Minehead (22nd-26th December 2016)

As usual, I spent Christmas with my parents in Minehead, and we did a few short local walks.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zhEVYGU9mneSimdt8

Brecon Beacons (26th-27th November 2016)

I made an “emergency” weekend trip to the Brecon Beacons to re-complete my Nuttalls (English and Welsh 2000ft hills) following the recent promotion of Craig Gwaun Taf to the list. As well as the re-completion, I was rewarded with a spectacular cloud inversion around the high Beacons, and some snow on the tops. On the Sunday I bagged a few Marilyns on the western edge of the Black Mountains.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gGaRYjRrMHF9gbkG9

Tyndrum (2nd-6th November 2016)

I spent five days in the Southern Highlands, bagging a few Corbetts in mostly good weather from a base in Tyndrum.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5gHEzzD3yaNFS5GX9

More Staffordshire Tumps (22nd-23rd October 2016)

I continued my exploration of Staffordshire (and its Tumps!) with a short post-orienteering walk near Tamworth on Saturday and a much longer walk over the forested hills west of Trentham on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vBA67jgVfTJDXiYcA

A lovely sunny afternoon on Kingswood Bank

Dave and Jo’s wedding (15th-16th October 2016)

Along with lots of other Old Duffers, I attended Dave and Jo’s wedding weekend at Coniston Coppermines. Poor weather did nothing to dampen spirits!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rzMktEL5PfvgNpbXA

Staffordshire Tumps (8th-9th October 2016)

With an empty weekend in my diary, I decided to tick off some of my closest unbagged Tumps in Staffordshire, walking from Cheadle on Saturday and Cauldon Lowe on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/M7HMiR8GaUhhrsWV8

Wharfedale (30th September – 2nd October 2016)

The Duffers convened in Wharfedale to celebrate Marianne’s 30th birthday, staying in a bunkhouse in Hubberholme. I enjoyed a long-ish walk on Bucken Pike and Great Whernside on Saturday, and a much shorter one on Cocklee Fell on Sunday morning.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/o9svkcoW36DBzEVA8

Dartmoor (15th-18th September 2016)

Alex P and I spent a long weekend backpacking on Dartmoor. Our four-day, 109km route from Okehampton took in many of the wilder parts of the moor and well-known tors, as well as the Duck’s Pool and Cranmere Pool letterbox memorials.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yDXxpGmn524Vypd39

Monsal Dale (8th September 2016)

Today’s post-work walk in the Peak District was in Monsal Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MCPogmqCgxgPEFty7

Leaving the Litton Tunnel, on the Monsal Trail

Crowden (4th September 2016)

With improving weather forecast, I headed to the far north of the Peak District to tick off my final three Derbyshire Tumps with two short walks near Glossop and a big loop north from Crowden.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/npnAbZktwTohv6Yw8

Herefordshire Marilyns (28th-29th August 2016)

With no plans for the Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday weekend, I made a late decision to head to Herefordshire and bag a few Marilyns, camping in Kington for the night.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/x1JBByHE5HZVhF6w7

Carsington (24th August 2016)

My colleague Aditya and I went for another evening stroll in the Peak District, this time on the hillside above Carsington Water.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JvTprFVfaj7yMfmD9

Chartres and Rouen (20th-21st August 2016)

We broke the drive home to explore Chartres and Rouen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zhNiBqKjhAm1u4Hi6

Massif Central (16th-19th August 2016)

For the last few days of the holiday we returned to France to explore some of the extinct volcanoes of the Massif Central.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/T4WkUMr8NZwgxaMz7

Looking back to Puy de Peyre Arse from the summit of Puy Mary (1783m)

Arolla (12th-15th August 2016)

For the second part of the holiday, we relocated to Arolla in the Swiss Valais Alps. Alex T joined us for a long weekend of easy mountaineering based at the Cabane des Dix, with Mont Blanc de Cheilon being the undoubted highlight.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JCEUa5UWWPfSuuRK8

Superb views east from Mont Blanc de Cheilon over Pigne d’Arolla to the Matterhorn

Annecy (6th-11th August 2016)

For the first part of this year’s main summer holiday, Ruth and I spent a few days near Annecy in the Haute Savoie region of the French pre-Alps. Our excellent, mountainous walks included ascents of two nearby Ultras.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UEJaYFyPXfK1My779

Ruth at the summit of Pointe d’Arcalod (2217m) – my third Ultra – with Mont Blanc in the background

A few Staffordshire Tumps (31st July 2016)

I headed towards Stafford for two 11km walks ticking off a few Tumps.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/avtWvTd2FAfWctg9A

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

Minehead (22nd-24th July 2016)

I spent a long weekend with my parents in Minehead. We walked in the Barle valley on Exmoor on the Friday and on the coast near Combe Martin on the Saturday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KH3bog8gjacnbnRm9

Lathkill Dale (14th July 2016)

My colleague Aditya and I went for another sunny evening walk in the Peak District, this time in Lathkill Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NQaSZUbAzmW65F2w8

Buttermere (24th-26th June 2016)

The Duffers congregated in Buttermere for Ruth’s slightly belated 30th birthday weekend. The weather stayed mostly dry for good walks around the Buttermere skyline and on the Loweswater Fells.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ys5VEbUCnpeXHosE9