A homepage for my hillwalking photos
I took a long weekend off from revision for a Wainwright-bagging trip to the Lake District with Michael (throughout) and Dave (for the first two days). Wet and windy weather wasn’t ideal for camping but didn’t prevent us from bagging 18 new summits in the Western, North-western and Northern Fells!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rxsN6vaLFSjZEkCv6
A brilliant hillwalking trip to Eskdale in the SW of the Lake District! I took advantage of the perfect weather for two long walks taking in many of the significant nearby fells. On Saturday my route was over Slight Side, Scafell, Scafell Pike (via the Lord’s Rake), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg. On Sunday I walked over Green Crag, Harter Fell and Hard Knott, returning via waterfalls on the River Esk, and Mediobogdum, the Roman Fort below Hard Knott.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dpcozo7L6fkUGwHf8
I went on a weekend trip to Rhyd Ddu, in Snowdonia, staying at the Oread club’s comfortable Tan yr Wyddfa bunkhouse. On Saturday I did a circular walk over Yr Aran, Snowdon, Crib y Ddysgl and Moel Cynghorion, with fantastic views thanks to the high cloud level. On Sunday I enjoyed some easy scrambling, following the Nantlle Ridge to Garnedd Goch and returning via the valley to the east.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9RySXEseHR8atAkp9
We then transferred to Seathwaite, at the head of Borrowdale, for the now-traditional CUHWC New Year trip there. I spent one day in the Central Fells, and three in the North-Westerns, including the excellent Coledale Horseshoe. My last fell of the trip was Robinson, which was also my 100th Wainwright (though I thought it was my 101st at the time!).
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mH5tndVbk1374dEs8
Ruth and I drove up to the Lake District a couple of days before the official CUHWC Seathwaite Trip. We joined Mark, Alex, Alison and Michael (after their camping expedition in the Northern Fells) for two Wainwright-bagging walks in the Central Fells, based at the Backpackers Hostel in Ambleside.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/P27UswLPaCs1nMk9A
Michael, Ruth, Mark, Alex and I spent Michael’s 21st birthday weekend walking in Devon and Cornwall. On the Saturday we were joined by three of Michael’s friends from Looe for a walk on NW Dartmoor, and on Sunday we did a shorter walk on Bodmin Moor including Cheesewring.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FVStLyHkk8ysEjPF8
The final weekend trip of term was to the Lake District, staying in the Achille Ratti Climbing Club’s bunkhouse at Dunmail Raise. The ideal location meant we were able to do two excellent walks from the door. I spent Saturday bagging half a dozen Central Fells despite the wind and sleet, and on Sunday enjoyed superb visibility on a shorter walk including Seat Sandal, Fairfield and Stone Arthur – just one brief snow-storm, while we were on Seat Sandal!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PG2QF2NwVcBSCnLX6
My first weekend trip of the year was to the Howgill Fells, staying near Sedbergh. We were lucky to have sunny weather most of the time: a contrast to the snow and ice on the last trip to this area (February 2004). On the Saturday I did a walk on the Howgill Fells, and on the Sunday I led a circular walk up Whernside from Dentdale.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rmcRwTE2R5mgMten9
The first CUHWC trip of the new academic year was the traditional freshers’ day trip to Edale in the Peak District. I led a walk from Edale to Hayfield via Mam Tor, Brown Knoll, Kinder Downfall and Kinder Reservoir. Visibility was very poor to start with but gradually improved during the day, giving some sunshine and good views in the afternoon.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/37zntL9KLGNYRE4t5
This year’s unofficial CUHWC summer trip was to the Spanish Pyrenees, where we spent ten days based near the village of Espot, just outside the National Park. Our walks included a five-day expedition, staying overnight in mountain refuges, which allowed us to access some of the more remote areas. We also reached the summit of several peaks around 2800m high. Before flying back home, we spent a day exploring Barcelona.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/K2tuVLaY1jFzDsTb8
I was one of the four members of CUHWC’s team in the ‘Coastalong for WaterAid’ charity event, the aim of which was to have teams covering all sections of the SW Coast Path on one day to raise money for WaterAid. Our leg was of about 20 miles, starting at Looe and ending at the Cremyl Ferry to Plymouth.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PzGQN3d64rziZR7w7
For the second week of the holiday, we moved to Zillertal, enjoying walks in the mountains either side of the valley and in the high Zillertaler Alps. Our appartment for the week was in the small town of Zell am Ziller.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dw912hkkh6gusLoY7
The first week of this year’s family holiday was to the Salzkammergut region of Austria, east of Salzburg. We stayed in a self-catering appartment in St Gilgen, and spent the week walking in the surrounding mountains, as well as making a day trip to Salzburg.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikhCZNTNhjgtqgPc7
An hour after the end of my last exam, I headed again for the hills! The first two days were an official hillwalking club trip, with accommodation split between the Blake Beck camping barn and Gill Head campsite – I was camping. I did a long walk including Sharp Edge and Blencathra in good weather on Saturday, and a shorter one on Skiddaw in wetter weather on Sunday. After everyone else had returned to Cambridge, Will and I stayed in the Lakes for an extra couple of days walking, although this was limited somewhat by wet weather. Monday’s walk was to Glenridding, taking in Great Dodd and Raise but bypassing the other summits to minimise time exposed to the elements!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rMWAsHqf2LxJqbYJ6
The Easter vacation trip went, as usual, to northern Snowdonia, where we stayed in the well-located Bryn Brethynau bunkhouse near Capel Curig. The weather wasn’t as good as we had hoped, with lots of wind, rain and snow, but we managed some good walks nevertheless!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/be5Ex8k9v1qogY9NA
An excellent weekend in Kentmere, in the Far Eastern Fells of the Lake District. We did two fantastic walks direct from the bunkhouse, taking in most of the significant fells of the area. We endured high winds and near-white-out conditions on the Saturday, but were rewarded with sunshine and fine views on the Sunday. And I got to use my crampons!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HFdW5SDoBob7xk1AA
This term’s day trip was to the Long Mynd area of Shropshire: an area I had not visited before. I enjoyed a walk taking in Caer Caradoc Hill and Pole Bank (the summit of Long Mynd). An unexpected bonus was to find a thin layer of snow on the hilltops, and to be snowed on during the walk!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PTF2ZZXuYvXP8yYv9
Another weekend hillwalking, this time in southern Snowdonia. We stayed near Dinas Mawddwy, and did walks on Cadair Idris and in the Arans in surprisingly good weather!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Akhn3x9SmpyNU4n9
Heading back south from Aviemore, I spent five nights in Borrowdale on the annual CUHWC New Year trip staying at the High House bunkhouse. The weather was windy but mainly dry, and I enjoyed several excellent walks both from the door and slightly further afield. A great way to end the Christmas vacation!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVCf7C7bJyckADQ89
I joined seven friends from the hillwalking club for a week in Aviemore, in the Cairngorms. We hired a guide for a couple of days to teach us some winter mountaineering skills, using ice axes and crampons, and building snowholes. The snow was disappointingly scarce until the last day though, so our new skills weren’t really put to the test! N.B. No photos of Wednesday – we were too busy practising our ice-axe arrests!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hr32FTBCAz8eVdFa7
David Pettit's photo blog 