Dales and Lakes from Carnforth (10th-12th December 2010)

I visited Ruth for another weekend in the hills. After attending the LRGS Carol Service on the Saturday morning, we just had time for a quick afternoon ascent of Ingleborough, from Ingleton. On the Sunday, we headed to Langdale, for a longer walk over Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike and Great End. Excellent clear, sunny weather with some hard-frozen snow on the tops.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UmuU86HR4g3eWKi17

Scafell and Scafell Pike, as we topped out onto the ridge

Lake District from Carnforth (19th-21st November 2010)

I visited Ruth in Carnforth for the weekend. We walked on the southern fringes of the Lake District both days, doing an afternoon stroll on Whitbarrow on the Saturday and a longer walk on Black Combe and Buck Barrow on the Sunday – both new areas for me.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VQ2tegMWiRWZ1psRA

Buck Barrow, from Great Paddy Crag

Hayfield, Castleton and Edale (13th November 2010)

Another clear and sunny autumn day was forecast, so I headed up to the High Peak for a long-ish walk starting in Hayfield. My somewhat-unusual route took in Mount Famine, Cave Dale, Castleton, Hollins Cross, Edale, Grindslow Knoll and Kinder Low, racking up over 1300m ascent along the way – unusual for a day in the Peak District!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/v4Mk6f4hDwRPwLFz5

Mount Famine, from Coldwell Clough

Glen Coe (23rd-27th October 2010)

I spent a long weekend in the Western Highlands, staying in the Glencoe Independent Hostel with Michael, where Alison and DC also joined us for the weekend. Some excellent weather on the first three days gave fantastic views for our walks on Stob Coir’an Albannaich, the Aonach Eagach and Bidean nam Bian. Tuesday and Wednesday were wetter but we still managed to bag Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Beinn Sgulaird. Four new Munros (plus a few repeats) cleared up the Glen Coe and Glen Etive area for me, and took my total to 187.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EeiQm1T1JHBhfLNM6

Approaching The Chancellor

CUHWC Edale Trip (17th October 2010)

On Sunday we headed to the Dark Peak, where I joined CUHWC for my eighth Edale Trip! As I have done for the last few years, I made a round walk of it by walking over from Hayfield to Edale before the club arrived (well, almost!), with Michael, Emma, Ian and Simon W. I then joined Joe and Tom’s group for the return leg, though I had to descend early to return to Derby for a concert. Mum and Dad did their own circular walk from Hayfield.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uNRKRVvQ9okqSp8j6

Edale from Ringing Roger

Cairngorms (28th-30th August 2010)

For the second weekend of our week in the Highlands, we were joined by Alison (again!) and DC in the Cairngorms. The weather was better than forecast for our walks to Cairn Gorm, Beinn Mheadhoin and Ben Macdui on the Saturday and on the Drumochter Munros on the Sunday. On Bank Holiday Monday, Ruth and I fitted in a quick ascent of Ben Vrackie before the long drive home. 183 Munros down, 100 to go!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VmU4hRWCwiNbsGhZ9

Ruth, Loch Avon and Carn Etchachan

Northwest Highlands (21st-27th August 2010)

I spent another week walking with Ruth in the Northwest Highlands, based at the Forest Way bunkhouse a few miles south of Ullapool. Alison and Will also joined us for the first few days. The weather was often showery, but we still managed good walks on the Fannaichs and Beinn Dearg group, and an excursion to the far north to climb Ben Hope and Ben Klibreck. And we had at least some views every day!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/u4xJek4zgSU9WsvH6

Looking back from Gate of Ca’-derg

Deinsdorf and Nürnberg (5th-8th August 2010)

After a day and a half of solid rain and with no improvement imminent, we evacuated Austria in favour of a nearly-as-wet Germany. We stayed with friends of Amy’s in the small village of Deinsdorf in the Fränkische Schweiz region. From there we spent a day exploring Nürnberg (Nuremberg) and a day walking in the local forests and hills.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yYazYXdwmMDxr2ey9

Seminarhaus Deinsdorf, where we stayed

CUHWC Ötztal Trip (27th July – 5th August 2010)

For this year’s main holiday I spent a couple of weeks in Ötztal, in the Tyrol region of Austria, with six friends from CUHWC. We camped in the small town of Längenfeld, which proved an excellent base from which to explore the valley and surrounding peaks. We had more than our fair share of wet weather, but still managed several excellent walks, a couple of easy Alpine peaks and a via ferrata.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PWNCLVgmN7niMndz7

Looking south from Hochwilde-Nordgipfel