CUHWC Teesdale Trip (23rd-25th January 2009)

I spent a weekend in Teesdale with CUHWC, staying in a camping barn in Holwick – my first visit to the area. On the Saturday, I walked (through lots of snow!) to Cross Fell and Great Dun Fell from Garrigill. On the Sunday, I did a lower-level walk taking in the High Force and Cauldron Snout waterfalls. The weekend was also memorable for the car having to be towed up the steep track from the camping barn by the farmer, having been snowed in overnight, but I didn’t get any photos of that!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ft1GtrrU8Ed8rdka6

Lake District, from Carnforth (16th-18th January 2009)

Alison and I visited Ruth in Carnforth for a weekend of Wainwright-bagging (or just walking, in my case!). Storm force winds and blizzards had been forecast, but we got away with just a couple of showers. On Saturday, we walked in the Far Eastern fells, including High Street, and on Sunday we did four short, low-level walks up obscure Western, Northern and Central fells!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dZQ6GP3NBSpropnq9

Brassington and Aleck Low (10th January 2009)

My first local walk of 2009 was in one of the nearest parts of the White Peak, starting in Brassington. I took in a few minor summits including Rainster Rocks, Roystone Rocks and Aleck Low, as well as parts of the High Peak and Tissington cycle trails. Unfortunately, the cloud was lower than forecast (i.e. I was in it all day despite staying below 400m!) so I didn’t get any views.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RRbAGCspC8QAMBGn7

CUHWC Seathwaite Trip (3rd-6th January 2009)

Having been on my sixth CUHWC Edale trip in October, after our week in Corrour I headed to Borrowdale for my sixth CUHWC New Year trip to Seathwaite. Amazingly, the fine weather continued, and I enjoyed three more excellent days’ walking on the fells around Seathwaite and on the Coledale Horseshoe.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zXFHALXceLsaRdr57

Corrour (27th December 2008 – 3rd January 2009)

The ‘Young Duffers’ (plus a few undergraduates) spent New Year week in the remote Highland estate of Corrour, staying in a pair of cottages at Strathossian. With not a drop of rain or a flake of falling snow all week, it was perfect weather for walks up all the nearby Munros – eleven in total – and we also had a couple of spectacular cloud inversions! Definitely a trip to remember!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CVbz4ftTdLvbzZa56

Alison, Jo, Ruth, Alex T and Michael, at the summit of Ben Alder

The National Forest around Ticknall (21st December 2008)

Ruth was in Derby for a couple of days, so we went for a walk in the National Forest, starting in Ticknall. Nothing spectacular, but nice to get out in the fresh air!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jJTiGCtnW77JoQbU6

Moors and Edges from Robin Hood (7th December 2008)

Enjoying the continuing good weather, I took a Sunday walk on the eastern edge of the Peak District. From Robin Hood, I headed north along White Edge to Totley Moor, and returned via Froggatt and Curbar Edges. The walk also passed by Nelson’s and Wellington’s Monuments.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/f73CkJvCh8Mi2vAd6

Sherwood Forest (6th December 2008)

I went for a long, flat walk around the northern parts of Sherwood Forest. Notable landmarks included the Major Oak, Welbeck Park and Clumber Park.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ocxf1n2uN5ZoLnWG7

Visit to Saltash (28th November – 2nd December 2008)

I went home for a few days to visit my parents. I took photos on a couple of our local walks: on Dartmoor near Avon Dam, and on the coast path near Wembury.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y1USTM1QhKiS4Dev9

CUHWC Coniston Trip (21st-23rd November 2008)

The last CUHWC trip of term was to the Coniston Fells, staying at the Tranearth bunkhouse. I did two very good walks, on the Coniston Fells themselves on Saturday, and on the much-less-frequented but very attractive Dunnerdale Fells on Sunday. Add to that an excellent evening of cooking, eating, singing and games and it made a particularly enjoyable weekend trip!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/a3xbvhgRgfBtGHhB6

A sunbathed Grey Friar, from the memorial on Great Carrs

CUHWC Snowdonia Trip (1st-2nd November 2008)

The first weekend of the year went, as it often has done, to the Caseg Fraith bunkhouse in Northern Snowdonia. On the Saturday, I did a linear walk along the Carneddau ridge, in plentiful snow, with Ruth, Simon W and Sophie. On the Sunday, I opted for a shorter but very scenic walk to Crimpiau and Craig Wen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NTedzEJWKek4Bexx8

Carnforth (27th-29th October 2008)

I took a few days off work to visit Ruth in Carnforth, where my parents were also staying. We walked in the Forest of Bowland, the Lake District, and on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/s2nX44K56JmqH9A56

CUHWC Edale Trip (19th October 2008)

On the Sunday, we headed to the Dark Peak, for my sixth (and Ruth’s fifth) annual CUHWC Edale Trip, to help introduce the new intake of freshers to the club’s activities. Before the Cambridge party arrived, Ruth and I had walked over from Hayfield via Edale Cross (to avoid a car-faff!). I then took a more scenic route back to Hayfield, co-leading one of the groups with Alex P.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ghVd9SvyTcqYYLvq7

Ashford, Monk’s Dale and Monsal Dale (18th October 2008)

Ruth visited me for the Edale trip weekend. On the Saturday, we walked in the White Peak, starting at Ashford-in-the-Water. We passed through several of the most exciting nearby dales, including Deep Dale, Monk’s Dale and Monsal Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HosKRkNtZtpg33gD6

Wasdale (11th-12th October 2008)

I joined Ruth for a weekend of walking in Wasdale, where we stayed in the National Trust campsite. The weather was dry, but the tops were in cloud at times, particularly on Sunday. Nonetheless we had two decent walks and got some good views, and Ruth ticked off a few more Wainwrights!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DNUzQUYnHEhRtaNG6

The Rhinogydd, Snowdonia (26th-28th September 2008)

I went on the unofficial CUHWC trip to the Rhinog mountains of mid-Snowdonia, an area I had not previously visited. Enjoying good weather on Saturday, we climbed Rhinog Fawr, via various heathery bumps and attractive remote lakes. Sunday – my birthday – started off very wet though, so we opted for a touristy morning, visiting Harlech Castle and a nearby tea-room, and having lunch on the beach before heading home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mb2ZYY69jEPDiWraA

Buttermere and Cockermouth (19th-21st September 2008)

I spent a weekend in the Lakes with Ruth, Alex, Lottie, Kate and Egg. Alex and I spent the Friday night at Ruth’s house in Carnforth, and on Saturday headed to Buttermere for a sunny walk over Mellbreak and the High Stile ridge. We joined the others on Saturday evening at Lottie’s house in Cockermouth, and on Sunday did a shorter walk on the Whinlatter fells.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/294TGpVqiibLZ3Q6A

Longnor, Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill (13th September 2008)

I spent a day exploring another area of the White Peak that I had not visited before: the upper reaches of the Manifold and Dove valleys, south of Buxton. The highlights of my route from Longnor were the three steep peaks of High Wheeldon, Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7ZXRfd6iVEaJyT886

Castleton skyline (30th August 2008)

I headed up to the Hope valley for a fairly long walk on the hills around Castleton. The highlights were Cave Dale, Win Hill, and the flowering heather on the moors.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/snxke1Lvrdpf4S5y5

Bonsall and Matlock (25th August 2008)

I went for a local morning walk with my parents, starting in Bonsall. Our route took in Matlock, the Derwent valley, and Wensley.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WQWB2mpgjSMpUNg6A