Exploring the Scenic Mawnan Smith Peninsula Coastal Walk I first did this walk more than 25 years ago and took the following photos on a very early form of digital camera—which is why the quality of some images is not so good - but, believe me, the views around this hike are absolutely superb. The walk is based in the attractive environs of the strangely named village of Mawnan Smith, and fits well with Hesp's patent recipe for perfect walking: i.e. you can't beat pottering a

Discover Cornwall Beyond the Beaches: A Hidden Gem Walk Through the Luxulyan Valley Cornwall may be famed for its sun-drenched beaches and dramatic coastlines, but inland lies a different kind of beauty—one that's mysterious, lush, and steeped in history. If you’re seeking a truly immersive walking experience in Cornwall away from the crowds, the Luxulyan Valley walk delivers peace, heritage, and natural splendour in equal measure. The Luxulyan Valley Walk: A Hidden Treasure

Warm Weather Awakens the UK’s Only Venomous Snake As spring sunshine begins to warm the West Country, adders—the UK’s only native venomous snake—are stirring from their winter slumber. Sightings have already been reported across local hills and heathlands. But despite these appearances, experts are concerned about the species’ long-term future. A few years ago I wrote the following two articles all about adders in the English hills. Adder Decline: A Growing National Concern C

Discover a stunning spring walk in the Quantock Hills AONB With Easter arriving this month, now’s the perfect time to extol the virtues of staying at home — especially if your home patch happens to be the West Country. Easter falls late this year, and if the weather is even halfway decent, West Country roads will be heaving with holiday traffic. So, what better time to enjoy the pleasures of your local area? And what a patch we have. I’ve just spent a lovely weekend in West C

Any Excuse to Head West: A Journey Through West Cornwall The Meaning of Hesperian The Oxford Dictionary defines "Hesperian" as an "inhabitant of a western land," making it a fitting term for someone named Hesp. Especially when that land is bathed in Atlantic salt spray. Exploring West Cornwall In keeping with the spirit of these pages, it was time for another westward journey—this time to West Cornwall. The trip included a visit to Porthleven for the relaunch of Jude Kereama’

A comprehensive guide to the tiny village of Trevalga on Cornwall's north coast

Funny how things you conceptualised as a kid can linger for the rest of your life. That’s the way feelings about the county of Dorset have developed and remained for me, thanks to my father and the works of Enid Blyton . Enid Blyton, Dorset, and Childhood Impressions My neighbouring county has always felt vaguely like a distant land to me. Why? Because my dad, in his literary way, detested the works of Ms Blyton (who loved and wrote about Dorset ) and, most unlike him, he b

Few of us ever put the places we visit into categories, but if we did they’d probably come under headings covering the locations we have to visit, like local supermarkets, shops, dentists, hospitals, whatever, and destinations we really like visiting, such as favourite holiday spots, theatres, cinemas, hiking locations etc. There’d be another category for me entitled, “Places I cannot resist visiting when I’m on my way somewhere else”. The Irresistible Charm of Appledore, Dev

There will be many people reading this newspaper who love their own patch; the place where they were born and bred or the location where they’ve chosen to spend their lives. The problem is that you can become a bit snooty about other areas, like I did as a youngster when I had difficulty in understanding how anyone could feel any kind of affinity for any other part of Somerset. Childhood Memories and Early Misconceptions About the Somerset Levels I lived - and still live - in

Embracing Long-John Weather on Exmoor It’s been long-john weather of late. That’s the best way to describe the biting chill that cuts through even the sturdiest mole-skin trousers from country clothing shops. Winter has firmly settled over Exmoor, and nowhere is it more evident than on the slopes of Dunkery Beacon. A Frosty Encounter on Dunkery Beacon Yesterday’s attempt to enjoy a brisk walk atop Dunkery Beacon quickly turned into a retreat. The late afternoon promised panor

A Journey Across the Remote and Empty Chains This hike was originally the idea of Dr. Nigel Stone, who at the time was Chief Executive of the Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA). He invited me to join him to explore some of the work done to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Two Moors Way. Britain’s Hidden Long-Distance Gem If there were a competition for Britain’s most beautiful but least known long-distance trails, the Two Moors Way would likely win. A new logo promise

A Truly Varied & Scenic Walk 🚶‍♂‍ I've had the pleasure of doing this hike half a dozen times myself, including once with a TV crew and all the heavy equipment. Recently, I've heard from many others who have enjoyed every scenic inch of this wonderful circular walk. You could probably write a book about what makes a truly classic walk. And if you did, you might want to include a chapter titled: "Great Hikes that are as Varied as They are Beautiful." The Fowey, Bodinnick, Ha

Exploring the countryside is one of the greatest joys of walking. You can revisit a place you know intimately and yet find a footpath that leads you into a part of it you've never experienced before — suddenly revealing breathtaking views you never knew existed. Another enchanting aspect of walking is discovering unexpected connections: a familiar town or village approached from a completely new direction, allowing you to see it with fresh eyes. 🌲🏙 A Magical Walk Around Min

For centuries, we despised bogs, doing everything in our power to avoid or drain them. But increasingly, people are beginning to appreciate the value of these squelchy wet places – an idea I once witnessed at an event called Past in the Peat , part of the Festival of British Archaeology. This exhibition aimed to show not only the environmental importance of healthy peat bogs but also the rich history such landscapes contain and protect. The Secrets Within the Peat 🌍 Peat is

A Magical Estate Full of History and Beauty Cotehele is one of those places that draws you back time and again. Nestled on the Cornish bank of the River Tamar, this National Trust property is steeped in natural beauty and rich history. I first discovered Cotehele not on its winding paths but in central London, at the Tate Gallery, where Turner's evocative painting "Crossing the Brook" led me to wonder: where can that be? That very brook is a tributary of the Tamar, not far

We were on a walking tour of Menorca a while ago and our final hike was an extensive coastal trek to explore what is arguably the island's most untamed region. Parque Natural de s'Albufera des Grau, located in northeastern Menorca, encompasses 500 hectares of diverse ecosystems, including wild olive groves, wetlands, secluded coves, islands, and coastal dunes. This remarkable natural reserve is one of Menorca's most remarkable landscapes, featuring unique flora and wildlife.

Exploring the Dundon and Compton Dundon Walks in Somerset What Can You Do When the Weather’s Hit and Miss? ☁️☔ Read a book, would be a sensible answer… But for most country-lovers, the urge to get outdoors is hard to resist – even when the weather isn’t cooperating. So, you have to grab the chance while you can! And that is exactly what I did one day recently while driving through central Somerset with a friend. The sun peeked out, the skies looked promising, and we decided t

There’s nothing quite like stumbling upon a location you’ve never visited before and discovering it to be surprisingly scenic and enjoyable. It is particularly rewarding for West Country folk when we come across some delightful corner of the coast outside our region, because we tend to be pretty much spoilt when it comes to having lovely bays and beaches in our own backyard. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t expecting too much when, for family reasons, we found ourselves heading

Sometimes you have to make your own luck in life. I wasn’t to know it at the time, but 25 years ago I made what seemed to be a fairly inconsequential decision while hiking high on the moors, and it changed my entire career.  I was at a crossroads - flogging a bit of a dead horse running a media-based business - and on my wife’s birthday I was so broke I couldn’t afford to do anything special, so offered to take her on a nice scenic Exmoor walk. Walking in beautiful places is

Some people have an incurable curiosity when it comes to the landscape. For example, if they see an interesting or picturesque place from afar, they automatically think: “Right… One day I’ll go to that place and see what it’s all about.” This article relates to exactly that sort of journey.  But there was a reason why it took me so long to embark on the particular journey of discovery, even though I had several times found myself being attracted to an obscure corner of the So