———- You may have seen my last blog when I wrote about a walking experience where I took my daughter out in her pushchair and encountered a series of stiles that the pushchair wouldn’t go through! Well, after this experience, I decided that it may be a good idea to get a backpack to carry the baby in on walks. This way, I thought that my inquisitive baby could get a great view, there would be no need to push the pushchair over difficult terrain and there wouldn’t be a need to plan for stiles.

After looking around for a backpack, I eventually bought a second-hand one on eBay that seemed ideal. The backpack had a sun/rain cover, adjustable straps and said that you could carry the child up to 3 years old. When the backpack arrived it was perfect timing as we were going to visit family in the Forest of Dean, and what better location to test out the backpack.

We decided to test the backpack out by going to the Sculpture Trail (which is located between Cinderford and Coleford in the Forest of Dean). When we arrived we placed my daughter in the backpack (we had already had a practice run at home), strapped her in and set off. My husband carried her on his back and I was initially keeping an eye out to ensure she was okay and smiling to her to reassure her that this strange new way of getting around was fine.

She seemed very happy in there and liked to look around. I think she particular liked pulling my husband’s hair which I have to be honest amused me along the walk as well! We found that we could get about a lot quicker with her on the back rather than pushing a pushchair. The ground was slightly wet, so this would have meant it would have been harder to push the pushchair and it would have needed a clean after the walk. The walk was great, we got to look at the sculptures along the path and even saw some wild boar, a mother and her young. Although, we didn’t get too close as we know that they are very protective over their young and can chase you, and my husband didn’t fancy running with our daughter on his back!

We walked for about an hour until she started to get heavy (she weighs 19lbs now) and we decided to head back. The backpack was great but we felt that you could only walk for a limited time before you would need to have a break. It is also not the ideal place for a tired baby. After a little while our daughter wanted to fall asleep but couldn’t get comfortable in the upright position. Also, because the baby is behind you, you don’t always pay attention to what they are up to and if any items of clothing get kicked off you don’t notice, like a shoe which was lost on our walk!

But apart from that, it was great and will definitely be used a lot this summer.

- Sarah

———- I went to visit my friend in Buckinghamshire the other week and she suggested that we go for a walk. This was a great idea as she had an energetic dog needing to release some energy and I had an overtired baby that I wanted to get to sleep.

My friend suggested a walk on one of the Chiltern Ways through some fields and woodland paths. This seemed a great idea to me. I had taken my travel system to my friend’s house and decided to put my daughter in her car seat part and attach this to the pushchair as the car seat is the ideal place to give her a comfortable sleep.  I also thought that it would be suitable to cope with the terrain of this Chiltern Way walk.

The weather was great and we set out with the dog eagerly leading the way. However, the weather on the previous few days had made the ground slightly wet, so my friend and I were both pushing the pushchair across the grassy field at the same time as the ground was soggy which made pushing the pushchair slightly harder. But, after getting across the soggy part of the field all was fine with pushing the pushchair along.

So, we thought that was the hardest part over… but then we encountered our first stile!

Encountering a stile hadn’t crossed my mind when we had set off for the walk. My friend who had been on this walk many times thought that the pushchair would be fine. How wrong we were! The stile was too narrow and too short for the pushchair to get through. After many attempts of trying to squeeze the pushchair through, my friend had to go one side of stile and then I had to take the car seat off the system (with sleeping baby inside), pass this to my friend over the top of the stile, then fold the pushchair part down and bring it through the stile and then reassemble! What a faff!

On our 1.5 hour walk I think we did this for about 6 stiles! By the end of the walk, I was shattered, my arm muscles fully worked out and I wanted a sit down. But, when we got back to my friend’s house after the walk, I was greeted by a wide awake baby ready to play!

Many of you mums out there may have already considered stiles on walks and planned routes around then. But for those of us less organised like myself, heed my words of warning and be prepared for when you do encounter one! I suggest finding out about the walk before you go as you could save yourself a lot of hassle!

- Sarah

————– The Wales Coast Path is officially opening on Saturday May 5th. Although much of the path is already used and enjoyed by walkers there will be an official opening of the entire path celebrated around the whole of Wales. Whether you prefer to walk a short section or join one of the Big Welsh Coastal Walks there is something for everyone who enjoys walking surrounded by stunning scenery. Some sections are also suitable for cyclists and horse-riders.

The Wales Coast Path offers 870 miles of coastal landscape. Starting in the north near the mouth of the River Dee the path runs along the north Wales coast with its popular seaside resorts then over the Menai Straits to the island of Anglesey. It then runs back onto the mainland and along the Lleyn Peninsula, round Cardigan Bay and through Pembrokeshire, Britain’s only coastal National Park. In the south it rounds the Gower Peninsula then goes past Cardiff Bay and on to the market town of Chepstow. It links with Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail creating a continuous path around Wales.

Improvements will continue to be made in the coming months to ensure the path follows the coastline as closely as it is safe to do. The Wales Coast Path is seen as important for locals and visitors alike who wish to enjoy the great outdoors for the purpose of leisure and fitness. To all involved in this project and all walkers on the Wales Coast Path, very best wishes from walking.org!

All this week the April showers have been hitting hard with heavy rain and hail. So be sure to have a waterproof jacket ready as well as a thick jumper, because these hail stones hurt!

Heavy showers cancelled our camping trip, so this weekend my girlfriend and I took Charlie the collie for a walk around the Lee Valley White Water Centre to check out the Olympic venue and see if when we could sign up for some white water rafting or kayaking once the Olympics are over.

Sadly, it’s fully booked until after the Olympics and bookings aren’t being taken until afterwards. But that didn’t stop us from walking the full length of the course while watching other people crash down the waterfalls and frantically row through the rapids in large rafts and tiny kayaks.

We’d flat packed our waterproof jackets inside a rucksack just in case, because it looked like it might rain at any moment. But it was still surprisingly busy for a sunny Sunday afternoon with people from all around the local area coming to see friends and family take on the course or simply to walk their dogs and have a look around themselves.

It took us quite a while to walk the course which looked deceptively small because it’s turns back in on itself. It’s only then you realise just how far the white water rafters actually have to go in order to complete the course.

By the time we got half way round the skies had darkened and the sun was gone, the all of a sudden the odd splash of rain was replaced by the rushing sound of hail stones and everyone quickly made for the shelter of the pavilion.

Of course, it’s not so bad when you’re wearing a waterproof jacket with a hood on over a thick jumper, or if you’re got a thick fur coat like Charlie. So with that, we decided to call it a day and head back to the car with a wet dog in tow.

So always be prepared this April by keeping a packable waterproof jacket with you at all times, because you’ll never know when those sudden April showers might strike. More importantly, we seem to be getting a lot of heavy hail at the moment, so you may want to keep a nice thick jumper with you as well.

– Adam

———- This month we are reviewing a shoe which you can happily put on for a walk in the woods or just as easily wear with a business suit for that important meeting. The Clarks Rockie Lo GTX fits that bill perfectly!

As you slip on this shoe, the first thing you are aware of is the feeling of comfort – always a good start with a new pair of shoes. The Rockie Lo GTX has a tough, wear resistant sole and uses a Gore-Tex layer for breathability and to keep your feet dry in all weathers. Clarks Active Air technology provides the shoe with a spongy, cushioned footbed and solid ankle support and once you step out you really do feel as if you are walking on air. The shoe has good shock absorption, incorporating air pockets and channels which spread the impact as the feet hit the ground.

If you want a shoe for all seasons and all occasions, workdays and weekends, The Rockie Lo GTX is a good looking shoe and is light, comfortable, flexible and roomy. It is a www.walking.org recommended buy.

—-—– Nuts are one of nature’s fantastic fast foods. Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they are a delicious snack on their own or they can be added to all sorts of recipes as a main ingredient or as a garnish.

They are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids and can help to lower LDLs (‘bad’ cholesterol) and to increase HDLs (‘good’ cholesterol). Research studies suggest the nutrients found in nuts may help to lower the risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and some cancers. They may also help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and viral infections.

A few nuts each day offer nutritional benefits with little preparation – just don’t overdo the quantity you eat if you are watching your calorie intake. And if you are serving food for family and friends, remember to check that they do not have a nut allergy.

Nuts can be eaten straight from the shell or added to both savoury and sweet recipes. Almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all wonderful whole, ground or partially broken in a pestle and mortar. For a quick and easy dessert, stir some runny honey into natural yogurt, add fresh berries and scatter slivers of almonds on top. Delicious!

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You may remember an article in this blog a few months ago about English couple Lucy and Nick Russell and what they called a stroll across America. They pointed out that, although other ways of crossing the USA such as flying or taking a road trip were the usual options, their choice for this trip was by walking.

Walking.org has heard from this intrepid duo as they walk from the east to the west coast. They have now reached Tucson, Arizona leaving them under 500 miles to complete their walk. Blisters and exhaustion are constantly with them but they are making steady progress. It’s getting hotter every day with the temperature creeping up to 30 degrees but this provides them with the incentive of reaching the ocean with its cool breeze. They hope to make it to San Diego, California by the end of this month.

At the end of the 3,000 miles Lucy and Nick will have crossed nine states, including the swamps of Georgia, the vast mass of Texas and the deserts of New Mexico. And they will have talked to people about The Pamir Trust, a charity they’ve set up to help support sustainable development projects in the Pamir mountain region of Tajikistan, a remote but beautiful part of the world. Their aim is to raise £15,000. For further information or to donate money see www.walkamerica.co.uk. Good luck Lucy and Nick!

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Now that spring is on the way many of the winter fleece jackets that we own are just not practical for the spring and summer months to come as they can be too bulky and not suitable for long walks. However, Berghaus has designed a women’s lightweight fleece with hidden thermal properties that is ideal for the warmer months to come.

All mums know that their little ones will get them up early and one of the best ways to settle them down is to take them out for a walk. On a crisp morning before the sun fully rises there can still be a chill in the air and that is where the Berghaus Lhasa Fleece Hoody is the ideal fleece for such a walk.

This berghaus fleece is easy to move and makes pushing a buggy or chasing after a toddler a comfortable experience without being too heavy, as the flattering slim fit of the fleece ensures that the fleece doesn’t feel too bulky. Not only that but with its rustic design it makes this fleece stylish yet practical.

The fleece is made with AT Optic which is a thermal and can either be worn over a t-shirt or as a baselayer.
Then when the little one is in bed and you have some time to yourself this fleece is ideal for cooler evenings when you can sit outdoors and enjoy the rest of the evening. And if your hands start to feel the cold, the fleece will warm them as it has a two handwarmer pockets.

This is therefore the ideal fleece for a multitude of occasions. As a walking mum I have worn it both on walks with the buggy when I took my 6 month old for a walk around the Malvern Hills. The fleece was ideal as its lightweight and convenient design meant that there was enough room to move arms around and I wasn’t too hot which I have often been in bulkier fleeces. It also meant that I didn’t have to stop and take off my fleece as I became too hot and then put it back on again when I was chillier.

I also have worn the fleece while shopping and on warmer evenings in the garden and it is ideal for all these occasions and weather conditions. So, I can’t recommend this fleece highly enough and if you are looking for a new fleece this summer, this is a great edition to any active mums’ wardrobe.

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Welcome to our new blog section which is going to be dedicated to Walking Mums.

This section of the Walking.org blog is going to be written by me, Sarah. I am a walking mum of a six month old and I would like to use this blog section as a way of building a community of walking mums.

This new section has been developed for those who are pregnant and those who have children and want to enjoy all the benefits of walking. Be that as a way to get fit, to maintain fitness pre and post pregnancy or to enjoying the great outdoors. With the clocks recently going forward I think that there is no better time to start this blog as the additional hour gives us more energy and lighter evenings to enjoy being outdoors.

I would like to encourage you to get involved in this blog as much as possible by sharing ideas and different walks. And don’t forget to ‘Like Us’ on Facebook as well to get involved in our wider walking community.

But to start this month I have reviewed the Berghaus Women’s Lhasa Fleece Hoody which is an ideal fleece for when you are out walking in the spring and summer pushing the buggy or chasing a toddler.

– Sarah

—- We went walking on Monday and took my parents’ energetic border collie called Charlie along with us. He certainly kept us walking at a brisk pace and made the day more exciting!

It was a beautiful day on Monday and considering both my girlfriend and I had booked the day off work, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore the countryside and take Mum and Dad’s dog along with us. We both love him to bits and knew he’d enjoy the exercise.

So we got our walking boots on, loaded up a rucksack with sandwiches, snacks, a flask of tea a bottle of tap water and a plastic bowl for the dog before walking down to my parents’ house to take Charlie for a good long walk.

Charlie was excited to see us as always and doubly excited when I got his lead out of the kitchen drawer. Once the lead was on, he pretty much pulled us both up the road, past Broxbourne Church and down the hill towards the river, where we checked for other dogs before letting him off the lead to run up and down at his own pace.

Fortunately, he doesn’t venture too far, which let us casually stroll along the river. We called Charlie back to us a couple of times when there were swans, cyclists or other dogs about and quickly put him back on the lead, then let him off again once they’d passed by.

An hour or so into our walk, we found a park bench in the shade, on the edge of the Lee Valley Park. Charlie slumped down beside us with a grunt as we emptied our rucksacks and began lapping at the bottled water as I began pouring it into the plastic bowl we’d brought for him. We sat and ate our sandwiches, made a fuss of the dog and chatted while watching the world go by.

There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky and even Charlie was feeling the heat, so we decided to head back and take Charlie for a proper run over the field by Mum and Dad’s house. We were all pretty tired by the time we walked back and reached the cool shade of Ivy Walk.

Charlie trotted along beside us before darting through a gaping hole in the 8ft fence and into a field that’s been fenced off for development. Fortunately the fence has been kicked in by teenagers a few times now, giving people access to a wonderful huge grassy field for their dogs to run around. It’s the first time I’ve ever found myself in favour of vandalism, but only because people are respecting the field and keeping it tidy.

We spent a good at opposite ends of the field as Charlie ran round and round with great big bounds as we chased him. Tired, we all made our way back through the hole in the fence and headed home along Ivy Walk.

But clearly Charlie wasn’t out of energy quite yet. Just as we were about to call him to put him back on the lead, he spotted a cat crossing the street and shot off down the path and around the corner before we could catch him! We ran after him, calling him.

Then there was a hiss, a howl and suddenly he came scampering back up the path. It seems like the cat had stood its ground, bopped him on the nose and he’d run back in surprise.

Well and truly worn out, we walked around the corner and back to Mum and Dad’s house where Charlie slumped down on the cold kitchen floor and stuck his head in the water bowl and lapped the whole thing dry. Meanwhile we took our boots off and relaxed on the sofa with a nice cup of tea and a digestive biscuit.

It was hot out there, but we’d had a great morning out walking and it was even more fun having Charlie there with us.

So next time you plan on going for a walk, don’t just take a friend along, take a furry friend too. A well behaved dog can really add to the enjoyment of embracing the great outdoors while keeping you walking at a brisk pace. Just watch out for things they are likely to chase, like cats!

– Adam