Author: Olly Parry-Jones

I live in Weston-super-Mare, close to the Mendip Hills in Somerset and I enjoy time spent outdoors, whether that's walking, camping or backpacking. My day job involved making furniture from recycled wood (I'm a furniture maker and carpenter by trade). I have two blogs: Olly Writes (woodworking, DIY, baking) Walks With Olly (walking, camping and kit) You can also find me on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. My second YouTube channel is titled 'Walks with Olly'.

Walking in Lockdown

It’s been over a week now since the government ordered us in to this ‘Lockdown’ situation – although, I’ve not sure whether they’re officially using that term. Their message is simple: stay inside, only go out when it’s necessary and do this to minimise the inevitable strain on the NHS, when it comes to treating people with this COVID-19/Coronavirus that has plagued the entire planet.

They also recognise the importance of keeping active and maintaining a regular form of exercise. There’s been a common lack of understanding and lack of clarity from the government on some of these restrictions.

(This is NOT an April Fool’s post.)

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North Nibley and Stinchcombe Hill

Monday 23rd March 2020

This walk finished only a handful of hours before the state of ‘Lockdown’ was thrust upon the UK (even if the government aren’t naming it as such). At the time, it was debatable whether I should be driving forty-five minutes from home to go for a walk; now, it’s clear that I shouldn’t.

This will almost certainly be the last decent walk I’ll have done for many weeks. It was also a chance to discover a few miles of the Cotswold Way that I hadn’t seen before.

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Llanthony Loop #2: A Winter Wander

Sunday 10th November 2019

Here we are now, officially in a ‘Lockdown’ situation in the UK. While I have this time on my hands, I thought I pay a bit more attention to my blog and write about one of my most memorable walks from 2019, which took place towards the end of the year.

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Camping at Brook Farm

June 2018. I had a week booked off work and a personal allowance to walk The Ridgeway National Trail in only five of those days.

…Long story short: I came home, injured, on the morning of day two. With a lot of emotion and feeling going on, I didn’t want to waste my remaining week of freedom and ‘failure’ before returning to work.

I decided to go camping for a few days and, for a change, I’d head south in to Somerset and Brook Farm Campsite near Long Sutton.

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