Pinch Points& Possibilities

25/08/2026

Walk 18 - Ringstead to Lulworth cove = 5.5miles (8.8km) Super sunny, ☀️ so we started early, again choosing to park at the end of the walk in Lulworth Cove and get the bus back to Ringstead.

Except… getting the bus back proved a little trickier than anticipated, so we eventually managed to get an Uber. 🤦‍♀️

Take away twinkle: book your taxis/Ubers in advance! 😂

This short section delivered some beautifully coloured seascapes and gorgeous views. Honestly, there were moments when it felt like we could have been walking somewhere tropical. 🌴🌊

There were also some steep sections, where going down felt considerably more scary than going up. Sorry knees. 😬 and Suzy snakes sweets were definitely required as motivation for the up!

Durdle Door beach was the perfect lunch spot, busy but absolutely beautiful. There are lots of steps down to the beach… and rather annoyingly, lots of steps back up again! 🥵

The sea had looked so inviting all the way along that by the time we reached Lulworth Cove, it felt amazing to have a quick dip in the sea and cool down. 🌊

We obviously celebrated our achievements with ice cream. 🍦

Perimenopause adventure walking = sunshine, scenery, steep hills, questionable knees, sea swims and ice cream. ❤️

Wouldn’t have it any other way ☺️

15/08/2026

Walk 17 - Bowleaze Cove to Ringstead circular - 10.2 miles (16.6km).

Back on June we did our first ever circular coastal route! 🌊🥾

Using our newly acquired map skills, we planned a circular route from Bowleaze Cove along the SWCP to Ringstead, then back inland to our starting point at Bowleaze.

We parked for free on Bowleaze Coveway, although there is also a car park at Bowleaze Cove.

Luckily, we weren’t on the coastal path for long as the wind was fierce. There was an amber weather warning in play… ooops! 😂

We were hoping that turning inland would protect us from the worst of the weather, but although the wind lessened, the moisture falling from the sky did not! ☔️

Probably one of our wettest walks. Although, thankfully, it did dry up towards the end.

We walked back to Bowleaze via some of The Hardy Way, which we re-named The Hardly Used Way as it was very overgrown, with stinging nettles at chin height. 😬

Apologies to any passers by who watched us get changed and wring out our socks on the side of the road!! 😂

Once again, we were absolutely thrilled to have the car at the end of our walk, complete with dry clothes, snacks and hot drinks to warm us up.

There’s something very satisfying about finishing a walk looking like you’ve been rescued from a shipwreck and then getting into a warm car with a flask and snacks. 😂

📸pinchpoints&possibilities

04/06/2026

Walk 16 - Ferry Bridge to Bowleaze Cove - 6 miles (10k)

We finally made it back to our beloved coastline and this route was the perfect way to ease ourselves back in.

Flat, easy to follow, sunshine on tap and sea views for days we couldn’t have asked for a better welcome back.

Still buzzing from our recent navigation course, we decided to be brave and leave the OS Maps app switched off. Armed with nothing but a paper map, coastal landmarks, and a healthy dose of confidence, we successfully navigated our way along the route without getting lost (which felt like a major win!).

Our favourite walking hack came up trumps too: park at the finish and walk back to the car. We left the car at Bowleaze Cove, jumped in an Uber to Ferry Bridge and enjoyed a carefree walk back.

There was plenty of sea air, lots of “we know exactly where we are” moments and the all important reward at the end, ice cream for one and sorbet for the other.

A reminder that some of the best adventures are the simple ones. ☀️🌊🍦

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22/05/2026

03/05/2026

Practicing our newly acquired navigation skills… 🧭✨

Keen to put our new skills to the test, we planned a route around our local are and what a success it was! Our timed sections worked out perfectly 👍🏻

Even better… not once did we get turned around (if you know, you know! 🤪)

We wandered through stunning pockets of countryside we didn’t even know existed, with a bit of tree nerding along the way 🌳💚

Sunshine, adventure, and spot-on navigation—job done 💪🧭☀️



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29/04/2026

Let’s get in the map………..
No coastal walks for us lately but we have been brushing up on our map & nav skills (essential homework for future adventures 🧭).

A few weekends ago, we spent a wonderfully wholesome few days out on the Mendips with an incredible group of women. Lisa & Ruth from were the perfect duo: their fun, encouraging approach left us all feeling so much more confident about navigating our own adventures. Between them, they seem to possess an almost magical level of map reading wisdom with amazing snacks and superior banter.

Between map reading and a bit of woodland frolicking, we were lucky enough to spot a peregrine falcon catching its prey, skylarks singing overhead, and wild ponies set against the most beautiful views.

Honestly, couldn’t recommend a navigation course with these two enough but our favourite part was seeing just how much everyone’s confidence grew over the course of the day 💛

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07/03/2026

Walk 15 - Polperro to Seaton
10.2 miles ( 16.4km).

More steps on this section… sorry knees! 😅

We were lucky to start the day in sunshine ☀️ and it was such a treat to step straight out of our accommodation in Polperro and onto the path which meant an earlier start too.

This stretch of the South West Coast Path was wonderfully rugged, with incredible views across to Looe Island.

We stopped for lunch at Plaidy Beach, but as the sun disappeared we definitely felt that February chill creeping in 🌬️ which quickened our pace towards Seaton!

The perfect ending: coffee and cake at The Beach House Cafe ☕🍰
Dog-friendly, gluten-free cake options, and beers too — so everyone in our group was happy.

MidlifeExplorers

22/02/2026

Walk 14 - 7.5miles (11.7km)

Amazingly, amidst all the rain lately, the sun actually showed up 🌤️ Shorts were discussed (briefly), and for a few glorious miles we soaked up this absolutely stunning stretch of coastline between Polruan and Polperro.

Yes, there were many, many steps… and yes, our crunchy midlife knees are still speaking to us. Just about. 💪

Honestly, the biggest challenge wasn’t the walking – it was getting to our start point! Road closures, narrow Cornish lanes, concrete lorries on a mission, and a touch of travel sickness for good measure. Huge shoutout to our support crew for navigating us safely to the beginning of this adventure 🙌

Post-walk reward? Outstanding treats at The House on Props in Polperro. A brilliant range of cakes – including plenty for the GF and vegan crew – and the absolute cherry on top… they had a South West Coast Path stamp! 🥾

Sunshine, sea views, steps, cake and a stamp. Walk 14 = success ✔️

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29/01/2026

Here’s what a year of walking has taught us — and what we’re taking into our 2026 adventures 👣✨

Or… our “take-away twinkles” from walking in 2025 💫

1️⃣ The OS Maps app
This keeps us on track and helps us plan routes. (We naively thought we could just follow the SWCP signs!! 🤣) Lesson learned.

2️⃣ Soft water bottles
Easy to carry on the outside of the rucksack and space-saving once empty. Lots of trial and error here, but we’re finally drinking more water and staying hydrated on walks 💧

3️⃣ Layers, layers, layers
Lots of thin layers are a game-changer for the ever-changing temperatures of the perimenopausal walker 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️
Shorts and a vest were preferable… even in October!

👉 “Be bold, start cold”
(dependent on weather and terrain, obvs!)

4️⃣ Dry clothes — but not in the rucksack
We’ve stopped wasting space carrying them. Instead, we park at the end of the walk and bus to the start.
Dry clothes waiting in the car, quick change (often in the car park), flask opened, car picnic activated — bliss ☕🚗

5️⃣ Stretch (even when we don’t want to)
Our hormonally challenged bodies hate the idea… but benefit hugely from a good post-walk stretch sesh 🧘‍♀️

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18/01/2026

Walk 13 – unlucky for some, but not for us!
We were firmly back in favour with the weather gods today, with sunshine all the way ☀️

Stunning winter light, stable and easy walking, including sections of the Tarka Trail. Plenty of birdlife too — great for any twitchers out there 🐦

An excellent pit stop at The Quay Café in Braunton — delicious-looking food and even a dog menu 🐾

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