*This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Millets.
Before we had T, my husband and I used to do a lot of walking here in North Cornwall. We had a different dog back then. For those who’ve been following my blog for some time now, you may have read about Mutley. The dog who sadly passed away due to bone cancer when I was pregnant with T. It took a while before we had another dog, and when T turned three, that’s when Doc joined our little family.
Admittedly we don’t do a lot of walking anymore. That’s what happens I guess when you have children. Extra curricular activities run even on the weekends. But lately, my husband and I have been yearning to take up walking and exploring more of the outdoors again, by foot, like we used to. We talked about buying ourselves proper hiking boots, good ones, not the kind that breaks after a season. Luckily for us, Millets came to the rescue.
For avid hikers, dog walkers, or any lover of the outdoors, Millets is a must-visit for all your hiking gear. They have the widest range of durable walking boots, jackets, rucksacks and everything else needed for your outdoor adventure.
1. Peter Storm: Men’s Insulated Pennine II Jacket and BRASHER: Men’s Country Master Walking Boots 2. PETER STORM: Girl’s Ormskirk Walking Boots 3. BRASHER: Women’s Country Trekker Walking Boots.
My husband, little T and I were really impressed when the items (see above) arrived. Upon opening the boxes, we knew right away that they were all good quality and we’re really excited to get them all tested and since it’s T’s half-term break, we quickly planned an afternoon on Rough Tor.
T’s school broke up for half-term break on a rainy Thursday last week. When I checked the weather forecast, Friday looked promising. We waited for my husband to finish some work and also waited for T’s best-friend F who was spending the afternoon with us that day. For awhile, I was wondering whether we should cancel, since the dark grey clouds seemed to be hovering, promising more rain. But we decided to go for it after all, thanks to Millets, we were geared for whatever the weather.
The Historian wore the Peter Storm’s Men’s Insulated Jacket together with Brasher’s Men’s Country Walking Boots:
What he liked about the jacket:
It’s well padded and insulated. Perfect for the rough Cornish weather.
What he didn’t like about it:
The pockets aren’t big enough for an OS map (see above) and it could do with another deeper inner pocket. But then again, he says that people usually bring a rucksack with them, like we did that day, so it really isn’t much of a negative.
What he liked about the boots:
Everything. He absolutely loved the boots. He said it’s the perfect walking boots. Keeps your feet warm and dry when walking in the rain or hiking through muddy and wet grass.
What he didn’t like about the boots:
Nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada.
Rough Tor is about a twenty minute (or maybe even less drive from where we live) It’s a tor (Cornish word for hill) on Bodmin Moor. It’s a known place for hiking and also popular among the tourists.
It actually drizzled on the way there. Doc snuggled up to my brand new boots. I think he likes them too.
We took a photo of our new boots before the walk just to make a comparison after.
Then together with T’s best-friend F, we headed off for our little hike up Rough tor.
We’ve been to this place so many times especially when we have visitors around. You don’t need to be an expert hiker to climb to the top. I guess that’s one of the reasons why we like going.
You’ll also find a lot of sheep on the path that’s one of the reasons why we never allow Doc to go off leash. He’ll frighten the poor sheep if we do!
“Take a photo of my boots mum!” T said as she stopped in her tracks and of course I obliged. I don’t think F, her best-friend was amused.
Looking at the sky, I remembered thinking “Oh dear, we better hurry before it starts to rain again.” I wondered even whether to call it off but our little team was way ahead of me by now.
“Be careful please!” I called out to the kids as they scrambled up the rocks. I stopped and looked behind at how much we’ve covered.
The carpark seen between those trees looked so far away. I quickened my pace by now I’ve lost sight of my husband and the kids were also quickly disappearing before my eyes.
I stopped to catch my breath and caught sight of these beautiful rock-formations all over Rough tor. It’s such a breathtaking scene.
As if giants decided to play with the rocks and stack them up neatly one after the other.
I also remembered thinking “Thank goodness, I’m wearing proper boots! I don’t think ordinary trainers would do the trek up the tor”.
Once up, there were more beautiful rock-formations around. “What took you so long, mum?” T asked me as I sat down to catch my breath. “Didn’t you hear me calling for you?” I asked her. She shook her head. It was too windy up there to hear anything I guess.
And there’s Doc and the husband admiring the view. The clouds still looked ominous to me so in spite protests I told everyone that it’s time to head back down before it started to rain.
On our way back though, we saw another family going up the tor in spite the weather. I remember thinking how brave they were considering they had smaller kids with them.
T and F as usual went ahead of us. They were playing around as always by the time we got to them.
And or course, we had to take an “after-the-walk-photo” of our boots.
Verdict: Men’s and Women’s boots from Brasher and Peter Storm Girl’s walking boots are excellent boots for the outdoors.
Need we say more?
I’d like to go back again though when the weather is better. My husband read about some bronze age settlements somewhere around the tor, when the weather is better, we will come back and hunt for them. It’s handy of course that, all this isn’t very far from where we live.
If you want to see more of the beautiful scenery surrounding Rough Tor, watch short video below:
What about you?
What kind of adventures have you done over the half-term break?
