Hi, I'm Gillian and a keen walker and wild swimmer in Devon and Cornwall. I especially love walking on Dartmoor, and swimming in rivers and the sea, enjoying the beautiful coastline and countryside in the region.
I consider myself to be an amateur wildlife spotter and aim to improve my identification skills and mark the change in seasons throughout the year on this blog.
Nature helps me to rebalance mentally from everyday stresses and I want share my passion and enjoyment for it with you.
Daffodils @ Pixabay I love the changes that February brings. The month starts off with dark days but by the end of it we have lighter mornings and evenings, and the first signs of spring with daffodils, snowdrops and primroses blooming in hedges, verges, parks and gardens. There are over... Read more →
Looking up the East Dart Valley to the woods During the first lockdown I enjoyed walking around my local area and taking notice of things I'd never looked at before. There have been many studies into how beneficial nature is for our health, but it's not just about going out... Read more →
Looe Island from Hannafore In my twenties I did some scuba diving and was fascinated by the undersea world. Then my pursuits changed to on the water and I wasn’t so keen on thinking about what lies beneath. Rockpools have the best of both worlds, with wildlife living in both... Read more →
Bellever forest It’s said that moving home is one of the most stressful life events and I can definitely agree with that. In between unpacking boxes and painting walls I stole a little quiet time on Dartmoor for some fresh air and mental rebalancing. I went to the edge of... Read more →
The Mewstone at Wembury The days are certainly getting chillier. I’m an early morning swimmer, going a few times a week before work to enjoy the ambience of the sea and find some mental calm before the realities of the day seep in. Recently when I’ve arrived at my swimming... Read more →
Autumn landscape, Devonport Leat Walking among trees has always given me a great sense of peace. There’s a certain stillness to be found in a forest and it engages the senses of sight, smell, sound and touch. I’ve been going on a few woodland walks recently, mostly on Dartmoor, to... Read more →
A windswept hawthorn tree on the slopes of Little Staple Tor Ponies are the most iconic symbol of Dartmoor, but for me hawthorn trees come a close second. I love watching the trees change all year around - the leaves appearing in spring, then buds blossom as the season turns... Read more →
Crazywell Pool, Dartmoor While I'd visited Crazywell Pool on Dartmoor many times on walks and thought that it looked like a lovely spot for a wild swim, I hadn't yet done it. So at the end of August, the day dawned with a glorious blue sky and I headed off... Read more →
Porthcressa beach, St Mary's While the beaches empty of people during the autumn and winter months, I become a more frequent visitor. I love the coast during these seasons as there’s plenty of wildlife to spot if you know where to look. Earlier this month I was in the Isles... Read more →
A walk of two landscapes taking in glorious views from Smallacombe Rocks then descending into wonderful woodland. This route was walking in July 2020. Click here to find out more about the wildlife in Yarner Woods. DISTANCE: 6.5 miles (moderate, with one steep descent) NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: Haytor, Bovey Tracey or... Read more →
View of Perranporth beach from high cliffs Some days only a beach walk will do. I find a great sense of freedom walking along a vast expanse of sand with blue seas and skies, and the cries of gulls hovering in the wind. Unfortunately due to the storms last month... Read more →
Cothele Garland 2019 There are a few National Trust homes in my area and I love visiting them in December to see the lovely festive displays. The one I make sure to visit is the stunning 60ft flower garland at Cothele in South East Cornwall. It's become my own Christmas... Read more →
Looe is a town of many facets. It’s a busy fishing port on an attractive part of the coastline in South East Cornwall and is divided in two by the River Looe which is skirted by woods. It’s the ultimate coast and countryside destination. While walking along the coast here... Read more →
While I love walking on Dartmoor, I also enjoy doing a spot of wild swimming and there have been a couple on my 'to do' list for while. Tavy Cleave was one of them. It's been on my list a while as getting to it is a bit of a... Read more →
Floating on my back I felt the warmth of the sun on my face as the river’s current turned me in slow circles on my lazy drift downstream. A blue damselfly danced in the air inches from my face before joining others along the riverbank. Turning to watch them I... Read more →
As a lover and writer of crime fiction, Agatha Christie is one of my favourite authors and she also loved south Devon, in the South West of England. I'm lucky to live a couple of hours away from her holiday home, Greenway, which is currently managed by the National Trust.... Read more →