Having stopped my full-time job I have rediscovered my love of walking. I am trying to do the all 19 of the National Trails in the Uk. I walk along mostly wild camping along the way.
My videos started as my way of making sure i look around and enjoy the scenery and not just clock up miles. I have got better at noticing the scenery so make lest videos but do post pictures on instagram.
I hope you enjoy them and maybe get inspired to try a one or a bit of one.
Hi Jonathan, have just completed (except for the Sutton Scotney loop) the Watercress Way. Walking (anti-clockwise) over a couple of days I really enjoyed it although I did have some issues with the very wet water meadow near Itchen Stoke which ended up in need of some of the dreaded road walking. The longer ‘no navigation required’ stretches were just brilliant. Overall a good walk with some stunning views. Thanks for taking the time to video your walk it was so useful in preparing for my outing.
Thanks. I so enjoy your adventures. It’s great to be able to experience the SWCP vicariously through you. Am looking forward to the next episode. Take care
@@GodAtum what basically happened was I mistook a group in a boat for the ferry and walked up to their boat. At the last moment I doubted myself and asked them if they were the ferry, they weren’t but as they were going across and had space they offered me a lift.
@@GodAtum true only once had a problem with cows and it was not on a well trodden trail, I just like to let them know I am there so they don’t get spooked.
Hi. I’m not really into walking long distances or hiking, but have walked a few miles of the Offa’s Dyke path over the years as I live in Tutshill (Chepstow). Just wondering why walkers like yourself use hiking/walking poles on flat, level easy going ground?
@@hazefilmmaking8918 it’s a fair question and I can only answer for me. If my arms are doing nothing for long periods my hands can swell (it’s to do with the backpack), using the poles prevents this. Sometimes I honestly forget after walking up or down a hill and it’s just habit and at the end of a long day I’ll take any help I can get. Some people swear by them all day long, I don’t these days.
Very nice video about the trail. And what I particularly liked is the final section over Cow Hill. I want to do that too. I've seen so many videos of the WHW where people complain at the end about the long walk along the road towards Fort Williams, but so far no one has taken the alternative route. It looks really good :-) Thanks for the video!
Yet another great video. I think everyone has their own natural walking pace and it's quite difficult to adjust that overnight (not literally 😊). Cheers Chris
Thank you so much, I have been walking just not recording it as I went down a bit of an ultralight rabbit hole and stopped taking my camera. I am back now though, cheers
So pleased to hear it. Have discovered what the large concrete pond is for that you encountered on the NDW. It’s a dew pond. Man made by farmers on chalk downland to catch dew and water for cattle. Hope that helps. Found your NDW videos so useful in planning my NDW project.
Nice to see another of your videos. Having time to stop for coffee is surely important. Looking forward to the South West Coast Path if you decide to film it.
On the SWCP I found that long lunch stops, if you manage to make it to a town, worked for me -- fish & chips and ice cream will make the day far more pleasant and fuel you for those big climbs.
Good to see you out and about again. I think you have the right idea, enjoy the walk and the experiences the more relaxed approach brings, save the bigger mileage for the days you need it and have the time to take pleasure in the journey when you can as well as reaching the destination when you need to do so.
Its always a dilemma knowing how far to go whilst on a long distance walk, that's the beauty of wild camping. Enjoyed seeing another one of your videos. Thanks Phill
@blueormy753 funny you should ask, I look some video last week on the Cotswold Way to put a short video together. In July I am back on the SWCP from Falmouth to St Erith and will definitely be doing a video of that one.
You really was pushing out the miles daily Jonathon .I can t do those milages nowadays , I m too old . You must have been pretty exhausted to do it in under 5 days .Probably the fastest I ve seen on these vids although one bloke has done it in 3 days which is bonkers
Funny you should mention the miles, done a couple of sections of the Thames Path recently with 26 mile days, but have worked out that’s not sustainable for the SWCP in July. So I am going back to the Cotswold Way to see if I can do JUST 18 miles in a day wild camp to wild camp. Hopefully I will produce o video of how I get on.
Skelton is the very last place to stock up if you missed the big Sainsbury s .Theres a Co Op on the High Street very close to the path. I always make sure to grab a couple of 500 gr pkts boiled sweets as basic carbs which are well needed . Next water source is either ask at a property in Kildale , Kildale camping barn or the station at Kildale which has toilets and a small sink .Next one after that is Lordstones Cafe .No where to filter
Just finished a similar 67 hour Ridgeway walk this week. Worth noting St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe and church at Nuffield. Both with water taps and also when open they both have tea/coffee making facilities and cake/biscuits for a donation. Such lovely churches (many on the route) and wonderful trust and generosity.
Thank you for making this video Jonathan. I'm due to walk the Ridgeway myself this Summer, it being my first national trail and your video has been nothing less than inspirational.
The Ridgeway is a good first national trail just be sure to collect water whenever you can. Thank you for your comments, although walking last year I did not bother making videos, comments like yours might make me rethink that for the next section of the SWCP. Enjoy the Ridgeway.
Thanks, I most certainly will! Hope to see more content from you soon mate, it's great finding videos from people getting outdoors in my neck of the woods.
Thank you for the video. I’m planning on walking the Ridgeway next year but from Ivinghoe Beacon to Avebury as I’m then continuing down to Stonehenge and then across to Glastonbury Tor.
@@RichardShortland-Neal that’s a great walk, I did the three stones way and found a wild camping spot near Stonehenge, I woke early to a frost it was magical. Enjoy
I've enjoyed your video & will take onboard the lack of water in parts. I have already completed half the walk from Goring to Ivinghoe & will be taking on the second half later this year... I'm comfortable with filtering water so I'll keep my eye open for animal troughs... Did you plan your wild camp spots or just free style along the way ??
Thanks for the comments, I use google maps and os map to identify good camping spots based on how far I think I will walk. It pays to look for a couple of spots, just in case the mileage is over under estimated or the spot is unsuitable. Good luck.
Thanks Jonathan. I really enjoy your videos, thoughts and tips and them invaluable when planning trips. Partly walked the Itchen Way where it is coincident with the St. James’ Way last year; hope to do the rest later this year. Keep walking, filming and posting.
Thanks Jonathan, really enjoy your videos. Very useful when planning trips. Did the St Swithun’s Way last year but was scuppered by flooding so hope to return to complete it this year. Also planning to do the North Downs Way in April and September.
The one I mention in the video is at Hackpen Hill and I was wrong with 1827 it was actually 1838 for the coronation of Queen Victoria. Are you thinking of the one at Dragon Hill, there are a few in the area.?
I did it over three days, I would say four or five days is probably better but does mean my camping spots would not be much use to you (even if I could remember them exactly) there are plenty of copse on route though.
@@staceydunn197 they are my favourite places to camp, it’s a great walk. Walking up the long straight drive up to the castle is one of the best ends to a hike I have done.
'Fast becoming my favorite.' I like that Jonathan - and you were at one of my favorite local spots just below the Hay Bluff. A fantastic trail with you so far - glad you could make it back. Yeah it's rolling and gets deep outback. I noticed you stopped and admired the Radnor Forest before Kington. It's a great area to explore. You had some good pitches and stays. For sure the Black Mountains are a beast in fierce weather it's that open. Well, good to see you finally enjoy the lower Wye. Good going. All the best for 2024. Mark
Be wary of strangers bearing gifts . I know out in the countryside everyone is usually friendly , helpful and kind but I come from a crime riddled place and I'd never accept a drink or food off somebody I'd be worried it was laced with something , Especially when you're saying after eating it you feel perky and full of energy lol Maybe I'm just paranoid and thats why I love walking and hiking so much it gets me away from the bad place I live in
@@JonathanDowe Cheers for that, I am toying with the the idea of getting one myself purely for the space offered and weight savings. Can you shed any light on the hidden costs of posting, duties etc please? Thanks, Stuart
@@stushikesandrides there is a video done by Hounds of Howgate it’s call importing zpacks to the Uk ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nhSiW8JePiA.htmlsi=rrPh3VxFbfYwXRRM ), it’s a few years old but still valid. They do have a sale in Novembers which get a bit off but they are still expensive, but I don’t regret it.
single wall double wall in the same conditions both will have exactly the same condensation ( it comes from ground and your breath) but you just don't notice it with double wall and less likely to touch the outer sheet. pitching into wind is the only solution with this. But if no wind then condensation for sure.
@@TheBridget1953 sorry it would have been a good idea but did not think of it at the time. The video is in order so should give you an idea of the locations.
Interesting to see the finish. I walked part of the St Swithuns Way from Farnham to Alton last week - lots of lane walking and road noise - but I was blessed by 3 nice American ladies doing the Pilgrims Way en route.
Jonathan nice vids you make, and very informative. Curious about the brolly where did you get that from. It looks lightweight and gives sun protection. Thanks John M
Hi John, thank you. The umbrella is a Six Moons Design Carbon fibre it is light at about 150g. I got it and an attachment kit from ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ I got it for sun but have only used it in rain so far. Been impressed it’s stood up to a fair amount of abuse.
Just decided to do the WHW about an hour ago and found your video. Any chance you could share where/how you chose your camping spaces? I cant get a permit (non left as i am thinking of going in 48hrs) and you mentioned it wasnt worth it and just arter the protected area there was a nice spot. Would be great if you could share them and save me trying to work out where to stop
Hi Paul, there are a load of nice spots after the protected area you will be spoilt for choice. I am used to wild camping in England which involves stealth and getting off the path. Most of the time I pitched right by the path and it was great. The two sites I would mention though are just as you go in the woods near Crainlarich there are a couple of beautiful sites with benches and the ruin of Ba Cottage on the moors before Kings House Hotel. The Ba Cottage one was probably my favourite waking up on the moor after the rain the day before and having it all to myself was special. You’ll have a great time.
The bits that were beautiful were really lovely, the massive roads seemed to dominate though. I guess it's a busy corner of England. Looking forward to your next one.
I don’t have the what3words for the seat, but I would think it’s not a great spot for a wild camp. It’s in a permissive field about 50 meters from a road and house, nice for lunch and a rest, but for wild camping I wouldn’t choose it.
