Category: Old Duffers

Duffers’ Dartmoor Trip (2nd-4th November 2012)

DC organised a well-attended Duffers’ weekend on Dartmoor, staying in a comfy bunkhouse just outside the National Park at Galford Springs. We had reasonable weather both days, with sunny spells and just the occasional shower, which allowed for two pleasant horseshoe walks: from Meldon around the West Okement valley, and from Belstone around the Taw valley.

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Looking north from Wild Tor to Steeperton, Belstone and Cosdon Tors

Southern Highlands (19th-23rd October 2012)

I spent a long weekend in the Southern Highlands. My rather complex itinerary comprised a weekend in Glen Etive (with Alison, and variously joined by Will, Peter and Alex!), followed by dinner in Edinburgh on Sunday evening, and some solo Munro-ticking on Ben Lawers and Ben Lomond on Monday and Tuesday.

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Morning light on Buachille Etive Beag

Duffers’ Ambleside Trip (7th-9th September 2012)

As part of her holiday in England, Emily organised a Duffers’ weekend in the Lake District, staying at Ambleside Backpackers’ hostel. Except for a little low cloud first thing on the Saturday, we had excellent weather for our walks from Grasmere up to the Langdale Pikes, and from Ambleside up Loughrigg Fell.

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Harrison Stickle, from Pavey Ark

Corsica: GR20 (22nd July – 5th August 2012)

This year’s main summer holiday was to the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, where six of us from CUHWC tackled the famous ‘GR20’, regarded as Europe’s toughest trail. For extra challenge, we completed the route in twelve days rather than the standard fifteen, taking all the high-level variants and adding ascents of Corsica’s three highest peaks along the way! An awesome fortnight, with great company and truly spectacular scenery from start to finish.

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Punta Minuta and Monte Cinto, from Paglia Orba

Skye (1st-6th June 2012)

I spent Spring Bank Holiday week Munro-bagging in the North-west Highlands, where the weather was excellent: far better than elsewhere in the UK, in fact! We spent the first few days on Skye, ticking off all the Munros on the island, including the most difficult of them all: the Inaccessible Pinnacle! Thanks to Will for his help with the ropework.

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Me below Sgurr nan Gillean

Dolgellau (4th-7th May 2012)

I spent the Bank Holiday weekend with Will and Ruth in southern Snowdonia, staying in Dolgellau. We enjoyed good weather and excellent visibility for walks taking in many of the nearby hills, including Maesglase, Cadair Idris, the southern Rhinogs and the Tarrens.

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Continuing along the ridge to Craig Portas, with the Tarrens and Cadair Idris in the distance

Duffers’ Northern Fells Trip (24th-26th February 2012)

I joined the Duffers’ for a weekend in the Northern Fells of the Lake District, staying at the Hudscales camping barn. We walked on Blencathra on Saturday and on High Pike and Carrock Fell on Sunday, which also allowed me to tick off three nearby Nuttalls. Ruth and I also popped up nearby Faulds Brow and Sandale Hill before heading home.

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Glenderamackin, with Sharp Edge above

Di and Ben’s wedding, and some opportunistic bagging (22nd-23rd October 2011)

I went down to Kent for the weekend for Di and Ben’s wedding. The ceremony was held at the Church of St James the Great, in East Malling, with an evening reception at Dorton House in nearby Seal. That left plenty of unfilled hours, so I also took the opportunity to bag a few of the local Marilyns and HuMPs! Then on the Sunday I met up with Alex P for a longer walk to Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill.

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Newlywed Dr and Mrs Russell, greeting the guests after the wedding service

Alison’s Wainwright Completion weekend (1st-2nd October 2011)

The Old Duffers gathered for a weekend in the Lakes to celebrate Alison’s completion of the Wainwrights. Her completion walk, on the Saturday, was the Newlands Horseshoe from Scope End round to her final fell, Catbells. On the Sunday, a smaller group of us climbed Skiddaw via the Ullock Pike Ridge, taking in a couple of Nuttalls (Sale How and Little Calva) on the descent.

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Alison completed the Wainwrights on Catbells

Borrowdale and Dunnerdale (16th-18th September 2011)

After the disappointment of the cancellation of the CUHWC trip to Fort William this week due to the severe weather, I was keen to head to the hills for at least the weekend. Ruth, Michael, Mark and Sara joined me for two nights at Ambleside Backpackers Hostel and two walks in the Southern Fells. On the Saturday, we climbed Glaramara and Allen Crags (and their many Nuttall summits) from Seathwaite. On the Sunday, we did a linear walk from Broughton Mills to Coniston village via some Wainwright Outlying Fells.

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Descending to Grains Gill

North Pennines (27th-29th August 2011)

Alison and I went to the North Pennines for the Bank Holiday weekend. On the Saturday, we met up with Ruth and Sarah for the Hadrian’s Wall section of their expedition along the Pennine Way. We then stayed at the campsite in Alston for two nights, bagging a few Nuttalls west of Alston on the Sunday and a few more above Burnhope Reservoir on the Monday – nine in total but it should have been ten (as we carelessly failed to bag Harwood Common!).

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Rough going on the ridge to Black Fell

Arolla – walking (6th-9th August 2011)

For this year’s main summer holiday, I went to the Swiss Alps with Ian and Emma, Jon and Amy. For the first week or so, we based ourselves in Arolla, in the western Valais. We started with a few day-walks from the village, to acclimatise to the altitude and explore the area. N.B. Jon and Amy don’t feature in many of my photos as they were recovering from knee injuries and so had a less energetic holiday!

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Mont Collon

Arenigs (29th-31st July 2011)

I met up with Ruth and Alison for a weekend in the quiet Arenigs range of Snowdonia National Park. Before Alison arrived on the Friday evening, Ruth and I did a short walk up Foel Goch. On the Saturday, we headed for Arenig Fawr and its neighbouring Nuttalls, and on Sunday, we traversed Carnedd y Filiast and Arenig Fach.

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Alison and Ruth on Arenig Fawr’s South Ridge Top