Alport Castles and Derwent Edge (31st March 2019)

Loading my photo archive onto this blog over the past few weeks has inspired me to get back out into the Peak District more often. I devote more of my weekend time to running, orienteering and brass banding these days, but that’s given me a break from many local places that had become over-familiar and boring, such that I find myself with renewed interest in re-exploring!

With a good clear and dry forecast today, and following a couple of weeks of dry weather, it seemed a good time to head to the moors of the Dark Peak. I opted for a 28km circuit starting by Ladybower Reservoir at Ashopton Viaduct. I started by ascending via Crook Hill to Alport Castles – always a dramatic viewpoint – then dropped back down to Howden Reservoir and followed the track up to its head at Slippery Stones. Then I took the high moorland route back over Margery Hill, Back Tor and Dovestone Tor, with their interesting rock formations and great views over the Reservoirs to Bleaklow, Kinder Scout and Edale.

Just a couple of photos here. As always, the full album is on Google Photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QgjhTWyAMMVWGFht9

Looking over The Tower at Alport Castles, to the Woodlands Valley and Kinder Scout

Cheeks Hill (23rd February 2019)

Dave, Jo and I enjoyed a sunny post-parkrun walk to Cheeks Hill, the highest point in Staffordshire, for CUHWC’s 30th anniversary round of the County Tops.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nhb1W3QxKoxHm79f6

The summit of Cheeks Hill, with Shining Tor in the background

CUHWC 30th Anniversary weekend (15th-17th February 2019)

Lots of club members, Old Duffers and dufflings convened at YHA Langdale for the weekend to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Cambridge University Hillwalking Club. My short and child-friendly walks were up Harrison Stickle and Loughrigg Fell!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Jjx1vN7i1dVNWPFp7

Ruth, the Crosses and the Williamses ascending above Grasmere

New Year trip to Crianlarich (30th December 2018 – 6th January 2019)

I joined Dave and Jo (+ baby), Ruth and James for New Year week in Crianlarich, where I enjoyed re-visiting six Munros (including three with baby thanks to the calm, dry, non-snowy conditions!) and bagging four new Corbetts.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GqbkUqLAmqH4mVhCA

Jo (+1), Dave and Ruth at the summit of Ben Lawers (baby’s third Munro, at just 12 weeks old!)

Marilyn-bagging in North Wales (6th-9th December 2018)

I spent a few days bagging Marilyns (and a few Humps) in North Wales, taking in the Clwydian Range, Anglesey, the Lleyn Peninsula and the Berwyn Hills. On newly-promoted Foel Cedig, I also re-completed the Nuttalls.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xj9EJ2dwThL9P5Jz7

Excellent coastal views from Mynydd Anelog to Mynydd Mawr and Bardsey Island

Bardon Hill (25th November 2018)

With an injured calf at the moment, I wanted to get some fresh air without tackling anything too strenuous. A stroll up Bardon Hill, the highest point in Leicestershire, fitted the bill and also contributed to CUHWC’s goal of a 30th Anniversary round of the County Tops.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3JJPvAjCu8dom9H47

Corrour, Pitlochry and Braemar (24th-30th October 2018)

I spent another week Corbett-bagging, starting with two solo days around Rannoch and Corrour, then joined by Ruth for two days between Loch Ericht and Drumochter, and three days in the southern Cairngorms. Definitely the snowiest October walking I’ve done, with over a foot at the summit of Lochnagar!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4aPsHFQzt49GjH3s7

Band trip to the Yorkshire Dales (5th-7th October 2018)

The third biannual Rolls-Royce Band hillwalking weekend went to the Yorkshire Dales to tackle the Three Peaks Challenge. Plus photos of my solo Friday walk on Kirkby Fell, and a few survivors’ Sunday-morning walk around Gordale Scar and Malham Cove!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zBfiX33vzM5oVES27

The group below Pen-y-ghent: Andrew, Heather, Grahame, Heather, Jeff, Helen, Jo, Pete, Ian and Ben

A walk in the Cotswolds (16th September 2018)

I stayed in Cheltenham for the day after the National Brass Band Championships, and went for a short walk in the Cotswolds with my parents (who had come to support the band).

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cesn53et5zYviznGA

Bank Holiday weekend in the Lake District (25th-27th August 2018)

I headed up to the Lake District for the Bank Holiday weekend. On the Saturday I walked in the Northern Fells to bag the newly-identified Nuttall of Miller Moss. On the Sunday I tackled my first Mini Mountain Marathon (of which no photos), a four-hour score event on the fells north of Ambleside. Finally, on the way home on the Monday, I bagged Ward’s Stone (a Marilyn) in the Forest of Bowland.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/V9t512Pd11z6dT2a8

Parc National des Pyrénées (5th-10th August 2018)

We then drove a few hours east to spend the second week of the trip in the French Pyrenees, camping near Gavarnie.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zwQ5AmUZyHzGDoWP7

Looking over the Cirque de Gavarnie from near the summit of Le Taillon

Picos de Europa (31st July – 5th August 2018)

We spent the first week of our holiday walking among the awesome limestone mountains of the Picos de Europa, camping for a few days in Santa Marina de Valdeon and then a few in Fuente Dé.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tBzHweFCH21xgo2v8

Parents’ visit: Anchor Church and Lathkill Dale (14th-15th July 2018)

Mum and Dad visited for the weekend. After a Saturday morning parkrun at Conkers, we went for an afternoon stroll by the River Trent at Foremark, and on Sunday a longer walk through Lathkill Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PffF3SfwW5deLaHz5

Kinder Scout from Hayfield (24th June 2018)

Heading to the Peak District for the first time in months, I did a four-hour walk from Hayfield along the eastern skyline from William Clough over Kinder Low and Brown Knoll to Mount Famine.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GsGuo5z9UFxV3uhb7

Looking back to South Head from Mount Famine

Glen Dessarry (1st-3rd June 2018)

For the final three days of the trip, we headed to Glen Dessarry at the head of Loch Arkaig, ticking off three more Corbetts with a bothy night at A’ Chuil and a semi-wild camping night by the lochside. Sunday morning was particularly rewarding with a fine cloud inversion around Sgurr Mhurlagain.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/0x7klnoCQMYuGQzs1

Looking over Glen Pean to the back of the Glenfinnan Munros

Carn a’ Chuilinn (31st May 2018)

After four consecutive days’ backpacking, we fancied an easier day, so opted for a half-day walk up the moorland Corbett of Carn a’ Chuilinn, above Fort Augustus.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sojZZ4bCjcCXLSPv5

Backpacking to Ben Aden (29th-30th May 2018)

With the great weather continuing, we continued straight into another backpacking expedition, traversing five very fine Corbetts and Grahams on the fringes of Knoydart, including the impressive and highly prized Ben Aden.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nCFhIuoxHjqnSFu63

Backpacking on Rum (27th-28th May 2018)

We then spent a couple of days backpacking on Rum, traversing all the major peaks of the Rum Cuillin to camp near Harris on Sunday night, and returning to Kinloch via the lower Marilyn of Orval on Monday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tKTwCXULCGJCzox23

Three Ardgour Corbetts (26th May 2018)

This year’s Spring Bank Holiday week in the Highlands started with an excellent day on the three Corbetts south of Glenfinnan, the highlight being Sgurr Ghiubhsachain with its excellent views over Loch Shiel into Moidart.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FJjQPo4fgBrji6FT2

The rocky ridge of Sgurr Ghiubhsachain, with great views of the Glenfinnan Munros and Gulvain

Challenge walk: Welsh 3000ers (19th May 2018)

Ruth and I tackled the Welsh 3000ers challenge: a long linear walk from Pen-y-Pass over the Snowdon range, Glyderau and Carneddau to Bwlch y Ddeufaen, taking in the 16 Welsh Nuttalls over 3000ft.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5jak9noZ31ZjyYqD7