I love the wild. The mountains, the waves, rugged coastlines, deserts; all which seem to be miles from me in lockdown!
In normal times I travel to the naturally beautiful areas as often as I can. As well as smaller treks out around the UK I somehow manage to squeeze a whole month of each year exploring mountain areas in Europe, my favourite being Picos de Europa in Spain. But it’s been some kind of lockdown situation for a year now. Still, no point just giving up when there is beauty all around us, just have to look a bit harder for it, especially in the winter.
While grateful for my home on the South Hampshire coast in the UK I can get bored of my own location without those things I yearn (mountains!). So I’ve pushed harder and done a lot more local walking. I know most of the trails but have never linked them together before. Typical walks recently are 12 miles in the local South Hampshire countryside. I live just on the western end of the Southdowns so am fortunate to be able to walk from my door without the need to drive.
Why go for walks?
There are many reasons, for me it is the exploring and adventure. I’ve always been drawn to adventures and so it feels a need in life, a gap that always needs to be filled! Another great benefit of walking is mindfulness. If you do journaling then you will know how good it is to get the constant thoughts out of your head. A good long walk in nature can do that too, plus of course the proven added bonus of natural health benefits being surrounded by nature. It seems to clear the constant thoughts and allow your mind to breathe.
A big reason for me to get out on adventures, even if it is just a walk, is to see deeper and understand or imagine the story behind all that I see. This is where the photography comes in. I create loads of photographs every time I go out and mostly never share them. There is no purpose to this photography apart from the enjoyment of doing it and that is ok too, it is all part of the mindfulness.
Anyway, I have to rule that out a little this time as i am sharing the photos from one winter of the winter lockdown walks as maybe it will help or inspire someone else somehow.
If this proves useful I’ll write more about mindfulness, the health benefits and the photography in greater detail as I have been studying and practicing each of these areas for years as well as routines for meditation, general wellbeing, healthy living and of course adventures!
So on the photos, should I caption these, or just post them all with no purpose? I think something in between, a bit of text where necessary. As you can tell it’s the first post like this so let me know how you like it.
So much for mountains eh! I come out of my home, cross the motorway (there is a bridge!) and then I’m up Portsdown hill, or for the pedants, just “Portsdown”. It is a small hill at the South Western end of the Southdowns national park. I dont think this work goes into the actual park boundaries, but it’s all the same to the lay wanderer. At least it was a sunny start for this walk I’m sharing. I think this is the first where the mud hasn’t been ankle deep, and that is hard going as boots get heavier and over 12 miles it becomes a proper workout!
The small church of St Nicholas, Boarhunt, is a nice little feature on this walk. Whilst it is cared for there is an area left to go a little wild and this gives it so much more character and is always bursting with wild flowers, making it a relaxing place for those visiting the church and graves too. I like to feel it as an abandoned discovery, although it isn’t, we’ve got to have a vivid imagination when we can’t roam far!
There are a few more more flat boring fields on todays walk but thats the way it goes. However these Merrel trainers have served me well. After too many Treks in Asturias and Cantabria in 2019 killed my last pair of Merrels I bought these waterproof ones ready to take on the winter of 2019/2020 and the summer mountains. At that time little did I know their purpose would all be local mud baths! But they have served me well. I have been through many brands in the last 20+ years of adventure shoes and Merrel seem to have the right balance on comfort, performance, durability and cost for my size tens. This now sounds like a paid for product placement but it really isn’t. I think the genuinely filthy shoes prove that point!
There is only so much one can take of flat mud fields and so I plan as much of my route as possible to go via interesting points and through woodland. When everything looks bland the beauty can be found in the details, exploring and discovering the wonders of nature always keeps me going. Like this huge hollowed oak with a wasps nest. And I love how despite what humans do nature always slowly dominates and owns it. These oaks have completely engulfed the barbed wire fence, the wire now inches deep into the tree.
Another way to consider the interest in the wide open fields is the space, especially on a bright clear day like today. Looking for the huge openness that feels so great right now in a period of winter lockdown. Or alternatively seeking out the leading lines in the muddy fields, and at least this field is a welcoming green rather than the usual muddy tone. With the walking, nature and photography combined there is little room for any other thought and so mindfulness brings peace to an otherwise busy life.
Part of this trek was closed off as the farmer was moving the cattle through the dairy but he waved me through and the cows really didn’t care about my presence, more interested in their food (apart from one curious cow!).
More fields to cross but different takes on the use of space in the frame of the photos. Also a vintage lens used here so vastly different colours too. And in the detail we see signs of spring, YES! Bring it on!
A highlight of this micro adventure was reaching the little village of Southwick. Not only does it feature many buildings of unique character but it has a friendly village store with a coffee machine and treats. Grateful since on this trip I had only brought a bottle of water and a couple of plant-based protein bars.. (ideal product placement opportunity missed as I didn’t photograph the bars or my old dented metal bottle!)
Homeward bound and the sun is getting real low (I’m a Marvel fan, If you get the reference let me know!). It was such a nice day I hadn’t brought a coat and it was already getting cold. Determined to get over the hill to the south side before it set to avoid walking in the cold and dark, a good goal on the last leg when the going slows a little.
Still squeezed in a selfie. I rarely ever do them but figured if I’m gonna share one of these then you might as well see me in bearded lockdown glory/horror! And this detailed discovery; what a cool bench badge! No memorandum, just an inspirational quote lit by the fading light.
Every story has to have an end and for my walks it is when I cross the motorway bridge. From this point I know my walk will be lit (that’s old fashioned “lit” from actual lights, not the modern “legit” lit, though this story is …. Oh shut up!).
Motorways are pretty dull and out of context so for a bit of creativity a 10second hand-held photo to show the light trails (with the help of leaning on the rails and the awesome Sony Image stabilizer!).
Anyway, I reached the bridge before the dying of the light, the blue hour raging. A view of the solent and a warm cuppa at home just a couple of streets away.
And that’s our little trek done. Trying to find something in our local world brings about gratitude for the discoveries, a purpose to life and a sense of wellbeing. And that is good enough for me.
If you got here,
Thank you so much x
PS: Now it’s properly spring the scary lockdown beard has gone!
Interested in the walks, the mindfulness and the photography?
I’m planning on some individual and smaller group walks. They can be more focused on walking adventures, mindfulness or photography tuition. But all will feature a little of each. If you fancy the experience make me aware of your interest, and which parts you’d like. Thank you.
Adam de-Ste-Croix
You can contact me at
Instagram: @The_Ad_Ventures
E-mail: Ad@SainteCroix.com
And… actually that’s enough isn’t it, start there and we will begin the adventures.
See you soon.
3 responses
Absolutely brilliant. Felt like I was walking you too.
Loved this piece Adam, you write so well with such detail. There are so many wonderful observations and nice to see the photos along the way.
Loved this piece Adam, you write so well with such detail. There are so many wonderful observations and nice to see the photos along the way.