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

Glen Shiel and Loch Quoich (25th-27th August 2012)

For the final three days of the trip, we moved south to Glen Shiel (for the three Munros on the North Ridge which Ruth needed, plus a bonus Corbett), and then Loch Quoich (for an excellent horseshoe around Coire Reidh to Sgurr na Sgine from Kinloch Hourn in the best weather of the trip, and a quick bag of Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich in the worst!). All in all, another great week in the Highlands, ticking off another twelve new Munros and five Corbetts for me. Only ten Munros to go!

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Loch Hourn and Ladhar Bheinn

Cairngorms (20th-22nd August 2012)

Ruth and I spent a week in the Highlands, bagging some of our remaining Munros, plus a few Munro Tops and Corbetts. We spent the first three days in the Cairngorms, doing a day walk to Driesh and Mayar and a two-day bothy trip from Linn of Dee to Cairn Toul (and surrounding peaks). The summits were mostly cloud-free, and the superb visibility gave some fabulous views that more than made up for the odd shower!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AeZi4ZzbBGd58wfq8

Heading for Sgor an Lochain Uaine

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

Gummer’s How (21st July 2012)

As I was staying at Ruth’s house for the night, ready for our early-morning flight from Manchester the following day, I decided to head up a few hours early to watch her concert in Grasmere with Kendal Concert Band. We broke the drive up with a quick ascent of Gummer’s How, a Marilyn above the eastern shore of Windermere.

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Windermere, with the Ulverston estuary beyond

Welshpool (13th-15th July 2012)

I joined a few friends from FoCUBB for a weekend in Welshpool. We spent Saturday at the nearby Country and Western Festival (of which Neil’s family are involved in the organisation). After a leisurely start on Sunday, we had a pub lunch in Melverley (just over the English border) and I had time for a little Marilyn bagging before the drive home!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FJb26bRhzm6aJgUx5

Line dancing

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.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yy4qJa1ERY3GDiqj9

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