Skotino (Agia Paraskevi) Cave 6 Oct 2026

As my flight to Birmingham was not until 2200 I decided to go on a morning hike, especially as the storms had gone away.

Two of the ladies in the group had been to Skotino cave (aka  Agia Paraskevi cave) the previous day and said how nice and empty it was and was just an 8 mile round trip, following the roads and signposts, so this was to be the one. It was discovered by Arthur evans but hadnt used any concrete here, unlike Knossos!

I took more of a hiking route, crossing the old main road by our petrol station and keeping going up the hill past the Nola villas. I only saw one person and a bus full of soldiers on my journey.

The view to see on the way up

It took only 1h20 to reach the church of Agia Paraskevi built above the cave, before entering the cave  used to worship Goddess Artemıs (Diana)

The cave entrance

The view looking out of the cave

I decided to go back a different way, passing through Skotiono, down Makelarianou Gorge which showed signs of flood water damage and through the village of Gouves.

Flood damage in the gorge, 4" deep mud and displaced rubble

Gouves old town house

 I was just in time to go for lunch with 2 other group members found wandering along the seafront!

Total of 10.4miles

Elounda, Spiralonga Fort and Agios Nikolaos 5 Oct 2026

Todays bus journey went via a to Elounda. Although the sun was shining the wind was still strong so the itinary had to be adjusted to avoid a choppy boat ride from the east coast of Kalydon.

We started with a walk east from Alounda, past the salt flats , crossing the causeway (bridging a channel built by the french so they wouldnt get trapped in Alounda bay) to Kalydon, returning via the same route

We then caught the boat to Spiralonga Fort where we had a guided tour of the fortifications and the old leper colony

 Return was via a coffee and cake stop near the (manmade) lake in Agios Nikolaos

Malia Palace 4 oct 2026

 After the cancellation of the 2nd optional walk I decided to visit the Malia Palace. This was easy as there was a bus route that started at the bus stop by the petrol station ("Gouves 11") and terminated at the gates of the palace and only cost 2.40Euro. Consulting the bus timetable it went every 30 minutes, impressive for a Sunday!

The palace was huge but very 2 dimensional compared to the 3D knossos palace, but was very interesting and much fewer visitors then Knossos

Grain silos

Warehouse for storing liquids, runoff to collect leaks!

Part of the covered area

I decided to walk back along the coast, using the beach when possible (avoiding the busy centre of Melia) until i got bored. I encountered the pot on Potamos Beach the beach and the little church on the island

The glazed grooves were to stop ants getting in 

The offshore church

Complete route 6 miles

Naunton and the Slaughters 18 Aug 2026

 Started in the centre of Naunton, visiting the ancient Dovecote. 

We then followed the River Windrush and the derelict railway line to Bourton on the water where we stopped on the bank of the River for coffee (before we got into the massive  crowds in the centre of town.) where we spotted an otter

We returned via  lower slaughter (visiting the mill) upper slaughter and back to Naunton, 11.7 miles 5 hours (including stops)

CWOG railtrail Pershore to Evesham 15 Aug 2026

 Started at Evesham station and caught the 0948 train to Pershore. Started the walk at 1000. Coffee in Fladbury and lunch on the edge of a field off red lane Evesham

Forest of dean circular from the Soudley heritage centre 11 Aug 2026

 The heritage centre is located on the west side of the Forest of Dean near Soudley ponds. The route passed the ponds to the Springs wood viewing point

The Severn from the Springs wood lookout

The view a little further on from Dean hill was even more impressive

We then proceeded through the centre of  Newnham then along the river bank southwards to Bullo

Centre of Newnham

There is a village hall near Oaklands Park with benches where we stopped for Lunch. We returned up the gorge through two bridges and back to the heritage centre, just in time for tea and cake.

10.8 miles in 5 hours total

Welsh coastal Pwllheli to Criccieth 7 August 2026

 The walk started with a train ride to the end of the line at Pwllheli , the 2 coaches having come all the way from Birmingham international!

The walk started along the edge of the (drained) harbour then 6km along the virtually deserted beach to Pen ychain. 

Harbour at low tide

The deserted beach

The route then goes inland and skirts the Holiday camp previously Butlins Pwllheli, now a static caravan park on the way to Afon Wen. The stretch of path after the outcrop before the holiday camp is interesting as it uses some of the trackbed for the 21" narrow gauge that was used to transport holidaymakers from the Butlins holiday camp ahead to the beach (closed in 1996). 

The view from Afon Wen

The view back to Criccieth

The busy A497 road is then followed to Llanystumdwy where shortly afterwards it goes through marshes to the coast then along the cliff edge to Criccieth

10 miles 4 hours

Welsh coastal Porthmadog to Criccieth 5 August 2026

 

I started the route at Boston Lodge and walked across the cobb into Porthmadog. The path then goes round the edge of the harbour and over the ridge to Borth y guest.From here there is a long stretch of the wide golden sands of Black rock sands. The only hazard being the number of cars driving up and down the beach.  At the east end of the sands the OS map shows a path up the cliff. It has long gone. The route north around the base of the cliff is blocked by a campsite so a retreat and diversion is necessary. 

The view from the cliff back along part of the beach

The route then follows alongside the railway line to Criccieth, in time for Ice cream at Cadwaladers

9 miles 3.5 hours

Worcester Ramblers: Martley 30 July 2026

The surprise on this walk was getting soaked in a 20 minute rain shower!

 

Hidcote Manor:Avoid at the start of School Holidays! 27 July 2026

The initial plan was to visit NT Hidcote Manor to tour the gardens. I didnt think it would be busy on a monday. Wrong, it is the school holidays! Seeing how full the car park was I decided it was time for a walk (or two)

I rembered that the Lark Stoke TV masts (the highest point in Warwickshire) was up the track so I went there, The view included Sugarloaf near Abergavenny, Titterstone clee and the Malverns

The view towards South Wales#

The Malverns

While up there I went to visit the masts at Nebworth, which had a good view towards Oxford

I then went back to the car park. Still busy so i planned walk 2, a loop to Upper Quinton, North of Hidcote

Walk 2

8.3 miles 2.5 hours. Navigating through Quinton was a challenge due to house building near footpaths.

The hardest bit was climbing up the hill from Mickleton to Hidcote!

The view back down the slope towards the Malverns