Introduction to the mashup paths south of London
In the world of web development a mashup is a web page or application that combines data or functionality from two or more external sources to create a new service. The web development term is in turn borrowed from music, where a mashup is a song comprised of elements of two or more pre-existing pieces of music. So generically, a mashup is something made by combining pre-existing elements into something new.
I've adopted the term to mean a long distance path made up of sections of existing waymarked or promoted paths, with new short connecting sections defined where needed to create links.
A classic example of a mashup is the E9 European Coastal Path. Within the region covered by this website, the E9 is made up of sections from five different long distance paths.
I've devised and described a number of mashups for my own amusement:
- The Alternative South Downs Way - a 185 km (116 mile) route partly of my own invention, and partly based on the Monarch's Way, from Eastbourne to Winchester. I have given enough information to allow the walk to be traced on the relevant OS 1:25 000 maps.
- The Kent Valleys Way - a walk across Kent using waymarked river valley walks. I've completed the walk, but I've not yet written it up formally. I have given some details in my log recording my walks through the Kent valleys.
- The Inland Water Way (from London to Portsmouth) - a walk following the secure inland canal route from the London to the headquarters of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth proposed during the Napoleonic wars. Again, I've completed the walk, but I've not yet written it up formally. I have given some details in my log recording my walks following the London to Portsmouth inland waterway.
List of mashup paths south of London, in no particular order
The distances were calculated by plotting the route using Anquet 1:50 000 digital mapping.
| Name | Length | Start | Finish | Devised by Jon T? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative South Downs Way | 185 km (116 miles) | Warren Hill, Eastbourne | Winchester Cathedral | Yes |
| E9 European Coastal Path | 298 km (186 miles) | Southampton | Dover | No |
| E2 Atlantic - Mediterranean Path (western route) | 218 km (136 miles) | Weybridge | Dover | No |