Pete's Walks

[Pete Collins]

I think it's a great idea of Stu's to add a 'member websites' forum to WAB. I thought I'd add some info about my web site here, although I know a lot of WABbers have visited it already.

My site is called Pete's Walks. Unsurprisingly, it's all about my walks in the British countryside, mainly in Beds., Bucks., Herts., and Oxfordshire. The walks are mainly on long-distance paths (such as the Chiltern Way, Hertfordshire Way and Greensand Ridge Walk), plus some further walks in the Chiltern Hills and a few in the Lake District. There are journals or diaries describing the walks, along with photos and maps. I also have a selection of photos of birds, butterflies and wildflowers (not a patch on the photos here on WAB, unfortunately!).

I really enjoy going for long walks. Apart from the fresh air and exercise, it brings me into contact with various aspects of nature that I'm gradually learning about. That's why I first joined WAB, to get help identifying the wildflowers and other things that I see on my walks.

[Hedge Witch]

Love the website, Pete. Great shots and wonderful descriptions. But how you cover 10 miles in 3 hours and still take photos is beyond me. I imagine you take very long strides

Keep up the good work

[Kayleigh]

I have subscribed to this page to look later..I have seen a few of your walks and some of the wildlife pics before and really enjoyed them..

[ChrisJB]

Yes, I like the website too, especially as it seems to lean more towards long distance stuff, my first walking love. These days, I seem to do more peak-bagging type stuff, but the long distance paths will always be extra-special. As a kid my ambition was always to walk the Pennine Way (it passes about three miles from where I live) and when I did so in 1990 it proved to be the happiest 16 days of my life. I have to disagree with you Pete on a Pennine Way - Coast to Coast comparison. I did the C to C the year before in 1989 and as much as I enjoyed it, the Pennine Way is my number one!

Regards, Chris

[John]

Hi Pete

I hold my hands up to say guilty to not visiting your site before. Possibly because I have never attempted those long walks that you do.

I have given your site a look now and I do envy your stamina. Some excellent walks in the most stunning areas of our beautiful countryside and it has certainly given me food for thought for when I retire in the not too distant future.

My site is geared to a whole host of things, mainly birdwatching, but it covers Moths, Dragonflies, Butterfly's, insects, animals, reptiles the odd landscape, scenery, sunrise, sunsets and even flowers plus a lot of trip reports, complete with photos from those trips, mainly from abroad.

It also gives the different style of photos taken with both Digiscoping and DSLR photography.

Unfortunately I haven't been out so much of late so new photos are in short supply from me but next year I have a 16 day trip to Morocco and a three week trip to South Africa so hopefully my site will benefit from loads of new photos.

John

[Pete Collins]

Thank you all for your kind comments!

Hedge Witch, the number of photos I take has increased enormously (over 250 on a recent walk!), and my mph has correspondingly decreased! But I don't regret the time spent taking photos - my ever-increasing appreciation of the nature around me, especially wildflowers, has added so much to the enjoyment of my walks. As well as birds, butterflies and wildflowers, I've also photographed a couple of fungi recently.

Kayleigh, I liked the photos you posted recently of the area where you live, it looked nice walking country and reminded me of places I've walked. Where you live is just a little too far away for me to go walking there, though I have done a little bit of walking in Northants (near Salcey Forest).

ChrisJB, I possibly preferred the Coast-to-Coast simply because I did it in the same number of days as I did the Pennine Way, and as it's 70 miles or so shorter it was much less of a physical challenge. The scenery I thought was a little bit more varied than the Pennine Way - but then the Pennine Way doesn't have any section as boring as the bit of the C-to-C east of Catterick. If I did one of them again, I might actually prefer the Pennine Way now, as it is much less popular with walkers than the C-to-C. I did 'A Dales Walk' a few years ago, where the last three days more or less follows the C-to-C from Kirkby Stephen to Richmond - we were hardly ever out of sight of C-to-C waklkers, whereas the first three days we hadn't seen any other walkers.

John, I looked at your web site some time ago - very impressed with your photography (and your knowledge!). But then I expected that, because of your contributions on WAB! I'm sure you'll get some excellent shots on your trips abroad next year.

[jennyb]

Pete,

I think your web site is a mine of information for people interested in walking. You have certainly walked through some very beautiful scenery! But, it is also a great diary of all the walking you have done.

Jenny

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by jennyb

Pete,

I think your web site is a mine of information for people interested in walking. You have certainly walked through some very beautiful scenery! But, it is also a great diary of all the walking you have done.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny! I do enjoy reading through the entries myself now and again, reminding myself of some great days out in the country and of the interesting places I've walked through.

[ron1863]

Hi Pete, just browsed your site - again, very informative with nice photographs. Pity about the back though I know what it's like. The West Highland Way wouldn't present any problem though, there are a couple of companies who charge a small fee and transport backpacks etc. to whatever stopping off stage you want, it lets you walk it luggage free. I did it once with a rucksack and the second time, through back trouble, used one of the companies for transporting my gear - brilliant as you can just walk with the camera.

[Ollie]

Hi Pete, just spent a while browsing your site and although I'm not generally into landscape photography you have some stunning scenes on your site and the other potography, birds etc are most certainly worth a look.

A very nice informative site that I enjoyed looking at
Roger