Zoë Bicât and Falco the mule set off yesterday to walk from Oxford to Loch Lomond, and we’re excited that they will be using Slow Ways where possible. Might you be able to help? If you live along their route and have time for a walk, perhaps you could walk one of their Slow Ways and report back whether it is mule-accessible.
Who are they?
Zoë is a woman of many skills: an injury rehabilitation therapy, teacher of Tai Chi Qigong, writer, editor, and nature-tracking walk leader for children. She writes songs and poems too, and is no doubt bringing all of these skills to this huge journey, several years in the planning. Falco is a more recent addition – they’ve been getting to know each other since 2019.
Photo by Ben Darlington
Why are they walking?
Zoë and Falco are walking from Zoe’s home to the hometown of Polly Higgins QC, the woman who created the Stop Ecocide campaign.
Polly’s vision was an amendment to the Rome Statute to include ecocide (killing the environment) alongside the four core international crimes, including war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. If it passed, this law would protect ecosystems anywhere in the world from large-scale damage or destruction. It would be a steer for business, industry and government funding away from what destroys the living world, and towards what restores and protects it.
The rules of our world are laws, and they can be changed. Laws can restrict or they can enable. What matters is what they serve. Many of the laws in our world serve property – they are based on ownership. But imagine a law that has a higher moral authority… a law that puts people and planet first. Imagine a law that starts from first do no harm, that stops this dangerous game and takes us to a place of safety…
Polly Higgins, 2015
The campaign is working with a growing global network of lawyers, diplomats, and across all sectors of civil society, towards makingecocide an international crime.
Zoë and Falco are raising funds and awareness for the Stop Ecocide campaign, giving talks at schools, and inviting people to be involved in creative and practical ways.
Photo by Ben Darlington
Where are they walking?
The walk goes from Oxford, Zoë’s hometown, to Loch Lomond where Polly Higgins QC grew up. They are planning to make use of the Pennine Bridleway for the middle section of the walk, and the Scotland section has already been checked. This still leaves long stretches on either side that are uncertain. They need your help in checking them out in advance!
How can I help with their route?
Have a look at the waylists below. If you are nearby and have time for a walk, you could try one of these routes, paying particular attention to these three factors:
Are there any locked gates or stiles?
Are there narrow passages (less than 1.50m wide. Zoë says that it’s ok if the narrowness is brief, eg getting through an opening, but not if it’s any further than a few metres)
Does the route pass any schools or colleges (within 5 miles)
Once you have walked the route, please review it as usual but mention in your review that it is or is not mule-accessible. Zoë and her route-co-ordinating helpers will be able to see what you have written. You may want to do a full survey of the route – a guide to surveying is here.
You can also get in touch with Zoë via her website, or on social media – she is on Twitter here, Facebook here, and Instagram here. If you are checking a route you could let her know via those too.
The southern route that needs checking, up to the start of the Pennine Bridleway
If you are too far from their route, but intrigued by the project, there are other ways to get involved too. Check out Zoë’s website to find out how to donate, do your own walk to raise funds for ecocide law, or contribute to her collaborative textile artwork.
Good luck Zoë and Falco! We hope the road rises to meet you, stile-free and mule-width at all times.
Leeds-based visual artist and photographer Lydia Chouler-Tissier walked a route and produced creative work in response to her journey
“I chose a walk through an area of Leeds I wasn’t familiar with. I was able to pass through Leeds unnoticed on a quiet, bright Sunday morning. I wanted to look for new spaces and follow a path that took me from the city to the countryside.
Even though I’ve driven out into the countryside around Leeds countless times, I was surprised at how quickly I reached the green fields on foot, they had felt much further away.
Route:LeeBar (nine miles) From: Leeds To: Barwick in Elmet Date: 27th March 2022 Walked by: Lydia Chouler–Tissier
On foot, the border between the urban and rural settings felt less sharp and the countryside felt more real for it.
I didn’t give myself too much of an agenda before I set off to Barwick in Elmet. I documented my walk with my camera, drawn to the colours on buildings and the cherry blossom that seemed to be everywhere. I noted down thoughts and descriptions of my surroundings, as I love returning back to information like this after the date written. Here is one I wrote at
9.05am Stopped at a roundabout The birds are the main sounds that fill the air I’ve just entered a new-build estate. The air smells warm but quite chilly. I’m at a good temperature with layers. A woman’s heels clip-clop into my sounds before leaving again Cars move around me. Two coming from opposite ends Tension I’m alone again Birds calling to each other Silence.
This walk fitted in nicely with my current thinking and art practice. It was the spark I needed to set myself off on a new way of working, layering up ink and wax pastels, taking myself and paper on a journey.
Creating the video came from the idea of following the map to my destination, showing the journey of the walk and the paper.
Creating this painting gave me space and time to think, much like the walk did. This walk was a lovely start to the day and will be the first of many more around my city and beyond!”
Photographs Lydia took on her early morning Slow Ways walk from Leeds to Barwick in Elmet
Lydia Chouler – Tissier
Lydia is a painter, visual artist and photographer with a love for performance and process of piece, connected to the space and place in nature and seeking time to paint and tell stories.
Secondary geography teacher? Thank you for finding this page. We’d love for you to be part of Slow Ways!
Slow Ways is a giant citizen geography project to create a national network of walking routes that connect all of Great Britain’s towns and cities, thousands of villages and every national park.
While we do already have a footpath network, Slow Ways is about people sharing trusted recommendations of the best ways to get from one place to another. By collaborating, we can make it easier for people to imagine, plan, enjoy and share walking journeys.
Why create Slow Ways?
Ultimately, we are doing this because we want to inspire and support more people to walk and wheel more often, further and for more purposes. This will have multiple benefits for individuals and communities alike.
You can see how we’re doing that both on this website and also on this giant map that we are crowdfunding to print. Schools can request free copies of the map, so do click through and scroll down to register for that!
Shetland and Orkney can be cut out and placed in their correct geographical position
As a geographer and a teacher, you are in a great position to help make Slow Ways a success.
On this page you’ll find lots of ways you can get involved with Slow Ways both personally and professionally, that have been developed in collaboration with geography teachers Alan Parkinson, Claire Kyndt and Kate Stockings. We’d love to see anything you do with pupils and students, so do contact us ([email protected])!
Get involved personally
Sign up – Sign up for an account. That way you’ll be able to keep track of routes you’ve walked, share route reviews and create collections of routes called waylists.
Walk and review a route – There are over 8,000 Slow Ways routes that need walking and reviewing. Some are short and urban. Others are more remote and challenging. Whatever your preference, you can contribute to Slow Ways by simply walking and reviewing a route. Choose a route, and then:
Walk your local web – Challenge yourself to explore a local area by walking its Slow Ways web, like this one for Bristol.
Connect with us on social media – We’d love to share any Slow Ways journeys you go on. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Go on an adventure – Use our Journey Planner to plan an adventure. Check out this journey, designed using the journey planner, that Slow Ways volunteer David Sanderson is completing between Brighton and New Brighton. David’s been completing this journey over many months. Where might you go?
Get involved as a team
Hold a walking departmental meeting – Walk a Slow Way as part of a department meeting, training or team-building day. You could use it to get to know the geography of your local area better while having creative conversations.
Meet halfway – Organise to meet a geography department from a school at the other end of a Slow Ways route. Go for a walk and meet halfway. Explore ideas for collaboration.
Teaching with Slow Ways
Slow Ways is an idea, network, initiative and a website. You can teach about Slow Ways as a concept and case study, or physically use the routes for learning outdoors.
It’s important to note a couple of things. Firstly, not all Slow Ways routes will be appropriate for walking. Many are yet to be checked and reviewed, so they may not be safe to walk. Some are too long or will be too challenging. Where you can’t use whole Slow Ways routes in your teaching, you could use parts of routes or other paths.
Secondly, the Slow Ways website can be used by anyone, but to sign up for an account students must be aged 13 or older. If they are at least 13 but under 16 years of age, a parent or other adult authorised by a parent may create an account for them to use.
Here are some ideas for using Slow Ways with students.
Get a free giant Slow Ways map of Great Britain – Register to get a massive map of Great Britain’s Slow Ways walking network. It’s a brilliant learning resource, perfect for planning journeys, and it looks great on a wall too. The map is the size of two OS Explorer map sheets. Find out more and register here.
Slow Ways as a case study – Teaching about Great Britain’s road, rail or other networks? Why not use Slow Ways too? You can read about the methodology for how the network was designed here. You’ll also find some videos about Slow Ways on YouTube.
Plan a multi-day hike – Use the Slow Ways website to design a multi-day hike between two places in the country. Where would you go? Why? What would you need to take with you?
Capture a route in nine photos – Walk a route or path and record what it’s like in just nine photos. How are your photos different from other people’s?
One path, same places, two stories – Write a story about the same path, but from the perspective of two different users. How can the same place be experienced in different ways?
Design a wayfinding sign – People are used to roads having signs that make it easy for car drivers to find their way around. Footpaths do not have the same quality of signage. Design a signage system that could help people find their way.
Do a cost benefit analysis – Weigh-up the costs and benefits of walking between two places compared to other forms of transport.
Who could wheel the furthest? – Pick a place on a map. How far could you travel by wheelchair on paths before being blocked by some kind of a barrier? Draw a map that shows where you could get to.
Suggest a new path – Where would a new path make walking safer, more accessible or more direct? Research a good location and then suggest it to a relevant decision-maker.
Google Maps vs Slow Ways – Google uses algorithms. Slow Ways is based on recommendations from people. Investigate which is better at designing routes.
Extreme routes – GIS analysis – Download 10 different Slow Ways routes. Use GIS to analyse and order them according to which are furthest, steepest, greenest, most direct and other variables.
Design a network – Inspired by Slow Ways, design your own walking network that follows its own methodology. It could be a network for people with particular interests or needs, a network for hedgehogs, or something else.
Design map symbols – Create a set of symbols for things that might be found on a Slow Ways route. These could include warnings, public toilets or things to discover.
Create your own outdoors code – Research the Countryside Code in England and Wales and Right to Roam in Scotland. Which do you prefer and why? Inspired by these, design your own outdoors code.
Use Slow Ways for an NEA investigation – Challenge students to use Slow Ways as transects for their investigation. They could explore how an area changes across a route, compare two different areas with two different routes or reveal the unique features of a chosen Slow Way.
Extra-curricular Slow Ways
Duke of Edinburgh Award – Encourage students to use Slow Ways as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. They could share route reviews, volunteer to care for a route or walk Slow Ways for their expedition.
John Muir Award – The John Muir Award encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. Students could use a Slow Way as a site to discover, explore, conserve and share a wild place.
Adopt a Slow Way – As a department or school, ‘adopt’ a Slow Way. Explore it, learn about it, help to look after it by keeping it clean, meet people on it, connect with a school at the other end of it. Adopt a Slow Way is not a formal programme, but something you could play with and make your own. We’d love to hear what you do!
Other ideas
Have you got other ideas to share? Please email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear about them and potentially add them to this page.
Thank you very much to Kate, Alan and Claire for helping to put these ideas together.
Kate Stockings is Head of Geography at Hampstead School and one of the National Park City Rangers for the London National Park City. Encouraging outreach and extra-curricular activities is an element of her role that she loves – particularly when they involve students spending time outdoors!
Alan Parkinson is Head of Geography at King’s Ely Junior and the current President of the Geographical Association. He has written many books and blogs and loves immersing himself in the subject through reading voraciously and sharing ideas.
Claire Kyndt is a Teacher of Geography at King’s Ely and a Field Tutor for Rayburn Tours. She has a particular interest in place geographies and the amazing narratives that the great outdoors has to offer.
How to tell another creature’s story? Here are our ethical wranglings as we tried to work out how to represent a whole other view of Slow Ways routes
As part of our exciting new Dogs using Slow Ways project, in collaboration with talented wildlife photographer Jasmine Pasha, we followed a number of dogs, capturing the possibilities the routes may hold for them – to explore, discover, make connections with other dogs and to get from A to B. To find out the inspiration behind the project, read on.
The story behind the project
I was out walking my first Slow Way when I became acutely aware of the presence of dogs. I was captivated by their behaviours – the way they interacted with each other, with the route and the different terrain it covered. More and more, I felt as though the dogs were embarking on their very own Slow Ways journeys independent of their ‘owners’.
I saw an Irish Water Spaniel running along the foreshore of the sea and a Beagle sniffing around the long grass, and a Golden Retriever looking out onto the setting sun
On my walk, I saw an Irish Water Spaniel running along the foreshore of the sea and a Beagle sniffing around the long grass, and a Golden Retriever looking out onto the setting sun. I wondered what they made of the walk – what they enjoyed and what they didn’t enjoy about it. I loved the idea of decentring human-beings and reimagining Slow Way paths from a canine perspective.
I thought back to Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs. The dogs had such unique personalities, just like dogs I’d gotten to know and love – a rather quiet Rhodesian Ridgeback named Kumar and a playful energetic Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Gabby. I lived with the two dogs for a month in Berowra, on the outskirts of Sydney, and in my short time there I came to know them as friends. I loved exploring the bushland with them. My highlight of our walks was often watching them interact with the routes and other living creatures – from gum trees to yellow-crested cockatoos.
Wouldn’t it be interesting, I thought while on my Slow Way journey, to explore the ways in which dogs use the routes? I thought it over for some time. Photography would be a lovely way to capture thier journeys. Initially, I thought it might be a nice idea to match the photos with with a series of micro-reviews from the perspective of a dog as told by his or her ‘owner’.
Who is in charge?
(I’m beginning to think many of our pets own us more than we do them. That definitely seems to be the case with our family cat, Meow. “We are here solely to serve you, Meow!” my dad often exclaims, in equal measure smitten and annoyed in response to Meow’s incessant meows when he wants to be let out to the garden or offered snacks!)
The idea of writing reviews from their perspective would involve putting words in a dog’s mouth, which was rightly a contentious one (both with members of the Slow Ways team and with my mum). “Who’s to say what he’s thinking or feeling?”
I agreed.
We were on my local patch today, and I’ve got to say – there’s no place like home! I particularly enjoyed it when we passed through a vast open field – plenty of room to stretch my legs. Along the river, I caught the scent of something that I just could not tear myself away from, and in doing so, I almost fell into the river! That was close… I also had a good sniff around on the other side of the river, but quickly came bounding back as it was almost time for supper!
Cookie’s review written by Jasmine after having followed her on her Slow Ways journey. These reviews were to sit alongside the photographs before we decided to go in a different direction
Rewind to two months prior when I called up Jasmine Pasha about my idea. To my relief, she was equally fascinated by dogs using Slow Ways and enjoyed getting to know dogs. She also loved the idea of creating playful canine reviews through watching a dog on a journey and getting to know them a bit more through developing connections with individual owners. Jasmine spent the next month arranging and carrying out photoshoots with dogs and interviews with dog owners. She captured characterful dogs on their Slow Ways journeys. These wonderful photographs tell a story in and of themselves – they offer us a glimpse into their experience as well as offer dog-walkers an array of exciting and varied routes. Look out for profiles on dogs of Slow Ways – there’s one up already, of Cookie – as well as an exciting interview with Jasmine about her experiences working on the project.
Do you have a dog that uses Slow Ways? Share their journeys on our socials using the #DogsUsingSlowWays @slowwaysUK
Immerse your senses in this beautiful wandering wildlife pilgrimage on the Llŷn Peninsula with award-winning wildlife photographer, naturalist and researcher Ben Porter
Welcome into this immersive StoryMap of the Abersoch to Nefyn route, Nefabe One, on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. Enjoy being guided through the early-morning landscape by a very experienced naturalist, and see whether it makes a difference to your own next walk.
Scroll through the story-within-a-story below, and unmute your computer when prompted, or view on StoryMaps here!
Ben Porter
Ben Porter is an award-winning wildlife photographer, naturalist and researcher from the windswept island of Ynys Enlli in North Wales. His mission is to reveal the beauty of nature and ignite a desire to protect and restore our collective home: Planet Earth.
Since graduating with a degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Exeter in 2018, Ben has spent his time working on projects ranging from landscape restoration in Wales, to seabird research work on far-flung islands, wildlife surveying, freelance photography and guiding. He is particularly passionate about science communication and engaging people with the wonders of the natural world.
In the run-up to our pilot National Slow Ways Swarm, Saira spent some time in West Yorkshire, walking Slow Ways and getting to know amazing local people and places in the process
On my first day, while photographing a sign outside the African Caribbean Achievement Project in a diverse, lively part of Bradford, a lady came out and invited me into the centre, where she introduced me to other staff and gave me a tour of the beautiful Victorian building.
Makeeda then took me to the Furniture Hacks upcycling workshop and told me about all of the amazing services the centre runs, from healing circles and healthy cooking projects to mentoring for young people.
I told her about Slow Ways and invited her and the staff members to our Leeds get-together. I said goodbye to everyone, and continued to walk through central Bradford towards the station in the golden late afternoon light.
Shortly after arriving at the station, I got the train to Shipley where I would start my first Yorkshire Slow Ways walk, Shibra one, Shipley to Bradford.
The first part of the walk was really varied; I followed a waterway and quiet pathways that ran parallel to the main road. Soon however the sky darkened and it began to rain. I couldn’t find the path on the route that led from the end of a hilly road towards a countryside opening. I decided instead to reroute my journey and follow an A-road the rest of the way.
On the way, I came by a mosque where I met a trustee named Mohammed. He told me it was the first purpose-built mosque in the North and that it was connected to a youth club where they ran activities. He gave me a tour of the newly refurbished space.
Soon enough I was back where I began. Although I wasn’t successful in following the route, I was glad I was able to find another way and make some new connections! I also defo learnt my lesson (don’t start a walk at sunset without doing some research!)
The next morning, I set out to walk from Brighouse to Bradford, Bribra one. Although the weather was tumultuous – a mix of snow, rain, hailstones and sunshine – the walk itself was really enjoyable and varied. Thank you to volunteer and super-walker @DavSanderson for designing such a brilliant route! (See more about David here.)
From industrial estates in South Bradford (comprising factories, warehouses and an aerospace HQ that emitted the most otherworldly sounds), and colourful underpasses, to the countryside and the lovely village of Wyke – the route was filled with surprises. The highlights included makeshift stiles, a tiny rivulet path and a family of goats.
Somewhere along the way, I popped into a textile shop where I met a Pakistani woman named Nadia who worked there. We spent ages talking in broken Urdu. She told me she walks around her neighbourhood every day with her neighbour and keeps herself busy in the shop. She was charismatic and warm. She moved to the UK three years ago. She didn’t have anyone she knew in Yorkshire apart from her neighbour, and her husband who worked long hours. She found a job in a local textile shop to keep busy, and loves to talk to make new friends.
Although there were some challenges (a bit of missing river path, LOTS of mud, crazy weather and slight rerouting to go around private land) it’s a brilliant Slow Way that takes you from a frentic vibrant Bradford into Brighouse through serene countryside and unlikely pathways.
The next day before heading back to London, I spontaneously took a trip to Hebden Bridge, famous as one of the most alternative areas of the UK. I wandered by the canal and high street, and met some local lovely people. It was filled with colour and magic.
I remembered Makeeda’s words from my first day, “People in the North are known for being warm and friendly!” I couldn’t agree more! West Yorkshire is filled with wonder and heart.
Share your #SlowWays journeys! Tag us in your posts @slowwaysuk
We were joined by the BBC’s Countryfile for a wet and wondrous walk from Warwick to Leamington Spa! Read on for a quick-start guide to joining Slow Ways (rain optional!)
Despite the relentless weather, Warwick-Leamington Spa was a five-star route. The group of dedicated route-reviewers – Mary, Lynn, Kelly, Ingrina and David, plus the Countryfile film crew – reviewed the route after we’d all got home and dry, and unanimously considered it worthy. See the episode here; we’re 10 minutes in.
By the end of the day the route was verified, which means that it had three positive reviews (and more!), and a snail badge of approval. It is now considered a trustworthy part of the Slow Ways network. A satisfying result!
Trustworthy, and beautiful too. The route took us through the picturesque streets of Warwick town, offered a hazy glimpse of the castle turrets from prim parkland filled with a myriad of old trees, and along the beautiful river Avon. Despite the pouring rain, the group were taking photographs, vlogging, sketching and surveying along the way.
After the film crew left us we continued on to Leamington Spa, passing by an aqueduct, a field of sheep, an international bowls match, and a whole host of other interesting sights and sounds. Our day together was filled with laughter and joy, connection and discovery.
The Slow Ways route from Warwick to Leamington Spa, Warroy one, freshly verified and a trustworthy strand of the national network
People all over the UK are walking an average of 137km of Slow Ways every day (!), peer reviewing, testing, amending and bringing valuable local knowledge to the routes. Together these many hundreds of volunteers are well on the way to having created a fully verified national walking network connecting all the towns, cities and national parks in Great Britain.
Sound like your sort of thing? Read on below to find out how you can get involved.
Through the series of videos below, Cristie will talk you through the process of signing up to the site, choosing and downloading a route, and leaving your first review (they really needn’t be long!).
Step 1: Sign up to Slow Ways! It’s free and easy
Having an account allows you to create waylists (route collections for future plans), leave reviews and track the numbers of routes you’ve walked!
Sign up here, or watch the video for help with signing up.
Step 2: Find and download the route
Find a route, download the GPX file and open it on a navigation app like OS Maps, Garmin Basecamp (laptop app), Viking (laptop app), Outdoor Active (mobile app) or Locus map (Android only). You can also go old-school and either print the map via Inkatlas or simply draw it onto an Ordnance Survey map.
You can use the Slow Ways website to search for a route in your local area or futher afield. If you’re just getting started, you can try walking a route that’s already been reviewed so that you know what to expect! Feeling bold? Be the first to pioneer a route that has no reviews.
Step 3: Walk the route!
Now for the fun bit – plan and walk a route! During your journey you can take some photos and make some notes. You can add these to your review later on.
You don’t have to walk the whole route in one day – for most routes there are points every 5km where you can jump off. You can easily break a route into a number of sections and then post a review when you’ve completed all of them.
Step 4: Leave a review!
It’s easy to leave a review. Simply find the route you walked, scroll down the page and click ‘review this route’. You can then give it a star rating and add a review.
It can be as long or short as you like! Is it a viable route? Did you enjoy it? Did you face any challenges? What was the weather like? Did you have any interesting encounters or discover any gems along the way? Share them with the next walker!
If you find that a route isn’t possible to walk, you can upload a new gpx file via the ‘Suggest a Better Route’ function or write about the issue in your review so that others know how to get around it.
Step 5: Create a waylist of your dream routes and journeys and plan them using Slow Ways! You can make your waylist public to share it with others too
Part of the fun of using Slow Ways is planning purposeful adventures. You can do this by creating waylists that feature some of your dream routes. Recently I have created a number of waylists which I have given names like Sea Dreamer, Edgelands, Multicultural Magic, Pastoral Visions, and my personal favourite ‘You Will Get Lost!’
Each of my waylists consists of routes in different parts of Great Britain, but yours could be a holiday plan, a hit-list of routes in your local area, or a gauntlet to share with a friend. Click the button below for more in-depth how to guides from Cristie to help you on your Slow Ways journey.
How far can we walk in a weekend? Join the second swarm and find out! / Pa mor bell y gallwn ni gerdded mewn un penwythnos? Cerddwch yn ystod ein Penwythnos Prysur i gael gwybod!
Our national #SlowWays swarm has started – Keep track of our collective progress here!
We would love for you to get involved in our next National Slow Ways Swarm weekend, taking place on the 27-29 May, 2022. On your own or in a group, long routes or short routes, urban or rural: add your walk(s) to the collective total and be part of the buzz as we tick off as many as we can! There will be a special get-together in central Cardiff on Saturday 28th May to celebrate.
On Ellbri, between Elland and Brighouse, West Yorkshire, by Jane Taylor / Ar Ellbri rhwng Elland a Brighouse, Gorllewin Swydd Gaerefrog, gan Jane Taylor
Swarms really work!
Over one weekend in March we invited people from across Great Britain to walk and review as many Slow Ways walking routes as possible in a single weekend as part of our pilot swarm. See some of the swarm stories here.
From Bradford to Brighton, Aberystwyth to Alnwick, people undertook exciting Slow Ways journeys alone, with friends, or in groups. Along the way new connections were made, areas discovered, and pathways traversed. The swarm was a big success!
Over the weekend, we collectively walked 1500 miles – covering 233 routes. Of those, 33 routes gained their third positive review, which meant they became verified. Over 50 per cent of the routes on our network have now been reviewed, which is fantastic – but we still have a way to go!
Black Brook, between Ripponden and Elland, West Yorkshire, on Ripell Slow Way, by Jane Taylor / Black Brook, rhwng Ripponden ac Elland, Gorllewin Swydd Gaerefrog, gan Jane Taylor
How do we get involved?
On your own or as a group you could:
walk a single Slow Way to a neighbouring town
walk as many routes as you can over the weekend
walk to a distant place by combining multiple routes
be a pioneer: If you are looking for inspiration on which Slow Ways to walk, it would be useful to look at routes which haven’t been reviewed yet. Filling some of those gaps will really connect up the network nationally. Pioneering a route that has not been walked before will give people who follow in your footsteps more confidence to try the route too.
go snail bagging: Bagging a snail means being the person to award a route its fully verified status, by giving it its third positive review. You can help to fully verify routes and ‘bag snails’ on your own or as part of a group – each person’s review counts.
The easiest routes are short 5km urban walks. The most challenging are over 40km and go through remote and rugged terrain. The average Slow Ways route is about 15km and will connect places with public transport.
Many of the Slow Ways routes are untested and some may even be dangerous. It’s really important that you only walk routes that are within your experience. You will be entirely responsible for your own happiness and safety.
If that’s fine with you, we’d love to have your help with this pilot swarm. Simply sign-up below.
1. Choose a Slow Ways route: Taking part on your own or in a group, this map will help you to target your efforts.
2. Walk it: Walk the route on your own or in a group.
3. Review it: Make sure you share a review so that we know you’ve completed the walk!
We’ll be added a totaliser to our homepage so that we can see our collective achievements over the weekend.
We want to inspire lots more people to contribute to Slow Ways
Spread the word: Are you on social media? If so, please help to spread the word about what you are doing using the hashtag #SlowWays. We are @SlowWaysUK on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
On Wobwob (Woburn to Woburn Sands, Bucks), by Andrew Mackay / Ar Wobwob, Sir Bwcingham, gan Andrew Mackay
Slow Ways so far
Slow Ways is a grassroots initiative to create a national network of walking routes. The routes connect all of Great Britain’s towns and cities, making it easier for people to imagine, plan and enjoy walking and wheeling journeys between places.
So far 8,000 walking routes have been suggested by volunteers. Our current challenge is to check them all – that’s 120,000km of routes! It’s a big challenge, but totally doable with enough people.
Byddem wrth ein bodd pe baech yn cymryd rhan ym Mhenwythnos Prysur Cenedlaethol nesaf Slow Ways rhwng 27 a 29 Mai 2022. P’un a fyddwch yn cerdded ar eich pen eich hun neu mewn grŵp, ar hyd llwybrau hir neu lwybrau byr, mewn ardal drefol neu allan yn y wlad: cofiwch ychwanegu eich taith/teithiau at ein cyfanswm cyffredinol er mwyn bod yn rhan o’r cyffro wrth i ni gerdded cymaint ag sy’n bosibl o lwybrau! Bydd yna gyfle arbennig i ddod ynghyd yng nghanol Caerdydd ddydd Sadwrn 28 Mai i ddathlu.
Mae Penwythnosau Prysur wir yn gweithio!
Yn ystod un penwythnos ym mis Mawrth, gwnaethom wahodd pobl o bob cwr o Brydain i gerdded ac adolygu cymaint ag sy’n bosibl o lwybrau Slow Ways mewn un penwythnos, yn rhan o’n Penwythnos Prysur peilot. Mae rhai o straeon y Penwythnos Prysur i’w gweld yma.
O Bradford i Brighton ac o Aberystwyth i Alnwick, aeth pobl ati i gerdded llwybrau Slow Ways ar eu pen eu hunain, gyda ffrindiau neu mewn grwpiau. Ar y ffordd cafodd cysylltiadau newydd eu creu, cafodd ardaloedd newydd eu darganfod a chafodd llwybrau newydd eu troedio. Roedd y Penwythnos Prysur yn llwyddiant mawr!
Rhwng Coulsdon a Brixton yn Llundain / Between Coulsdon and Brixton, London, by Michael Schiller
Gyda’n gilydd dros y penwythnos, gwnaethom gerdded 1500 o filltiroedd ar hyd 233 o wahanol lwybrau. Cafodd 33 o’r llwybrau hynny eu trydydd adolygiad cadarnhaol, a oedd yn golygu wedyn eu bod wedi’u dilysu. Erbyn hyn, mae dros 50 y cant o lwybrau ein rhwydwaith wedi cael eu hadolygu, sy’n wych o beth – ond mae gennym ffordd bell i fynd!
Sut mae cymryd rhan?
Ar eich pen eich hun neu mewn grŵp, gallech:
gerddedun o lwybrau Slow Ways i dref gyfagos
cerddedcymaint o lwybrau ag y gallwch dros y penwythnos
cerdded i le pell i ffwrdd drwy gyfuno sawl llwybr â’i gilydd
arwain y ffordd: Os ydych yn chwilio am ysbrydoliaeth ynglŷn â pha un o lwybrau Slow Ways i’w gerdded, byddai’n ddefnyddiol ystyried llwybrau sydd heb eu hadolygu eto. Bydd llenwi rhai o’r bylchau yn cyfrannu at gryfhau’r rhwydwaith yn genedlaethol. Bydd cerdded llwybr nad oes neb wedi’i gerdded o’r blaen yn rhoi i’r bobl a fydd yn eich dilyn fwy o hyder i geisio cerdded y llwybr hwnnw hefyd.
casglu malwod: Byddwch yn casglu malwen os chi fydd y person a fydd yn rhoi i lwybr ei drydydd adolygiad cadarnhaol, a fydd yn golygu felly ei fod wedi’i ddilysu yn llawn. Gallwch helpu i ddilysu llwybrau’n llawn a ‘chasglu malwod’ ar eich pen eich hun neu mewn grŵp – mae adolygiad pob person yn cyfrif.
Llwybrau trefol 5 cilomedr o hyd yw’r llwybrau hawsaf. Mae’r llwybrau mwyaf heriol yn 40 cilomedr a mwy o hyd ac yn mynd drwy ardaloedd anghysbell o dir garw. Ar gyfartaledd, mae llwybrau Slow Ways yn oddeutu 15 cilomedr o hyd ac maent yn cysylltu mannau lle mae yna drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus â’i gilydd.
Littleborough i Ripponden, neu Litrip, gan Jane-Taylor / Littleborough to Ripponden, or Litrip, by Jane-Taylor
Mae llawer o lwybrau Slow Ways yn llwybrau nad oes neb wedi’u cerdded, a gallai rhai ohonynt fod yn beryglus hyd yn oed. Mae’n wirioneddol bwysig mai’r unig lwybrau y byddwch yn eu cerdded yw’r llwybrau sy’n cyd-fynd â’ch profiad. Chi’n unig sy’n gyfrifol am eich diogelwch a’ch hapusrwydd.
Byddem wrth ein bodd pe bai modd i chi ein helpu gyda’r Penwythnos Prysur peilot hwn, os ydych yn fodlon. Gallwch gofrestru isod.
Mae cymryd rhan mor hawdd â mynd am dro
I gymryd rhan, dilynwch y tri cham hyn:
1. Dewiswch un o lwybrau Slow Ways: P’un a fyddwch yn cymryd rhan ar eich pen eich hun neu mewn grŵp, bydd y map hwn yn eich helpu i sianelu eich ymdrechion.
2. Cerddwch y llwybr: Cerddwch y llwybr ar eich pen eich hun neu mewn grŵp.
3. Adolygwch y llwybr: Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn rhannu adolygiad fel ein bod yn gwybod eich bod wedi cerdded y llwybr!
Byddwn yn rhoi adnodd cyfrifo cyfanswm ar ein hafan er mwyn i ni allu gweld beth y byddwn wedi’i gyflawni gyda’n gilydd dros y penwythnos.
Rydym am ysbrydoli llawer yn rhagor o bobl i gyfrannu i Slow Ways
Rhannwch y neges: Ydych chi ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol? Os felly, helpwch ni i rannu’r neges am yr hyn rydych yn ei wneud, gan ddefnyddio’r hashnod #SlowWays. Ein dolen ar Twitter, Instagram a Facebook yw @SlowWaysUK.
Slow Ways hyd yn hyn
Menter ar lawr gwlad yw Slow Ways i greu rhwydwaith cenedlaethol o lwybrau cerdded. Mae’r llwybrau yn cysylltu pob un o drefi a dinasoedd Prydain â’i gilydd, sy’n ei gwneud yn haws i bobl ddychmygu, cynllunio a mwynhau mynd o le i le ar droed ac ar olwynion.
Mor belled, mae 8,000 o lwybrau cerdded wedi’u hawgrymu gan wirfoddolwyr. Yr her i ni ar hyn o bryd yw eu harchwilio i gyd – 120,000 cilomedr o lwybrau! Mae’n her enfawr ond yn un y mae modd ei chyflawni â digon o bobl.
Gallwch gerdded ac adolygu unrhyw bryd, ond bydd y Penwythnos Prysur yn ymgyrch amlwg, a fydd yn llawn egni a bwrlwm, a bydd yna gyfle i ni gwrdd â’n gilydd ar ôl cerdded.
Chard i Crewkerne (Chacre dau) yng Ngwlad yr Haf. Taith gerdded pum seren ym marn Helen Gough / Chard to Crewkerne (Chacre two) in Somerset. A five-star walk in Helen Gough’s opinion
O edrych ar y map cynnydd, mae’n amlwg bod angen i ni yng Nghymru fwrw ati. Mae yna rai esgusodion da. Un ohonynt yw’r ffaith bod llawer o’n llwybrau Slow Ways yn hir – mae ein haneddleoedd ymhell oddi wrth ei gilydd, a bydd yn cymryd mwy na diwrnod i fi gerdded llawer o’r llwybrau sydd yn fy rhwydwaith lleol i. Mae trafnidiaeth yn her arall – os yw llwybrau’n mynd ar draws mynyddoedd, gall fod yn anodd cyrraedd adref a gall bysiau fod yn brin, hyd yn oed rhwng trefi. Mae gennym y naill esgus ar ôl y llall!
Yn ffodus, rwy’n gwybod yn bendant y bydd 19 o lwybrau Slow Ways sy’n dilyn ei gilydd yng Nghymru yn ymddangos ar y map cynnydd cyn bo hir fel llwybrau sydd wedi’u hadolygu – a llawer ohonynt am y tro cyntaf – diolch i Tim Ryan sy’n hen gyfarwydd â cherdded pellter mawr. Llwyddodd Tim i ddatrys y broblem o ran trafnidiaeth drwy wersylla, ac mae’n aelod o’r Gymdeithas Cerddwyr Pellter Mawr ers amser, felly doedd y pellter ddim yn broblem chwaith. Nid yw llwybrau hir yn ei boeni o gwbl.
Dim (cweit) y Daith Cambria!
Fe wnes i gwrdd â Tim ar y prom yn Aberystwyth, ar ddiwedd ei wythnos o wyliau pwrpasol, ar ôl iddo fwynhau cerdded ar hyd llinell letraws i gyfeiriad y gogledd-orllewin o Gaerdydd. Nid cyd-ddigwyddiad mo’r ffaith bod y llwybr a ddilynodd Tim yn fy atgoffa o hanner deheuol Taith Cambria, sef y llwybr cerdded o’r de i’r gogledd sy’n enwog am fod yn heriol ac sy’n fwriadol yn cynnwys pob copa y mae’n dod ar eu traws. Yn ôl fy ffrindiau sydd wedi cerdded y llwybr, mae gweld y man uchaf yn y dirwedd ac anelu ato dro ar ôl tro yn anodd yn feddyliol yn ogystal ag yn gorfforol.
Yn ôl Tim, ei fwriad yn wreiddiol oedd dilyn Taith Cambria, ond newidiodd ei gynlluniau ar ôl iddo rwygo cyhyr ym mola ei goes. Roedd fersiwn Slow Ways o’r llwybr yn berffaith. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd yn her i’r gwrthwyneb, oherwydd mae Slow Ways yn osgoi’r copaon yn fwriadol ac yn rhoi blaenoriaeth i’r llwybrau mwyaf uniongyrchol rhwng trefi.
“Rydw i wedi dringo Pen y Fan droeon, felly wnes i ddim gweld eisiau’r golygfeydd. Mae cerdded llwybrau Slow Ways yn flaenoriaeth wahanol – mae’r boddhad yn deillio o adolygu’r llwybr ar gyfer y person nesaf ac ystyried y llwybr fel hynny.”
Diwrnod un allan o Gaerdydd: Caerdydd i Bontprennau i Draethen i Risca / Lluniau tirwedd gan Tim Ryan
“Roedd y diwrnod cyntaf allan o Gaerdydd yn llwybr pum seren, heb os. Cefais fy synnu – roedd y llwybr cyfan ar y ffyrdd – ond roedd ganddynt balmentydd ac roedd cerdded arnynt yn wirioneddol braf.”
Cerddodd Tim ar hyd pedwar o lwybrau Slow Ways ar y diwrnod cyntaf a phump ar yr ail ddiwrnod, ond erbyn iddo gyrraedd canol Mynyddoedd Cambria roedd angen dau ddiwrnod arno i gerdded llwybr gwych 34 cilomedr/21 milltir o hyd Trerha. Fferm yn unig oedd un o’r nodau anghysbell (term Slow Ways ar gyfer aneddle).
Beth bynnag, meddai, roedd fersiwn Slow Ways o Daith Cambria ymhell o fod yn hawdd. “Wrth groesi’r Mynyddoedd Duon, fe feddyliais i bod yn rhaid i fi ganolbwyntio o ddifri’! Roeddwn i’n gallu gweld popeth o’m cwmpas yn glir, roeddwn i’n defnyddio map a chwmpawd i ddod o hyd i’r ffordd – roedd yn nodweddiadol o amgylchedd lle mae arweinwyr mynydd yn ennill eu cymwysterau. Sylwi ar bob carreg frig, gwybod ble’n union roeddwn i bob amser; roedd yn wirioneddol anodd. Bydd yn rhaid i fi ddweud yn yr adolygiad na ddylai neb gerdded y llwybr heb fap a chwmpawd.”
Diwrnod tri, Tredegar i Abercynafon i Nant-Ddu
Mae hygyrchedd yn rhywbeth cymharol, meddai – rhaid i unrhyw lwybr fod yn “hygyrch o fewn eich gallu chi, ac mae’n bosibl bod lefel eich gallu’n golygu na allwch ddarllen map neu nad ydych yn hoffi cerdded ar ffyrdd, er enghraifft – mae’n fwy na bod yn hygyrch i gadair olwyn. Nid fi sydd i ddweud beth y gall neu beth na all rhywun ei wneud; fy ngwaith i yw bod yn onest am yr hyn y bydd rhywun yn dod ar ei draws. Byddaf yn nodi bod yna gamfeydd, neu dwmpathau o laswellt, neu beth bynnag, ac yna’n gadael i bobl benderfynu drostynt eu hunain.”
Mae’n amlwg bod Tim yn hoff iawn o fynd i archwilio llwybrau cyn i eraill fynd ati i’w cerdded. Yn ogystal ag adolygu llwybrau ar gyfer Slow Ways, mae hefyd yn treialu teithiau cerdded cymdeithasol ar gyfer y Gymdeithas Cerddwyr Pellter Mawr a’r Ramblers, ac mae gofynion pob un o’r tri yn wahanol. “Rhaid i chi ystyried cymhwysedd y bobl a fydd yn eich dilyn. Ar gyfer y teithiau cerdded cymdeithasol, mae angen i fi ddod o hyd i rywle â golygfa ac ati, lle mae modd cael cinio, ac mae’n gas gen i fynd â grwpiau ar y ffyrdd. Weithiau mae’n rhaid i fi gynnwys dolen fawr er mwyn osgoi gorfod gwneud hynny, ond does dim gwahaniaeth oherwydd dim ond mynd allan am dro y maen nhw. Mae Slow Ways yn hollol wahanol.
Diwrnod pump, Glyntawe i Llanymddyfri
“Yr ail ddiwrnod oedd waethaf – roedd y llwybr wedi’i gau mewn cymaint o fannau! O ran y tir agored rhwng y Cymoedd – bues i’n cerdded o 7am tan 5pm, ac yn aml roedd yn rhaid i fi ddringo dros ben ffensys mewn mannau lle’r oeddwn yn gwybod na ddylai fod angen i fi wneud hynny. Doedd gen i ddim amser i fynd yn ôl i chwilio am opsiynau amgen hollol newydd, felly bydd yn rhaid i fi rannu fy mhrofiad a gadael i’r person nesaf ei addasu. Roedd yn rhaid i fi feddwl, beth yw’r flaenoriaeth i fi fan hyn? Ac roeddwn i wedi cadw lle mewn mannau gwersylla, felly roedd yn rhaid i fi gadw i fynd. Roedd yn wythnos o wyliau!”
Gofynnais i Tim pam yr oedd yn awyddus i adolygu llwybrau Slow Ways. “Mae’n beth da. Ac mae brwdfrydedd a momentwm yn perthyn i’r prosiect, diolch i Dan.” Arhosodd Tim i feddwl am eiliad. “Hefyd, os meddyliwch chi am y peth, dylai llwybrau’r Frenhines ar gyfer cerddwyr gael yr un flaenoriaeth â’r llwybrau ar gyfer gyrwyr. Mae’r llwybrau cerdded yn endid cyfreithiol. Fel cerddwr, ni ddylech fod yn ceisio osgoi cael eich gweld gan rywun yn y ffermdy – fe ddylai rhywun eich gweld o’r ffermdy! Allwch chi ddychmygu rhywun yn cau ffordd y mae gyrwyr yn ei defnyddio?”
“Dylai llwybrau’r Frenhines ar gyfer cerddwyr gael yr un flaenoriaeth â’r llwybrau ar gyfer gyrwyr. Mae’r llwybrau cerdded yn endid cyfreithiol. Allwch chi ddychmygu rhywun yn cau ffordd y mae gyrwyr yn ei defnyddio?”
“Wedi dweud hynny, os bydd rhywun o’r ffermdy yn fy ngweld byddaf yn aml yn cael fy ngwahodd i mewn am goffi. Bydd y gŵr dan sylw’n siarad yn ddi-stop yn aml, a byddaf yn meddwl – d’ych chi ddim wedi gweld neb i siarad â nhw ers wythnosau!” Rwy’n awgrymu wrth Tim bod dyletswydd gymdeithasol efallai’n gysylltiedig â cherdded ar draws y wlad – rhyw fath o ymgyrch atal unigrwydd – ac mae’n cytuno. “Ac roeddwn i wrth gwrs yn ddiolchgar am y croeso, a’u diddordeb yn fy nhaith!”
Diwrnod saith, Llanymddyfri i Ty’n Cornel
Rwy’n tynnu rhai lluniau o Tim ar y prom yn Aberystwyth, wedi iddo groesi’r llinell derfyn, cyn iddo ymadael i ddal y cyntaf o sawl bws a thrên er mwyn mynd adref i Tiverton yn Nyfnaint. Mae’n sôn, wrth basio, mai yno y gwnaeth ddylunio pob rhan o’r rhwydwaith yn Tiverton. Felly, os byddwch fyth yn yr ardal honno, gallwch fod yn ffyddiog y bydd unrhyw lwybr y byddwch yn ei ddilyn wedi’i archwilio gan arbenigwr. Os na fyddwch yn yr ardal honno, bydd pob rhan o’r llwybr rhwng Caerdydd ac Aberystwyth wedi’u hadolygu yn fuan a bydd y llwybr yn barod am ei ail gerddwr.
Tair hoff llwybrau Tim
Ystradfellte to Llandeusant, Llayst one, oherwydd harddwch y mynyddoedd a’r ymdeimlad eich bod chi’n wirioneddol yn y gwyllt. Mae’n eithaf heriol ond cewch eich gwobrwyo wrth i chi fynd dros y Mynydd Du. Roedd y llwybrau gwledig a’r lonydd tawel cefn gwlad i Landdeusant yn hyfryd hefyd
Nanabe three o Abercynafon i Nant Ddu. Llwybr hardd heibio i raeadrau godidog, llwybr dymunol wedyn drwy goedwig uwchlaw Cronfa Pentwyn, ac yna llwybr braf ar draws rhostir a llwybrau drwy’r coed i Nant Ddu
Y llwybr hir ond gwerth chweil o Randir-mwyn i Dregaron, Trerha. Byddwn yn bendant yn hoffi dychwelyd at y llwybr hwn a threulio mwy o amser arno. Roedd dringo’r cwm i’r hostel anghysbell yn Nhy’n y Cornel yn bleser pur
Diwrnod chwech, rhwng Llanymddyfri a Ty’n Cornel
Tim ar y llinell derfyn yn Aberystwyth
Ewch ati i greu eich rhestr ‘waylist’ eich hun o lwybrau cysylltu yma – dyma’r lle i fod yn uchelgeisiol!
Gallwch weld llwybr Tim yma, a’i adolygiadau o bob llwybr
Dilynwch Tim ar Twitter yma er mwyn gweld beth y bydd yn ei wneud nesaf
Long distance walker Tim Ryan has pioneered a version of the Cambrian Way on 19 consecutive Slow Ways, across spectacular landscape from Cardiff to Aberystwyth
A glance at the progress map shows that we in Wales might need to get a wriggle on. There’s some good excuses. The sheer length of many of our Slow Ways for one – our settlements are far apart and many of the routes in my own local web will take more than a day to walk. Transport is another issue – where routes go over mountain ranges getting back home can be tricky, and even between towns buses can be scarce. Excuses, excuses!
Luckily, I know for certain that 19 consecutive Welsh Slow Ways will soon be appearing as reviewed on the progress map, many for the first time, thanks to long-distance walker Tim Ryan. Tim got around the transport issue by camping, and is a long-time member of the Long Distance Walkers’ Association, so that sorted out that issue. Long routes do not trouble him.
Not (quite) the Cambrian Way!
I met Tim on the prom in Aberystwyth, where he finished his week’s purposeful holiday, having made a satisfying diagonal northwest from Cardiff. It’s no coincidence that his own line reminded me of the southern half of the Cambrian Way – a notoriously full-on walking route from south to north Wales that deliberately takes on every summit in its way. Friends who’ve done it tell me that it’s mentally as well as physically tough, to spot the highest point in the landscape and head for it, summit after summit after summit.
Yes, said Tim, he was originally intending to do the Cambrian Way, but changed his plans after tearing a calf muscle recently. A Slow Ways version was perfect. In fact a kind of opposite mission, as Slow Ways deliberately avoid the summits, prioritising directness between towns. “I’ve been up Pen y Fan many times, so I didn’t miss the scenic viewpoints. Walking Slow Ways is a different priority – the satisfaction comes from reviewing the route for the next person, looking at the walk in that way.”
Day one out of Cardiff: Cardiff to Pontprennau to Draethen to Risca / Landscape photos by Tim Ryan
“The first day out of Cardiff was a definite five-star route. I was surprised – it was all on roads – but they had pavements, and it was just a really nice walk.” Tim walked four Slow Ways on the first day, five on the second, but by the time he got the middle of the Cambrian Mountains he needed two days to walk the gorgeous 34km/21-mile Trerha. One of the remote nodes (Slow-Ways-speak for a settlement hub) was just a single farm.
In any case, he pointed out, the Slow Ways version of the Cambrian Way was far from watered down. “Crossing the Black Mountain I thought, I’m really having to concentrate here! I’m in perfect clear visibility, navigating with a map and compass – it was a classic mountain leaders’ qualification environment. Spotting every rocky outcrop, knowing exactly where I was at all times; it was really tricky. I’ll have to advise in the review that this is only undertaken with a map and compass.”
Day three, Tredegar to Abercynafon to Nant-Ddu
Accessibility is relative, he points out – any route has to be “accessible within your capabilities, and your capabilities might be that you can’t read a map, or don’t like walking on roads or whatever – it’s not just about wheelchair access. It’s not up to me to say what someone can and can’t do, but to be honest about what they’ll find. I’ll write that there are step-stiles, or tussocks, or whatever, and then let them make up their own mind.”
Tim is clearly really motivated by walking recces. As well as reviewing for Slow Ways he tests out social walks for LDWA and the Ramblers, and all three have different requirements. “You have to think about the competence of the people who will follow you. For those social group walks I need to find a lunch-spot with a view etc, and I hate to take groups on roads. Sometimes I have to throw in a big loop to avoid it, but it doesn’t matter because they’ll only be out for a walk anyway. For Slow Ways it’s a completely different thing.
Day five, Glyntawe to Llandovery
“Day two was the worst – so many blockages! The open land between the Welsh Valleys – I was walking from 7am to 5pm, and often had to climb fences where I knew I should be able to get through. There wasn’t time to go back and check out whole new alternatives, so I’ll just have to share what I found and leave it for the next person to amend. I had to think, what’s my priority here? And I’d booked campsites, so I had to keep going. It was a week’s holiday!”
I asked Tim what made him want to review Slow Ways. “It’s a good thing. And it has enthusiasm, and momentum, as a project, and thanks to Dan.” Tim thought for a moment. “Also, if you think about it, the walking parts of the Queen’s Highway should be given the same priority as the driving parts. It’s a legal entity. As a walker you shouldn’t be skulking around trying not to be seen from the farmhouse – you should be seen from the farmhouse! Can you imagine someone just closing a road?”
“The walking parts of the Queen’s Highway should be given the same priority as the driving parts. It’s a legal entity. Can you imagine someone just closing a road?”
“That said, if I am seen I often get invited in to the farmhouse for coffee. Often the guy will rabbit on and I’ll think – you’ve not had anyone to talk to for weeks!” I suggest to Tim that maybe there’s a social duty in walking all over the country – a kind of anti-loneliness drive – and he agrees. “And I was of course grateful for the welcome, and their interest in what I was doing!”
Day seven, Llandovery to Ty’n Cornel
I take some finish line photos of Tim on the Aberystwyth prom before he heads off to get the first of a series of buses and trains back home to Tiverton, Devon where, he drops in, he designed all of the Tiverton web. So, if you’re ever in the area you can be sure of an expertly recce’d route. Failing that, Cardiff to Aberystwyth will soon be all reviewed and ready for its second walker.
Tim’s top three routes
Ystradfellte to Llandeusant, Llayst one, for its mountain beauty and genuine wilderness feel. A bit of a challenge but with great rewards over the Black Mountain; the countryside paths and quiet country lanes to Llandeusant were also a pleasure
Nanabe three from Abercynafon to Nant Ddu with a beautiful walk up alongside scenic waterfalls followed by a pleasant forest walk above Pentwyn Reservoir and then a nice moorland hike and forest trails to Nant Ddu
The long but rewarding hike from Rhandirmwyn to Tregaron, Trerah. This walk I certainly would like to return and spend more time on. The climb up the valley to the remote hostel at Ty’n Cornel was a delight
