This video covers my ride from Exeter Quay, along National Cycle Route 2 and the Exe Estuary Trail down to Exmouth. While there wasn't much sunshine about, at least I got to see some daylight!

Climbing the Seven Volcanoes is a story of grief, of extraordinary human resilience and dedicated mental effort. It's a story of chronic illness, of identity and of the self. It's a huge achievement of a book let alone of human endeavour.

If you need some light entertainment, here's my first(ish) YouTube video! Pedalling my way along part of the Exe Estuary Trail in inclement weather.

I don't find it too difficult to plan a bike ride, but I do find it difficult to have faith in my planning skills. I'm terrible for underestimating the steepness and length of hills - last Sunday I spent 20 minutes of a 3 hour ride going up one, incredibly long, steep hill - and I'm equally awful at remembering to let my stomach have a say in the preparation.Every time I go out for a jaunt and forget something, I think, 'the moment I get home I will write a damn checklist!'

This is a trail likely familiar to most two-wheeling residents. It actually stretches from Exmouth on the east coast of the estuary, all the way to Dawlish on the west coast. Exeter lies in the middle of the trail, upriver, allowing you to chose either direction and reach the sea with relative ease.

High Willhays is predominantly notable for its height and little else. To look at, it's not much. It's upstaged by its sister, Yes Tor, a stone's throw north and just 2 metres lower. But its surroundings contain myriad intrigue, and hiking here is well worth the effort.

We roam the streets for the atmosphere alone. It’s frenetic and keeping a straight line is impossible. Every few seconds I’m dodging scooters, other tourists and even cars. Driving around here seems like an impossibility given that you could barely have three people walking abreast.

As Devon bike rides go, cycling the Grand Western Canal from Tiverton is an exceptionally beautiful one. 22 miles and flat, it's a slice of paradise that I'd never known existed.

Isobaa gave me a great opportunity to test out their merino clothing this summer. From the mountains to the moor, I took it for a ride with zero washing.

I became aware of the beaver thanks to the shutter sounds of far fancier cameras than mine. My eyes searched the water and there it was, a brown head, calm eyes and an elevated nose, working its way across the river.

The UK is an archipelagic nation and yet ocean education is nowhere to be found in the curriculum. Is that about to change?

The rain is falling like fairy dust. It's drifting down from the smudged, white sky. The sparrows are chattering, clinging onto brickwork and rattling off calls. One swoops up into the nest right outside my open balcony door. I hear a burst of cheeping, hungry mouths that never seem to be sated. 

Pen y Fan is a popular mountain for a reason, it's not technical, you can do it in a few hours and it's easy to reach. And yet many people hike it ill-prepared. It's not a day for flip flops folks.

After sundown, the space turns into an intoxicating labyrinth sprung up from nowhere, filled with little stalls crammed with rice, noodles and fried everything.

We meandered along the club road and stopped to see if any would take off as there were already a few in the sky, gently circling under clouds in hope of gaining altitude. Turning around, we saw a glider streaming down straight towards us, only to steer away at the last minute and land with a gentle bump onto the field.

There are few things more pleasurable than spreading an OS map out on the floor, getting down on your hands and knees and having a really good look. The only thing more pleasurable is deciding on a route and setting off into glorious sunshine.

Vertebrate Publishing got in touch with me back in April to ask if I fancied a copy to drool over and review. I mean, they didn’t use the word ‘drool’ but I’m assuming that was what they meant because I have never, ever seen such a perfectly put together hiking guide.

I’ve decided to get to know my arboreal neighbours. The ones that will offer shelter in a rain shower even if you turn up uninvited.