hike | camp | paint
After a couple of weeks in which preparing for and holding my first art show proved to be pretty much all-consuming, I was keen to get out into the landscape again, and to do so before winter started to rear its ugly head. By which I mean not the winter of crisp days on snow-covered … Continue reading Above the Clouds
From far and wide they came - the south west, the south east, the bit in the middle, and one on foot from Langdale - the Social Hikers gathered near Keswick for our third crack at the 10-in-10 and 5-in-5 in aid of MS Society. Now less a gathering of people who know each other … Continue reading The Gathering of the Clan
Sunday Afternoon …The bus departed for Penrith, and I turned round and headed in the opposite direction. With Cath now on her way home, here on in was a solo trip. The Western Fells were waiting. The plan was much simpler than that for the Northern Fells – simply a two day walk from Buttermere … Continue reading Beach Boys, Buttermere and A Bail-Out
The first thing I saw as I stepped off the bus at Rosthwaite, a stop short of where I ought to, was Eagle Crag, one of my most favourite fells, peering out from behind Rosthwaite Fell. This just reminded me that it's ages since I've been to Borrowdale. Quite apart from the challenge itself, it … Continue reading The 10-in-10 (ish)
When I first heard of Castle Crag my main thoughts were “what a poxy low fell” and “why is it included at the expense of much higher places?” Well, we all know that Wainwright created loads of anomalies when he compiled his 7 volumes, and after much pondering, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Castle Crag
Causey Pike makes it into my top group of fells for one reason. She looks good. I know it's shallow of me, but there you go. My first sight of Causey was in April 2007, when I descended from Robinson into the Newlands Valley for two nights staying at Little Town, in the middle of … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Causey Pike
With my career break now over half gone and opportunities for trips disappearing fast, I took an 11 day trip to Cumbria to bag some Wainwrights and Nuttalls. Having done the majority of the convenient stuff in the easily accessible centre of Lakeland, this was always going to be about knocking off some of the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011)
Not everyone is interested in the stats, so let's keep the analysis in a separate post. Summits bagged The 29 Wainwrights "bagged", in order, are: Dodd (Skiddaw) Whinlatter Barf Lord's Seat (M) Broom Fell Graystones Ling Fell Sale Fell Barrow Outerside Mellbreak (M) Rannerdale Knotts High Crag (H) High Stile (Wainwright summit) Red Pike (Buttermere) … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): The Stats
Keswick to Buttermere Today was a day of comparisons with past trips, in particular my long Lakes trip during my sabbatical 4 years ago.After some overnight rain, the day dawned relatively fine, with Skiddaw looking colourful opposite my bedroom window. Breakfast was a bit disappointing today - only 1 rasher of bacon and only one … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 3 – Wednesday 6 July
Whinlatter Fells There are few things more annoying than busting a gut to meet a deadline, successfully meeting it, and then finding the deadline moved earlier and no one told you. That's what happened today.It started ok, though, and because I couldn't start walking until quite late, I took it easy with breakfast and didn't … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 2 – Tuesday 5 July
A big dose of inertia, justified as "giving the weather a chance to calm down", meant I didn't leave the barn until 10. I set off along the Cumbria Way across the fields towards Castle Crag, gradually rising up the fell, as the wind picked up. I didn't linger there and carried on down towards … Continue reading Cumbria Way Day 5
A taste of things to come After two nights at the farm at Little Town, it was time to move on and the plan tonight was for a B&B in Keswick. But the day dawned cloudy and grey and so the joy of yesterday wasn't looking to be on the cards. But it wasn't until … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 7 – Sunday 22 April
The Grisedale Horseshoe I awoke to lowish cloud over Causey Pike, which I can see from my bedroom window, and whose nobbles have intrigued me since I first saw them yesterday afternoon. I had second thoughts about my planned walk as the last thing I wanted was to bail out part-way through, especially now that … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 6 – Saturday 21 April
Buttermere to Little Town Today's plan, formed in the pub last night and refined as I lay awake listening to the wind and rain, was to have the easiest possible walk over into the Newlands Valley, whilst still gaining some summits. So it was quite obvious to pick Robinson and Hindscarth, but I made the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 5 – Friday 20 April
The Crummock Horseshoe It was quite windy last night, but somehow I slept better than Monday night. I lay awake listening to the wind and wondering if the tent would stand up to it. Which it did. When daylight came, I fell asleep and later after a lingering breakfast I found myself running for the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 4 – Thursday 19 April