Having completed the one-hundred mile South Downs Way National Trail before the end of the month, May was always going to be a high-scorer. It may even be a personal record-breaker.

With ideas about walking another long-distance path before 2019 is over, it seems increasing likely that I’m set to surpass the one-thousand mile mark and for the third consecutive year.

04/05 – 10 miles – Llanuwchllyn to Bala, Snowdonia
05/05 – 12 miles – Berwyn Mountains (walk leading)
06/05 – 6.25 miles – Castell Bere/Dysynni Valley, Snowdonia
11/05 – 4 miles – Wick St. Lawrence, North Somerset
12/05 – 14 miles – Staple Hill, Blackdown Hills
16/05 – 4.25 miles – Wick St. Lawrence
18/05 – 12.25 miles – Mendip Hills
19/05 – 13.5 miles – Brecon Beacons
21/05 – 3.5 miles – Wick St. Lawrence
24/05 – 4.5 miles – Wick St. Lawrence
25/05 – 27 miles – South Downs Way: Day 1
26/05 – 17.5 miles – South Downs Way: Day 2
27/05 – 18.5 miles – South Downs Way: Day 3
28/05 – 19.5 miles – South Downs Way: Day 4
29/05 – 21.5 miles – South Downs Way: Day 5
30/05 – 11.25 miles – South Downs Way: Day 6

Total for May 2019 = 199.5 miles

It all started with a Ramblers weekend away in Snowdonia; a trip that seems so long ago, now and I’m very aware that I’ve yet to write about it all. A camping trip in which we saw snow and almost-freezing ground temperatures on the very first night. Numerous mountains were climbed and a very good time was had by all.

In preparing for the South Downs Way trek, I was able to cram a few evening walks in to my weekdays. Admittedly, I would’ve liked to have done more of them, as I continue to settle in to my new home on the edge of a town. But I tackled the trail without too much discomfort and felt myself growing stronger and fitter while my rucksack became slightly lighter each day!

Following a long-distance footpath, walking each day and camping at night… It’s an experience I would recommend to any walker. Carrying your own kit is not easy and by no means the only way to go.

Another interest in with my local walks has been to explore the footpath and rights of way network, reporting any incidents or obstructions encountered along the way…

Without travelling too far, I’ve stumbled upon several already!

I also managed to attend a couple of group walks; both of which were in areas I’d not explored alone.

With thoughts of walking another trail in 2019, I do currently have a week off work to spare in September… The Two Moors Way (not a National Trail) has been on my mind and, more recently, I’ve had thoughts about the Cleveland Way and a circuit around the unfamiliar North York Moors. On top of that, I still have ideas about completing the Cotswold Way in a series of two-day weekends, just to keep my backpacking legs in shape and to progressively practise and lighten the load on my shoulders.

I hope you’ll enjoy the up-and-coming posts I have on my South Downs Way experience and also keep an eye out for the videos on my YouTube channel.

Current total for 2019 = 485.25 miles

Come the end of May 2018, I’d walked ‘only’ eighty miles in that month and my running tally was at 322.75 miles.

Thanks for reading.