The Anglesey Coastal walk measures in at around 125 miles in total, though handily there are 20 towns/villages located directly on the route. This means taking on just part of the walk is easily done, making this walk accessible to most levels of walker at some point. Overall it took us 8 days walking to complete the full distance, plus one more day we spent in one of the villages on the route – from the information I can find it can take anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks to complete the full distance.

Be sure to checkout the amazing South Stack Lighthouse. Source Trinity House

We started walking from the Roman Fort (which encircles St Cybi’s Church in Holyhead), this is also the end point of the full circular walk. On the walk we saw some spectacular scenery, there is some really quite cool wildlife including; puffins, guillemots, seals and even the odd dolphin! as well as beautiful Anglesey coast line.

Taking in the views of Anglesey

Along the route there are 4 working light houses, including the South Stack Light House – famous for being one of the UK’s most spectacular light houses, positioned on it’s own little island on the west coast. Local to the light house is also a nature reserve, so when visiting the lighthouse you may want to take some binoculars and do some bird watching. To get to the light house you cross a bridge after contending with some 400 stone steps (not the 365 mentioned in local legends), and yes that does mean would need to walk back up those steps! This for me was one of the more tiring aspects of the walk, but it was well worth the visit and the views from the top of the light house are amazing. If this is the primary point of interest to yourself you maybe interested in the Cybi Circular Route which is a few hours walk at just 4 miles long.

Although we went to Anglesey for the views and the good company, one of my primary wants was to see the famous Telford Bridge. Spanning almost 180m the Menai Suspension Bridge is considered by many to be Thomas Telfords finest work – and I agree. Along with this amazing bridge is the Britannia Bridge, which has seen both rail and road service over the years  but today is the only non-dual carriage way section of the A55. Both bridges link Anglesey with the UK mainland.

The amazing Telford Suspension Bridge joining Anglesey with Wales (mainland). Source Flikr by The Ancient Brit

One final attraction and association of note is that which is of course the longest single-word place name in the world, with 58 english letters (51 welsh) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a real tongue twister (seriously give it a try). The name means: St Mary’s Church (Llanfair) in a hollow (pwll) of white hazel (gwyngyll) near (goger) the swirling whirlpool (y chwyrndrobwll) of the church of St Tysilio (llantysilio) with a red cave ([a]g ogo goch). The best way to begin pronouncing it is to take a side step from the coastal path and visit the local railway station, on the platform is a fairly decent approximation of how to pronounce the name in english – though I did ask a local who told me simply to call it St Mary’s Church.

Anglesey Coastal Walking Advice

Covering the terrain is no easy task, indeed you need to be pretty alert most of the time as injuries on this route are fairly common place (another reason its better to do this walk in a group and not alone – though this I think was primarily people scrambling across areas of dangerous land), but the rewards are well worth it. The whole walk is pretty well sign posted, a saving grace if your map flies away in the wind like it did ours. Due to the nature of the walk it is advise you wear high quality walking boots throughout, ensure you’ve always enough drinking fluid (a hydration pack of 2 to 5L will be more than enough to get you through the day really) and of course you never know what will happen with british weather so take some wet weather gear with you. Obviously if you’re doing the whole walk you will be carrying more clothes with you too, investing in some walking poles will help take some of the strain (plus they give you some leverage on the tougher terrain). Also it is inherently a great idea to take your normal walking emergency supplies, so a torch, whistle, a knife, a compass, high visibility vest and don’t forget your dry liner.

Finally I have two pieces of advice:
1 – Ensure there is at least 2 mobile phones within the group and turn one off until it’s needed, running out of battery is a very bad idea in an emergency!
2 – Enjoy the local food and drink, the local (non-chain) bars are amazing value and there are some amazing people to meet (who I am sure can tell you many more interesting facts and stories that I ever could).

If you want to know more about walking or camping in Anglesey, or just want to know what there is to do other than walk in Anglesey it’s worth taking a look at the Visit Anglesey website.

Interested in Coastal Walks? Take a look at the “UK’s Best Coastal Walk” Pembrokshire

Stanage Edge is a popular place for climbing. Source: Flickr by Darren Copley.

• Derwent Edge
• Stanage Edge
• Burbage Edge North
• Burbage Edge South
• Froggatt
• Curbar
• Baslow Edge
• Gardoms
• Birchens

Since the event is being held in the Peak District, most of the terrain is rough moorland. There is about 900 metres of ascent for walkers, runners and climbers and about with 1600 metres of ascent and descent for mountain bikers.

Nine Edges Race 2010

The 2010 Nine Edges race will take place on 25th September and will be the fifth event to take place. There is an entrance fee of £20 and competitors are also encouraged to raise money for Edale Mountain Rescue. For entry forms visit www.nineedges.co.uk.

On the day walkers and climbers start first, any time between 7.30am and 9.00am. Mountain bikers are next to get going between 9.00am and 10.00am. Finally the runners start en masse at 10am.

The outdoor gear requirement for the nine edges race is as follows:

• Waterproof jacket & leg cover
• Hat & gloves
• Emergency Whistle
• Polythene survival bag (not a blanket) or emergency shelter
• Enough food and drink for the duration of the race
• Map and compass suitable for navigating the course

If you are hiking it is sensible to wear walking boots, however these are not listed as a requirement on the nine edges race website.

Nine Edges Endurance Race Prizes

This event is intended as a personal test of endurance, particularly for walkers, climbers and bikers. However the event is also a fell race and so prize winners (runners only) will be announced at the Robin Hood pub that afternoon.

There is also a prize for the person who raises the most sponsorship, plus everyone who raises more than £500 in sponsorship will receive one day of outdoor instruction (hiking, climbing, abseiling, navigation techniques – your choice!) in the Peak District from a qualified instructor for free.

If you do not fancy competing, the Edale Mountain Rescue team needs volunteers to help marshal the Nine Edges Endurance Race.

Burbage Edge is one of the Nine Edges. Source: Flickr by Darren Copley.

www.lakedistrictwalks.com

General / Searching for a Walk

John Dawson’s Lake District Walks is a veteran walking website with a classic, straightforward design. It contains 40 hikes in the Lake District and over 300 photographs taken en route. The walks can be found using an index that is subdivided into sections of the Lake District based on the location of the walk. These are north, north east, east, south east, etc. and The Howgills. Each walk within these sections is identified by the name(s) of the major peaks on the route, or the name of the walking route, e.g. Fairfield Horseshoe. Each walk has a brief list of the summits and points of note along the walking route, the grid reference of the start and finish point, the total distance, total ascent and equivalent distance. All of the walks are circular, except of the Morecombe Bay Crossing.

The English Lake District is the most beautiful natural terrain I know. In 1990 I was fortunate enough to be able to come to live here permanently and walk the Lakeland fells to my heart’s content. This site is dedicated to all those who explore the area on foot. John Dawson.

There is an index of photographs listing each photo in alphabetical order, with the photo name including the main object of the photo and where the photo was taken from. Most of the photos can be viewed in small or large versions, whilst some others have a zoom-in feature. There are also a number of panoramas. These are very useful if you are planning a hike and want to get an idea about a particular part of the terrain, or if you just want to look at photos of great Lakeland scenery. Each photo page has a link to hikes that are relevant to the photo.

The search facility is useful for searching for specific locations such as Taylorgill Force. Searching for names of the highest or most popular peaks, e.g. Scafell Pike, Bowfell or Blencartha, gives too many results since these are mentioned on lots of webpages within the site.

Navigation around the website could be improved. There is a small navigation bar near the bottom of each page, which is obscured by banner adverts. The navigation bar only contains links to the Title Page, Walks Index, Photo Index and Site Search. There are a few pages listed at the top of the photo index page that I would have missed seeing, had I not looked at the photo index.

www.lakedistrictwalks.com - lots of great hikes throughout the English Lake District

Walk Descriptions

Clicking through to the webpage for an individual walking route gives you a repeat of the summary, the option to view the route on an OS Map and a list of route grid references. You can also view the route mapped onto satellite images which have been added to the website ShareMyRoutes.com.

Next there are “Escape Routes” that enable you to make the walking route shorter or abandon the hike in the case of fatigue and/or bad weather.

The Lake District, arguably the best place to go walking in England. Source: Flickr by dullhunk.

Following this heading section comes the route description. The navigational information is quite detailed and there are helpful comments about the difficulty of the terrain. Links to pages containing photographs are contained within the walk description. The descriptions of the photographs state where the photo was taken from and often identify many of the peaks and summits that can be seen.

As well as Lake District walks there are also hikes and trekking routes in Turkey and Cyprus.

GPS waypoint data is provided for some of the walking routes.

There is a fair amount of advertising in the form of banners and Google Ads.

Summary – lakedistrictwalks.com

John Dawson’s has walked many of the fells in the Lakes. He is obviously passionate about the area and knows it well. Consequently this walking website is very comprehensive. The walk descriptions and maps provide detailed and helpful information.

The equivalent distance calculated for each walk provide a useful indication of the severity of the walk. The photograph index is very useful for identifying Lakeland Peaks and looking at views the Lake District.

If you are going hiking in the Lake District then lakedistrictwalks.com is definitely worth looking at.

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www.walkni.com

Northern Ireland offers plenty of hiking opportunities, for example in the Mourne Mountains. Source: Flickr by Ryan McD

General / Searching for a Walk

The www.walkni.com homepage has an engaging design with interactive search features and a useful weather forecast. There is clickable map of Northern Ireland that enables you to view walking routes in each county. If you click on a county the walk locations appear on the map and are listed in a table. The table includes a brief description of the walk, the distance and the nearest town. It would be useful if the table contained grading information in based on the terrain and ascent of the walks.

You can switch between short, medium and long walks by clicking on the relevant tab. For short and medium walks the start location appears as a blue circle on the map. For the long walks, the whole route appears as a grey line on the map, which are not all immediately visible.

Alternatively, from the homepage, you can choose a walk based on length by following the signpost. Here walks are divided into five categories:

• Walking Areas – e.g. Sperrins, Mourne Mountains
• Short – up to 5 miles
• Medium – between 5 miles and 20 miles
• Long – over 20 miles
• The Ulster Way – a circular route around Northern Ireland

Within the walking areas the walks are grouped into Fermanagh, Mourne Mountains, North Coast & Glens of Antrim, Sperrin Mountains and Strangford.

Clicking through by walk length shows a map with all the walks of your chosen distance by county. Click on the tabs to choose between Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone.

The whole walking route of the Ulster Way is also available on www.walkni.com. The Ulster Way is divided into two types of section, quality sections which are waymarked through the countryside and link sections which are mainly road based, for which taking public transport is recommended.

www.walkni.com: the Official Website of the new Ulster Way – a 625 mile (1000 km) circular long distance walking route that is one of the longest in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

There is a quick search facility on the top right hand side of the navigation bar and an advanced search accessed through the menu bar. The advanced search lets you choose county, length, linear or circular and walking route type, e.g. coastal, hall, woodland etc. The search results are automatically ordered by name but it is possible to re-order them by distance or nearest town which is useful.

Some walks are identified as quality walks. A quality walk has car parking, toilets and information on the walk at the trailhead, there are way marked signs along the trail route, the walk is through scenic landscapes and the walk is suitable for the tourist market.

There are no adverts, however there is a prominent banner with the logos and links to other Northern Irish outdoors websites. Other than www.walkni.com has a design that is pleasing on the eye.

walkni.com - walking route planner for Northern Ireland

Walk Descriptions

Each walk has a table of boxes summarising the route including information such as county, distance, terrain, route type, route shape, start and finish grid reference and the name of the relevant OS map. There is a brief description of the walk and a note about whether there are any points of interest. The main walking route descriptions are quite detailed and give information about the terrain.

For some of the walks there are PDF files with good quality black and white 1:25,000 maps showing the walking route in red. Other walks have simple sketch maps.

Each walk has a picture gallery of thumbnail photographs. The maximum number of thumbnails displayed on the walk description page is three, however clicking onto one of the thumbnails opens a light box where there may be many more photographs of the stunning Northern Irish countryside.

There is not any GPS waypoint data available to download on www.walkni.com, which is surprising since the general quality of this walking route planner is high and overall it has been well designed.

It is possible to leave comments about a walk and suggest new walks to be included in the Northen Ireland walking route planner.

Summary – walkni.com

This is a well presented walking planner website. The use of maps makes it easy to locate walks, although it takes a little while to find your way around the tabs. The walking route descriptions are detailed but could benefit from including more about the points of interest. The walkni.com walking route planner could be further improved with a difficulty rating for each walk and GPS waypoints.

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www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk

General / Searching for a Walk

As part of an initiative to encourage walkers to the region, this website has been created for Tourism Partnership North Wales. The simple, clean design of www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk make this walking route planner initially likeable, yet using the website and reading introductory text on the homepage gives the impression that it has not been written or designed by walkers.

There are four Welsh regions covered by www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk. They are:

• Isle of Anglesey
• Snowdonia Mountains and Coast
• North Wales Borderlands
• Coastal North Wales

Clicking through to Snowdonia Mountains and Coast brings up a list of only 22 walks, 8 of which start and finish at Trefriw. Considering this region covers Snowdonia National Park which includes some of the finest mountain scenery in the UK, this is a pretty poor show and was most disappointing. The North Wales Borderlands section contains an adequate 54 walks, but this could be improved upon given the amount of countryside in the region.

The mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales are a popular destination for walkers. Source: Flickr by erwlas.

Fresh air. Open spaces. Four walking regions. Hundreds of miles of paths and trails.

No wonder walkers love to visit North Wales. They come here to find themselves (or lose themselves) in our great outdoors. But sometimes you have to walk – just because there’s no road.

For each walking route there are links to other attractions nearby, which is useful if you are planning to partake in activities other than walking whilst you are in North Wales.

There is a keyword quick search facility which seems to work, and which also displays an advanced search on the results pages. The advanced search needs a bit of improving since it is possible to select a region and then select a nearest town that is not in that region. Unfortunately even searching using sensible parameters resulted in “Warning: Invalid argument supplied”!

The Find A Walk facility enables you to choose walks in the short, medium or challenging hike / long distance trek categories and displays their starting point on a map of North Wales.

If you are unsure where to start there are three featured walks on the homepage.

There are no banner adverts. At the foot of each page are images linking to other websites in the North Wales series, such as adventure, gardens and events, however these are un-intrusive and could be useful.

walkingnorthwales.co.uk - choose from walks in Anglesey, Snowdonia, the North Wales Coast and Borderlands

Walk Descriptions

The walk descriptions depend upon the walking route. For example the Gwaenysgor – Llanasa walk description has very good navigational detail, whereas the Ogwen Slate trail has a map only. Some walks do not have a description or a map. Differences in the style and layout of the walk descriptions indicate that the walks have been taken from other sources, which is confirmed on the walk descriptions themselves. Sources include North Wales Outdoor Challenge and Clwydian Range ANOB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

Again, the quality of the maps is variable with some containing more detail than others. The maps are drawings as opposed to Ordnance Survey maps, and do not include details of elevation.

There are some photographs, the number of which depends upon the walk.

The walk descriptions contain a fair amount of interesting information about places long the walking route, which is a good plus point.

Some of the detailed walking descriptions are written in both English and Welsh.

There is not any GPS waypoint data available to download.

Summary – walkingnorthwales.co.uk

This walking route planner looks good and is easy to use, but it is not as comprehensive as it appears. The walks on featured on walkingnorthwales.co.uk appear to be a collection obtained from various government agencies and tourist information offices in North Wales. The major plus point is that the walks often feature interesting information about points of interest along the walking route.

There are a lot of walks along the east of the North Wales Borderlands, however the number of walking routes featured in the rest of the region covered by this hiking route planner is far fewer than expected, especially since it covers Snowdonia National Park. If you are planning a hiking trip to Snowdonia search elsewhere!

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Green Bridges

When the A21 Lamberhurst bypass was constructed in Kent a unique green bridge was built to cross the carriageway. The green bridge carries the access road to the National Trust’s Scotney Castle. It was the National Trust which insisted that the bridge must have banks of vegetation right across its span. This might seem to be a strange design feature. The reason behind it was one of conservation. Whilst providing a fast route for traffic, the new A21 Lamberhurst bypass would effectively separate colonies of dormice and many other species of animals. The remaining dormice colonies on either side of the bypass, cut-off from each other and only remaining in small fragments, would quickly become too small and collapse. By creating a wide bridge with embankments planted with low growing trees and shrubs, dormice are able to cross over the Lamberhurst bypass and interact with other colonies. This will hopefully help to ensure survival of the dormice and other animals. So far at the Scotney Castle approach road bridge there has been evidence that foxes, rabbits, wood mice, common shrews, squirrels, badgers and even a mole have used the bridge. According to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species’ Mammals UK magazine, Spring 2010 issue, the vegetation will need to reach a more mature state before dormice would be tempted to use the green bridge.

The bridge was originally constructed to reduce the effect of habitat fragmentation, but it is very beneficial to people as well. It is a much more sensitive way to build new roads instead of just bulldozing swathes through the countryside and the wildlife that lives there. It shows that we can reconcile the need for new roads with the needs of wildlife and some consideration of landscape quality. Mammals UK, Spring 2010.

The green bridge allows dormice and other animals to cross the Lamberhurst bypass. Source www.geograph.co.uk. © Copyright Nigel Chadwick and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence

Hiking and Green Bridges

Vertical gardens like this one could become widespread in the urban environment. Source: Flickr by pdbreen.

What does the green bridge have to do with the future of hiking? In the near future the addition of planted verges on bridges could improve the quality of walks where footpaths or roads cross dual carriageways or motorways. Instead of walking over a grotty concrete structure spanning an equally grotty bypass, the trail would take you seamlessly across the main road without spoiling your immersion in the countryside. Perhaps the success of the Lamberhurst green bridge will inspire more green bridges to be built in the UK. The green bridge design would fit in especially well in our National Parks.

In the more distant future perhaps the countryside and the urban environment will become ever more fused together. Vertical gardens have been created as show pieces in various cities. These could be fused together with green bridges, parks and other open spaces to create a swathe of greenery. Linked together with towpaths and disused railways the creation of long distance hiking opportunities within the urban environment would be possible. With a large increase in the amount of greenery on man-made structures the whole city could become a type of countryside environment in its own right!

www.walkhighlands.co.uk

General / Searching for a Walk

If you are planning a walk in Scotland then look further than Walkinghighlands.co.uk. This walking route planner contains an enormous data base of free walking routes, 1,104 at present.

The homepage contains quite a lot of information without being too busy, and photographs that make you wish you were out walking in the stunning Scottish countryside. From the home page you can select a region from a list of counties. Moving your mouse over the name highlights the area on a map of Scotland. Alternatively you can simply click on the map. This takes you to a list of areas within the county, again you can select from a list or using the interactive map. Clicking through takes you to a table containing the walking routes. The table contains the walking route name, grade, distance and time. The grade is symbolised using a walking boot icon, 1 for easy on well defined paths up to 5 for hard hillwalking including quite difficult scrambling.

From the menu on the homepage you can select Highlands, Islands, Lowlands or long distance walks. The “walks” menu changes as you proceed through counties, areas and walks.

The no.1 guide to walking and accommodation in Scotland

You can search for a walk using Google site search or try using the “Find-a-walk” feature that lets you choose from a host of various parameters including distance, grade, ascent and area. You can also search for walks including features such as waterfalls, castles, artworks, beaches, wildlife hides and more. Within the features choice you can choose to All or Any of the features that you have selected, but if you choose several and select All, you might not get any results. The search results are displayed in a list and on a map.

Other features of walkhighlands.co.uk route planner are the forum, personal walking route diary, Munro, Corbett and Graham location map and personal summit bagging records as well as the useful Gaelic place-name pronunciation recordings.

Information on accommodation in the locality of the walk can also be found on walkhighlands.co.uk.

There is some banner advertising on walkhighlands.co.uk.

www.walkhighlands.co.uk - over 1000 walking routes in Scotland

Walk Descriptions

The walk description starts with a summary and information about the walk including terrain, starting point name and grid reference, distance, grade, ascent, time, bog factor, user rating, public transport, pronunciation guide and summits climbed.

Bog factor is rated from 1, where the walk is usually completely dry underfoot, up to 5: It’s a swamp. Snorkel recommended!

Walkinghighlands has GPS waypoint data available to download.

You can view the walking route Virtual Highlands, in Google Earth or on an OS Map.

The actual walk description gives an adequate amount of navigational detail. It provides some commentary about the difficulty of the terrain as well as providing some notes of interest. There are plenty of photographs showing views and features along the hike. There is also an elevation graph.

Virtual Highlands Mapping

This has got to be the best feature to be found on any walking route planner. Virtual highlands is a Google Earth type 2D and 3D mapping view that can be used to assess the walking routes. Each route has been mapped as lines connected by waypoints. Easy walks are in green, moderate in blue and hard in red. The start point of hike is denoted by a walking boot icon. Accommodation is also shown, with different icons for campsites, hostels, b&b etc. You can zoom in and out of the 2D aerial view by height. The 3D first person view allows you to follow the route along the terrain in order to get an idea of the ascent, descent and view. The quality of the graphics is not photographic quality but it is reasonably good. The relief of the terrain in first person view is impressive but probably does not show how truly vertiginous ridge crossings are. The view of the north face of Ben Nevis from Carn Mor Dearg is worth a look. Scramble across the arete ridge to the summit. The view from the top of Scotland’s highest mountain extends as far as the eye can see!

The North Face of Ben Nevis from Carn Mor Dearg viewed on Virtual Highlands

Summary – walkhighlands.co.uk

Walkhighlands.co.uk has an large selection of free walks that can be found through various search options, including search by dynamic maps and advanced search options. The walking route descriptions have detailed summaries, contain lots of photographs and points of interest. As well as Ordnance Survey maps, you can view the hiking route on Virtual Highlands 3D mapping which is great fun to use. If you are planning a hiking trip to Scotland walkhighlands.co.uk is great website for finding walking routes.

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www.go4awalk.com
www.walkingbritain.co.uk
www.walkingenglishman.com
www.countrywalkingroutes.co.uk / www.trailroutes.com
(now rebranded on www.livefortheoutdoors.com)
www.walking-routes.co.uk

Is this footpath on the best walking guide? Source: Flickr by The Ancient Brit.

Region Specific Walking Route Planners

In this, the second part of the Guide to the Best Walking Route Planners we have reviewed five websites which each cover a specific walking region within the UK. The reviews will be posted over the next week or so. The hiking websites that will be featured are as follows:

www.walkhighlands.co.uk – Has lots of walking routes across of Scotland and not just the Scottish Highlands.
www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk – Covers Snowdonia, Anglesey, the North Wales coast and borders.
www.walkni.com – Features hikes in all the counties that make up Northern Ireland and also includes the Northern Ireland Way long distance trail.
www.walkit.com – The Urban Route Planner for planning footpath based walking routes in UK Cities.
www.lakedistrictwalks.com – Possibly the finest guide to walks in The Lake District.

The criteria by which the walking guide websites have been evaluated, are as follows:

• Ease of choosing a route and searching on the walking website
• Grading of the walk in terms of fitness level and technical difficulty required
• Navigational detail within the description of the walk
• Additional information about points of interest along the walking route
• Are there any maps showing the walk, or GPS waypoints
• Photographic content
• Information about services such as pubs and tea rooms along the route
• Amount of advertising on the website

We are always interested to know what our readers think. If you have used the walking route planner in the review please feel free to share your opinion by adding your comments!

In the third century BC Goa was ruled by Buddhists, after which it became feudatory states governed by various rulers and monarchs. The Portuguese took control in 1510 until they were ousted by the Indian Army in 1961. This legacy of rulers have left their mark on the region where there are many historic monasteries, temples and churches and a large number of forts which can be discovered whilst trekking in the Goan countryside.

Trekking in the Sahyadri Hills

Along the whole western side of India, running from Maharashtra in the north through Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and ending at Kanyakumari in the south, are the Sahyadri Hills. Although they are called hills there are many peaks around or above 2000 metres in height. The highest peak in Goa is called Sonsogor which is 1,166 metres (3,825 ft) above sea level. The entire range of mountains is known collectively as the Western Ghats.

Where is Best Hike in Goa?

Dudhsagar Falls Trek

Arguably the best hike in Goa is the spectacular Collem-Castle Rock-Kuveshi trek. This popular hike begins at the base of the impressive Dudhsagar Falls, then moves up to its mid point at Castle Rock and then onto the pinnacle of the falls at Kuveshi. There is a breathtaking view across Goa from the top of waterfall. At 310 metres, Dudhsagar Falls are the highest waterfall in Goa.

To reach Dudhsagar falls you can take the train along the S.C. railway or they can be reached by walking along a 10km dirt road from the town of Mollem. Mollem is located in the east of of Goa, 57 miles from the Goan capital of Panaji.

One of the best hikes in Goa takes you to Dudhsagar Falls. Source: Flickr by amey_hedge

Mollem, Sanguem and Valpoi

There are three towns that are good starting points for hiking in the hills around eastern Goa. These are Mollem, Sanguem and Valpoi.

South west of Mollem is the Dudhsagar falls hike mentioned above. Further downstream from Dudhsagar falls is the Devil’s Canyon. The canyon is small and serene but with strong undercurrents, swimming in the river is not recommended.

The story about this place is that everyday a villager used to ask the canyon’s resident devil for fish by telling him that he had to entertain some guests. The devil who was curious, one day after following the villager saw him munching on the fish himself. He cursed that from then onward no one will be able to catch fish in the canyon, as he was furious at that time. Till today the curse still stands.

To the north of Mollem is Tambdi Surla Temple. This small temple 12th century is made from basalt that has been intricately carved. Devoted to Lord Shiva, it is still an active place of worship.

The whole area around Mollem is part of Goa’s largest wildlife sanctuary called Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.

From Sanguem in the south east of Goa there are scenic walks which take in the village of Netravali and the Chandrasurya Temple in the Netravali wildlife reserve.

Valpoi is located in the north east of Goa. From Valpoi you can take a 15 km trek eastwards to Krishnapur Canyon in the heart of the forest. This tranquil area contains water pools and rock formations amongst the trees.

The main attraction in the vicinity of Valpoi are the peaks of the Vagheri Hills…

Vagheri Peaks, Sattari Taluka

Goa’s northernmost region is called Sattari and this is the region (taluka) where Goa’s highest peaks are located. These are, in order of height:

1. Sonsogor (Sonsogad) – 1,166 m
2. Catlanchi Mauli (Katlanchi Mauli) – 1,107 m
3. Vagheri (Vagueri) – 1,067 m
4. Morlem (Morllengod) – 1,036 m

From the Chorla Ghat you can see across the mountain forests of Goa. Source: Flickr by Saleel Kudchadker.

The name Vagheri comes from the fact that region was home to the striped Tiger (Panthera Tigris). Sadly the striped Tiger no longer roams this area and is virtually extinct in the forests of India.

Inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is the historic-heritage natural rock fort of Satregad, which makes an interesting place to visit on a trek in Sattari. The fort is called Satregad due to the presiding deity Sateri.

Detailed information about the region of Satteri can be found in this post about the Madei/Mandovi River in Goa.

Maps and Organised Treks

To get a rough idea of the locations within Goa, have a look at this tourist map. It shows mainly beaches, but also some of the wildlife sanctuaries, forts and temples.

More detailed tourist maps and walking guide books can be found at Stanfords and The Map Shop.

As well as booking through private tour operators such as GTTH, it is possible to go on treks organised by Goa Hiking Association and the Youth Hostels Authority of India.

When to go Hiking in Goa

The best time to hiking is Goa is from October to December, following the monsoon and during a time when the weather is pleasant.

The monsoon season, when there is very heavy rainfall, is between June and September. During the monsoon season, clouds moving eastwards are forced upwards by the Sahyadri Hills which causes the rain to fall. The average rainfall is between 3 and 4 metres. In some regions the rainfall can be as much as 9 metres. For comparison, The average annual rainfall for the Lake District is over 2 metres, with localised highs of 3.3 metres in Seathwaite and 5 meters at Sprinkling Tarn. So if you are hiking in Goa during the monsoon you will need your waterproofs! However, during the monsoon season there is also the opportunity to see spectacular waterfalls. In Goa’s neighbouring state of Karnataka are the Jog Falls on the Sharavathi River. Jog Falls are the highest plunge waterfall in India, with a height of 253 metres. Also in Karnataka are the Kunchikal Falls, which are the highest tiered waterfalls in India. As mentioned above, the highest waterfall in Goa are the 310 metre Dudhsagar Falls, on the Mandovi River.

By the coast the climate in Goa is humid and tropical. The relative humidity is usually above 60%, even during the dry season. During the winter temperatures in Goa range from 16 ºC to 34 ºC whilst in the summer you can expect temperatures between 27 ºC and 37 ºC. However, go up into the mountains and the climate becomes more temperate. Temperatures can drop as low as freezing point in the winter. Therefore you will require warm clothing as well as clothing for hot weather.

Hiking in Goa: Wildlife

The forests on the mountains of Goa provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Source: Flickr by vm2827.

If you are interested in birdwatching there are plenty of opportunities to for you to get out your birding binoculars, since there are over 275 species of birds to be seen!

Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary covers 240 sq km. There are a vast array of mammals, birds, butterflies and replies. Permits must be obtained from the Range Forest Officer in the town of Mollem.

Mammals include barking deer, Bengal tiger, leopard, bonnet macaque, flying squirrel, porcupine, spotted deer, wild boar and wild dog.

Birds include the Goa state bird called the Ruby-throated yellow bulbul Emerald dove, Fairy bluebird, Greater Indian hornbill, Indian black woodpecker, Grey-headed myna, Golden oriole, Paradise flycatcher, Racket-tailed drongo, and three-toed kingfisher.

Butterflies include Malabar Tree Nymph, Tamil Yoeman, Southern Birdwing and Crimson Rose.

There are many reptiles and snakes, such as the king cobra, Indian rock python, Indian cobra and Bronzeback Tree Snake.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Not all of the wildlife sanctuaries are in the mountainous regions of Goa. Around the coast there are many estuaries, creeks and wetlands that are a haven for birdlife. Located on the Chorao Islands the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary covers an area of approximately 1.8 sq. km. Streams and tributaries flow around mangroves where many species of birds can be seen, for example parrots, cormorants, egrets, kingfishers and eagles. Beware there are also crocodiles!

Hiking and Wildlife in Goa

There is a lot beautiful countryside in Goa and an amazing amount of wildlife. Hiking, trekking and bird watching are popular activities for both tourists and locals, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a great hike in Goa.

Pembrokeshire Best Coast Path

According to a readers poll in the BBC’s Coast Magazine The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is the best coastal path in the UK. The 186-mile walking route is located inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, in west Wales.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the path and it’s wonderful to have national recognition for this fabulous resource and to know that it is still valued 40 years on. Charles Mathieson, head of recreation and tourism for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path Route Overview

The Green Bridge of Wales on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Source Geograph.co.uk. Copyright Paul Allison and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

Starting at St Dogmaels, west of Cardigan, the path follows the coast in a westerly direction through Newport and onto Fishguard. From there it continues around Strumble Head, eventually turning south at St. Davids Head and through Whitesands, before turning east along St. David’s Peninsula Heritage Coast and heading towards Solva.

As the coastline follows the concave Bay of St. Brides, the path heads south through Nolton and Broad Haven before heading in a south westerly direction towards Martin’s Haven and around St. Ann’s Head. This section passes close to Skomer Island, famous for its Puffins, as it runs along the Marloes and Dale Heritage Coast.

Turning back east the trail continues along the northern side of the estuary of Milford Haven onto Neyland. After crossing the bridge towards Pembroke the footpath heads west for the last time, running along the southern side of the estuary towards Angle. Past Freshwater the footpath leaves the coast and heads inland for a detour to Merrion before returning to coast once again. Heading east north east the trail follows the South Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast past Tenby and Saundersfoot before reaching its conclusion at Amroth.

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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Terrain

The Pembrokeshire Coast path passes through beautiful and varied scenery. From St. Dogmaels to St. Davids the coast is remote with few villages, it is rugged, with tall cliffs rising out of the rough sea. St. Brides Bay offers wide, open sandy beaches. The Milford Haven estuary and harbour is sheltered from the ocean. There is an abundance of birds including widgeon, shelduck, teal, curlew and redshank. The cliffs on the South Pembrokeshire Heritage Coast are less rugged, with sheltered beaches. This section also contains the famous lily ponds at Bosherston and the golden sandy beach at Barafundle.

In its entirety the Coast Path represents a formidable physical challenge – its 35,000 feet of ascent and descent is said to be equivalent to climbing Everest — yet it can also be enjoyed in shorter sections, accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Pembrokeshire Coast website

The Pembrokeshire coastline has also been shaped by man, who has fished and farmed in the area for centuries. Iron Age promontory forts can be seen and so to can Neolithic stone structures known as cromlechs or dolmens.

The Pembrokeshire coast line has many different types of landscap, including rugged cliffs. Source: Flickr by dougwoods.

Best Gear for Coastal Path Walking

The most important thing to consider is walking footwear. There are many stretches of the coastal footpaths that are well maintained and require a good pair of approach shoes, especially if you are only walking a short section. There are sections where the terrain is uneven and stout walking boots are needed. If you are intending to walk long stretches of the coastal path over the course of several days, walking boots are definitely the best bet.

Obviously it depends upon the time of year that you will be walking, but even in the summer there can often be a strong wind on the coast. Therefore it is a good idea to take a windproof jacket, or even waterproofs.

The picturesque beach at Barafundle bay. Source: Flickr by Sarah and Iain.

You will need a base layer and perhaps a mid-weight fleece to keep you warm when you stop for a break. Zip-off trousers are a great idea, giving you the choice between shorts and long trousers.

Sun tan cream and a sun hat are essential items. During the summer you can get sunburnt even on a cloudy day. Sun glasses are worth taking too.

Make sure that you take adequate food and drink, especially on hot sunny days. The amount of ascent on coastal trails can be deceptive and there are not always places to stop for refreshments. A hydration bladder is a great way to store your drink, since it eliminates the need to remove a bottle from your pack. A small bottle of anti-bacterial hand wash is also worth taking to clean your hands before eating.

A good quality map is essential. A compass, emergency whistle and first aid kit are also recommended.

There is plenty of birdlife and wildlife to be seen along the coast, so don’t forget your bird watching equipment: binoculars, camera and an identification chart or bird book.

If you will be walking along the actual shoreline or beach it is essential to check the tide times. The sea can come in quickly and leave you stranded if you are not careful.

Best Coastal Path: Your Opinion?

Have you walked any or all of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path? Do you agree with Coast Magazine readers or do you think that there is a better coastal trail elsewhere in the UK?
For example:

• The South West Coast Path
• The Cleveland Way
• The Norfolk Coast Path
• Fife Coastal Path
• Arran Coastal Way
• Ayrshire Coastal Path
• Causeway Coast Way
• Lecale Way

Let us know what you think, click on “comments” and share your opinion!