backpacking | Julia Goodfellow-Smi

'Why on earth would you want to do something like that?'

I stepped out of my lovely warm car and immediately started to wonder what I had let myself in for. The cold wind whipped around my legs...

Lessons from a long walk: Keep the weight of your pack down

While walking the Camino this year, I gained the trail name 'Snow Light'. The 'light' part came from the fact that I had considered the...

17 essential tips for walking the Camino

In the summer of 2022, I walked the Camino Frances from Villafranca Montes de Oca to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain - around...

Hiking boots or trail shoes?

For the last 20 years or so, I have walked in leather Brasher walking boots. I have found them comfortable and long-lasting, even though...

A rocky day around the Isle of Portland

How do you walk for 14 miles with large blisters on the soles of both of your feet, without making them worse? A sensible response would...

On my own

I clung on to my husband Mike as we stood in the car park at Lulworth. He joked that it was because he was so warm, but it was far more...

Hiking hints and tips - packing list

I worked hard on keeping the weight of my rucksack down while walking the South West Coast Path. I used almost everything that I carried,...

Hiking hints & tips - rocking your rucksack

On any long-distance trail, your rucksack will be your constant companion. It’s never going to be easy carrying all the extra weight, but...

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