not really know what to expect. The subsequent days that followed were packed with live music, mad fun, quirkiness and eccentricity, all acuminating in a fabulous torchlight procession, bonfire and fireworks to mark the end of the amazing week. Amongst all the busyness I spent time walking the stunning coastal paths of the island, taking in the diverse, beautiful scenery with its white sweeping sandy beaches, steep cliffs rising up from the sea, farmland and the historic forts that dot the landscape. There was also time on a sunny afternoon to take a path down off the cliffs to one of the seven beaches and soak up the sun in a quiet, peaceful spot. It was a perfect combination of party time and quiet time and lots of quality time with my sister. My last evening in Alderney was dull and rainy but my sister and I, undeterred, decided to get fish and chips and drive up to the harbour of Fort Clonque in the vain hope of a sunset. We parked up with the fish and chips, a glass of prosecco and a view of the sea. The sky was still grey and the air damp but unexpectedly there was a break in the cloud and it wasn’t long before we got what we had come for – a beautiful sunset across the sea. We stood in the calm of the evening quietly taking in the beauty of it all but that wasn’t the only gift nature gave us on that last night of my break. As I turned around to take a selfie I was greeted by a stunning rainbow, stretching across the harbour, vivid colours against the darkening sky, it was a magical, unforgettable moment. Looking back on my last evening, the sunset and the beautiful rainbow after the rain, was a real message to embrace the unexpected, be in awe of life’s gifts and be open to opportunities for joy. It was a beautiful finale to a wonderful break and the prelude a new amazing life adventure.

I spend a lot of my free time walking across beautiful rural countryside, but recently I took a trip down to London for the day for a different kind of walk. With no other plans than to walk the length of Regent’s Canal from Kings Cross to Paddington Basin I set off on the early morning Saturday train. Regent’s Canal, London is an 8.6 mile stretch of canal that connects the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal to the River Thames at the Limehouse Basin. It provides a walk fully of joy together with a whole new way to view the city. Arriving at Kings Cross at 8.30am I spent some time wandering through Coal Drops Yard, the fairly recent development at Kings Cross and home to a wide range of independent shops, cafes and larger retail brand names. At 8.30am it was a London I hadn’t seen; everything was just starting to open up and there was a great feeling of expectation in the air.   I made my way to Granary Square just off Coal Drops Yard to eat an alfresco breakfast on the wide green carpeted steps that led down to the canal and the start of my walk. There is so much history about this area and it is fabulous to see how it has been regenerated into a vibrant and interesting area so near Kings Cross. The sun was coming out from the clouds and I spent some time watching the world and the boats go by before starting my adventure. Coming from West Yorkshire I am very at home on canal towpaths and love the calmness and slow pace of life you get on these lovely waterways. Walking along this canal, it was hard to believe I was in the capital city. The path was secluded, leafy and so peaceful.   My first planned stop off was Camden and I saw the iconic lock as I approached this buzzing area. As I left the canal, I felt a wave of excitement visiting this great eclectic place full of colour, characters and creativity. I wandered happily through the market and the streets of Camden taking in the sights and sounds before emerging at the other side and back onto the canal. My next stop off was Primrose Hill where I strolled through this village-like area with its grand Victorian terraces and Regency townhouses and up the path to the top of the iconic hill. As one of the 6 protected viewpoints in London, the fabulous panoramic view of Regent’s park and the city beyond didn’t disappoint. The top of Primrose Hill was busy with families, runners and tourists all enjoying the view of the London skyline. I headed down from Primrose Hill to Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight Royal Parks and also home to London Zoo. With its tree lined paths and wide open spaces, it was a beautiful stop off and a complete contrast to Camden.  As I got back onto the canal, I realised I was passing through the outer edges of London Zoo and the Snowdon Aviary which is the home to the eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys. I was so lucky to see a number of these mischievous monkeys roaming and leaping about the architectural structure that is their home. At this point, with the sun shining and bouncing off the water, I found a bench on the towpath and had my second breakfast of the day with a small glass of fizz I had brought along, watching the water and the world go by before I made my way to Little Venice. The stretch of canal from Regent’s Park to Little Venice is a fascinating one. Home to quirky houseboats lining the canal through St John's Wood and Maida Vale and amazing houses and architecture above the far side of the canal. There were definitely some ‘wow, who must live there?!’ moments! Reaching the Puppet Barge Theatre, I knew I had arrived at Little Venice and my next stop off.  Poet Robert Browning is thought to have been the first to name the area Little Venice and it is such a great place. It was busy and buzzy with a fab, laid back sunny weekend vibe. I took the opportunity to find a sunny spot outside the lovely canal side restaurant/bar, The Waterway, for a chilled rose while Duffy’s song ‘Warwick Avenue’ played in my head. My last stop was Paddington Basin and this is where the Regent’s Canal meets the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. This last stretch is fairly commercial with fabulous modern office blocks alongside the canal interspersed with quirky floating cafes and retail barges – a great place to work I would imagine. This was the end of my Regent’s Canal walk and it was fabulous! A walk full of history, grandeur, quirkiness and character. A walk with peaceful stretches before the sensory hit of Camden and the views of Primrose Hill. A walk with fabulous wall art, architecture and monkeys! A walk that could stretch out all day with a leisurely lunch, a trip to the zoo, a ride on the London Waterbus, and time in the Royal Park. It was seeing London from a different, less touristy view, and it is definitely a walk I will be doing again. Walked 22nd April 2023 🥾