h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Honestly, if planned early enough, anywhere would be ok. (provided I can take the days off, of course...)

This link to UK TV has some interesting things,
www.channel4.com/programmes/walking-through-history

It might help a little

I just learned how to share the results of the survey with folks who have the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-DWW62B6X/ Though, since I've had people volunteer to help arrange meets in London and (probably) Edinburgh as well as Manchester, I don't know if a survey's even really necessary any more... I do need to get ready to set dates for those cities at the very least, though!

Are you a walker?

In Kent and the South East there are some fabulous "rights of way" and bridle paths through farms and besides rivers that display the beauty of the landscape you will see no other way.

It is also fun walking with a map, trying to spot the exit in the fence on the other side of the fence.

A good trip can include at least two decent pubs and still get you home by evening.

I'm not much of a walker when I'm by myself, and I'm also not very fit (though I've started working on that again). That said, I should probably try to see if I've time to do at least *one* walk while I'm over there!

Well, if you are willing to give walking a go.

Catch the train to Ashurst station with
1) An Ordinance survey map
2) A friend who know how the country walk system works

Follow a mixture a rights-of-way and tiny, hedge bordered, beyond picturesque narrow country lanes to a pub called "The Spotted Dog" and have lunch. On a Saturday booking probably is sensible. It is in the middle of nowhere (it has a googleable postcode TN11 8EP) and truly lovely.

After lunch walk to Penshurst Place and Gardens (avoid the main road - the right's of way will do it again). Stay until closing.

To get home you may be best to snag a car to the nearest railway station to head back (there are lots of stations within a mile or two).

Don't know if I'll have time, but I'll certainly keep it in mind!

OK, looking through this thread and the map at https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=2044852 (just a reminder--I'd suggested people put markers at the nearest train station or point of interest, *not* at their homes, unless they really want to)... Are there no h2g2ers living in Wales? Barring that, any Welsh suggestions? Since I'm going through England and Scotland, I thought it might be fun to see Wales, as well (not going to have time to visit Northern Ireland, most likely, unless I want to need as long to recover from my trip as the trip took! And maybe not then...) Though if there aren't any former or current h2g2ers there that I know, Wales would likely be the first to get weeded if needed, just because my main purpose is to see my friends.

I'm sorry I'm not competent to add a marker, but I ought to be added at either Grimsby or Lincoln. You could extend slightly with me and I'll take you on a long country walk (part of the Viking Way) with a good pub, but don't believe anyone who tells you Lincolnshire is flat.

I should probably go through and add markers at my "definitely" places on the map...

*Some time later*

OK, so I'm reserving the sunflower markers for my "definites"--since they're nearly at the bottom of the long list of marker types, that shouldn't be an issue

Well, I can save you quite a bit of time. Don't go to Rockall. It's a complete waste of time. We all know what's on Rockall.

*Rather predictably, looks up Rockall*



Someone already put a marker on it when I first made the map, long before I pointed out that Great Britain was quite likely the only island I'd be going to

Did your search tell you what's on Rockall?

We could probably manage a day trip to Great Cumbrea Island from Largs. Maybe Mini would like to take her mouslings to Largs and Cumbrae. It's only a short ferry journey across.

Also in Scotland - are you up for some hill walking, Ben Lomond isn't technically difficult (there's a path all the way up).

If Z shows up for a walk/hike up a mountain path with a young cardiologist with him, just go to the pub. They don't understand an "easy pace"*.



*At least not an easy pace for this fat old flat-lander.

BG, I have a feeling that I may not want to know

Right now, I'm concentrating on the not-Scotland bits, 'cause Mol and I are going to be going over train schedules tomorrow. I'd like to get the dates for the meets figured out (well, London's already pretty much set) as soon as possible, and also see if all my "definites" can be done in my timeframe, and how many of my "maybes".

Oh, and the walking... If there's time, sure. As far as pacing, Tom's not great at keeping an easy pace, so I'm used to lagging behind a bit. Normal hiking order for *years* has been him, PaperKid, Notepad, then myself (which works well around here--littles should be between 2 adults anyway, because there is a chance of bear and/or mountain lion encounters, though we've never seen either. Then again, we stick to easy areas with trails, and don't do much backcountry hiking).

It was a bit of an inside joke, possibly. A long time ago (during the early years of h2g2), there was a rather humorous satirical website called "the Rockall Times" whose masthead proclaimed "there is all on Rockall". Considering that Rockall is little more than a rock in the ocean between the UK and Iceland, it's an apt description. A755787

I miss the Rockall Times.


At least we've got Scarfolk now.

Ooh!... That deserves further study.