Steve, Mart, Stu and Nick juggled their chunky breakfast crockery around in a tired, wordless way on the too small shiny wooden table. The Greek island of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese at the end of April might not be the best for climbers but was proving to be great walking weather. Continue reading ARTICLE: Wild Kalymnos walking
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Bookings are now open for the 2024 guided walking holiday to Arolla. Continue reading AROLLA 6-13th July 2024: Val d’Hérens, Switzerland.
If you enjoyed this please enter your email address below to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY: Una passeggiata nelle Dolomiti
Starting in Arolla this walk sets off through woodland on the ‘Marmot trail’. It soon emerges from the trees, traversing meadows towards the glacial moraines descending from the Pigne d’Arolla, to reach an abandoned farm on a high mountain pasture. The Walkers Haute Route, a long distance path, is used to ascend some more before the route turns off into a quiet side valley to gain superb mountain and glacier views. Distance: 12km Ascent / Descent: 650m. Continue reading SWISS FLOWER WALKS: Above Arolla to Les Fontanesses, Valais, Switzerland.
This July I led a reconnaissance trip to Arolla in the Val d’Herens for a group of seven. They were blown away by the stunning Val d’Herens with its flower filled meadows and big mountain views. This location will definitely become a regular trip on my annual programme Continue reading Trip Report: Val d’Herens, Switzerland, 1-8 July 2023
The big butterfly count is now on! https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ Everyone can join in. Here’s what I found in the fields between Pury End and Sholebrook Lodge. Continue reading NATURE HUNT: Big Butterfly Count
Explore quiet northern Kalymnos. Discover a tiny sandy bay, a huge cave adorned with tufa and stalactites and another view-laden ridge walk through fragrant, spiky garrigue and vibrant spring flowers. This walk is accessible by public bus. Distance: 9.2km Height gain: 470m (for optional extension to Emborios add 2.5km, minimal extra height gain and loss) Continue reading KALYMNOS FLOWER WALKS: Skalia to Sikati Cave and back via a ridge walk.
A classic Kalymnian walk with a wiggle. Wind your way out of the noisy port town of Pothia for a meditative ascent of the paved Italian path. Glide through a broad pass and descend to the flower scented farming valley of Vathys. Follow the bees and grasshoppers along a quiet farm track to a church then thread back up through the ridge and descend below the ancient castle to rejoin the bustle at Hora. Continue reading KALYMNOS FLOWER WALKS: The Italian Path from Pothia to the Vathys Valley and back to Hora
A circular walk in the north of the island around the Arginonta valley. This walk is accessible by public bus and has an optional extension to a viewpoint, the Italian Emplacement. This walk mainly uses marked paths and includes a short section of the Kalymnos Way. Distance / height gain: 11.5km and 600m ascent / descent (including optional extension). Continue reading KALYMNOS FLOWER WALKS: The Arginonta Valley and the Italian Emplacement.
Getting ready for your first walking holiday in Europe? Here’s a handy checklist of stuff you need to get sorted back in the UK before you head out. Remember, after Brexit there may be a few changes to your preparations. Continue reading HIKING ON THE HUSH-HUSH: Get ready to ramble
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