Crianlarich, Mull and Sunart (26th-30th October 2011)

Ruth and I spent a few days in the Western Highlands, with mixed weather. Our somewhat complicated itinerary took us to Crianlarich (to bag Beinn a’ Chroin’s East Top), then out to the Isle of Mull for a couple of days (to bag the Corbett and the Munro), then to Strontian (where wet, windy weather prevented any Corbett-bagging), and finally to Glen Coe (for Beinn a’ Chrulaiste). An excellent, varied few days despite the poor weather at times!

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View over Loch na Keal

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

CUHWC Edale Trip (16th October 2011)

As has become usual, we made a round walk of the CUHWC Edale Trip (my ninth!) by starting early in Hayfield to walk over to Edale village to meet the club party. For the return leg, I joined Andrew’s group on the southern edges of the Kinder Plateau, with bagging detours (for Andrew) to the summit of Kinder Scout and Mill Hill.

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Kinder Reservoir, from near the Downfall

Chrome Hill and Chee Dale (15th October 2011)

Ruth visited me for the weekend of the CUHWC Edale Trip. On the Saturday, we did a long-ish walk in excellent sunny weather in the White Peak south of Buxton. Our route took in Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hill, various other minor summits, and the impressive gorge of Chee Dale.

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Ruth on the knife-edge ridge of Parkhouse Hill, with Chrome Hill beyond

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