Planning a walk this Easter? Why not make it a #SlowWays hike!?
The Slow Ways network includes over 10,000 routes that stretch for neatly 150,000km.
Thanks to people across Britain, this map shows the 2,382 routes that have been triple-checked and verified.
Plan a walk here beta.slowways.org
A worryingly rotting wooden footbridge over a stream. Parts of the side fence and several floor slats are broken or missing. Reported to Lancashire Council.
A fine narrow wooden footbridge with a little metal swing gate at one end. The word PULL is imprinted on one side (and PUSH on the other).
A sturdy wooden bench in a clearing in the woods with a wonderful view across the Lancashire plain. Blackpool Tower was visible on the horizon although you can't see it in this picture.
A broken wooden stile leading to a small wooden gate, within a gap in the hedge. All that remains of the stile is the step, like a mini bench. There are several rocks on the ground.
A selection of footpath furniture from #SlowWays walks Eccleston to Parbold go Coppull in #Lancashire.
Looking symmetrically along the church. Colourful geometric tiles on the floor, white painted ceiling with dark wood beams, intricately carved wooden pews, and other lovely stuff I don't know the technical term for!
The beautiful interior of St Mary and All Saints Church in Whalley from #SlowWays route Whalley to Clitheroe Whacli4. It was full of interesting features.
#Church #Architecture
View through the stone arch of the gatehouse, from under its vaulted ceiling, to one of the many arches of Whalley Viaduct.
View along a quiet road to the castle like gatehouse, with a field and a row of trees to the right. Sunny day with strong shadows.
Whalley Abbey Gatehouse from #SlowWays route Whacli4 to Clitheroe #Lancashire. A lovely area to explore.
On the grass in the foreground there is a fallen dead branch of a tree with several twisted branches, almost helical in shape. In the background is a tree, bare if leaves, and the top part looks dead, bare of twigs as well, forming a strange shape a bit like a dancing stick man.
Natural sculpture.
Near Clitheroe #Lancashire from #SlowWays route to Whalley. A lovely area!
Didwal, Berwal, and Walcha #SlowWays all pass this way. I enjoyed the ferry doing Didwal3. But perhaps an opportunity to re-route?
Good news indeed. Thanks to all involved.
A gritty farm track, steep downhill through trees. A farm at the bottom. More trees on the opposite hill over green fields. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Hearei/1643
Narrow shelf of a track on a steep hillside. Feet and water in one place has caused ruts and gullies, and mud.
Looking down from the greensand ridge South, across green farmland. Framed by branches of ancient yew.
A road goes down and up gentle valley sides. Hedge lined with green fields either side.
Hearei1 #SlowWays between Headley and Reigate. Wonderful walk, challenging underfoot in places but views and variety. Greensand and chalk landscapes in Surrey.
Tall trees either side of a path. Brambles and ivy covered the space between trees.
Narrow earth path with short hedge on the left, and a tall hedge with hazel catkins on the right. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Ashhea/1633
Lych gate at the rear of St Mary's at Headley. A very old kissing gate with carved decoration worn away with use.
Muddy path fenced in. Trees formally planted in a row with daffodils underneath.
#SlowWays Ashhea1, Ashstead to Headley. Lovely 5km walk through Surrey chalkland. Woods, Farmland and a Roman road. Signs of Spring everywhere.
A calm pond reflecting trees and blue sky. An early path sits between the pond and a hedge. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Godoxt/10585
A holloway with steep banks, an old footbridge passes overhead.
A long tarmac path disappears downhill into the distance. Over the hedge to the right rolling Surrey countryside in the sun.
The Haycutter pub, a white building is across the road. A kissing gate in the foreground surrounded with mud and footprints.
#SlowWays route Godoxt2 between Godstone and Oxted. Warm sunny midweek day through Surrey countryside. Some mud but the greensand ridge was dryish.
Bright sunshine. Field edge and path in the shade of trees. Looking across a wide shallow valley. Light brown fields, no crops showing yet.
Another field edge in shade, bright sunshine highlight the woods across the valley.
View across the grass of Nutfield Marsh. A narrow plank bridge over a small brook in the foreground. In the hazy distance The Inn on the Pond. Note made of bridge width to survey the route. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Redgod/11650
Looking out from under a bridge over which the M23 runs. The square arch frames the picture of bare hazel, alder and hornbeam each side of a wide path. Blue skies.
Beautiful #SlowWays walk between Redhill and Godstone, Redgod3. Started misty then the sun shone. Spring greenery just about showing.
Tall vertical building stands alone on the Kings Road. Industrial looking and covered in sandy coloured 'toilet tiles'. It does have a bookshop at street level to redeem it.
View looking downstream along the Thames from Putney Bridge. The water reflects the blue sky. The tide is out and mud flats show on the near bank. A footbridge seen connecting Putney centre to the opposite bank.
Grey footpath, straight, between tall plane trees. Grass between the trees. Roehampton.
Richmond Park. A brown gritty path winds through grassland towards bare trees. Blue-grey sky. Didn't see any deer though.
More #SlowWays walks with @maryoz.bsky.social this week, Richmond to Chelsea via Putney and Fulham. A real mixture. Open parkland to busy highstreet; olive grove to views across the Thames.
Lovely day for @slowwaysuk.bsky.social walk.
AMECHO2 from Amersham to Chorleywood, plenty of mud and some terrific views.
#SlowWays
I’ve got a #SlowWays challenge here. I’ve been looking at Land’s End to Taunton and it looks like there’s a problem with the Pencal route (Pensilva to Callington). It’s a 1 ⭐ but I can’t see a reasonable alternative. Can any local help please?
Tagging @slowwaysuk.bsky.social for help.
Well-to-do terrace town houses flank a crescent road.
Wide grey path curves right around a building. A high green wall to the left with pale blue-grey sky. A streamlined aquamarine glass skyscraper inches middle distance. Near Paddington Station.
Under the Westbourne Flyover by the Grand Union Canal. A triangle of sunshine shows barges and buildings. Above the dark underside of the Flyover, below dark shaded pavement.
Large Plane tree in Hyde Park close to Kensington High Street. Blue sky and surprisingly warm sunshine.
Very much a Spring day in London, #SlowWays walking with @maryoz.bsky.social Town houses, shops and canals. Hyde Park beginning to blossom in the sunshine.
Wide grey road and grey tarmac pavement, looking down hill with the North Downs in the distance.
Lamorby Park in Sidcup. Purple crocuses on grass under a tree. The path rolls downhill past a young woman vaping on a bench.
Mud-slide! A dark muddy path of leaf mulch and London clay between trees and bushes. Small steps. Evidence of slips and slides imprinted in the clay.
Overhanging trees at a field's edge. Grass to the left. A church spire in the distance. Part of the National Trust Hawkwood Estate.
Bexley to Bromley via Sidcup & Chislehurst #SlowWays today.
Some wide suburban pavements and some narrow muddy paths. Stayed upright!Quite some variety across SE London.
An empty tarmac road winding down and up through grassland into distant woods. Large oaks scattered on the grassland. Windsor Great Park.
One of the gnarly old oaks seen in Windsor Great Park. Twisted bare branches easily visible against a pale blue wintry sky. Ascegh One slow way.
Eghsta One slow way was blocked. But not this part along the Thames Path. Bonus coal post next to a muddy path with benches boats and bins on the right. A very full Thames seen on the left through trees. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/temporary-diversion-near-runnymede-bridge/?trail=thames-path
Statue of a bird on a plinth (cormorant? kingfisher?). Footbridge over the River Colne as it joins the River Thames near Staines.
#SlowWays between Ascot and Ashford via Egham & Staines. Lovely walk including Windsor Great Park and the Thames Path. Unfortunately the Thames Path was blocked at Runnymead but used the diversion provided by @thamespathnt.bsky.social .All good.
Maybe it's time to do my Antonine's #SlowWays some time in the next year...
Ancient Roman altars found in Scotland to go on display
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I’ve struggled to get motivated to walk this year but i dragged myself out in the rain today for some #slowways from Hambrook to Bradley Stoke and then on to Filton. I intended to walk back into Bristol, but i was wet through by then (and muddy from an slip onto my arse) #walking #rain #bristol
Triangulation pillar (TQ 33724 59766) looks at a large puddle on a muddy path which is part of the London LOOP. Kenwar slow way. Blue skies peak through bare trees lining the path.
Looking back across grass downland. Kenley just visible in the deep steep sided valley. Dark moody clouds begin to spit. Purken slow way.
Kenley seen from above down in the valley. Coming down off Ribblesdown along a steep chalky path. Kenwar slow way
Roundshaw green space near Wallington on Walpur slow way. Bright green grass, well spaced dark trees reach up. A path winds between them.
Warlingham to Wallington via Kenley and Purley #SlowWays.
A green corridor over grass downland. Plus a trig point on the London #LOOP. Rain threatened, but (mostly) stayed away. 3 🐌 's !
Perhaps I should have taken account of the "RSPB Adwick Washland" area marked on the map before attempting this #SlowWays walk from Mexborough to Bolton upon Dearne yesterday. Almost certainly fine when there hasn't been weeks of rain, and never more than knee deep, but pretty cold.
Green Way guardian on Maidenhead's Green Way. I do like public artworks on pathways. http://maidenheadcivicsoc.org.uk/group/2086/Projects/Documents/prow_green_way_leaflet.pdf
Paddocks and rides, tall wood fence to the right. Many paths have become hemmed between hedges.
A lot of tarmac on this route and tbh, a bit monotonous. Not a lot of mud though. https://beta.slowways.org/Route/Maiasc/10588#reviews
Yey!, soft ground, some respite for the feet. Slightly muddy narrow brown path between hedges, Winter bare and spikes. Light and a road up ahead.
Very much an area for horses. #SlowWays between Maidenhead and Ascot. A curious route between paddocks and private property.
Bagshott sands, near, erm... Bagshott. Dry path of bown duff through tall ruddy Scott's Pine. Sands and gravels drain fast, parched in Summer, but dry underfoot in Winter.
Flooded path. Tall trees reflected seem taller as up, greenish, into the blue sky and down, brown, reflected into the ground like roots.
An alleyway,speckled hedge to the left, smooth greenish wood fence to the right. A tall, proud, leafless tree stands overlooking the scene.
Brown beech hedgeto the left (private property); hawthorn to t he right, both neat. Wind looking leaflets tree stand centre. That's where you're headed...
This weekend's #SlowWays. Winter trees on a Woking, Lightwater, Ascot walk. Stark, but beautiful. Made taller by reflection. Puddles. Look up, look down, Winter walks, don't frown. Also waterproof boots.
Somewhre between Cambois & Newbiggin by the Sea, England Coastal Path.
Just needs a lick of paint and it'll be good as new!
#photography
#nationaltrails
#EnglandCoastPath
#SlowWays
#Hiking
#EastCoastKin
#Northumberland
More #slowways walks today!
SanWin One (Sandiway > Winsford) starts well, but halfway in becomes a disaster: bridlepaths that vanish into hedges; stile shenanigans of all colours (wobbly, broken, missing), and a very navigational wobbles. Shame, as it looks good on the map, just not in reality!
Time for a quick #sitclub before pressing on to the end.
Two good #SlowWays; one fail.
Update later!
And so to yesterday's #SlowWays! And a reverse #busandback (walked to, bussed back).
First up, WarStre One (Warrington > Stretton). Mostly a road walk on an already verified route, but with some nice green bits.
Photo from the top of a sandwich dune looking down onto two people walking on Saunton Sands beach.
Looking forward to the weekend already?
Got any adventures planned?
#SlowWays #Devon #SauntonSands
A shady bower over a soggy looking path like an arch. Low sun brightens the foliage to the left but fails to reach the damp muddy path.
A graffiti'ed bridge in purple arches over a muddy brown path, a turquoise Southern train passes over it, blue sky above. The artwork inside was stunning. A splash of colour on a damp day
Entrance to Bourne Hall Park, Ewell. A tall white arch holds an iron gate, with two smaller arches either side. A statue of a dog stands proudly on top of the large arch. The London Loop passes through the park.
Arched railway bridge through which the Hogsmill river passes. The river is largely hidden by a wooden walkway passing over the river and under the arch also.
Different arches.
Yesterday's Ashstead-Banstead-Ewel-Tolworth #SlowWays yesterday. Unexpected sunshine too low to dry out the mud after the rain, but did lift the spirits.
A row of planes, the trees not the aircraft, with a wide path. No leaves yet.
A wintery path, muddy browns predominant. The path and trees. Sad bramble, a patch of grass and hints of ivy are the only greens. Can't wait for Spring.
A coffee stall under a rail bridge. Masochistic joggers pretend to ignore the coffee and warm pastry smell.
More planes, yes trees again, alongside a railway, a path between. Lots of trees for a city walk.
Two short #SlowWays today Streatham to Balham to Clapham Balstr2 &Clabal1. Essentially a lovely stroll through Tooting Bec and Wandsworth Commons.
