Minehead (21st-26th December 2014)

We spent Christmas at my parents’ house in Minehead, taking local walks on Dunkery Beacon, Periton Hill and the seafront.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vbraLxxTW6F1Yz756

Monsal Dale and Chee Dale (6th December 2014)

I spent a cold but sunny day walking in the White Peak, starting in Taddington and passing through Monsal Dale and Chee Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wryhGWJ5xhYQhgJN7

Beacon Hill (30th November 2014)

After completing my course at today’s orienteering event on Beacon Hill, I strolled back up to the summit to take a few photos in the sunshine!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hpM8254aPpzJs3j99

Looking towards Loughborough from the summit of Beacon Hill

Parents’ visit (15th-16th November 2014)

The weather was rather grey and drizzly for my parents’ autumn visit to Derbyshire, but we still got a few good views on our walks in the Upper Derwent / Woodlands valleys and on Cannock Chase.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H66MYn7Q5MqVTQe38

Snowdonia (7th-9th November 2014)

I met up with 15 other Old Duffers for a weekend in Snowdonia, staying in a cosy bunkhouse near Bethesda. We walked on the northern Glyderau on the Saturday and the northern Carneddau on the Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bxe9Vo2JoSVsfDV19

Visiting Alex & Ausma in Müllheim (30th October – 2nd November 2014)

For the second half of my week’s holiday I headed to Müllheim in the Black Forest to visit Alex and Ausma. I walked locally on the Thursday, exploring the foothills of the Black Forest and the vineyards of the Rhein valley. Then on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we sought higher hills (all around 1400m) in the Vosges (France), Jura (Swizerland) and Black Forest (Germany)!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6HzbnD2jeMi22KYe9

Pendle Hill (29th October 2014)

After a night in Carnforth, I had time for a morning walk up Pendle Hill, near Clitheroe, before heading to Manchester Airport for the next phase of my holiday!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vDfoGbqgUMrwWNTv9

Trossachs (26th-28th October 2014)

We then spent three days Corbett-bagging in the Trossachs, staying at the independent hostel in Callander. Sunday and Monday were very wet and windy, so we opted for short, fast ascents of Beinn Each and Ben Ledi. Tuesday was drier and brighter for a longer walk up Benvane.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zYxcW5efKoPK6nAs7

Thack Moor and Cold Fell (25th October 2014)

Ruth and I had planned a long weekend in the Trossachs, but opted to walk in the North Pennines on our way north the first day, as the forecast was better further south. We did two short walks to bag the Nuttalls of Thack Moor and Cold Fell.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMaxTV1cLQnT68BX9

Snowdonia (11th-12th October 2014)

I spent a weekend in Snowdonia with a couple of colleagues (hillwalking novices!). On the Saturday we had a touristy day visiting Caernarfon Castle and the pumped-storage power station at Dinorwig. On the Sunday, we had perfect sunny weather for a walk up Snowdon, ascending via the Pyg Track with the hordes and then continuing round the Horseshoe over Y Lliwedd.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cAoaYBqMqScjqqas5

Looking towards Moel Siabod, from Snowdon

30th Birthday trip to Wasdale and Eskdale (26th-28th September 2014)

A few of the Old Duffers joined me in the south-western Lakes for the weekend to celebrate my 30th birthday! On the Saturday, we did a good walk from Wasdale over Yewbarrow, Scoat Fell and Pillar, followed by pub dinner at the King George IV Inn in Eskdale Green. On the Sunday, we opted for a shorter walk up Harter Fell.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oPQhas8PwH2P2rip9

The group on Demming Crag: Gordon, Marianne, Ruth, Alex, Helen, Tom and Alison

Mid-Wales (6th-7th September 2014)

Presented with a good weather forecast and empty diary, I made an imprompto solo bagging trip to Mid-Wales! My walks were on Pegwn Mawr and Pen y Garn on Saturday, and on Pumlumon (Plynlimon) on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DQQopgWWcXiFH7Ju5

FoCUBB camping trip to Grafham Water (29th-31st August 2014)

I met up with a few friends from FoCUBB (Friends of Cambridge University Brass Band) for a weekend of camping, cycling and much meat-eating near Grafham Water!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kd6osBsPkUh1Urkn9

Michael and Kat’s wedding, and the drive home (22nd-24th August 2014)

Our return route from Austria was via the Fränkische Schweiz region of central Germany, where Michael and Kat were to be married at the castle of Burg Rabeneck. We also had time for a little exploration of the surrounding area, and broke the drive back to England with a couple of hours in Aachen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ficoHtoDvNSuPMB87

Lechtaler Alps (8th-22nd August 2014)

For this year’s main summer holiday, Ruth and I spent a fortnight in the Austrian Alps, camping in Pettneu am Arlberg in Stanzertal in Tirol. This proved an excellent base for our walking and scrambling in the nearby Lechtaler Alps and surrounding ranges.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hg9xVAWDEnoEMsGt5

Lakeland Furths with Amy (25th-27th July 2014)

Amy and I spent a weekend in the Lake District, where she was keen to tick off a few English Furths (hills that would be Munros if they were in Scotland). On the Saturday, we had excellent sunny weather for our walk over the Scafell group from Seathwaite. Sunday was rather less clement on Skiddaw!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bF1NpBYy7gYtNAwY6

Looking back over Mickledore to Scafell (after the descent and reascent via Foxes Tarn)

Minehead (18th-20th July 2014)

I spent a long weekend visiting my parents in Minehead. Our local walks took us to The Chains on Exmoor, around Dunster, and onto the northern Quantocks.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3vJa961v8FyQ6tUq5

Forest of Bowland (13th July 2014)

As the cloud was forecast to be below the summits of higher fells, Ruth and I headed to the Forest of Bowland on Sunday for a short-ish walk onto Fair Snape Fell, a new Marilyn for me!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/M9zctNDgaMsioy5k6

Upper Teesdale (12th July 2014)

I was keen to go walking despite a planned trip to Snowdonia with some colleagues having been postponed, so I headed to the North Pennines for the day to tick off a few Nuttalls around the head of Teesdale. My main walk took in Viewing Hill, Bellbeaver Rigg, Burnhope Seat and (second time lucky!) Harwood Common. Afterwards I had time for a short walk up nearby Flinty Fell before heading to Ruth’s house for the night.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cLk3ctDQagMjjH3p8

Gradbach, Shining Tor and Shutlingsloe (5th July 2014)

After heavy overnight rain, the day dawned dry and was forecast to improve, so I headed to the western Peak for a walk starting in Gradbach. My route followed the Dane Valley Way up to Three Shire Heads, continued north via Cheeks Hill to Shining Tor, and returned via Shutlingsloe.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kpbyu7NCkanTzHAH8