How a Novel Invented a Town: The Story of Ivanhoe and the Ashby Spa

Some towns are shaped by industry, others by geography. Ashby de la Zouch, however, owes a remarkable chapter of its... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Unfinished Masterpiece: Power, Betrayal, and the Story of Ashby de la Zouch Castle

Some ruins are gentle ghosts, places that simply faded with time. Others are scars on the landscape, violent testaments to... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Bright Star of Mill Lane Mews: A Review of Lil Bo’s Deli, Ashby de la Zouch

You can always tell when a place has heart. You feel it the moment you step off the main thoroughfare... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Leave No Trace: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking Responsibly in the UK

We are lucky in the UK. We are blessed with thousands of miles of public footpaths, open access land, and... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

How to Build an Essential Hiking First Aid Kit: A Complete Guide

When you’re miles from a road, a minor issue like a blister or a small cut can quickly become a... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

A Guide to the Top 20 Things to Do in Nottingham

Forever associated with the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, Nottingham is a city where history and folklore are written into the... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

A Guide to Vancouver Island: A Journey from City to Wilderness

Vancouver Island is a place of epic scale, an untamed wilderness of mountain peaks and ancient rainforests pressed against the... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Malvern Hills Spine: An 11-Mile Loop of Ancient Peaks and Healing Waters

Standing in the genteel Victorian town of Great Malvern, you look up. You can’t miss them. An 8-mile-long “dragon’s back”... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

One-Pot Wonder: Simple Sausage & Pasta Skillet

There’s a specific kind of hunger that only a long day on the trail can create. It’s a deep, satisfying... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Hearty Hiker’s Stew: One-Pot Moroccan Vegetable & Sweet Potato Stew

There’s something magical about a fragrant, warming stew simmering away at the campsite as the evening chill sets in. This... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

An Autumn Walk Through Nottingham’s Arboretum: A City Centre Gem

Some places just have a certain magic about them, and for me, Nottingham’s Arboretum is one of them. On a... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Trailblazer’s Breakfast: The Perfect Pre-Hike Scrambled Eggs & Avocado Toast

There’s a special kind of magic in the air on the morning of a big hike. The boots are by... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Tin of Sardines: A Huge Experience in Durham’s Tiniest Bar

I’ve walked across Durham’s cobbled Elvet Bridge more times than I can count, in every kind of weather. It’s one... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Durham Cathedral: A Visitor’s Guide to a Norman Masterpiece

There are some views that just stop you in your tracks, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. For... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Cross Keys: A Pint of History in the Heart of Nottingham’s Lace Market

Introduction: Finding a Piece of the Past Walking through Nottingham’s Lace Market, I felt like I was stepping into a... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

How to Read an Ordnance Survey Map: A Beginner’s Guide

Opening up a new Ordnance Survey (OS) map can feel like you’re looking at a secret code. It’s a beautiful,... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking Navigation (Map, GPS & Phone Apps Explained)

Of all the skills a hiker can learn, navigation is the most liberating. It’s the skill that turns a dotted... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Not Just Another White Cube: A Day Getting Lost in Nottingham Contemporary

Don’t know about you, dear reader, but I’m a big fan of the city break. There’s something about diving into... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

The Barns at Blackwater Meadow Review: A Luxurious Lodge Escape in Shropshire’s Lake District

One of the many things I love about being alive in this modern day and age, is reading the marketing... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Bardon Hill: A Comprehensive Guide to Leicestershire’s Ancient Volcano

Introduction: The Rooftop of Leicestershire In the heart of the English Midlands, a landscape better known for its gentle undulations... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

Pitcher & Piano, Nottingham: Finding Heavenly Delights in a Grand Church

First Sight: From High Pavement to Hallowed Hall Wandering down High Pavement in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, I saw it.... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 7 months ago

A Walk Through the Lace Market: Nottingham’s Historic Heartbeat

There are places you walk into that feel like a different city, a different time. For me, that’s Nottingham’s Lace... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

One-Pot Camping Stove Chilli: Your New Trail Tradition

Introduction: The Reward at the End of the Trail The day’s last light filters through the canopy, painting the forest... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Dining with the Departed: A Review of London’s Café in the Crypt

An Unexpected Sanctuary: First Impressions of the Café in the Crypt The Approach: A Study in Contrasts Trafalgar Square is... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Stepping into the Dock: A Day of Crime and Punishment at Nottingham’s National Justice Museum

There are some buildings that just command your attention. They stand with a certain weight, their stone walls seeming to... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Queenstown for Every Traveller: Your Guide to Adventure, Scenery, and Local Secrets

Queenstown is a town of beautiful contradictions. Nestled on the shores of the crystal-clear Lake Whakatipu and surrounded by the... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Are Trekking Poles Worth It? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Hiking Poles

Walk along any popular trail, and you’ll likely see two types of hikers: those who glide along rhythmically, using trekking... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

How to Choose a Hiking Backpack: A Complete Beginner’s Guide (Features, Size & Fit Explained)

After your boots and your clothing, the pack you carry on your back is the final piece of the core... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

What to Wear Hiking: A Guide to Layering for All Seasons

So, you’ve got your trusty hiking boots. The next big question is: what should you wear? In the UK, where... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

SCHLOSS Roxburghe Hotel Review: A Luxurious Escape in the Scottish Borders

Don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of putting on my boots, firing up the satnav and... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

How to Choose Hiking Boots: Your Complete Guide to Happy Feet on the Trails

Choosing the right hiking boots is arguably the most important decision any walker will make. Get it right, and you’ll... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

The Ultimate Photographer’s Guide to York

York is a city that seems made for the camera. It’s a place of grand vistas and hidden details, where... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to York

There are few places in Britain where you can feel the weight and wonder of 2,000 years of history just... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

A Complete Visitor’s Guide to York Minster

There are some buildings in the world that just stop you in your tracks. York Minster is one of them.... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

A Hidden Haven in Ashby: Discovering the Timeless Charm of The Courtyard Café

Step off the bustling, historic Market Street in Ashby de la Zouch, with its familiar rhythm of shoppers and daily... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Visiting Carisbrooke Castle: A Perfect Day Out (Tips, History & Donkeys!)

Carisbrooke Castle is a Motte and Bailey castle that can be found in Carisbrooke, standing proudly above Newport on the... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Walking for Mental Health: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Calmer Mind

There are days when the noise in my own head is the loudest sound in the world. Days when stress,... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

The Ultimate Guide to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge

There are some journeys that are measured not just in miles, but in the depth of the experience. They are... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

The Imperial Hotel Tenby Review: Pembrokeshire Perfection

Must admit, I really, really like Pembrokeshire. Hardly surprising, really. It’s perfectly pretty, quieter than your average holiday hotspot and... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

Villa di Geggiano Review: A True Taste of Tuscany in Chiswick

Step off the bustling Chiswick High Road, push through an elegant gate, and you might just forget you’re in London.... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 8 months ago

A Journey Through the Layers of Sherwood Forest

The name Sherwood Forest conjures an immediate and powerful image: a vast, sun-dappled woodland stretching to the horizon, a sanctuary... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

A Journey Through the Hidden Histories of English Place Names

Look at a map of England and you’ll see a land of curious contradictions. It’s a place where you can... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

Bradgate Park: A Gem Of Leicestershire

Situated in the heart of Leicestershire, Bradgate Park offers visitors an escape into nature, rich history and breathtaking landscapes. It... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

The Waterproofness And Breathability Of Hiking Jackets

When embarking on a hiking adventure, one of the most crucial pieces of gear to consider is the hiking jacket.... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

The Soulville Steakhouse: A Feast for the Senses in the Heart of Nottingham

Situated within the vibrant streets of Nottingham lies Soulville Steakhouse. A culinary gem that transforms every meal into an unforgettable... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

Discovering Dinosaur Footprints and Fossil Hunting on the Isle of Wight

When I was a child I loved looking for fossils on the Isle of Wight with my family. I famously... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 9 months ago

Villa Epicurea, Portugal: Where Happiness Is Peace, Not Pleasure

Tucked away on the edge of a nature reserve, just a short drive from the fishing town of Sesimbra, sits... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 10 months ago

Keen Hyperport H2 Sandals Review

I have been looking for a good pair of sandals for a while. Run of the mill sandals never last... | Continue reading


@baldhiker.com | 10 months ago