Hiking
Ford of the River Darent at Eynsford, Kent
Eynsford Castle, founded soon after the Norman Conquest. Abandoned 1312.
Plenty of water in the River Darent at the ford at Eynsford. We hiked up to the valley ridge for the views and the cool of the woods rather than the main Darent Valley trail, which stays closer to the river. Fine views of the Kent farmland and woodlands in full summer glory, then a lunch in the shade at the pub by the Darent at Shoreham.
View over Wast Water to Scafell (910 m.) and Scafell Pike (978 m.), on the right, also Gable (899 m.)
Greendale Gill - Tongue Gills
Up on the fells and away from the crowds. Seatallan (692 m.) summit gives a fine view of the coastal apron of Cumbria, reminding me of the coastal apron typical of mid-ocean volcanic islands; also a fine view down to Blengdale. The path is unmarked but there are fell runners’ routes and precipitous turf staircases.
Middle Fell (582 m.) isn’t as high but has one of the stunning panoramas of the Lake District. There’s an unbroken view over Wast Water to Scafell (910 m.) and Scafell Pike (978 m.), on the right, also Gable (899 m.) and hazy views of Skiddaw (931 m.) and Blencathra (868 m.) in the distance. Great spring sunlight and visibility though the outline of the Isle of Man was only very indistinct though the mist.
Thanks to Samuel for another great choice of route
More photos: Seatallan (692 m.) and Middle Fell (582 m.) - Lake District National Park
Summit of Black Combe (600 m.)
Hike up to the rounded summit of Black Combe (600 m.), we followed Moorgill Beck up from Kirkbank to Townend Knotts, which is the rounded end of the ridge that you see from the A595 south from Bootle in West Cumbria. Various marks in the turf suggesting this climb had been the route of a fell race recently. We paused in a scrape at about 300 m. and decided to go onwards in to the mist, despite a brisk wind and even though the cloud wasn’t lifting as forecast.
More photos: Black Combe (600 m.) - Lake District National Park
Hiking the Darnley Trail in Shorne Woods Country Park in Kent, named after the Earls of Darnley, who previously owned Cobham Hall, Mausoleum and Cobham Park and much of the farm and forestry land we hiked.
So much history under our feet: this route straddles the Roman Watling Street, the HS1 railway and the A2 trunk road. These woods concealed the accommodation blocks for RAF Gravesend airfield whose pilots flew Hawker Hurricane fighters in World War 2. The RAF left in 1956, the accommodation blocks in Ashenbank Wood were demolished and by 1970 the airfield had become Riverview Park housing estate.
Levada Nova da Lombada (425 m.)
Probably the most satisfying hike I’ve done on Madeira: spectacular views and waterfalls though difficult as a circular hike because of the narrow path, the rocky overhangs, tunnel and the opportunities for a cold shower. Madeira Island is renowned for its extensive levadas (irrigation channels) which are great hiking routes as well as aqueducts and sources of hydoelectric power. In particular, the levadas of Ponta do Sol have a long and complicated history, including fatalities during construction, a violent riot in 1962 over the right to water when the Levada Nova was proposed and grim origins as supplying water to the sugar cane plantations founded by João Esmeraldo (died 1535) using slave labour. Christopher Columbus stayed in his palace in Funchal on his return from his third trip to the Antilles in 1498, married his daughter and himself became a sugar cane magnate at the time when the product became known as “white gold”.
More photos: Hiking the levadas of Ponta do Sol - Madeira Island
