About Michael Tilley
3,703 km
882:43 h
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- Michael TilleyOctober 19, 2025
The chapel is closed on Monday and shut at lunchtime from 12:30 to 14:00.
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
December 3, 2025
This is a circular tour to visit the most important tourist sites in Winchester. I started and finished recording at the bus station in the city, which is at the bottom of the High Street. Opposite the bus station is the Town Hall, with its imposing tower; inside the building is the Tourist Information Office. To the south of the building is a small park, with free toilets. I walked down towards the bridge, but turned left just before the bridge to follow the river Itchen. Opposite the bridge is an old mill that is in the care of the National Trust. I branched off the Itchen Way in order to visit Wolvesey castle. This was a former Bishop's palace, but today only ruins remain. I walked back to College Walk, turned right and left to walk on a path beside a small stream. Whe I reached a road bridge I turned right and then right again to walk towards Winchester College. Past the College I went through Kingsgate, turned right and through Prior Gate to reach the grounds of the cathedral, where a Christmas market was in progress. I made a mistake at St Cross Road, so I had to retrace my footsteps to reach Peninsula Square, where there is a very attractive fountain. At the top of the High Street is an attractive Gate House building that houses a museum today. Down the High Street I passed a statue of Horse and Rider by the sculptor Elisabeth Frink. Just past the Butter Cross I turned right and passed another museum heading towards the cathedral. I walked down Market Street and at the end turned right to walk down the High Street to the bus station.
01:04
5.70km
5.3km/h
50m
50m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
November 9, 2025
This is a circular tour in the south-eastern part of Dalby Forest. I reached the parking place from Ebberston and parked south of Givendale Head Farm, where the space would allow about six cars to be parked. I later found that there was space for one car to park just where the forest begins. You can make a hike here as long or as short as you like, provided you have an Ordnance Survey map that shows all the paths in the forest. Some of the paths are intended for mountain biking. The paths I used were all hard-core and easy to hike. When I was there it was the annual 10km run for Help The Heroes. I think it's run on the Sunday nearest November 11. I think Dalby Forest provides good hiking in winter months with paths that are not too muddy and are easy to negotiate. However, apart from the trees, there is not a lot to see.
01:31
7.46km
4.9km/h
70m
70m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
October 21, 2025
This is a linear tour from the northern end of Cleopatra beach in Alanya to the Ataturk monument Alanya. I started near the bus station and made my way slowly along the promenade with Cleopatra Beach all the time on my right. At the end of the promenade I took Sultan Alaadin Caddesi uphill and then climbed steps to reach Malimiar Sokak where I turned left and then immediately left up Bekariar Sokak. At a crossroads, I turned left and followed the road until it became a track, which passed under the cable car and gave access to views up the coast, inland to the mountains and then to the castle. From here I went back to the road and eventually descended the cobbled Kirazlar Sokak. At the end, I turned left and used steps to reach Rihtim Caddesi, which led me past many pleasure boats at anchor to the Ataturk monument, where I finished my tour. The views on the headland are what make this tour worthwhile. There are also remains of old fortifications. The whole area is ostensibly a national monument, but since it was only of Greek or Roman origin you can wander freely here.
01:10
5.14km
4.4km/h
110m
120m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
October 19, 2025
This is an out-and-back tour from Kargicak to the ruins of ancient Syedra. I reached Karikak from Alanya using the local bus and going to the end of its route. From here, I had to walk back along the road until I reached the starting point I had planned. From here the route climbed up the hill and several more others, along a tarmac road and passing small banana plantations as I went. After climbing a road, whose surface was block-paved I turned right on a dirt path close to an empty apartment block that was being completed. I was now at the start of a pine forest and walking along the wide forest paths here was far better than the roads. There was still more climbing to be done, but I had completed the bulk of the climbing by the apartment block. After a rise, I turned left on a ridge to join a dirt track, which I followed until it bent round to the right. I had difficulty finding the footpath here. There is a metal upright in the ground and climbing around a bit to the left of it, I was able to find the path. It's an earthen path and once you are on it, it is easy to follow. Eventually, it brought me to a road leading to the site, but before then I had had glimpses of people on the hill above me. I followed the road a short distance to uphill and then turned left to enter the site at a car park. I walked all around the site before stopping recording at the signpost for the site. It is a huge site and is still being worked on. I think you can easily spend an hour here. More by luck than judgment, I found I had made a circular tour of it.
01:55
7.51km
3.9km/h
380m
60m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
October 18, 2025
This is a circular tour in the hills behind Alanya. Its purpose was to visit St. George's chapel. I started recording and finished recording at the Otogar in Alanya. To avoid my problems in crossing a major road with a fence in the middle, turn left after walking through the Otogar and then take the first road on the right; there is a supermarket on the corner. Walk up the road, which rises gradually. At the top there's an underpass on the left, opposite a Shell garage. Once you've crossed this major road with the underpass, turn right and then take the first road on the left. Climb up this road, at the end turn left and then take the first road on the right. From there you can follow my recorded track. You start climbing and climbing, and do some more climbing and don't really stop until you reach St. George's chapel. On the way I passed the remains of what I think was a chapel, though only some walls are still standing. From the chapel the route is downhill and leads you back to the Otogar. The terrain is either tarmac or dirt road, so there should be no problems going up or down, though going anti-clockwise as I did has some steeper ascents. There are superb views over the hills behind Alanya and in the other direction looking out to sea. St. George's chapel itself disappointed me somewhat, though it is a nice place to relax after all the climbing. This tour is going to burn off the calories and get the thigh muscles working. There is no shade, so take a hat, if necessary, along with water and suncream.
02:19
10.6km
4.6km/h
410m
420m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
October 16, 2025
This is a circular tour of the promontory at Alanya. I started recording and finished recording at the photographic display of old Alanya. First, I looked at the Red Tower (admission fee) and then walked on to the old shipyard (entrance fee). From there, I retraced my footsteps back to the Red Tower and started making my way uphill to the citadel. The cobbles or stones along this path can be slippery and need to be treated with care. I reached a point where there were wooden steps and at the top of these steps I turned left following the route I had plotted. This was a mistake as that path really led nowhere that I wanted to go. Eventually I abandoned it, retraced my footsteps and turned right at the top of the wooden steps. I was then able to find a signposted route to the citadel. There are many remains in the citadel and I found my way to the castle. However, entry was 12 euro and they wanted it in cash in Turkish Lira, so I didn't bother. Entry to the Suleyman mosque was free, so all I had to do was take my boots off. Following paths I came to the top of the cable car and then took the path to the right of it down the hill. Again caution is needed negotiating the cobbles and stones of the path. Eventually, it reached a road where I was able to increase my speed. Finally, I reached level ground and made my way back to where I had started. There are fantastic views to be had along this route. You could well spend more time than I did here checking out the various paths. However, it is worth saying that not all the remains are worth photographing.
01:48
6.18km
3.4km/h
240m
240m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
October 12, 2025
This circular tour starts in Sawdon, and, is very much a tour of two halves: the first on paths through woods and the second along roads and field boundaries. I parked on the main street in the village and walked back to a public footpath; this footpath is narrow and descends at a moderate gradient to a wider and flatter path. Unfortunately, along this path are one or two water hazards. I had no idea when planning the route that there would be these little streams, but they are not too much of a problem. There are rhododendrons along here, so it might be nice to visit in late May or early June. The path climbs gently upwards to eventually meet a forest road where I turned right. I then followed a path by the side of a field and eventually met up with a road. In retrospect, it would have been easier to join this road earlier instead of walking through woods at the side of the field. I carried on down this road, which was reasonably quiet, going past Wykeham Grange until I turned right on a Public Bridleway following a field boundary. Eventually, the path started dropping through light woods to the valley floor. I took the first available path on the left. This seemed to double back, but eventually climbed back into the village, though lower than the spot I had started from. I did, however, passing the village's only pub: The Anvil.
02:03
7.78km
3.8km/h
140m
150m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
September 30, 2025
This is a circular tour based on Market Weighton and it follows part of the Yorkshire Wolds Way, going out to Goodmanham, before returning to Market Weighton. It is undemanding and well-signposted as you would expect of a named route. I started in the centre of the town, where there is a free car park. The X46/47 that runs between York and Hull stops in the centre too, outside The Griffin pub. The first thing that caught my eye was a life-scale wooden carving of a giant, called William Bradley who was born in the town. I carried walking westward out of town until I came to a signposted footpath that cut directly across an arable field. The path then followed four or five field boundaries before crossing a major road. Crossing the road, I took the lane to Towthorpe Grange and then followed several more field boundaries, before reaching another road where I turned left and then almost immediately right heading on a track through parkland that I thought was clearly part of a country house estate, although later I cannot see such a thing on the map. Later, I discovered there were cattle in the parkland, which also has some lovely trees. Leaving the parkland, I turned right and walked along a lane and then followed field boundaries until I came to another major road, which I crossed and then followed yet more fields. At one point I went under a disused railway bridge. Eventually, I reached Goodmanham, where I explored All Hallows Church, which dates back to 1130. It has a Tudor font and some interesting carving, particularly of the chancel arch. The village itself has one or two interesting houses and a pub called The Goodmanham Arms. This was a stretch of pavement walking, before I could follow another disused railway track. Before I knew it, I was back in the centre of Market Weighton inspecting a huge rock that William Bradley was said to have carried. Goodmanham and Market Weighton itself were the highlights of this tour for me. I found it a relaxing tour - good paths well signposted and no hills to climb.
01:39
9.86km
6.0km/h
90m
90m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
September 25, 2025
This is a linear tour from Stump Cross, on the outskirts of Halifax to Queensbury, a suburb of Bradford. It starts with a gentle descent down a cobbled path that leads to Shibden Fold. After passing a few houses at the bottom of the slope, the way continues along a flagged path at the bottom of a valley; there are nice views here of the hill on the northern side of the valley. This path leads to a farm track and eventually you reach Shibden Mill Inn. Along this stretch of the route is what appears to be a metal Wordsearch forming the top of a concrete post. There is also a memorial bench to a young girl who died in a riding accident. It is a very moving tribute. After the pub there is a very short section of road walking, before you turn right to go past a house and then immediately left. A path on the right leads upwards across fields to reach Addersgate Lane. I found it impossible to open the gate, leading to the lane, fully, so had to resort to climbing over it. After the farm, a bridleway leads to a wood with a stream running through it. The sun shining through the trees made this a very pleasant part of the tour. After crossing the metal bridge I found it difficult to find the correct way up and out of the wood. I may have made it unnecessarily difficult for myself, since the slope I chose was very steep and I had to use my knees in places. Therefore, I would advise you not to do this tour after heavy rain, as the slopes will be too slippery. I left the wood by Brewery Lane which climbs up to reach Shibden Head. From there the route is flat through footpaths and roads to reach the main road in Queensbury leading to Bradford. Looking at the map on my return, it seems there might be a path to the right after crossing the bridge that would take you to the point where the path starts to leave the wood before reaching Shibden Head. That would certainly make it easier.
01:14
5.52km
4.5km/h
220m
20m
Michael Tilley went for a hike.
September 14, 2025
This is an out-and-back tour with the aim of viewing the Hand and Face Stones on Urra Moor. I parked on the B1257 at Clay Bank, where there is roadside parking on both sides of the road. I think there is a proper carpark just a little further north. From there, I walked back towards Helmsley and took the first path I saw on the left which was a bridleway. This bridleway was a gradual ascent and I found it to be quite muddy in places with pools of standing water. Eventually I found a footpath on the right leading up to the ridge. This path was stony in places. On arriving at the ridge I turned left onto a broad path, which actually forms part of the Coast to Coast path and Cleveland Way. NZ 594015 was the OS reference my phone gave for the Hand Stone, though to me it looked more like a Face Stone as it was in two parts, upper and lower looking like a head on a body. I continued to walk in a easterly direction on this broad path and after about half a mile came to the Face Stone with coordinates NZ 596014. At this stage I was convinced that I had seen the Hand Stone and so continued to walk eastwards until I came to a junction with path coming in from the right. At this point I decided to turn back as the weather was becoming inclement. I retraced my footsteps along the broad path continuing until I came to a gate. By this stage the path had narrowed. By this gate us a bench should you need one. The route down the hill is stoned. I found this section quite steep and was slow going down. At the bottom I went tthrough another gate and soon found myself back at the road. If you have time and energy you could try combining this with a walk to The Wainstones on the other side of the road. I would also suggest doing this tour in early August when the heather can be seen at its best.
02:16
8.81km
3.9km/h
220m
200m
Thanks to Hannah for the idea behind this hike.
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