Coast walking and talking … the best therapy!

October 12, 2025 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Sunday 12th October 2025

We were blessed today to be joined on our walk by Hannah, aka Miss Keely – Milton Keynes’ most loved primary school teacher. Hannah kindly picked us up in Hove and drove us to Worthing which gave us a head start – it was just a matter then of a bus to Littlehampton. The combination of it being Sunday bus times and, the number 11 bus we boarded taking us around the houses, meant that we got to our start somewhat later than we had estimated … oh we laughed! But the pretty Marina was our starting point and although a little overcast it all pointed towards being a positive day.

*Setting off from Littlehampton Marina … with Hannah*

Now I have to confess, the next 8 miles over the next 3 hours absolutely flew by because I think, Hannah and I particularly, hardly came up for air – we had SO much to catch up on. Steve got an occasional word in too. We kept the walk at an easy pace and just enjoyed each others’ company. But I was aware of this coastal stretch being scenic and pleasant underfoot – luckily Steve was concentrating a little more and capturing the essence of this stretch with his fabulous photos. There was everything – sea views, colourful beach huts, beachfront properties to make us green with envy, sailing competitions and general prettiness.

*Some of the beachside properties were outstanding – so hope that they’re lived in!*

*Hannah and I putting the world to rights!*

*This was a display on one of the toilet blocks walls – knitted fishes*

Before we knew it we were strolling down the promenade into Worthing and it was a fantastic opportunity to take in more of this glamorous seaside town. The sun had fully come out by now and we were being treated to that wonderful seaside feel-good factor. We did search for a cup of tea, honestly, but it was very busy and the only seat we could find was by “Shrimpley the Best” beach hut, selling seafood and soft drinks/alcohol only. So wine and beer it was.

So the walk from Littlehampton to Worthing was just over 8 miles – would definitely recommend it as a pleasant walk. But far better than the coastline miles clocked up was the value of great company – walking might be good for the legs but friendship is so good for the heart. Always treasured. xxx

A splash of Sussex … and meeting Hannah

October 6, 2025 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Sunday 5th October 2025

We drove down to Sussex yesterday afternoon to take up residence in our latest house-sit in the Aldrington area of Hove. Imagine my surprise when we ventured out for a walk to find that my best friend Anne’s old house is just 200 yards away – have had many fun times in this area in years gone by! Once again we’re lucky to be staying in a beautiful house (my usual house envy has kicked in!) and we’re caring for two gorgeous small cats, Jack and Zena, who have come all the way from Singapore. They were a little wary at first but have now settled in with us and love loads of attention, playtime and lap cuddles.

Today, Sunday, we got straight down to business and walked the coast path from Hove to Newhaven. 12 miles of gorgeousness. And for October, the weather was just stunning – the sky was blue, the sun was out and there was a sightly chill wind which stopped us overheating, just perfect. Steve had even organised the direction to have the wind at our back – he’s just a genius!!!

*Setting off from Hove promenade – a beautiful day x*

Loved the promenade walk from Hove to Brighton – there’s so much to see. The picturesque rows of pastel and stripey beach huts with the magnificent Regency and Edwardian architecture looming behind. Quirky bars, cafes, shops and galleries and the very best of people watching. Compared to our last stint of coastal walking it was just Heaven to be around so much human life! The sea was wild today and green of colour – don’t think I’ll be taking a dip anytime soon, although there were some brave folk sporting dry robes on the promenade, hands clenched around mugs of hot drinks.

*The Mods were out and about with their shiny scooters*

So an easy flat and interesting promenade walk for the first 6 miles. As we were passing the posh marina area I had a call from Hannah to say she’d meet us at the cafe in Ovingdean, just a mile away. She asked if we had waterproofs and I couldn’t believe that the weather would change to rain. But I soon saw what she meant – the tide was high and the sea was splashing over the sea wall with great enthusiasm! There was lots of screaming from walkers and cyclists as they got a drenching but Steve calmly suggested “it’s all about timing” as we manoeuvred our way along, narrowly missing potential soakings. Pure luck – no skill involved!

It was fabulous to catch up with Hannah over coffee in Ovingdean. We had so much to chat about – some ears must have been burning! We haven’t seen each other for about six years when Hannah visited us at our very first house-sit in Norfolk. Sounds like retired life on this beautiful coast is idyllic – walking, volunteering, art classes, rock choir and lots of coffees and lunches – a world apart from stressful classrooms! Hopefully we’ll meet up again over this fortnight and we have other lovely friends to catch up with too – such busy bees.

Hannah walked with us for a while before heading back home to Rottingdean. As advised, at Saltdean we left the promenade and started on a very different section of coastal path – big hills, grass terrain, unpopulated and stunning views. The sea was somewhat calmer and turquoise/blue in colour – could have been tempted to dip a toe. We strolled the rolling hills through Peacehaven and then onto Newhaven where we ended for today, treating ourselves to tea and pistachio and chocolate cannelloni – scrumptious. 12 more miles in the bag and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Think we’re going to love the Sussex coastline.

The isle of Portland – a day of spectacular views

July 23, 2025 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Tuesday 22nd July 2025

So I’ve been chilling down in sunny Weymouth for a couple of weeks, lapping up lazy days on the beach, swimming, playing tennis, plenty of dining and drinking opportunities with family and friends, the odd leisurely stroll … and then Steve arrives which can only mean one thing – Coastal Walking!!!!

It hadn’t actually been our intention but as the weather took a little turn and we still had some sections to cover down this way it seemed like a good idea. We chose to walk the beautiful island of Portland today, not far from where we are staying. We caught the bus from Weymouth Harbour up to the Portland Sailing Academy where we set off to tackle the infamous rugged and hilly paths.

Just past Portland Castle, we veered off to the right and boy did we go uphill, it was relentless. Believe it or not, this steep two mile path had previously been a horse drawn and cable operated incline railway, built for the island’s stone trade in 1826, from the working quarries at Tophill to a shipping pier at Castletown. Needless to say, it took a lot of effort, heavy breathing and rest breaks to reach the summit … and we kidded ourselves that that would be it for climbing, it surely must be all downhill now!!

*The long climb up from Portland Harbour*

The path took us around the two prisons, one in which Mr. Glitter and his gang of inmates reside – very rock and roll. Amongst the grimness of the stark grey buildings we constantly had the most spectacular views to our left, of the sailing activity in Portland Harbour, the Dorset coastline and fabulously blue seas.

Occasionally we wandered through woodland areas and many paths lined with vibrant purple buddleia, attracting a variety of butterflies. We were also surprised at the number of fully ripe blackberries – seems so early. The pretty path led us down numerous steps to Church Ope Cove then steeply upwards again to the gothic revival mansion Pennsylvania Castle. From here there was a little roadside walking until we picked up a cliff top path all the way to Portland Bill. Most of today’s path was pretty rugged underfoot (not to mention the hills) which made progress a little slow – but it’s not a race!

7 miles in we took a rest at Portland Bill, enjoyed a cup of tea from the famous ‘Lobster Pot’ and, having built an appetite, devoured our egg and spring onion sandwiches (eggs lovingly supplied, hard boiled and mashed with mayo by my sister Caroline).

Feeling replete we set off to walk the other side of the island. This was an extremely long but steady incline, once again with the most wonderful views, this time of the 18 mile stretch of Chesil Beach and West Dorset. We hit a couple of areas where the path was closed due to cliff falls and were diverted inland a little – one section taking us through a disused quarry which has become a sculpture park.

The final stretch at Underhill was a steep and rocky descent, some steps provided in places but I still managed to take a tumble backwards, despite having remembered my walking pole this time. We ended our walk in Chiswell at The Cove House Inn, luxuriating in a long cold drink – lime and soda for me and something a little stronger for the big man.

Another 11 miles ticked off. Bus back to Weymouth and a little rest before going to meet friends on the beach tonight for drinks, music and dancing!

Easing into Essex

May 8, 2025 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Thursday 8th May 2025 – 80th Anniversary of VE Day

We thought our house-sit was in Leigh-on-Sea but it turned out to be in nearby Thorpe Bay, an equally pleasant part of the Essex Coastline. The house we are staying in is pretty wonderful, we shall be languishing in 5* luxury for the next 9 days. And we have the delightful company of a ginger tom called ‘Bertie’ who is easygoing and low maintenance – his only requirements are to be fed plenty and to receive frequent tummy rubs. We’ve struck lucky.

We arrived yesterday afternoon and, after a thorough introduction to the house, our very lovely hosts Mary and Doug took us out for a scrumptious meal in a nearby Turkish restaurant. It was a great opportunity for us all to feel comfortable with each other … after a couple of glasses of wine and whole deal of chatting, it was like saying goodbye to long lost friends as we waved them off on their holiday to Portugal.

Not to moan but I’ve been unwell for some weeks now – just a cold/cough but hugely lacking in energy – I’m beginning to wonder if it’s long covid because I just can’t seem to shake it. I had thought I’d leave Steve to do the walking on this trip, and I could just relax and enjoy the sea air. But waking up to a sunny day and knowing it was a flat walk, I thought I’d ease my body back into some exercise – it could be just the cure I needed.

Our accommodation is a short walk from the promenade at Thorpe Bay so that was our official start for the day. It’s strange to think that the water is the Thames – with the sand and the beach huts it looks just like any seaside. There were even some swimmers at various points, emerging from their daily constitutions, clad in the compulsory dry robes and crocs. I take my hat off to each and every one of them.

It was an easy promenade stroll where we could relish in envy at the stunning beachfront properties – there’s clearly some money in these parts. Continuing on we met the contrast of Southend-on-Sea with its garish amusements, funfairs and casinos – having said that it was still smart and interesting to walk through, certainly plenty of things to do. And then on to the pretty area of Leigh-on-Sea with its famous seafood restaurants – Steve’s excited for his cockles and whelks!

This was 6 miles in and I was beginning to flag – I considered stopping off and letting Steve carry on without me. However, we took sustenance in the decking area of ‘The Galley’ – turned out a soothing mug of cappuccino and a bacon, avocado and tomato panini gave me the boost I needed to soldier on, and I’m so glad I did.

Just past here we took in the 3 mile walk around ‘Two Tree Island’ – a pretty nature reserve that also provides a setting for model plane enthusiasts. As we walked through the colourful and pungent flora we were accompanied by the whizzing noises overhead – interspersed with real aircraft flying low as they made their descents into Southend Airport. There were definitely more than two trees on the island – apparently the name comes from when the land was first reclaimed.

We picked up a path just off the island which became a generously proportioned sea defence wall with pretty views either side, absolutely gorgeous. We enjoyed this 3 mile walk into Benfleet where our station awaited us. We passed the bridge which will tomorrow take us onto our ramble around Canvey Island. And so back to Thorpe Bay where we relaxed in the very lovely garden and soaked up some afternoon sunshine.

Not sure if it’s cured me but it was a great day and we have 12 more miles ticked off.

An easygoing 6 miles on the path today …

March 13, 2025March 16, 2025 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Thursday 13th March 2025

It took two buses to get us to our start point today but the connections went like clockwork. We picked up the sea defence wall where Steve left off yesterday, near the village of Paull. The terrain immediately seemed to be improvement from the previous day so that was a bonus. In fact the whole day was relatively comfortable underfoot.

There was something for everyone – some road walking, sea defence walls, farmland paths, a stroll through the pretty village of Paull, more sea defence walls, industrial backdrops and a housing estate, before an easy pavement brought us back to the main road to catch the bus back into the city. There was just about a mile of a narrow, muddy and slippery path towards the end – but with a slow pace and full concentration I managed to stay fairly upright – regretted not having my walking pole once again!

I’m so in awe of Steve and how he manages to plan these routes – I just always feel I’m in the middle of nowhere and then suddenly it all seems to piece together. It all worked like a dream today, even the buses.

Being a shorter walk, we decided to stop off in the city for a while. I deposited Steve in a Quayside Bar and went for a little cultural stroll around the Old Town and Marina. You can really see the effort they put in to earn their “City of Culture” status in recent years. As well as grabbing the opportunity to enjoy the marvellous architecture, I paid a visit to Ferens Art Gallery – not huge but some wonderful art. And of course I then joined Steve to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine to round off the afternoon.

And now to continue with the ‘easygoing’ theme of the day … it’s dinner, feet up and early to bed. We are so rock and roll.

Malaga storms and bamboo wigwams …

November 15, 2024 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Friday 15th November 2024

We survived the storms!!

It was a little scary for 24 hours, particularly in light of what happened in Valencia so recently. I think the authorities reacted strongly because of that, sending out alerts with loud alarms to Spanish phones, advising no travel and listing closures. Trouble was, being holidaymakers we didn’t get the alerts and the severity of it all only really hit home as we were traveling by train to Malaga – our thought process being that we might as well spend a wet day dodging in and out of museums, galleries and cafes. We thought the train was pretty quiet and the streets of Malaga too, then we discovered most things were closed down. So it was an incredibly brief visit … as the volume of rain started to increase it dawned on us that perhaps our apartment was the safest bet. We must have got what was one of the last trains back to Benalmadena before the train service shut down for 24 hours – lucky us! And so it was an afternoon indoors, listening to the crashes of thunder and lightening … and the volume of rain was quite phenomenal.

There’ve been piles of bamboo washed up on the shoreline since we arrived 2 weeks ago – we were initially mystified but found out that it had been washed down the rivers from the mountains in last month’s storms. It’s been joyous seeing the kids using it to construct wigwams and beach houses – all shapes and sizes – quite a competition, makes a change from sandcastles! Last week there was a massive clean up campaign and the beaches tidied. But now, it’s all back … at least the kids will be delighted.

On Sunday we took part in the Feungirola 5k race, whilst others chose to do a half marathon! Although it was hot it was a relatively flat course so quite enjoyable. Particularly enjoyable as the course came up short … 4.3k … such a wonderful surprise to stumble upon the Finish Line when you least expect it!!

*I’m famous – made it to the official site*

The rest of the week has been fairly leisurely although Steve has been training for the Benalmadena Half Marathon on 24th. I’ve settled for speed walking. On Saturday, while Steve, basking in the glory of Wycombe Wanderers being top of the league, watched their match, I took myself off for a long walk along the Benalmadena coastline … 5 jaunty miles in total with a little swim in between. Some stunning and secluded beaches along this stretch and the sea is wonderfully clear.

We’ve met up with Julie, Martin and Annie (& friends) a few times – for runs and coffee. Lovely to have some local expertise out here.

We’ve continued to explore some local areas – love the old town of Fuengirola with its pretty squares, churches, bars, cafes and restaurants. Definitely worth diving into these streets off the main beach area.

Yesterday we took a bus ride up the winding steep hill to Benalmadena Pueblo – this is a favourite spot of ours from a previous visit. Absolutely love it here. Tucked into tapas and wine and soaked up the atmosphere of this white village, with stunning views over Benalmadena. Then, rather than use our return bus ticket, we took a long, leisurely, steep walk downhill back to our apartment.

Which brings us to today. Steve was up early to fit in a 10 mile run … achieved! Weather seemed a little iffy again but we headed out for a beach day anyway. It was warm enough but the sea was ferocious – only surfers braving the crashing waves. The bamboo is well and truly back.

An early night is called for tonight as tomorrow I reach the milestone that is “Old Age Pensioner!!” Wish me luck!! x

Costa del Sol – some rambling and a whole load of chilling!!

November 8, 2024 / Dee and Steve / Leave a comment

Friday 7th November 2024

A bit of a contrast to our wet, wild and windy adventures on the UK coastline – this time we’re on the glorious Costa Del Sol where we’ve spent the last 5 days settling into the Southern Spanish way of life. Our accommodation in Benalmadena is neatly tucked away from the crowds, giving us the opportunity to explore local life, practice our limited Spanish and use their marvellous train service to explore all there is between Malaga and Fuengirola. There are some superb walking stretches here as long as you stick to the beach strip … either direction from us we can walk for miles and miles on wonderful promenades. If you venture off you go steeply uphill into the mountains – not for the faint hearted. We’re using our ‘Rambling Roses coastal path walkers’ as an excuse to keep to the flat. To be honest a few hills in this moderate November temperature will not be so bad so I’m sure we’ll wend our way up a hill/mountain or two before too long … but there’s no rush!!

We arrived on Sunday night, two hours later than planned due to flight delay. This had the knock on affect of a slight situation at check in … the supermarket, where our keys were waiting for us, had shut. After a number of phone call attempts we finally made contact with our airbnb host to explain – the outcome was we took refuge at the pizza parlour until a young lad appeared on a motorbike an hour later with spare keys. This wait forced us to consume wine!!! Our bijou apartment is lovely and all we need for our budget self-catering 4 weeks sunshine break. And plenty close enough to where many of our running friends will be located when they come out later in the month, just a couple of train stops away. Sea views too, over stunning white Spanish architecture – just perfect.

So, this first week we have been finding our feet in terms of:

The best beaches
Selection of walks
How to negotiate Spanish train ticket machines
The ins and outs of the bargain 10 euro train ticket
Exploring all the stops on the Malaga – Fuengirola train line
Importantly, which stations are lower down i.e. how to avoid long uphill walks after a day out!! **
Cheapest supermarkets
Bargain yet delicious Spanish wine
Spanish restaurants

** would recommend Fuengirola, Torreblanca, Carvajal and Los Alamos for beaches that are nearer to train stations. Montemar Alto and Torremolinos are great places but be prepared for a strenuous walk uphill from the promenade if you end your walk in either of these areas.

It’s definitely been hotter some days than others and generally warmer than we had expected. We’ve had a couple of beach days already so plenty of chilling. I’ve got to swim a few times so I’m a happy bunny – the sea is not cold, honestly – not quite a bath but easily doable and refreshing.

On Wednesday evening we ventured into Feungirola where we enjoyed a seafood paella at ‘San Pe’, a pretty Spanish restaurant tucked away in the side streets of this vibrant town. On our way home, we bumped into our running friend Julie Bousfield, and her husband Martin – they have an apartment in Torreblanca and had been enjoying a meal out too … so we shared a ‘merry’ train ride home. We met up with Julie again this morning for coffee and a lovely stroll and she shared many handy tips to help us during our stay here.

Walks so far this week:

Around Benalmadena
Benalmadena – Carvajal
Montemar Alto – Los Alamos
Carvajal – Fuengirola

Trying to get in at least 5 miles of walking each day whilst Steve is trying to build up his running mileage in preparation for the Benalmadena Half Marathon later in the month – he’s wondering why he signed up!! Suffice to say we are very happy to be here. Sunny weather and blue skies certainly energise you and create positivity. After a crazily busy year, we’re relishing spending some chilled time together and intend to take it easy as well as make the most of our Spanish time. And we could wax lyrical about the bargain that is the 10 euro train ticket – we can use it for all our trips for the whole month we’re here and there’s still plenty for us to see and do on the Costa Del Sol.

We hope the sun keeps shining … except on the two race days!!

The rambling roses

Come along with us on our journeys :)

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