The common itself isn't anything to write home about, however, there are a few interesting things dotted around it. Take a little walk, and you'll find Heartwood Native Tree Arboretum in a field next door. The trees are young and appear more as shrubbery in the winter season, but I do hope it matures into a lovely spot. My favourite spot was just across the road…
On the opposite side of the road to The Stepping Stones walk is Satnall Hills. As the name implies, this is a more hilly walk - wilder feeling, with tracks instead of paths. If you're quiet and lucky, you may spot deer here as I did. To visit, park in Satnall Hills Car Park (52°47'06.3"N 2°01'35.4"W) or Coldmans Slade Car Park (52°47'14.7"N 2°01'22.6"W) and take any…
This walk is much flatter and easier than across the road in Satnall Hills, with a circular route leading directly from the car park to the stepping stones, where you can cross and return on the other side of Sher Brook. Of course, you can also explore more of Cannock Chase if you want a longer wander. The steps were installed in 1954, when Twelve one-hundred-weight…
Ancient oak woodland, spectacular views and more than 500 million years of history. A steep climb is necessary to explore the woods properly and gain views. Little sister to the Wrekin it may be, but The Ercall has its own history. Quarried to provide road stone for the nearby A5, this destruction had the effect of revealing rocks from the beginnings of life on this planet. Ripples…
The Circle of Hearts Medicine Wheel was built by people from Milton Keynes to welcome the new millennium and bring spiritual peace and harmony to the wounded earth. It represents a coming together of the North American Indian Medicine Wheel and the ancient stone circles of Britain. The large flat Africa Stone, outside the circle, is seen as a symbol of the earth’s healing, which must…
Westonbirt Arboretum is a trail-covered Victorian landscape with an internationally significant tree and shrub collection - 15,000 specimens, and 2,500 species of tree from all over the globe. There are 600 acres and 17 miles of hard and grassy paths, allowing visitors to spend an entire day exploring. There are also guided walks, workshops, and even a 5-day music festival held on the grounds, so do…
Tiddesley Wood is an 80-hectare semi-natural ancient woodland with an enticing show of spring flowers. To visit, park in the car park (52°06'48.4"N 2°06'15.1"W), there is a path leading directly from it.
A couple days after landing back in the UK, I already needed a nature fix! So I popped to West London to visit a friend and we took a walk out to Bentley Priory Open Space to visit the deer. Then headed to see The Master, the Oldest Tree in Middlesex. Bentley Priory Open Space is a good size, with ample opportunity to stretch your legs,…
Playa Rinconcito was my base for two months, my accommodation just a few steps from the beach, my window a vantage point for watching both the people and the sea. While Playa Mermejita has better sunset views, Playa Rinconcito has amazing sunrises. Rising to watch the sunrise with the birds was one of the first things I did, and a habit I got used to very…
When I heard the words 'cloud forest', I knew I had to visit San Jose Del Pacifico! After a night and day in San Mateo with a couple of friends, we headed to San Jose. A poor first night's sleep and my friend's descision to leave in the morning left me alone to find my way around. But from what felt initially like a false start,…
About 4km north along the road north from San Jose Del Pacifico is Rancho Las Nubes, your turning point for finding a hidden gem of a moss forest. Continue on the path past the ranch, and you will come to Refugio Terraza de la Tierra. Here at the first building, someone will direct you through their land to the shop where you pay a small fee…
If you do the full 12 km walk (there and back) from San Mateo Río Hondo, it's mostly on a dirt road through hills and forest, transitioning to a narrower trail near the falls. The dense forest will provide long stretches of shade, though the change in elevation makes this route moderately difficult, especially in the heat of the unshaded parts. The other option is to…