A few years back my sister and I planned an adventure in the Cinque Terre region. We stopped giving each other birthday gifts a while back and gifted each other an adventure together instead :) This one was without a doubt my favourite so far - We flew to Nice, then got the train to Levanto and hiked the mountain trail (2 days of hiking and absolutely stunning views of the 5 fishing villages below), then we hiked back from Riomaggiore to Monterosso along the mid trail (1 day - we wanted to do the coastal trail but most of it was closed) and then on our last day we SUP'd back to Riomaggiore (2.5 hours paddle) . SO much fun - epic food and we managed to experience Cinque Terre without the zillions of tourists. Highly recommend !
Cicerone walking guides are brilliant - for various parts of the UK, as well as Europe and possibly even further afield.
In the UK, a subscription to Ordnance Survey's website gets you a) the full maps on your phone, with the option to print your own maps from a computer and b) access to premium routes by established publications as well as locals' favourite jaunts. You can also draw your own route and then have the website show you a fly-through, great if you're not quite sure what to expect or want to check whether something is within your capabilities.
OS also do regional Pathfinder guides, and some to and from train stations within reach of London. Rough Guide do a similar guide.
I sometimes get overwhelmed by the number of options, so I'll pick up a guide for a particular area and use a random number generator to pick a walk for me. They're all good walks, and it takes the analysis paralysis out of it... Maybe one for my fellow anxious hikers out there
For inspiration, Stanford's book shop in London is just wonderful. They have every travel book, walking guide and map you could ever need..
I am just starting out in the planning of day hikes and overnight hikes ... so this is just the perfect inspo for me and I am so grateful you have shared your process.
Great tips, Sarah. We love hiking too in Portugal’s Algarve. Lovely hiking groups if you would like to be introduced. Look us up next time you heading this way @figsonthefuncho, a great foodie stop too😊.
I love hearing your hiking travails Sarah, it would be so good to hike with you one-day. Have you ever considered hosting small like-minded hiking groups ? Sardinia would be a blast. Happy trails and please take good care of yourself X
Just popping my comment here about your latest AMA podcast. I really like this ep, so if you can continue to pepper some of these throughout that would be great. Especially loved the advice on how to handle the climate conversations.
But, oh my soul, the news about you moving overseas....?!!! Obviously want to wish you all the best for your future and you totally do what you need to do but also - what on earth will we do without you here! I hope this means you'd still be commenting on Australian politics because honestly we need all the help we can get with pushing things along. I have lived in London for 3 years and feel that Australia can be very backwards in some things. You are one of the sources that I trust to get information from and to figure out how I can mobilize and enact change on the climate front. Regardless, totally support you doing what's best for you, I really miss living in Europe.
I can't tell you how much I loved this episode! I have got Wintering on order. A few years back, when I was struggling with a chronic illness I realised that our society demands we see time as linear. Each day we're meant to push to get further along with things than the previous day. But so much of nature is cyclical. Animals hibernate. Trees go barren. The sun / moon / seasons are all cyclical. Why don't we allow ourselves to have fallow periods? As a Type A / high achiever I find this very difficult to do.
As you say, our houses, at least in the Illawarra, aren't built for winter. We rarely have inbuilt heating, like a fireplace, or radiators, as if our plan is to pretend like it won't get very cold for parts of the year. Everything is all open plan, lots of windows, thin walls. When I lived in Europe, I loved how cosy you could get in winter, how easier it was to allow yourself to stay indoors and turn inwards. But I find it hard to do here in Australia, when it's sunny all the time, even in winter. If it's 21 degrees and sunshine, I feel I don't have permission to stay indoors and rest, I'm meant to be out doing things.
A few years back my sister and I planned an adventure in the Cinque Terre region. We stopped giving each other birthday gifts a while back and gifted each other an adventure together instead :) This one was without a doubt my favourite so far - We flew to Nice, then got the train to Levanto and hiked the mountain trail (2 days of hiking and absolutely stunning views of the 5 fishing villages below), then we hiked back from Riomaggiore to Monterosso along the mid trail (1 day - we wanted to do the coastal trail but most of it was closed) and then on our last day we SUP'd back to Riomaggiore (2.5 hours paddle) . SO much fun - epic food and we managed to experience Cinque Terre without the zillions of tourists. Highly recommend !
Cicerone walking guides are brilliant - for various parts of the UK, as well as Europe and possibly even further afield.
In the UK, a subscription to Ordnance Survey's website gets you a) the full maps on your phone, with the option to print your own maps from a computer and b) access to premium routes by established publications as well as locals' favourite jaunts. You can also draw your own route and then have the website show you a fly-through, great if you're not quite sure what to expect or want to check whether something is within your capabilities.
OS also do regional Pathfinder guides, and some to and from train stations within reach of London. Rough Guide do a similar guide.
I sometimes get overwhelmed by the number of options, so I'll pick up a guide for a particular area and use a random number generator to pick a walk for me. They're all good walks, and it takes the analysis paralysis out of it... Maybe one for my fellow anxious hikers out there
For inspiration, Stanford's book shop in London is just wonderful. They have every travel book, walking guide and map you could ever need..
Thank you Thank you Thank you for this post!
I am just starting out in the planning of day hikes and overnight hikes ... so this is just the perfect inspo for me and I am so grateful you have shared your process.
Thanks for such an inspiring article Sarah!
For those of us in WA, Trails WA is a great site for finding and planning hikes all around Western Australia: trailswa.com.au
Already started planning my next one in Rottnest! :)
Great tips, Sarah. We love hiking too in Portugal’s Algarve. Lovely hiking groups if you would like to be introduced. Look us up next time you heading this way @figsonthefuncho, a great foodie stop too😊.
That makes sense. Love your hiking stories, certainly a great source of inspiration.
I love hearing your hiking travails Sarah, it would be so good to hike with you one-day. Have you ever considered hosting small like-minded hiking groups ? Sardinia would be a blast. Happy trails and please take good care of yourself X
Dear Substack members,
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Just popping my comment here about your latest AMA podcast. I really like this ep, so if you can continue to pepper some of these throughout that would be great. Especially loved the advice on how to handle the climate conversations.
But, oh my soul, the news about you moving overseas....?!!! Obviously want to wish you all the best for your future and you totally do what you need to do but also - what on earth will we do without you here! I hope this means you'd still be commenting on Australian politics because honestly we need all the help we can get with pushing things along. I have lived in London for 3 years and feel that Australia can be very backwards in some things. You are one of the sources that I trust to get information from and to figure out how I can mobilize and enact change on the climate front. Regardless, totally support you doing what's best for you, I really miss living in Europe.
I can't tell you how much I loved this episode! I have got Wintering on order. A few years back, when I was struggling with a chronic illness I realised that our society demands we see time as linear. Each day we're meant to push to get further along with things than the previous day. But so much of nature is cyclical. Animals hibernate. Trees go barren. The sun / moon / seasons are all cyclical. Why don't we allow ourselves to have fallow periods? As a Type A / high achiever I find this very difficult to do.
As you say, our houses, at least in the Illawarra, aren't built for winter. We rarely have inbuilt heating, like a fireplace, or radiators, as if our plan is to pretend like it won't get very cold for parts of the year. Everything is all open plan, lots of windows, thin walls. When I lived in Europe, I loved how cosy you could get in winter, how easier it was to allow yourself to stay indoors and turn inwards. But I find it hard to do here in Australia, when it's sunny all the time, even in winter. If it's 21 degrees and sunshine, I feel I don't have permission to stay indoors and rest, I'm meant to be out doing things.
Thanks again Sarah!