Wilkes Walks

26/11/2024

Another amazing tour in Nepal sadly finished this morning. It was great to meet old friends and make new ones.

Ramble Worldwide

19/11/2024

Loving the mountains this morning

09/11/2024

Trekking, Temples, and Tigers 🐅

I love Nepal with a passion. Today, I'm heading back to the Himalayan country of Nepal, on another walking tour which I was asked to lead for Ramble Worldwide.

Beneath the Annapurna range, the tour has superb views in good weather. It is the perfect introduction to trekking, and indeed, to the Country of Nepal 🇳🇵. Locally, the walk is called The P**n Hill Trek, and we go to the 3200 meter high 'hill' at Sunrise. We are then visiting Chitwan National Park, searching for exotic wildlife there while staying at an amazing paradise which is both sustainable and ethical, Sapana Village Lodge.

23/10/2024

Waxcap Wonderland

Waxcaps are the common name for a group of grassland fungi, and which are known for their colourful, shiny looking caps.

I see waxcaps at work as we have some ancient unimproved grasslands within Cedars Village in Chorleywood. To date four species.

Led by an expert in the field of waxcaps and surrounded by fungi enthusiasts, last weekend, alongside a local Fungi Group, we found TWELVE species of Waxcap, all in one amazing field within the Peak District National Park.

In order of appearance:

Golden
Crimson
Snowy
Golden & Butter
Honey
Heath
Parrot
Meadow
Spangle
Slimy
Blackening
Scarlet (small) & Crimson

What is your favourite?

04/09/2024

An African Adventure begins tomorrow... Welcome to Zimbabwe!

24/07/2024

Fungi season is on the way 🙌 👌 👏

20/07/2024

Another great Summer Fungi foray, the second this summer. I'm in the Peak District National Park.

Young birch woodland glades are always good hunting ground and are an important habitat for some amazing fungi even as early in the season as this.

Didnt get much exercise though. Two hours and didn't even walk a mile!

Here is what I think we have identified:

Yellow swamp brittlegill
Red leg toughshank
Chestnut bolete
Birch milk cap
Tawny grisette
Orange birch bolete

Autumn is coming and, yay!!

07/07/2024

Fungi hunting in the South West.

Its not long to Autumn. I'm starting to get myself in the mood for fungi hunting Autumn and last week I was in the Exmoor National Park and sneaking out after work I had some special time to look for fungi.

The ancient woodlands of Exmoor provide some wonderful habitats to find fungi (and slime mounds) and this time was no different.

17/06/2024

Japan is a very special place!

I still lead just a few holidays abroad and I have recently returned from leading a holiday in Japan for Ramble Worldwide. In May you don’t see the renowned cherry blossoms and you don’t get the classic autumnal colours, but the weather was good and there are fewer tourists which are reasons alone to come in May.

Below are some photos with names and descriptions.

Osaka. It’s me. Jet-lagged at the top of the Umeda Sky Building. This is a 173m tall
building consisting of two towers that are connected with each other on the 39th floor.

Koyasan. The impressive Great Principle Pergoda stands is two-story and 50m high. This area is Japan’s most venerated Esoteric (Shingon) Buddhist site. It sits on a plateau.

Shirarahama. The view of the Beach shows off a Japanese pine at sunset.

Kumano Kodo. Women wearing the traditional costume which pilgrims used to wear years ago.

Nara. One of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha at the Todai-Ji Buddhist Temple. In Nara, the Sika Deer are tame and are considered sacred. They roam around the town with everyone else.

Silver Temple in Kyoto. This is a view out from the temple showing off some green acer leaves with the sun shining through.

Hirashima – pictured our group by the Atomic Bomb Dome building, which survived the blast and left standing as a reminder of what happened following the explosion on 6th August 1945. We visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Hundreds of traditional vermillion gates interspersed with statues of foxes, which are said to be messenger’s.

Kyoto – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Quite a magical experience despite some other
tourists

Tsumago village. Rice growing on the Nakasendo Trail. The trail was one of the major routes connecting Tokyo (Edo) with Kyoto. We had two splendid days walking the trail.

23/04/2024

Enticing Exmoor April 2024

For the third consecutive year, Wilkes Walks returned to the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster, Somerset and hosted what has become our annual walking holiday there.

A group of nine experienced walkers came from all over the UK to discover the delights of Exmoor on foot, and it didn't disappoint!

After a wet few months, the weather changed for our week and the rain largely stopped. Instead we had a mixture of windy, sunny and mostly bright conditions ideal for walking and taking photos. After all, you don't want it too hot when your walking 10 miles a day!

Our program of walks hasn't changed much in the last few years, with a contrast of stunning coastal vistas, magnificent moorland, enchanting woodland and local Exmoor villages to explore.

The Yarn Market is our comfortable home-away-from-home, and they have supplied excellent local food delicacies to keep our strength levels up. They've been busy with our half board with five lunches included. I still don't understand how we managed a cream tea in Withypool as well? Back to the diet now, I suppose 🤭!

The Ukrainian Evening coordinated by Antony at the Yarn was a brilliant night with a chance to try out that country's cuisine and listen to Ukrainian opera singer...

Right now, I am organising an Exmoor holiday in October this year, and once again from the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster. For this tour, the walking will be easier and the week will be split into two themes: 'Nature' and in particular 'Fungi' at the beginning, and then 'Stargazing' at the end. We will have insights on both topics from guests. Much more to come on this.., watch this space...

More photos to come from a memorable week in one of the great UK National Parks.

13/04/2024

Wilkes Walks is back in Enticing Exmoor!!

The weather is starting to improve, and Spring has sprung just in time for our walking week in the National Park. I am looking forward to meeting the walkers tomorrow.

24/03/2024

I must remember to schedule my group walks on days when the weather is like today. The first sunny spring sunday of 2024. 😀 🌞

07/03/2024

Wonderful island country

07/03/2024

Come for a walk with me in the Chilterns National Landscape this coming Sunday. We will be visiting some lesser know places, off the beaten track and seeing some amazing places.

If you do not have Meetup, message me to book.

Exploring the borderlands between two counties On the borders of leafy Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, not far from the historic towns of Berkhamsted and Chesham, our v

03/03/2024

Some images of the last few days in Sri Lanka on the ramble.worldwide tour.

02/03/2024

macaque sri lanka