John Hayes
@johnhwalks.bsky.social
Happily retired, a keen hiker, cyclist, granddad, veggie, and husband - but not necessarily in that order. Escaped it all on a 5000km hike from Tarifa to Budapest. Author of 5 hiking/cycling guides with a 6th in the works http://www.johnhayeswalks.com/?m=1
Heading to Zaragoza after #hiking near Riglos. The trains in #Spain are amazing but the countryside feels hollowed out as car based tourism destroys what's left of local services. Once out of the mountains the countryside is huge and empty with barley fields dedicated to feeding pig farms.
September 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Day 6 #cycling the #Camino to Albergaria-a-Velha. Still dull weather, rain followed by sun. Route a real mix of rural and semi-urban, better on a bike than walking. Not much to see at Albergaria-a-Velha but was treated to dinner by the Dutch guys I met on Day 2. Good to chat. Porto next
April 14, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Dull weather turns to rain on Day 5 #cycling the #Camino Portugués to Coimbra forcing a short-cut to a tough route. Lovely flowers, great mid-morning coffee/sandwich stop but a lot to endure. Weather improved at Coimbra which is a great place - good #veggie food at Fangas restaurant and free fado
April 13, 2025 at 6:51 AM
The real Day 4 #cycling the #Camino Portugués, dull weather, poor light but great cycling. Empty country roads, some challenging single track (for me) and 950m of climb. Unfortunately there is nothing to see in Ansiao but I did manage to hold onto my #veggie diet with lovely aubergine croquettes
April 12, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Day 4 60km #cycling the #Camino Portugués leaving the flat lands and hitting the hills to Tomar This is full-on bull fighting country with railings going up in Azinhaga for the weekend street run. Chatted with 2 guys from Holland the first cyclists I've seen so far. Tomar is lovely, a great stop.
April 11, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Day 2 #cycling the #Camino Portugués and a lovely hot flat 60km ride to Santerém. After fueling up on bread (v sweet) and coffee cycled empty roads and farm tracks to a stunning hill top town. Lots to see in the home of Portuguese Gothic with the old square a great place to finish with a beer
April 10, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Day 1 #cycling the #Camino Portugués, 36 km Lisbon to Vila Franca de Xira. Prepping for a new cycling guide out next year. Mixed route, lovely Tagus estuary views, some traffic and wet stretches. Destination is famous for bull fighting but cars pack the streets most of the time. Good first day!
April 9, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Big sky, hard dry surface, with just skylarks for company, blissful #cycling on the #southdowns
March 28, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Big sky, hard dry surface, with just skylarks for company, blissful #cycling on the #southdowns
March 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Left our lovely hotel in Monda and #hiked 20km to an even nicer one in Istàn. The only complaint is that there was too much asphalt and not many veggie options. Come on #Spain get modern! Local walks tomorrow and then Malaga for a broader cuisine. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
February 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Left our lovely hotel in Monda and #hiked 20km to an even nicer one in Istàn. The only complaint is that there was too much asphalt and not many veggie options. Come on #Spain get modern! Local walks tomorrow and then Malaga for a broader cuisine. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
Staying at Monda in the lovely castle/hotel doing some local walks. #Hiking about 14km up and down a 500m hill we visited Santa Cueva - a cave full of trinkets where a wish will bring good luck. More perfect walking weather so I guess Santa is already doing the business. #Travel #Adventure
February 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Staying at Monda in the lovely castle/hotel doing some local walks. #Hiking about 14km up and down a 500m hill we visited Santa Cueva - a cave full of trinkets where a wish will bring good luck. More perfect walking weather so I guess Santa is already doing the business. #Travel #Adventure
Ojen to Monda, #hiking Stage 32 on the GR249, amazing weather. Such a treat after weeks in grey England, #Andalucia is the perfect winter hiking escape and apparently sunshine is almost guaranteed. www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
February 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Ojen to Monda, #hiking Stage 32 on the GR249, amazing weather. Such a treat after weeks in grey England, #Andalucia is the perfect winter hiking escape and apparently sunshine is almost guaranteed. www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
Yesterday's huge storm made walking impossible but today, #hiking Stage 31 of Andalucia's GR 249 was excellent - big 1000m climb from Marbella to Ojen and rough surfaces made for a tough but enjoyable day. #travel #adventure www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
February 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Yesterday's huge storm made walking impossible but today, #hiking Stage 31 of Andalucia's GR 249 was excellent - big 1000m climb from Marbella to Ojen and rough surfaces made for a tough but enjoyable day. #travel #adventure www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
#Stage 29 of Andalucia's GR249, big walk, mainly great but spoilt by a horrible stretch near a huge municipal tip. Perfect weather though at the beginning of February, lots of flowers and big views. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
February 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
#Stage 29 of Andalucia's GR249, big walk, mainly great but spoilt by a horrible stretch near a huge municipal tip. Perfect weather though at the beginning of February, lots of flowers and big views. #travel www.gransendademalaga.es/es/etapas/li...
First #hiking day in Andalucia, February and clear blue skies but with a chilly north wind. Short circular north of the beautiful hill top town of Casares with great views down to Gibraltar and over the straights to Africa. Great day but wish I had packed warmer clothes.
February 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
First #hiking day in Andalucia, February and clear blue skies but with a chilly north wind. Short circular north of the beautiful hill top town of Casares with great views down to Gibraltar and over the straights to Africa. Great day but wish I had packed warmer clothes.
Let's have more Red Routes - the rest of Western Road is an obvious priority with illegal parking on double yellow lines slowing down buses and creating a pedestrian and cycling nightmare
January 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Let's have more Red Routes - the rest of Western Road is an obvious priority with illegal parking on double yellow lines slowing down buses and creating a pedestrian and cycling nightmare
Despite thousands of pilgrims descending on the city from all directions, Santiago del Compostela, works. Lots to see, great restaurants and a fun place in its own right, a fantastic place to finish a great #cycling trip. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
January 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Despite thousands of pilgrims descending on the city from all directions, Santiago del Compostela, works. Lots to see, great restaurants and a fun place in its own right, a fantastic place to finish a great #cycling trip. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
Day 14, #cycling the #camino, massive day in dodgy weather. Two big climbs with a lovely pilgrims bar at the top of the 2nd and then a descent into Galicia and onto Ourense. Great destination, lots to see but would be better if I wasn't knackered. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
January 22, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Day 14, #cycling the #camino, massive day in dodgy weather. Two big climbs with a lovely pilgrims bar at the top of the 2nd and then a descent into Galicia and onto Ourense. Great destination, lots to see but would be better if I wasn't knackered. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
Really tough day, didn't get as far as I had planned and failed a bike maintenance test. Two lessons learnt - #Cycling this stretch of the #Camino is tough and don't turn your bike upside unless you can avoid it. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
January 21, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Really tough day, didn't get as far as I had planned and failed a bike maintenance test. Two lessons learnt - #Cycling this stretch of the #Camino is tough and don't turn your bike upside unless you can avoid it. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
95km off-road #cycling to Puebla de Sanabrés on the #Camino and only one coffee break. No big climbs but getting hillier. Got a picture of a cowboy, the one on the horse, but missed his cows. Nice destination but a bit on the quiet side. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
January 20, 2025 at 6:34 AM
95km off-road #cycling to Puebla de Sanabrés on the #Camino and only one coffee break. No big climbs but getting hillier. Got a picture of a cowboy, the one on the horse, but missed his cows. Nice destination but a bit on the quiet side. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
Day 11 and a left turn onto the #Camino Sanabrés. Easy #cycling across an open landscape where a shepherd was happy to provide a picture. Not much to see at Tábara but the hotel was a friendly place with lots of fellow travellers. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/in-t...
January 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Day 11 and a left turn onto the #Camino Sanabrés. Easy #cycling across an open landscape where a shepherd was happy to provide a picture. Not much to see at Tábara but the hotel was a friendly place with lots of fellow travellers. www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/in-t...
Day 10 #cycling the Ruta Via de la Plata, a flat easy day across an agricultural landscape, shared with an international cycling crew. Zamora had lots to see and I was shown the sights by a friendly local. Great day on the #camino www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...
January 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Day 10 #cycling the Ruta Via de la Plata, a flat easy day across an agricultural landscape, shared with an international cycling crew. Zamora had lots to see and I was shown the sights by a friendly local. Great day on the #camino www.johnhayeswalks.com/2018/06/day-...