Bleaklow and Howden Moors (21st June 2014)

I took advantage of a warm, clear Midsummer’s Day for a long walk over the high moorlands of Bleaklow and Howden.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uqvXGAMSS8uX8GcW7

Cambridge (14th June 2014)

I went down to Cambridge for the weekend to visit some friends, wander round a few old haunts, and attend CUHWC’s annual Garden Party, punting and barbecue.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QPiTi5QYARvCwefTA

Ingleborough (1st June 2014)

I did a morning walk up Ingleborough before returning home to Derby, mainly with the aim of ticking off the nearby Nuttall of Simon Fell.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gokoU3p9TuE51jq39

Garbh Bheinn (31st May 2014)

Before driving back to Carnforth on the Saturday, Ruth and I stopped off for a quick ascent of Garbh Bheinn, an impressive Corbett on the south shore of Loch Leven, giving excellent views of the back of the Aonach Eagach.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/A7nsKmiBiTNKZdpU7

Gleann Cia-aig (30th May 2014)

Our next destination was Gleann Cia-aig, where Ruth and I did a day-walk taking in two Corbetts: Meall na h-Eilde and Geal Charn.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rtA9jjhzX8bnzRq87

Ruth in Gleann Cia-aig, with Meall na h-Eilde and Meall an Tagraidh in the background.

Sgurr na Ciche (28th-29th May 2014)

Michael, Ruth and I then spent another couple of days backpacking from Loch Arkaig to the remote and impressive Munro of Sgurr na Ciche. We took in three other Munros and two Corbetts on the way!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gYjs7mpHnyPajzb27

Loch Quoich (26th-27th May 2014)

With Michael having taken Alison’s place, we then spent a couple of days bagging (or re-climbing in my case) Munros either side of Loch Quoich.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kKjAvAQXASKzGfsM9

Knoydart (24th-25th May 2014)

For the first part of this year’s Spring Bank Holiday week in the Highlands, Alison, Ruth and I spent the weekend backpacking in Knoydart. We got the first ferry in to Inverie on Saturday morning and completed a strenuous circuit of three Munros and two Corbetts, just catching the last ferry out on Sunday afternoon!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cwxnwBsDnJUbRLWx6

DC’s stag weekend (16th-18th May 2014)

I went to Snowdonia for DC’s stag weekend, based at the Snowdon House bunkhouse in Nant Peris. On the Saturday, we went on a ‘Go Below’ underground adventure in a disused slate mine in Cwm Penmachno, followed by a barbecue back at the bunkhouse. After a leisurely start on Sunday, we did a short walk up Y Garn and then visited a tea-shop in Llanberis before heading home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/28NRz27xtpAnvuQy6

The group: James, Tom, Alex, Alex, DC and Gordon.

Galloway (3rd-5th May 2014)

Ruth, Alex and I headed to the quiet and remote hills of Galloway for the Bank Holiday weekend – an area none of us had visited before. Over Saturday and Sunday we did a 50km backpacking expedition from Loch Doon over the Rhinns of Kells, Dungeon Hills, Merrick and Shalloch on Minnoch, camping near the outflow from Loch Enoch at just below 500m. Sadly most of the summits were in the cloud, but we enjoyed being in the wilderness and got lots of opportunity to practice our compass bearings! On Monday we completed the Galloway Corbetts with a morning walk up Cairnsmore of Carsphairn before heading home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/R1FwfXip6JuHveQr7

Parents’ visit (26th-27th April 2014)

My parents visited for the weekend. As the forecast was for showers both days, we opted for a couple of relatively-short walks just outside the Peak District National Park, starting in Ellastone on Saturday and in Brassington on Sunday. As it turned out, we had no rain and plenty of sunny spells!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Vj8aw2pZsfRVqKc7

Great Knoutberry Hill (22nd April 2014)

Ruth was back at work, but Easter Tuesday is a fixed holiday at Rolls-Royce, so I headed to the Yorkshire Dales for a few hours’ solo walk taking in Great Knoutberry Hill and Wold Fell.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VHPJjeLRJjzDr5CL7

Tyndrum (17th-21st April 2014)

Ruth and I headed to Tyndrum for the Easter weekend, staying at the ‘By The Way’ campsite. We enjoyed four days of almost unbroken sunshine for two big Munro days (Munros for Ruth, Munro Tops for me!) and two smaller Corbett days, and made use of ice axe and crampons on a couple of occasions!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZNRVAimpLLu2dGMD9

Brecon Beacons (11th-13th April 2014)

I met up with eight other Duffers for a weekend in the west of the Brecon Beacons National Park, staying at Ynysmarchog Bunkhouse in Trecastle. Good walks on the Black Mountain on Saturday and above Heol Senni on Sunday allowed me to tick off all my remaining South-Welsh Nuttalls, and I also managed to fit in ascents of the Sugar Loaf on Friday evening and Ysgyryd Fawr on the way home!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FkxN6geDexYBXmAJ8

Looking west from Fan Nedd’s northern cairn to Fan Gyhirych and the Black Mountain

Eastern Peak District Edges (29th March 2014)

I did a fairly long walk from Baslow in hazy sunshine, heading north along Baslow, Curbar, Froggatt and Burbage Edges, and returning via Higger Tor, Padley Gorge and White Edge.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DpUjyMWuuxgYeKaL7

Derwent Valley from Crich (9th March 2014)

It was a lovely, warm, sunny day for today’s local walk around the Derwent Valley, starting in Crich. My route headed north through Bow Wood to Cromford Wharf, returning via Cromford Moor, Shining Cliff and Crich Chase.

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

CUHWC 25th Anniversary weekend (21st-23rd February 2014)

Nearly a hundred current and former members of CUHWC congregated at High Close YHA, in Langdale, to celebrate the club’s 25th Anniversary. Saturday was mostly dry for a good walk over the snowy summits of Bowfell and Esk Pike, before the evening’s black-tie dinner, speeches, singing etc. Sunday was wet and windy so we opted for a leisurely start followed by pub lunch at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tmVaV6yRm3PaNDY87

Kenilworth and the Cotswolds (7th-9th February 2014

Along with a few other Duffers, I visited Tom and Helen in Kenilworth for the weekend. On the Saturday, we did a local walk to Hatton and back, and on the Sunday, we headed to the Cotswolds for a walk taking in the Marilyn of Cleeve Hill (for me) and a section of the Cotswold Way (for Tom and Helen).

https://photos.app.goo.gl/41M2wSMGijS8T4Sf7

Buttermere (25th-26th January 2014)

I spent a wet and windy weekend in the north-west of the Lake District, staying at Buttermere Youth Hostel. The main aim was to tick off a few Wainwrights as a contribution to CUHWC’s 25th-Anniversary round and, given the weather, a selection of lower fells seemed ideal! On the Saturday, Ruth joined me for a linear walk over the seven Wainwrights in the Lord’s Seat group. On the Sunday, I did three short solo walks, to Low Fell and Fellbarrow (two more Wainwrights), followed by the Marilyns of Watch Hill and Swinside.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jX57iTRGDFUPHLez5

Looking towards Derwent Water and Catbells on the ascent of Swinside

Ladybower (11th January 2014)

MWIS promised a sunny day so I headed to the Dark Peak for a circuit around Ladybower as my first local walk of the year. Unfortunately the reality was sleet and low cloud until mid-morning as I crossed Win Hill, but the sunshine did burn through by lunchtime for the return leg along Derwent Edge!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iXxm7mjT7exrcbLYA