CUHWC Malvern Hills Trip (7th March 2010)

I popped down to Worcestershire for the day to join CUHWC’s first ever trip to the Malvern Hills (though not my first visit). Starting at British Camp, we did a full out-and-back traverse of the ridge in both directions, plus a bonus ascent of Herefordshire Beacon at each end of the day (one while I waited for the Cambridge party to arrive, and the other to see sunset)! All the humps and bumps added up to a surprisingly long walk of nearly 30km and over 1500m ascent!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k3dnufVA1x6RYChM9

CUHWC Eskdale Trip (27th-28th February 2010)

The weather was excellent for the last CUHWC weekend trip of the term, to Eskdale. On the Saturday I did Scafell via Slight Side, and on the Sunday I explored some of the outlying fells around Devoke Water.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NfXeyTyAfDAPF4sV8

Ruth, Emma and Ian, with Bowfell and Crinkle Crags beyond

CUHWC Yorkshire Dales Trip (12th-14th February 2010)

I joined CUHWC for a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales, staying at the Selside Centre in Ribblesdale. On the Saturday, I did the Three Peaks walk with Ruth, Alison and Alex, encountering a fair amount of snow on the tops! On the Sunday, we drove over to Wensleydale and walked over Dodd Fell and Drumaldrace from Hawes.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bg67FmV1Mtaj7A6FA

Housewarming weekend (5th-7th February 2010)

Some of the Cambridge hillwalkers visited me in Hilton for my housewarming weekend. We walked on The Roaches on the Saturday and in Dove Dale on the Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zRGK4hkH6SKWBeW3A

The group below The Roaches: Gordon, Kate, Michael, Jo, Ruth, Alex, Marianne, Ian and Emma

Kinder Scout (30th January 2010)

I took advantage of a crisp, clear, sunny winter’s day for a walk onto Kinder Scout from Edale, walking most of the perimeter of the plateau as well as visiting, for the first time, its highest point.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4uxdDQcswgH6n3378

CUHWC Snowdonia Trip (23rd-24th January 2010)

I went on the CUHWC weekend trip to Snowdonia. The trip was based at the Pinnacle Club hut in Cwm Dyli, but Ruth and I stayed at the nearby Bryn Gwynant youth hostel to save bunkhouse spaces for the Cambridge-dwellers. The weather was mostly dry but there was cloud on the tops both days. On the Saturday, I did Elidir Fawr and Y Garn from Nant Peris, and on the Sunday, Cnicht and Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ev3buFEyu8GZWaE48

Cnicht, finally clear of cloud as we approached Croesor

Lake District, from Carnforth (15th-17th January 2010)

I visited Ruth in Carnforth for the weekend. We walked in the Lakes both days, doing Blencathra on the Saturday and the Ill Bell ridge on the Sunday. There was lots of snow on the ground, but unfortunately also lots of low cloud on the hills!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9gijqaMmr4W8Cy8S7

Killin (27th December 2009 – 3rd January 2010)

For this year’s younger Duffers’ New Year trip, we went to the Southern Highlands, staying in two ‘Highland Lodges’ near the shore of Loch Tay, a few miles from Killin. The mixed weather allowed three good mountain days and three lower level walks, and the long hours of darkness provided plenty of time for cooking, eating and socialising back at the lodge!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pqju5LwgQJPBjVpCA

CUHWC Dartmoor Trip (14th-15th December 2009)

I spent a long weekend in the Westcountry. After a couple of days at home with my parents, I headed up to Dartmoor to join the CUHWC trip staying near Princetown. The weather was wet at times, but I still managed a couple of good walks, to King’s, Great Mis Tor and Beardown Tors on Saturday, and past Grimspound on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/L6jFPFZf2Ezu3Atb8

Peak District with Duffers (5th-6th December 2009)

Alison proposed a Duffers’ weekend camping in the Dark Peak. I didn’t really fancy camping in December, but drove up both days for walks on Stanage Edge and Mam Tor. Good to catch up with a few people I hadn’t seen for a while!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xBJY6KwLwGWho5YYA

Lathkill Dale (7th November 2009)

Kate visited for a day walk in the White Peak, taking in Robin Hood’s Stride, Lathkill Dale and Stanton Moor.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/m4HCrBNAoqzKJaci9

Kate, the King Stone, and the Nine Ladies

CUHWC Dunmail Raise Trip (30th October – 1st November 2009)

I joined CUHWC for a very wet weekend in the Lakes, staying in the large bunkhouse at Dunmail Raise. On the Saturday, I walked over Fairfield to Patterdale, returning via Striding Edge and Helvellyn. On the Sunday, I did a shorter circuit from Helm Crag to Steel Fell.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vi7gtZxi1b3EUVJHA

CUHWC Edale Trip (18th October 2009)

Sunday brought my seventh annual CUHWC Edale trip! Ruth and I met Michael in Hayfield (where he had been supervising a DofE group) and we walked over to Edale together. For the return leg, I joined Dave, Joe and eight new members on a route via Hollins Cross, Brown Knoll and Farlands Booth.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EM5WS2mD58HdsWiMA

The Roaches and Gun (17th October 2009)

Ruth visited me in Derby for Edale weekend. On the Saturday, we walked in the Staffordshire Peak, taking in The Roaches, Gun and Tittesworth Reservoir.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jiDdYnJ3eTkqvMMY6

Froggatt Edge, Higger Tor and Abney Moor (10th October 2009)

There were sunny spells and clear views for my first local walk of October, starting in Curbar, and I enjoyed the early-autumn colours of the trees and bracken. My route took in Froggatt Edge, Higger Tor, Abney Moor and Eyam.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qxsQPowuegg6DmiS7

North York Moors (3rd-4th October 2009)

Ruth and I spent a weekend in the North York Moors, staying at Osmotherley Youth Hostel. On the Saturday, we did a circular walk from Kildale, including Roseberry Topping and Gisborough Moor, in strong winds but some sunshine. On the Sunday it was sunny again and much calmer for a linear walk along the Cleveland Way from Swainby to Ingleby Greenhow.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/f2DYYNqJAt4ZeDg37

Arnside Knott (13th September 2009)

On my way home, I spent another day at Ruth’s. We did another short walk, on Arnside Knott, which gave excellent views across Morcambe Bay to the Lake District.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fZtqBZpb1GWzsq28A

Looking over the Kent Estuary to the Lake District

Ardverikie and Ben Alder (10th-12th September 2009)

For the final three days of my trip, I enjoyed excellent sunny weather for an expedition through the hills between Glen Spean and Loch Ericht, staying in the Culra bothy. This included five new Munros for me, and repeat ascents of two that I’d done before. At the end of the trip, my Munro total stood at 131.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UCk2ZQfZEoBuhHid6

Fort William (8th-9th September 2009)

For the next couple of days, I stayed in a hostel near Fort William. Tuesday was so wet that I didn’t do a walk, except a short stroll by Neptune’s Staircase on the Caledonian Canal. The sunny spells returned on Wednesday though, and I enjoyed a traverse of the westernmost three Munros of the Mamores.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XANfYkmPZqMhebPs8

Glen Spean (6th-7th September 2009)

For the start of my week in Scotland, I stayed in Roybridge, from where I did a short, wet walk through the cloud to Beinn a’ Chaorainn, and a longer, drier walk over three Munros and six Tops on Creag Meagaidh.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eFCwLYmAk1puAoEc6