Quote from: David74 on 20:29:10, 25/04/24 So.... I'm brand new to walking longer distances - how common is knee pain? I walked 12 miles today. And by the end of the trek it was very painful going downhill. Not experienced this before. Do others have this problem and what do you do to ease the pain? Hi David, I had several visits a few years back with  a consultant regarding lower back issues. At the same time I was beginning to have aching in both of my knees . My dad suffered the same problems, so I mentioned it to him, and asked if he had any advice. He told me to start taking Gluco ..read more

Lakes, eastern fells tomorrow. Circular taking in:- Place Fell Angletarn Pikes Beda Fell Weather not looking to bad as it stands ..read more

Awesome, I'm glad you saw this! Thanks for replying. Yeah the GR4. I'd definitely want to spend some time in Castellane (initially I thought I might just basecamp there and do different day hikes, until I started looking at the GR4). I'm thinking maybe I'll just do Grasse to Moustiers-Saint-Marie over 9 days. My question was if you used the guidebook - the only one I've found is all in French (I'd link to it but it says I'm not allowed to post external links)- or what was your main source of information? I saw you used an app that showed places to stay. So far I have been looking at the Hiik ..read more

I remember Castellane for two reasons, it was the night when Mr Macron was first elected as the French President. I sat outside a restaurant with many other people having a meal, most of the customers were French. The restaurant owner had fitted an outside TV and at 7pm the result was announced. I still remember the silence and looking at the angry faces of the people that were sitting all around me. They wanted the far-right to win. It was all rather spooky. After my meal, a couple of large glasses of the local wine, and then a coffee and a large brandy I wandered back to my camp site, feeli ..read more

      Good Luck   GWM On your Hike and Camping trip    Keep Safe and Keep Well Hope the Weather is Kind to you  ..read more

Is that your music after the clip?  ..read more

And spend a night in Castellane ..read more

If its the GR4, I'd be glad to help if I can. Its a great hike especially when approaching and hiking around the Gorge du Verdon. If you are going there make sure you walk down into the gorge bottom, and take a torch, two long miners tunnels to walk through ..read more

I don't get blisters either, what saved my feet was when they were measured and the old gent who served me suggested that I wear womans boots. I did from then on, and my blister problem was solved ..read more

I recon its their use of a twin layering, that helps against blisters. However well made a normal single sock is manufactured, it only has one layer, and if your feet begin to chaffe or rub, in very hot weather, then there is a possibility of getting blisters. When you have two socks, one within the other, you have two layers of protection. On recollection, i can never remember getting any foot complaints when wearing 1000m socks. Ive had Swollen feet a plenty, especially after tromping for mile after mile on concrete roads, or hard surfaces, but rarely any blisters, so im a 1000m convert a ..read more