Happy 98th birthday to the Flying Scotsman!
Trainspotting is 25 years old!
Trainspotting is 25 years old! And yet, I’ve still never seen it! Here are photos, from when Nick, had us remaking some scenes from the film.
More photos can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/uk-named-summits/beinn-na-lap-10-06-2019/
Railway stations, I visited for the first time in 2020
Well everyone knows that 2020, may not have been best of years! But before everyone went mad, I still ticked off a good number of new railway stations this year! Sure in 2021, when it’s safe, I will tick off, many, many more!!
The full list of railway stations, I’ve visited so far can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/travel/railways/railway-stations/
- Aberdour
- Bamford
- Barnetby
- Barry
- Barry Docks
- Barry Island
- Bickley
- Birchgrove
- Bolton on Dearne
- Boston
- Brading
- Bristol Parkway
- Bromley South
- Cardiff Bay
- Cardiff Central
- Cardiff Queen Street
- Carmarthen
- Chinley
- Cleethorpes
- Coleshill Parkway
- Conisbrough
- Dalgety Bay
- Danescourt
- Dinas Powys
- Dinas Rhondda
- Dore & Totley
- Dunbar
- Edale
- Ferryside
- Folkestone Central
- Folkestone West
- Goldthorpe
- Grindleford
- Habrough
- Heath High Level
- Heath Low Level
- Hope
- Kidwelly
- Lake
- Llandaf
- Llanelli
- Llwynypia
- London Victoria
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Merthyr Vale
- Mexborough
- Newport
- Orpington
- Pembroke
- Pembroke Dock
- Penally
- Petts Wood
- Pontypridd
- Porth
- Portsmouth & Southsea
- Portsmouth Harbour
- Radyr
- Ramsgate
- Rotherham Central
- Ryde Esplanade
- Ryde Pier Head
- Ryde St John’s Road
- Sandown
- Scunthorpe
- Sevenoaks
- Shanklin
- Swansea
- Swinton
- Taffs Well
- Tenby
- Thurnscoe
- Ton Pentre
- Tonypandy
- Trehafod
- Treherbert
- Treorchy
- Ty Glas
- Ynyswen
- Ystrad Rhondda
Finished the End to End cycle 11 years ago!
Would you believe it?!?!? It was a whole 11 years ago today, that I finished doing the End to End cycle. A cycle covering 990.30 miles, which of course took me from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
Even after 11 years, would still rate it has one of the best things, that I’ve ever done! Really hope, that one day, I get to it again!
Here are, just some of my favourite photos from the cycle.
You can check out the route, I took below:-
- Day 1 | Sun Aug 9 2009 | John O’Groats to Tongue
- Day 2 | Mon Aug 10 2009 | Tongue to Carbisdale Castle
- Day 3 | Tue Aug 11 2009 | Carbisdale Castle to Loch Ness
- Day 4 | Wed Aug 12 2009 | Loch Ness to Glencoe
- Day 5 | Thu Aug 13 2009 | Glencoe to Killearn
- Day 6 | Fri 14 Aug 2009 | Killearn to New Lanark
- Day 7 | Sat 15 Aug 2009 | New Lanark to Carlisle
- Day 8 | Sun 16 Aug 2009 | Carlisle to Slaidburn
- Day 9 | Mon 17 Aug 2009 | Slaidburn to Chester
- Day 10 | Tue 18 Aug 2009 | Rest day
- Day 11 | Wed 19 Aug 2009 | Chester to Clun
- Day 12 | Thu 20 Aug 2009 | Clun to Welsh Bicknor
- Day 13 | Fri 21 Aug 2009 | Welsh Bicknor to Street | No GPS data
- Day 14 | Sat 22 Aug 2009 | Street to Okehampton
- Day 15 | Sun 23 Aug 2009 | Okehampton to Perranporth
- Day 16 | Mon 24 Aug 2009 | Perranporth to Land’s End
Cycling from York to the Tan Hill Inn, update!
You may all remember that on 26th July 2020, did a blog post about hoping to cycle from York to the Tan Hill Inn, which is the highest pub in Great Britain at 1732ft above sea level…. Well about 90% sure, it’s going to happen!
Like OMG, it will have around 1,355 metres of total ascent in around 70 miles! it will be hard, hard going… But I can’t wait!!
This will be my biggest cycling adventure since, doing the End to End cycle, way back in 2009! But BRING IT ON!!
Think it will be happening in the next two weeks! Will post more, when I know for sure!
Anyone up for cycling from York to the Tan Hill Inn?
After my last very big cycle adventure, which was cycling all the way from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, covering a distance of 990.30 miles over 16 days. Which was way, way back in 2009. Really think I’m long overdue another adventure.
Right now, my plain is to get a train up to York, then cycle from York to the Tan Hill Inn, which is the highest pub in Great Britain at 1732ft above sea level. A distance of around 70 miles, with an Elevation Gain of 4,509ft.
Then stay the night at the Tan Hill Inn! Then the following morning cycle to Settle, a distance of around 36 miles, with an Elevation Gain of 3,045ft. Where I could get the train back to Grantham.
That makes it sound very, very easy! Which of course, I know it will not be!
So what do you think of this idea? Please do let me know!
InterCity 125 passes Elton and Orston railway station
Today Mark T and myself went to Elton and Orston railway station, which is the least used station in Nottinghamshire. To watch the one of the Summer Saturday HST specials to Skegness.
Climbed Ben Nevis three years ago!
WOW! Where has the time gone? Three years ago today, Nick and myself climbed Ben Nevis, which is of course, the highest mountain in the British Isles! Standing at 1,345 metres above sea level. Still can’t believe that we both did it!!
Check out the route we took at www.strava.com/activities/1088565730
Here are some photos + vlog, from a truly amazing day!
More photos from this set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/uk-named-summits/ben-nevis-17-07-2017/.
Really need a day out to Hunstanton again!
Long, long overdue to a day out to Hunstanton! Always have so much fun when I go! Here’s a look back to times, I went with Hobbz and Tyler (2010) and myself Nick and Myself (2015 & 2018).
Hunstanton with Hobbz and Tyler in 2010:-
Full set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/20-07-2010/
Nick and Myself in 2015:-
Full set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/06-07-2015/
Nick and Myself in 2018:-
Full set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/06-07-2015/
Walked so many canals
I’ve walked so many canals in England over the last number of years! So far done the Erewash Canal, Grand Union Canal (main line), Grantham Canal, Northampton Arm (Grand Union Canal), Nottingham & Beeston Canal, Paddington Arm (Grand Union Canal) and Regent’s Canal.
Think so far, the Grand Union Canal (main line) has been my favourite! Mainly because, I can say I’ve walked the whole way from London to Birmingham.
Now in the process of walking the Kennet and Avon Canal and Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal).
The map below, shows all the canals and other walks, I’ve done since 6th October 2016. When I got my Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS smart watch.
Want to make a map like this? Then check out www.veloviewer.com.
