Tag: peakbagging

Lake DistrictLeave a comment

Planning a Lake District Round (2011)

Matthew

I’m well over halfway through my career break, and I’d originally planned to be doing the second half of the Cambrian Way at the start of July, having done the first half in early May.  That plan changed when I realised that I didn’t want to do it in two parts, which my Cumbria Way trip helped clarify as I liked the fact that it was a journey between defined start and end points, rather than between some arbitrary and flexible points I’d chosen for scheduling convenience.  At the time I also realised that it was the Snowdonia bit that I was most interested in, so in the end opted to just go to Snowdonia for a week and do day walks there. Coccyx injury aside, it turned out to be a successful trip.

When I sketched out the walking I hoped to do during my sabbatical, I’d always expected it would involve more than one Lake District trip, just as my break in 2007 did.  So with an empty slot to fill in July, and a realisation that in every one of the last 5 years I’ve been to the lake District at the end of June or start of July, it seemed clear what I need to do. Continue reading “Planning a Lake District Round (2011)”

Lake District, Outlying FellsLeave a comment

Peakbagging in the Lakes

Matthew

This week I’ve been updating my hills database as it’s a couple of years since I last did this. This has kicked off a whole flurry of activity.  If you’re not one for hill lists and statistics then look away now, but although this may seem a bit anal, there is a real purpose to maintaining these lists and charts. Continue reading “Peakbagging in the Lakes”

Cumbria Way, Lake District, Northern FellsLeave a comment
Knott from Little Calva

Cumbria Way Day 7

Matthew

Skiddaw House is the highest youth hostel in England, and I took advantage of a 1,550 feet head start today.

Today I’m not strictly doing the Cumbria Way. Today and tomorrow I am doing some side walks to take advantage of the location, and I will continue the trek itself on Tuesday.

A similar start to yesterday weather-wise. Breezy and rain showers with forecast to clear. Having survived Continue reading “Cumbria Way Day 7”

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A Lakeland Round 2007: The End

Matthew

Well this trip has been a bit of a journey.  Not quite the journey, either literally or figuratively, that I was aiming for though. I’ve had some massive lows – on the first day when I realised I’d screwed up big time by travelling too heavy and being over-optimistic with how much I could do each day, and on the last day when the cumulative effects of the last few days weather and the trials of this trip almost overwhelmed me. Continue reading “A Lakeland Round 2007: The End”

Lake District, Outlying Fells, Southern FellsLeave a comment
Kanchenjunga!

A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 2 – Tuesday 17 April

Matthew

Let’s start by adding a 5th lesson to last night’s list: don’t expect a good night’s sleep in a tent.  I know the first night in a strange bed isn’t usually great, but you can multiply that by 10 when sleeping in a tent and on a very (too) thin mat.  I probably did sleep but it can’t have been much – none of it was helped by people talking until 1am; ducks, geese and what sounded like peacocks having a party; cuckoos and a choir of small twittering little bastards at 5:30. Continue reading “A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 2 – Tuesday 17 April”

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A Lakeland Round 2007: Planning

Matthew

After the week in the Peak District, I’ve spent the last few days having a “normal” family weekend and spent some time planning my Lake District trip, which starts tomorrow.

I made an overall map to chart all 114 peaks so that I can visualise the route and plan accommodation etc.  But having done this, I spent a couple of days staring at the chart trying to work out a route and not really getting anywhere.   Continue reading “A Lakeland Round 2007: Planning”