A homepage for my hillwalking photos
A free weekend at home gave me time for two local walks. On Saturday, I went to the Staffordshire Moorlands, starting at Rocester and circumnavigating Alton Towers (at a fairly large radius!). On Sunday it was drizzly, so I opted for a short morning walk from Elton – I’d been meaning to visit Gratton and Long Dales for a while, but had struggled to combine them into a longer route so this was an ideal time.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RSS4Mh67ZSBGrm83A
I went across to Macclesfield for the day to visit my uncle Jonathan and his family. We went for a short walk to the nearby ‘White Nancy’ viewpoint, but I didn’t take many photos as we got caught in an unexpected snowstorm!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oUM4LM7PoDauaf787
I headed to northern Snowdonia – my first visit to the area since October 2006 – for the first couple of days of the CUHWC Easter vacation trip. We stayed in the cosy Pinnacle Club hut in Cwm Dyli, right at the foot of Snowdon.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cfoibRX3QgXQrR2m8
I spent the Easter weekend camping in Glenridding with Duffers (mostly), walking in the Eastern and Far Eastern Fells. Heavy snowfall on Saturday night made the Lake District particularly spectacular for our final three days’ walks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UHbQwoPqd8Uw12JCA
I rejoined CUBB for my fifth Tour, this year to Scotland, staying just north of the border at Coldingham Sands. We played informal concerts at primary schools in Rotherham (on the way up) and Berwick-upon-Tweed, and at a shopping centre in Edinburgh. I also had time for several walks, including a morning stroll in sunshine on St Abb’s Head (near the hostel) and a brisk ascent (well, two ascents actually) of Arthur’s Seat, in Edinburgh!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pXaP5x9jRRSDgRht5
I spent another weekend in Cambridge, and on the Saturday went down to the Castle Climbing Centre in North London with some of the hillwalkers. This was the first roped climbing I’d done for several years, and the first time I’d driven inside the M25!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/exmTCBDSJvPWyfUC7
My parents and sister visited me in Quarndon for the weekend. The recent fine weather continued for our walks at Stanage Edge and Harboro’ Rocks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RaXFDuqCE36K93mk6
I went down to Cambridge for a night for the hillwalkers’ Annual Dinner, held this year in St John’s College. We enjoyed an excellent four course meal, followed by after dinner speeches by the outgone, outgoing and incoming presidents! We then went for cocktails in the Maypole, and finally retired to Marianne’s room for the usual singing and fun!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YL2K5CYG8YoSAiJdA
I took advantage of the lovely sunny weather to head into the Peak District for another excellent walk, this time starting at Baslow. My route took in Curbar and Froggatt Edges, Eyam Moor and some more of the Derwent Valley.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HN9wiRxFr6ntbvK78
I joined the Notts Derby Walking Group (NDWG) for a day walk in Dovedale and the Manifold valley.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RDJQ7zAaV5uYR2YKA
Half an inch of snow had fallen overnight, so I went for a morning walk from my flat in Quarndon, including the nearby villages of Holbrook and Milford.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tc8yoZhtAK9bSk8V8
The first CUHWC weekend trip of the year went to the Cheviot Hills, on the Scottish border. Our accommodation was in the newly-refurbished Byrness youth hostel. I enjoyed long, fast walks to The Cheviot and to Chew Green Roman Camp, in better-than-forecast weather.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/FaBvFob3b36CY9rVA
On the way back from Aviemore, I called in at the annual CUHWC trip to Seathwaite for the weekend. On the Saturday, I completed my Wainwrights on Great End – an excellent conclusion to several years of dedicated bagging! On the Sunday, I walked in the North-Western Fells.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LxVQzsYwmV2LThNWA
I spent a week around New Year in Aviemore, staying at the youth hostel with a few friends from CUHWC. We enjoyed several excellent walks in the Cairngorms and Monadhliath, including seven new Munros for me!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/n1qAmEQ3a5x8uBUn8
My family and I spent Christmas in Watchet, on the Somerset coast. I took a few photos on short walks around the harbours at Watchet and Minehead, and on a longer morning walk with Ruth on the nearby Quantock Hills.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/J8JPjVVC2Mi85t8u5
Another Sunday walk in the Derbyshire Dales, in cold but dry weather. My route from Ambergate took in Shining Cliff, part of the Midshires Way, Cromford Moor and Alport Height.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/A9uwRXz3nM5wexjX7
I went for a morning walk with John Snow, who I’d chatted to in the intervals of a couple of the classical concerts I’ve been to at the Derby Assembly Rooms. He chose a circular route from Ambergate, taking in Crich and the Cromford Canal.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aTUiFcdfTapD5UuJ7
I went for another day walk in the White Peak, this time starting in Alport. My route took in Lathkill Dale, Bakewell and Calton Pastures.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5mPWjze6hJQt9uGS6
I drove up to the Lake District (picking up Alison in Shipley and Will in Kendal en route) for another weekend with CUHWC, staying in the large bunkhouse at Dunmail Raise. On the Saturday, I climbed three more Wainwrights in the Northern Fells, with Toby – we were pleased to avoid the heavy rain endured by the other groups walking further south. Only one Wainwright – Great End – to go! On Sunday, I joined a group doing the Easedale horseshoe, culminating with Alex completing his Wainwrights on Helm Crag.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ANg6cnaXjvezqzyB9
I took advantage of my proximity to the Peak District to go on my fifth Edale trip with CUHWC, made all the better by not having to spend eight hours on a coach getting there and back! Instead, I drove up to Hayfield and yomped over to Edale while the main group travelled up from Cambridge, then joined one of the groups walking back to Hayfield by a less direct route.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/x3fqVdMsnCz9NHXo6
David Pettit's photo blog 