Monterey Bay was high on the list for a must visit, we’d avidly watching the BBC’s Blue Planet Live filmed from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and many other wildlife documentaries that showed this special home for marine life. Monterey Bay is a popular stop on the Highway 1 road trip, even with the route via Big Sur closed its a quick detour a few hours south of San Francisco. And rightly so, the town is a vibrant tourist town, with two distinct areas, scenic coastlines and magnificent marine life. Fisherman’s Wharf is a historic wharf that now has an abundance of tourist shops, restaurants, and whale-watching operators. The Monterey Peninsular Pedestrianized Trail links the Wharf area with Cannery Row. This area was once the area where sardines were canned - it literally does what it says on the tin! It is now a hub of tourism activity with plenty of hotels, restaurants and shops and the famous aquarium. We checked into our hotel early and wandered down to Fisherman’s Wharf where we mooched in the shops and had a look at the whale watching companies. January isn’t the best time for whales but the whale watching operator I had already scoped out as being the most ethical was offering free trips if no sightings, plus their sightings list was not lacking in content! So we made a quick decision to book the afternoon sailing. Stomped to the hotel, collected another layer of clothing and headed back to the wharf. We sailed out into the bay towards Monterey Canyon, an amazing habitat for an abundance of marine life, including whales. It was a bright, sunny winter day, and the waves rolled big. We were on a catamaran, so the rolls didn’t feel too big. As we approached the canyon, we saw distant blows from the whales, so we knew we would get some sightings.  We were soon near a pair of humpbacks that would rise to the surface before plunging into the depths. We were with Monterey Whale Watching , one of the few operators that take science seriously and have biologists on board (read more on their website). We kept our distance from the whales, and our crew predicted where they would rise again, and we often corrected. This meant we had much time with the whales before they disappeared into the deeps. We were also lucky to spot a minke and finn whale pop up in front of us. These were rare sightings at this time of year, and we got very lucky with the fin whale as we were sitting at the front of the deck when it popped up in front of us!  Between whale sightings, we saw sea birds, jellyfish, and seals splashing around in the sea. We returned to shore mesmerised by the life in this small but mighty section of the Pacific Ocean.  After a short wander, we took our tired selves to a seafood restaurant on the wharf and enjoyed a meal of locally caught seafood and an obligatory margarita. After a nights sleep we rose early to ensure we were at the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium for opening, which lived up to its expectations, for now I will share some photos and write an indepth review soon. On our last day we took the winding road home. We decided to do the 17-mile drive along the coast to Carmel. The drive hugs the coast between Pacific Grove and Carmel with rugged coastal scenery, white sand beaches, and a forest with The Lone Cypress being a highlight. The scenery changes and there is plenty of wildlife to see with pelicans, seals and otters spotted along the way. The route ends just outside of Carmel which is a pretty seaside town, we spent a few hours on the white sand beach before jumping in the car and heading back home.  There are 15 points to stop at on the drive (yes, that's a lot!), and we soon realised we were hopping out of the car a lot more than we would like. There were plenty of people cycling the route, it's mostly flat along the coast and various options to shorten the route, we would hire bikes next time! Or choose fewer stops and do some walking between them, or stop at one of the beautiful beaches to make a day of it. Starting and stopping the way we were was not for us! The route ends just outside of Carmel, a pretty seaside town. We spent a few hours on the white sand beach before jumping in the car and heading back home.  We chose to visit in the low season (over the school winter break) as hotels are cheaper and it's less crowded. This was a good time to go if you’re not too worried about it being warm. I am sure we will go back over the summer for a comparison.

A Brits Eye View of adventures in the USA A Pacific Sunset at our local beach My Just Adventure webpage has been pretty dormant lately, and it's pretty hard to lead walks in the Chilterns when I’m in California. After a few months of not knowing what was going on and awaiting the ever-elusive posting notice, it finally came through in September. Sorting the adventure gear out, getting all the British mud and grime off boots, bikes, and wetsuits (and sorting the house) we set off for our three-year adventure in California in November.  And now we are here, an outdoor-loving British family, wide-eyed and ready to explore in the rugged beauty of California's Central Coast. For those new to Just Adventure, I'm Emily, a military spouse of many years; this is our 8th posting in 14 years! In the UK, I’m a qualified hiking leader and often led groups of female military spouses on walks in the beautiful Chiltern Hills (where the RAF HQ and UK Space Command HQ). My passion? Wild swimming - I LOVE cold water, hiking, mountain biking.  Given the chance, I’ll throw myself at most soft adventure activities - being outdoors and challening myself is good for the soul! I’d recently started indoor climbing and need to find a way of doing more of this.  As soon as we arrived, we discovered the Central Coast's dramatic beaches, and the base we posted to has some incredible beaches that only those with base access can get to. But alas, no swimming. It's a world away from the Thames, where the worst thing might get you in a biting midges or a branch you can’t spot in the murk! Here, signs warn of Great Whites and strong currents. The waves of the Pacific exhilarates and humbles.  It is just as frigging cold, though, as my feet will attest!  The first few months have been a whirlwind of admin and exploring. We’ve found some incredible marine wildlife at Morro Bay and Monterey Bay, discovered the small towns and cities from here to Santa Barbara and to Paso Robles, hiked some beautiful trails, spent a weekend in Las Vegas and bought a Jeep for that authentic American adventure! Sadly, my hiking leader qualification isn’t recognised here, so I’ve decided to pivot my website and blog about our adventures in the USA! Join me as I navigate my way around the great outdoors of California and beyond. Welcome to the new look of Just Adventure…

Walking and hiking in nature are great ways to explore the outdoors, but why hike in a group in an area with well-trodden paths and plenty of guidebooks and websites with routes to follow? Here are Just Adventure’s five reasons why hiking with others can enhance your time outside. Being in nature: It is proven that spending time in nature is great for physical and mental health. Hiking through a forest, over hills and being outdoors has numerous advantages. It is fun! Being in a group and meeting new people makes the walk more enjoyable. Chatting and walking make the miles pass much quicker. Encouragement: Hiking in a group can encourage you to push yourself further and improve your fitness. The support of others can help you to literally reach new heights (although fairly small ones in the Chilterns). Make new friends: The shared experience of exploring the outdoors can bring people closer together and foster new friendships. Learn new things: Walking with a leader brings you knowledge of the area, whether that's the route, the flora and fauna or the history. Often, members of the group have knowledge of birds, wildflowers, and so much more. Join me on a walk in The Chilterns; I plan the route, choose the best routes and the best coffee and cake stops, and know a shortcut if needed!

Slow travel is a trend that was gently gaining pace in the years before COVID abruptly stopped travel and has accelerated at speed since the world reopened. Lockdowns made people think about how they travel and the effect on our planet. Many of us enjoyed the slow pace of life that is now being transposed into travel habits. It's time to get on-board with this trend - I’ve found textbooks and academic papers dating back to 2010 - a slow uptake for a slow trend, perhaps? I’m writing this sat on a train heading for a weekend in the Brecon Beacons. The journey is as much a part of the trip as the walking days ahead. As soon as I got on the train, I plugged my headphones in and listened to two podcasts—something I rarely would find the time to do at home. I’ve also hand-written three blog posts, read a book and listened to music. I’ve enjoyed the changing scenery sweeping past the windows as I leave the hilly Chilterns and thunder through the flat part of England before getting excited that I have left the country and entered Wales next to the River Severn! I’ve been mesmerised by the juxtaposition of the quaint Birmingham Moor Street station and New Street, which are mere paces apart but divided by decades of architectural design. People still want to travel, yet travellers are conscious of the carbon benefit of not going anywhere for almost two years. Add to that the travel chaos we saw at airports over the summer and the intrepid travellers who want to see the world differently. The CBI identifies slow travel as an opportunity for tourism. They suggest 60% of travellers are willing to take fewer trips that last longer, and 40% of Uk travellers want their tourism spending to have a positive socio-economic impact. Slow travel is about the journey, using slower forms of transport - trains, bus, bikes, feet! A trip to a European destination can combine the annual city break with beach time or an adventure in the Alps, whilst seeing parts of France you would never have noticed from 20,000ft. A train connection can mean enjoying a local meal in a new destination and experiencing a new town or city. Once we grasp that the journey is not just a means of arrival at a destination; significant strides will be taken in changing travel habits. Slow travel goes beyond how the traveller arrives and consumes tourism products. Slow travel links with the fundamentals of regenerative tourism. You are immersed in the destination, and there is more time for a food or art experience and spending time with local musicians or storytellers. Tourism spending is spread beyond the typical stakeholders. Tour operators are responsible for embracing this trend, not just to reach their net zero targets but to build resilience into tourism and build back better. Some are promoting this trend head-on. Byway was born during the pandemic, only using train travel and market less known destinations - they’ve even partnered with Intrepid and Exodus to use rail journeys instead of flights. Undiscovered Destinations have a series of by-rail tours - all the way to Morocco or Georgia! Product development is vital in ensuring the slow travel trend can grow and here are my top tips: Can you arrive at the tour's start point by train or ferry? Product managers often check flight schedules to determine the tour's start and end days. Now is the time to start checking rail routes as well. Communicating the reasons for a random day of the week start may be necessary for nudging clients onto a train - low-cost airlines may get you there every day, but Eurostar/TGV may not. Make stopovers easy Trains may need an overnight stop to make a connection. Find a local host that can facilitate a locally run hotel close to the train station, and suggest a restaurant or local experiences if time allows. Show options available on trains Overnight trains and ferries can be either a sit-up seat, an en-suite cabin, or anything in between. Pricing will vary depending on the comfort level, and many people may need to learn that trains can be more comfortable than a cramped low-cost flight. Possibly, because of how bad the reputation of train travel in the UK is! Build slow travel into a long-haul itinerary Many tours will be long-haul, and taking the train may be impossible. In these cases removing internal flights and taking a train will have a similar outcome. For group tours, check your date scheduling. Can you link tours together if people want to stay longer, and can a train be taken if the start and end points are different (reread points 1-3!). Get the word out and sell it! The most important part of getting people off the aeroplane and slowing down! Sell the benefits of arriving slowly - less stressed before the holiday starts, more immersive experience en route and possibly even a price saving (a quick check of Easyjet to Amsterdam in May v Eurostar - £170 for the flight, £118 for the train!). If you are committed to sustainable, regenerative tourism and want to reduce your carbon impact, then slow travel is a trend you need to jump on quickly. Contact emily@emily-bailey.co.uk if you would like a product review and suggestions on how to slow down your itineraries.

What do we mean by regenerative tourism and how is it different to sustainable tourism? Is it just a buzzword? Does it co-exist with sustainability? Whilst the phrase ‘sustainable tourism’ has become commonplace, what do we truly mean by this? If we purely sustain, all we do is stop things from getting worse than they already are! We’ll sustain current emission levels, use the same amount of water and energy, leave the same amount of waste and plastic pollution, and the same small sector of the host population will reap the economic rewards. A shift towards regenerative thinking across the tourism sector would be seismic and overwhelming task for many destinations and businesses. As sustainable tourism practices become more mainstream, the adventure and eco-tourism sectors will lead the way and advocate for regenerative thinking in their sustainability plans. Indeed, many will have been incorporating these ideas into their responsible ethos for many years. Regenerative tourism pushes the boundaries of sustainability, it's not instead of but means tourism is no longer a silo but working with and for the host destination. Destinations ebb and flow through the tourism life cycle, but with regenerative thinking from tour operators, destination management companies (DMC), and organisations, this seismic shift might be possible. The periods of decline will decrease, but we must ensure tourism products are regenerative. Regenerative tourism is the shift within tourism to ensure tourism can flourish within Planet, Place, and People concept. Creating net-positive tourism experiences will ensure that nature and culture are preserved, and the host economy thrives beyond the traditional tourism stakeholders. When designing tourism products and experiences, we often think straight to the environment, yet cultures and economies need to see a net-positive effect of tourism. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, a return to business as usual is not a resilient method for host communities. Regenerating the environment This is an endless discussion, so I will try and be brief. Working with accommodation that has incorporated circular economies such as water reuse, composting, and off-grid energies build resilience and often has economic benefits as well. Staff get reskilled in new technologies, and bills reduce. Nature is tourism's biggest asset and must be looked after for the world's survival. Wildlife, biodiversity and habitat loss can be attributed to tourism; awareness is growing that the industry needs to be partners in reversing the issues often accelerated by unstainable tourism growth. Championing local experiences and collaborating with local suppliers to ensure no damage is done and areas are regenerated will mean visitors come for years to come. Rewilding land and sea and working with tourism suppliers with scientific projects as part of their experience will enhance any tourists' experience. Regenerating communities and the economy Host communities need to see regeneration in the post-COVID tourism world. The host community must be involved in tourism planning. New experiences involving local musicians, artisans, and food producers will boost the economy and bring tourism spending to people who may not consider themselves in the industry. Regenerating cultural heritage Cultural events should be for locals yet attract tourists; tourism needs to be authentic to ensure a positive experience, so if these cultural displays are only for tourism, resentment levels will be high. Heritage attractions can be bought to life by locals sharing their experiences and knowledge. Engaging the whole community in tourism will ensure a sense of place. Now I know this is hard for a tour operator to achieve, but choosing DMCs wisely and discussing product development with them can open many opportunities. The question to ask here is, ‘Can my DMC sell this experience locally?’ if yes then it is more likely to be authentic and of benefit to the community. Regenerative tourism could be seen as another buzzword, but its concept goes beyond sustainability. If a business is doing good for the planet and its people then businesses will attract customers, employees and investors with a similar ethos. With tourism on the uptick after the COVID-19 pause, now is a time to build back better. This year's World Tourism Day theme was ‘Rethinking Tourism’ - if we all come up with a new idea to build a regenerative future, tourism can sustain at a better level than it is now. If you are a small tourism business and need guidance on starting your sustainable tourism journey, want to incorporate regenerative concepts into your plans or need so help to hone in on what you want to achieve contact me at emily@emily-bailey.co.uk

A summer holiday adventure with my little walking buddy... The summer holidays were fast approaching, and the thought of not being able to clock up any more miles on the Ridgeway until autumn was annoying me. My seven-year-old is an excellent little walker, lockdowns led to us completing the Walk 100 miles in lockdown challenge, and he regularly walks 3-5 miles on a weekend or holidays. A particularly undulating section of the South West Coast Path in less than favourable conditions helped me conclude that he could come along. The next planned section was back to Lewknor and onwards to Nuffield, an 8-mile section - a decent walk for me on my own. I needed to break this down into easy sections. After a bit of research, I found the wonderful White Mark Glamping site at Watlington and split the walk into a 3-miler and a 5-miler. Both in keeping with the using public transport ethos of the walk. I suggested the idea to the small one, and he agreed! We set off during the first week of the summer holidays for my son’s first linear overnight trek! We did cheat to get to the bus, a connection was required in High Wycombe to get to Lewknor, instead, my husband dropped us on bus 2’s route. An excited 7-year-old waiting for the bus meant I was already questioning bringing him as in the 10 minutes it took for the bus to come along, he had asked approximately 50,000 when the bus would arrive. Finally, it came! About half an hour later, we arrived in Lewknor. For those reading along, we were surprisingly dropped at the bus stop I thought I would depart from last time. We had about half a mile on the road to get to the trail, and it was pretty warm, so a water stop was needed as soon as we spotted the Ridgeway signs. Today’s walk was relatively flat and hot, and we chatted about things small children talk about, stopped to admire bugs and flowers and ate lots of snacks and Haribo. We very quickly got to our campsite, and it seemed mad after just over an hour we were there already. The campsite had beautiful bell tents, I had booked the cheapest ‘backpacker’ tent as we only needed a bed, but on arrival, the owners had upgraded us as we were the only guests staying that night! As a solo female arriving with the most precious thing in my life, I had all sorts of crazy thoughts about being alone in a field. After a few hours of relaxing whilst watching red kites swoop overhead and bunny rabbits enjoy the field, my faith in humanity was restored. As I was carrying everything, we headed into town and got our lunch for the next day and pizza from The Spire and Spoke - teach them young that the best bit about walking is the pint and the pub at the end. There was also an emergency trip to a charity shop and a purchase of a Harry Potter Card game as I realised we had nothing to do before bedtime! Lesson no 1 learnt! We played games and watched the wildlife until night fell and went to bed in a pretty cosy bell tent. We were up early (who isn’t with a child in a tent in midsummer!). The campsite had organised a local cafe to deliver us breakfast and I had my decent coffee fix! By 9 am, we were on the trail and heading towards Nuffield. The route was pretty undulating with woodlands, exposed paths and tracks through or around farmers' fields. And it was hot, sweltering hot, and I hadn’t packed shorts - lesson no two. Lesson number three - not watching as my son slugged ¾ of his water at the first water stop, so I had to ration what I was carrying for both of us. We passed many others on the trail today with a smile and a slightly curious ‘How far are you walking?’ look on their faces. We had a few strops at each other - mainly aimed at me but with nature all around, chats about what we were seeing and H being in charge of the navigation, all was well. He soon learnt that navigating on a straight trail with the Acorns to follow was straightforward. The hills got a little steeper than expected. We hunted for decent natural walking sticks and took each hill at a slower pace with longer stints admiring the views than I would typically do. These extra breathers allowed me to slow down my journey and see it through the eyes of a child. We came across a pretty-looking church and our first real bench of the walk! We lingered here for a while and ate the last of the sweets. I wondered how many weary travellers had sat and admired the tranquil setting of a churchyard. The final push to Nuffield took us up on final hill and undulated over two farmers' fields with the hard clear paths marked diagonally across them, and finally found the main road. A short walk along the road was a National Trust house. I had planned to go there to eat our picnic and head back to the bus. It was further along the path than expected. We gave up and sat on the grass and ate our soggy sandwiches. I wanted to be back at the bus stop early as my experience of them so far was timings were fluid at best. Twenty minutes later and still no bus. The tracker showed it was on its way and then suddenly ‘departed’ - it seems we missed an invisible bus. We waited and waited, gave up and headed across the road to a coffee shop. Thank goodness for The Maker Space, ice creams, cakes and coffee and a staff member who knew little about the bus except that they weren’t reliable! (I'm quite looking forward to this being the start point on my next walk). I was all prepared to run to the road if I saw the bus coming, but it didn’t. We headed back to the bus stop for the next scheduled departure, and it finally turned up. The bus was straight into Henley, a 5-minute wait for our connection to High Wycombe, a dash through the bus station, and our final leg home. A whole hour later than expected, thanks to the one bus! I thoroughly enjoyed having my walking buddy with me, even if overshadowed by bus stress. On our walk to school at the start of the new term, he told me he loved our hike and wanted to do something like it again. Distance walked: 8 miles (3 miles day 1, 5 miles day 2) Time on feet: Day 1: 1 hour 30 Day 2: 3 hours (plus lots stood still at the bus stop) Buses: One outbound, three inbound Cost: £14.90 (not including the child fare as he was a tag-along) Accumulated miles: 35.5 miles

Walk 3: Princes Risborough to Lewknor It says a lot that there is a gap in my OS Maps app record. If the tech is to be believed, I didn’t actually do this walk! I’d planned an 8-mile section today to be home for mid-afternoon, and the get-out points (bus stops) are proving more tricky to get home in time for tea. My start point was a mere 3 miles from home, so a 10-minute bus ride down the hill. I’d be on the trail in no time! Then a 40-minute wait for a bus that comes every half hour. Finally, I jumped off the bus and started to walk. The day was warm and overcast, and I wasn't entirely feeling the love for a long walk today, so my pace was slow as I climbed out of Risborough along sleepy country lanes, across the existing main London to Birmingham rail line and across a golf course. This definitely feels like commuter land today. I wander through farmlands and today feels steep, but it is not - I started at 125m and ‘peaked’ at 207m. My summit (which I have seen referred to as a mountain online!) was Lodge Hill, an area supported by the Chilterns Farmer Cluster. They are a like-minded group of farmers supporting conservation and educating on unique wildlife and habitats in the chalk fields of the Chilterns. Here is area is left to its devices. There are abundant wildflowers and butterflies on the same patch of land surrounded by dry, hard fields struggling to grow crops (it's July 2022, and we are in the middle of the hottest, driest summer ever - climate change is affecting our farmlands now too). Upon the hill, I came across a dog walker who asked if I was walking the Ridgeway, and I explained my endeavours to him and that my house was on the next ridge, so I hadn’t strayed far from home today. We chatted about this beautiful hilltop and heard ravens calling in the hills below. This friend chap had lived in the area for years and told me this is a new sound in these parts. The reintroduction of Red Kites led to ravens, and buzzards also returned to the area (https://bucksbirdclub.co.uk/Pictures/Raven.htm), a triumphant story of biodiversity improving in areas that rely on farming. If only we gave over a little more land to these wondrous wild areas. Today's walk quickly turned into a nature observing walk as I realised I wasn’t into it! The following section was along a track through woodland, so I stopped at every tree to identify it through Seek (a must-have for all budding naturalists who don’t have a clue (me!)). The canopy is mainly maple and beech here, and the shade of the lush green is appreciated after a good few miles of the blazing sun. The following section passes above Chinnor. It was flat, hard, with no view and boring. The most interesting was a “no swimming” sign which naturally brought curiosity to a wild swimmer. So I started on the Seek app again and bindweed, knapweed, a weird lily called cuckoo-pint and St John’s Wort (I did find a giggle for this one given the humph of a mood I was in!). As the hum of the M40 got louder, I knew the end was in sight, and I skirted the bottom of Beacon Hill - I would return to climb it. I passed under the M40 and onto a hot road to finish in Lewknor. For the first time today, I saw Red Kites - most unusual in the Chilterns. I found the bus stop and got mighty confused as to why the bus I expected to find did not depart from the village. I retreated to the pub for a quick local refreshment before the second attempt at finding a bus. Type 3 fun had kicked in! Back on the main road, I accosted a local teenager who told me the bus to High Wycombe went from a road I crossed a mile ago, and I had quite a short time to get to the bus stop. The walk was along a busy A road, back under the M40, and I made it just in time for the bus (which was on time!). Whilst on the bus, I decided to do a re-route. Rather than go all the way to High Wycombe and change buses, I could get off at West Wycombe, change there and walk a mile and a half home from the next stop. Up one last hill and regretting my choices halfway up. I did find the reason for my grumpy day - the realisation that school holidays were about to start and my Ridgeway adventures would be on hold until September. Or were they? I spent the little of the afternoon I had left hatching a plan. Distance walked: 8 miles (plus 1 mile back to the bus stop and the extra 1.5 miles home) Time on feet: Too many Buses: 3 Cost: £9 (not including the pint and crisps!) Accumulated miles: 27.5miles

Walk two: Tring to Princes Risborough The UK has 15 National Trails plus the yet-to-be-completed English Coast Path! Scattered all over the country from the south coast to the border with Scotland, the National Trails cover coastal walks, following The Thames from source to sea, walking the backbone of England or across chalk fields. The National Trails website is a plethora of information for straight-through walks or day walks on the trails. But how accessible are these trails? Is it possible to do the linear walks without using a car at each end? I'm sure each trail is different, with some better served by public transport than others. In this part, I walk almost 14 miles from Tring to Princes Risborough. My second walk was too many months to mention after the first one. My flexible life of being a student and balancing fun stuff didn’t quite work out the way I had planned, so as semester two finished, I set myself a goal to get The Ridgeway done in 2022! This section saw me head east from home on a two-bus adventure to the start point above Tring. The first bus was late, so I thought I wouldn’t make the connection at Aylesbury. The bus rattled through the mid-Chiltern region and into the town of Aylesbury. This London overspill town has good transport connection, but not somewhere I need to linger. The bus station is in the basement of the shopping centre, I was pleased to find out there was a bus leaving in moments to Tring. Another 20 mins on the bus and I arrived in this quintessential market town and headed to Tring Park. I headed up the hill to the shady Ridgeway, which for a short time follows Walter’s Wander, a route where there are discovery signs telling the story of the Rothschilds' time in Tring (no zebras graze here any longer). I was now on the top of The Ridgeway, shaded by the trees. It was May and the first warmish day where shorts, t-shirt and sunblock were much needed. The chalk and flint of the paths mean dry, hard, exposed pathways, making for a rather warm day. The Chiltern Hills are one of the most wooded landscapes in the UK, with a fifth covered by this ancient canopy. They are mainly on the hilltops as the chalk grounds up here are not suitable as arable land as the good soil washed down the hills leaving exposed chalk and flint. In late spring, the shade these ancient trees offer is much needed, yet there are few flowers, and the open areas where nature has been left to it are a welcome change to the woodland. In early Spring, the Chilterns are a sea of blue (despite being a long way from the actual sea!) from the numerous bluebells that bloom for a few weeks. I followed the National Trail acorns out of the woodlands and into arable land; I almost took the wrong route as I became complacent about navigating with these easy-to-spot signposts - not so easy to spot when hidden in trees! My internal compass kicked in quickly, and I was soon back on the right track. I knew I was getting close to Wendover and my lunch spot as I entered the Forestry Commission land of Wendover Woods; more people started to appear as circular walks and bike rides are easily done here, and the forest seemed more managed. There were areas that have been cleared where now long grasses, wildflowers and butterflies have their moment, felling has long been an industry here yet is in decline. High Wycombe was once a centre of furniture building, and charcoal and firewood are also produced. Sadly, the Chilterns are now blighted by ash dieback, so tree felling is intense. The descent into Wendover felt long and winding - I’m sure I went all around the back of the town before being spurted out onto the pretty high street. I headed to the town square to eat my picnic. I sat on the bench and admired the bucolic English views - a war memorial, tea rooms, antiques shops, and rolling hills in the distance. Red Kites swooped overhead, dog fighting with rooks - there was no doubt I was in the Chiltern Hills! The day was now hot, I knew to make it to Princes Risborough in time to get a bus and be back for the school run meant I had to keep a decent pace. The first section after Wendover rises back onto the ridge. But first, I walked by a row of beautiful empty houses. It took me a few moments to realise these were compulsory purchases because of the HS2 site just beyond their backyards. Wendover is where HS2 will pop out of the tunnel that will take it from the Chilterns and thunder north to Birmingham. Despite a tunnel being agreed upon, this Area of Outstanding Beauty will still bear the scars of this new rail line for decades to come; whilst sustainable transport is much needed, this line is likely never to go beyond Birmingham so has little country-wide benefit. I passed through a nature reserve being tended to by a team of volunteers, but as I came out of the trees, long grasses and wildflowers, I was on an exposed chalky hill. Once at the top, the views down to the Vale of Aylesbury were long-reaching. Yet right through the middle, the start of the scar that will become the railway. Straight through woodlands and farms and, as I had seen, people's homes. Once at the top of the ridge, the route is fairly flat going, and I soon arrived at Coombe Hill at 257m, which is the highest viewpoint in Buckinghamshire. The view from here is incredible and worth a stop to reflect on the journey. Not least as it is also home to the impressive Boer War monument, which remembers the men of Buckinghamshire that gave their lives far from home. As I drop down from this high point, I lose the acorns again but soon find my way back to the trail. I do have the very detailed Cicerone guide in my bag but get so complacent by the acorns I forget to read it! As I cross a road, I realise I am about to do the most bizarre section of the Ridgeway - arguably all the National Trails! There are heavy gates, intimidating CCTV cameras and a very very definite way to walk. I have entered the Prime Minister's country retreat - Chequers. I feel I am being watched and daren’t even put my hand in my pocket to get my phone out to take a picture. I’m not even sure I am allowed to take a picture! With another heavy gate and a warning about the Secrecy Act, I realise I am off this land and walking through the ancient woodland of Pulpit Hill - a rare Boxwood wood. The Ridgeway then crosses more dry barren farmland as I head to Whiteleaf Hill, the final viewpoint before the descent into Princes Risborough. There is a lovely pub (The Plough at Cadsden) just before the final climb, and had I not been on a timeline, this would have been a great stop to refresh before the last push. This really is a steep section, and thankfully, back in the cover of trees, at the top, the path descends into another nature reserve where wildflowers and long grasses are blooming. Soon I arrive at Whiteleaf Cross (a chalk cross that is just below the ridge) and can see Princes Risborough below. The short descent is steep, so slow going on tired legs, more long grass, wildflowers and butterflies to complete the day. I head straight into the town centre, knowing I have time for much-needed ice cream from Crepe Escape but will miss about a field and a half out of the complete route. A long, hot day through a variety of landscapes and another 14 miles ticked off the total. Time on public transport: 1 hour 30 mins Cost of public transport: Ooops can’t remember - about £8 Distance walked: 13.5 miles. Time on feet: 4 hours 20

Tourism is a fun industry, people are choosing to spend money on travelling with your company or to your destination. The idea that tourism can have negative impacts is not likely to be in the thought process of the traveller, so who should be ensuring their trip has a positive impact on the destination? Is it the responsibility of the tourism provider or traveller to accelerate sustainable practices? As an industry, we need to look after our assets which are the environments and communities tourism operates within and in my opinion that responsibility starts with the tourism provider and consumers playing a part. Both the tourism provider and travellers must mitigate the negative impacts to ensure a sustainable future for the destination they are operating in or visiting. There is a lack of understanding among many travellers on what sustainable tourism is and tourists struggle to name the impacts of tourism beyond the carbon released from their flight or easy to rectify day-to-day activities such as switching the lights off or using a reusable bottle. More can be done by tourism providers to inform travellers how their visit can have a positive environmental, social or economic impact on the destination without taking the fun out of their trip! Tourism is altruistic and hedonistic so any sustainable behaviours adopted at home are often suspended in a holiday environment. Consumers are becoming more aware of sustainability issues, yet there is a divide between intention and behaviour. Are some of the issues just too big to comprehend? Again, tourism providers need to be the ones making changes to products to bring the positive benefits of tourism to the destination without taking the fun out of the trip! Market trends suggest that Millenial and Gen Y are accountable for 40% of tourism spending, this is the same segment that are wanting a better future for our planet, they want to travel sustainably and will seek out businesses that share their values. Consumers want to make sustainable choices and will make decisions on where to travel based on the positive and negative impacts. Brands that promote good environmental and social practices with itineraries and products based on these drivers will benefit from this shift. Consumers are starting to make more choices based on the sustainability credentials of a company and with the climate emergency getting traction the demand side of tourism is becoming more demanding! According to booking.com, 61% of consumers have said the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably. Tourism providers and destinations must understand the levels of engagement from consumers. Sustainable thinking from both sides must grow. Consumer behaviours move through a process from high anxiety on an issue with a low response to becoming more informed - this triggers activity and reduces anxiety to integrating the ideas into everyday life as a behavioural change. Consumers can be helped on this journey by being “nudged”. Nudge theory is a complex idea where businesses can develop policies that steer consumers to make sustainable choices; this can be at a government level or the marketing or interpretation level by tourism providers. This could be simple actions such as suggesting a rail transfer rather than a private taxi, filtered water provided daily, suggesting hotels with robust renewable energy initiatives. If these things are well communicated and sold positively through storytelling, marketing and brand identity consumers will buy. So in conclusion, tourism providers need to be driving the sustainable and regenerative tourism message by ensuring the products they offer to push the positive impacts of tourism and mitigate the negative impacts. Whilst the tourists may not have a full comprehension of issues future choices will be made based on what has been experienced before. As a tourism business, you must be ready for consumers seeking out businesses that are a force for good in tourism. If you are a small tourism business and need guidance on starting your sustainable tourism journey, or need so help to hone in on what you want to achieve contact me at emily@emily-bailey.co.uk

The UK has 15 National Trails plus the yet to be completed English Coast Path! Scattered all over the country from the south coast to the border with Scotland, the National Trails cover coastal walks, following The Thames from source to sea, walking the backbone of England or across chalk fields. The National Trails website is a plethora of information for straight through walks or day walks on the trails. But how accessible are these trails? Is it possible to do the linear walks without using a car at each end? I'm sure each train is different with some better served by public transport than others. I live in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire. The Ridgeway passes through the local market town, so I have set myself a challenge of walking the length of the Ridgeway on a series of day walks using public transport. I think the walking may be the easy part! The route is an 87-mile route that has been used for 5,000 years, hence being known as 'Britain's Oldest Road. This high route through chalk fields and woodland was a drier alternative to the valleys below in years gone by. Some might say I am doing the Ridgeway backwards as I am starting at Ivinghoe Beacon and heading to Avebury. Still, in the time of the drovers and traders, the traffic flowed in both directions! Walk 1: Ivinghoe Beacon - Tring The Ridgeway's start (or end!) is a mere 13 miles as the crow flies from my house. I could walk it in 4 hours. Instead, t I take a train to Aylesbury and then a bus to the village of Ivinghoe via Tring. I've arranged to meet a friend in Tring. She travels by train from Lonon, discovers there are no buses from the train station to Tring town centre, gets a taxi, and manages to get on the bus I am already on. It's unclear where the bus goes after Ivinghoe village, so we alight the bus and walk to the Beacon along a busy A-road. Turns out, the bus went down this road, so we've added over a mile on before we started! Either way, the day starts with a scramble up to Ivinghoe Beacon and trig point. Of course, I get on the trig - too much of a temptation! Today's walk stretches out in front of us, and we can clearly see the route that contours the chalk ridge towards Tring. The clear white tracks of the well-trodden way make it easy to follow, and as with all National Trails, it's easy to navigate as the routes are marked with white acorns. We enter hilltop woodlands that are prevalent in the Chilterns. These ancient woodlands survived land clearing for farming as it's so chalky and dry that it is impossible to use this land for agriculture. We have the ice age to thank for this. As the ice melted, it took the decent soil into the valleys below, leaving bare hills and lots of steep gullies. We soon discovered this reasonably flat route has a few steep sections through these gullies - thankfully, in places, there are now steps in place to save the knees! Although not as close to Tring as the name suggests, we passed Tring station! This section in my Cicerone guidebook ends in Wigginton near the station, but we push on to Tring and pass through Tring Park. Once owned by the Rothschild family, Walter Rothschild had his home here and collected exotic animals. He grazed Zebra in the park and even used them in place of horses to pull his carriage. This does not sit well with me, but times were different then. Now the Natural History Museum is the custodian of his taxidermy collection. Just outside the entrance to the park is NHM Tring, which is well worth a visit, even if a little macabre! We ended our walk back in Tring town centre, where I hopped on a bus back to Aylesbury, and my friend walked back to the train station. From Aylesbury, a bus connects the town with High Wycombe, which stops in my village. So rather than returning by train, I sat on the top deck of the bus and watched the Chilterns through the window and was dropped 5 minutes walk from my door. Time on public transport: 1 hour 50 minutes Cost of public transport: £12 Distance walked: 6 miles Time on feet: 3 hours

Somehow I have completed my first year of my MSc and now have time to absorb everything I studied, write some blog posts and implement my knowledge where it is needed. One of my assignments this semester was the question ‘Can tourism be sustainable?’ - this questions every thought I have had on sustainable tourism - of course it can, every business and destination should be doing it yet there is so much depth and discussion on what is sustainable tourism and do we need to go beyond this to a regenerative tourism approach? I’ve broken down my essay and will pull more thoughts into my next few blog posts. Starting with an attempt at defining sustainable tourism… Tourism is an attractive industry used for economic growth for both private business and governments. Yet very few businesses monitor the other two pillars of sustainability - the environmental and social impacts. Sustainable tourism is a process and concept that will continue to evolve. Sustainable tourism is derived from the general idea of sustainable development. Definitions of sustainable are plentiful; some suggest that there are over 200 meanings, with most of them being idealistic and unattainable. The World Tourism Organisation’s definition that can be used across tourism sectors and identifies “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” Although the meaning of sustainable actually doesn’t mean making things better but sustaining the current situation. This is why we are seeing a move towards a regenerative tourism approach. Sustainable tourism is often attributed to a style of tourism rather than a strategy; segments such as adventure tourism and ecotourism are grouped as the sustainable tourism sector. Alternative tourism operators and destinations have had sustainable practices, such as supporting conservation and engagement with local communities, embedded in their products and marketing. These businesses have it in their DNA and values that tourism must be a force for good. Yet it is imperative that all segments, including mass-tourism, play a role in a sustainable future. Mass tourism has constraints to being sustainable, many nations and businesses have adopted this approach for economic gain, this then accentuates the negative impacts tourism has on the environment and the local communities. These large businesses and mass tourism destinations will focus on the cost benefits of sustainable practices that will in turn bring positive impacts. The impacts of tourism can be positive; with robust strategies from tourism businesses and destinations, the host communities, environment and the tourist can enjoy the benefits of tourism without removing any of the fun. We have seen the devastating effect of switching off tourism in destinations during the COVID-19 crisis, in destinations where tourism has become a monoculture change is required. Sustainable tourism development is a conceptual idea, targets can be set and goals measured but with an understanding that these targets and issues will develop. The journey to sustainable tourism is endless; an increased understanding of the impacts of tourism and issues that arise from it will set new policies, goals and expectations from the consumers. If you are a small tourism business and need guidance on starting your sustainable tourism journey, or need so help to hone in on what you want to achieve contact me on emily@emily-bailey.co.uk

I have recently started a women-only walking group with the aim to get my community out into the wonderful Chiltern Hills where we live. We walk, we chat and, for some, step out of our comfort zones. I really grappled with the "Women only" element of the group as I am usually an inclusive person. When tour operators started selling women only trips I was the first to mutter "They wouldn't get away with running male only trips..." My opinion on this has changed as I have learnt more on the why's so I am sticking with it on this one, and here is my justification. Only 19% of guides trained through the UK Mountain Leader Scheme are women. Women in adventure jobs are far lower than their male counterparts. The main reason for this is the commitment to family life. Women are still seen as the primary carer, whether that be to children or older family members. Many female outdoor adventure instructors or tour guides careers are cut short as families grow. The style of work means being away from home for periods of time (short or long) - 60% of women in outdoor careers have left for this reason. Others say the cost of childcare or not being able to take promotions make the sector uneconomical to be in. The tourism industry is female-heavy, yet this is not reflected in our guides and instructors in the adventure sector. But what has this got to do with women-only groups…well, its a bit of scene-setting, really. The issues that affect employment also influence women's ability to get outdoors and participate in adventure activities (I include soft adventure such as walking, cycling, wild swimming, and kayaking when I say adventure). Women really do have a sense of guilt when trying to carve time for "me" activities. Even when women are the primary earners, the unpaid jobs in life still generally fall to females. Mum guilt is real - the feeling of needing to stay at home for the kids is a strong female emotion. Even when women are finding time, there are compromises; the amount of time a woman spends on an adventure is less than a man, the style of the adventure and level of challenge is often different to BC (Before Children). Then there is the media portrayal of adventure activities. Masculine heavy marketing and social media can make adventure seem intimidating and out of reach for many women. Adventure can be perceived as a male-dominated competitive environment in challenging terrains. Women have different motivations for taking part in an adventure. I do believe this is getting better, Instagram is awash with adventurous women, yet there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lack of role models for women, but they are out there. Follow me on Instagram, and I will point a few out. Women only groups are a place for women to connect with like-minded peers. They create a safe space for women to be themselves, step out of their comfort zone and try different activities. Women only groups are seen as less intimidating than mixed groups; women who may not have confidence in their skills feel more empowered when in a female-only environment. Many women feel they lack the skills to go it alone. I've already had people say they don't know where to go in our area and are happy to be led by someone who can read a map! Women seek out female-only adventure environments. We see this is the number of women-only adventure groups and tour operators offering women-only trips - a quick Google search will bring up 100's. Women are more likely to see adventure as self-discovery rather than competitive. In female led adventure groups self-doubt is dispelled, new skills learnt, new friendships made, and a safe place to chat about issues unique to women found. I know not all of the statements about women in this blog are true in every home. This blog is based on academic research, market trends and the travel media, as well as my knowledge of the adventure sector. Below are the academic sources I have used to back up these claims: Whittington A. Outdoor Careers and Motherhood. Journal of Experiential Education. 2019;42(1):79-92. Empowerment and women in adventure tourism: a negotiated journey. By: Doran, Adele, Journal of Sport & Tourism, 14775085, 20160301, Vol. 20, Issue 1 Wharton, C. (2020). Middle-aged women negotiating the ageing process through participation in outdoor adventure activities. Ageing and Society, 40(4), 805-822