So, in seven weeks I am flying out to Tanzania (read more here), and in 57 days I will be starting my ascent of Kilimanjaro.Whilst I can’t actually train by climbing a mountain, I can get the miles in my legs. I’ve had a lot of leg days at the gym, and this weekend as the weather was good I decided to head out in to the New Forest for a walk. This is also the first weekend I’ve managed to walk and not end up with any blisters, which means we’re finally there with the boots.

I started at Bucklers Hard, because A) it’s beautiful and B) I can park there for free with my annual pass. If you’ve not been, then I implore you to. It’s not only super interesting, it’s also absolutely stunning, and there’s a good pub, so you know if that’s your thing more than a museum about ships, you’ll be happy!I started the riverside walk along to Beaulieu, past Sir Francis Chichester’s famous yacht ​Gipsy Moth IV and on through the woods.

From Beaulieu, I walked out and towards Hatchet Pond where I stopped for lunch with a friendly donkey.

From Hatchet Pond, I walked towards East Boldre and then down towards St Leonard’s Cottages and St Leonard’s Grange.

As I started the leg back to Buckler’s Hard I got a little history lesson as well. I knew that Lepe beach, not far from Beaulieu, had been used as part of D Day (read my post here)  and along this road I came across a sign telling me that the below field was in fact RAF Needs Oar Point. The Hawker Typhoons flew from here to support the D Day landings.

The walk ended up being 10.06 miles and I even managed to get a tan. This morning I did realise I need to work on my abductor muscles a lot more though! For some reason today I am struggling. Foam roller will be the next purchase!Next weekend I’m either off back to Dartmoor or for a walk along the coast path somewhere!

I will be fundraising for GAIN (Guillain-Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies) charity for my Kilimanjaro climb, in memory of my grandfather who died suddenly due to complications from this extraordinarily rare illness earlier this year.