Sunday Times. Where Was I?

[comerton45]

What is the name of the path ?

Question in competition "where was I"
Page 18 in Travel Section
Over 30 miles medium sized footpath

I know answer to second query.

[goodgoalie]

The Sandstone Trail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone_Trail

[Flonska]

Is it me or does anyone else find that the "distances" and "measurements" appear to be somewhat suspect in this week's puzzle? By road, I made it nearer to 7.5 miles south to the Castle rather than the 6 miles headed. Perhaps the nearest car parks to both locations were a long way distant and the journey was completed on foot?

[goodgoalie]

I doubt he actually makes any of the journeys he describes, just a lot of map work, methinks. I've been doing this puzzle regularly for about 18 years (since you used to have to send the answers in to a PO Box in Leighton Buzzard!), but no win - so far.....

[Flonska]

I have always thought that it might be a combination of both a visit and info from "reliable sources" even though there is often some dubious/obscure data. There also appear to be some "red herrings" included (presumably to distract) and yet sometimes the text provides an immediate and obvious answer to at least one of the questions. Certainly, it has become a lot easier to solve the puzzle using t'internet and I am sure many correct solutions are posted each week with the winner selected at random . . . ish!

[goodgoalie]

Yes, Flonska, I agree that it's become easier in the past couple of years. Also, there are fewer words (reduced space in the newspaper?) so is usually less interesting than it used to be. I really enjoy the ones where you have to collect letters from the various places he's been and rearrange them to spell out where he ends up. Pre-internet, I was often to be found lurking in bookshops or libraries, but it had to be solved quickly, as the postcard had to be in Leighton Buzzard by (I think) the Wednesday after publication.

I wonder if Chris Fautley has been setting it since the beginning? He's only had a namecheck in the past few years - it was anonymous before that. Anyway, much enjoyment it has given me these many years - first thing I do on a Sunday!

[Flonska]

It's the second activity for me. The first is to have a giggle reading Mrs Mills' problem page in the Style Mag.
Although there have not been any blogs on his web page since Dec 2016, I used to chat with "Eastender" at http://theeastenderschronicles.blogspot.co.uk/ regarding various aspects of the puzzles set each week and some of the vagaries encountered . I also find "challenged friend" amusing, especially when imap reading or giving directions.

[goodgoalie]

Ha, yes, I would also sometimes look at what Eastender had posted, as he not only gave the answers, but explained absolutely everything in the puzzle - interesting, as it's often possible to get the two answers needed, but not know the name of a castle or (much favoured by the setter) canal. Sorry to see he hasn't posted since December 3rd, hope nothing bad's happened to him. I often wanted to thank him for his efforts, especially as I come from Glasgow, too - but never knew how to work the Wordpress thing so never got in touch. I'm not an Eastender, though!