Lingmoor Fell from Great Langdale

My walk up Lingmoor Fell starts conveniently at the National Trust campsite at the head of Great Langdale. I don’t even have to move the van and take full advantage by having a lazy breakfast. This may be my first walk of book four but it certainly won’t be my last from this location as Great Langdale is the launch pad for some of the big ones and a place I will get to know well over the coming months.

Continue reading “Lingmoor Fell from Great Langdale”

Tramping In New Zealand

My Walks in beautiful New Zealand including two of the world’s ‘Great Walks’ The Milford Track and The Routeburn Track. Click on the walk to read the post or use the interactive map to see the route. 

Milford Track Day One Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut

Milford Track Day One Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut

The Milford Track is remote, so remote in fact that you have to get a boat to the start and ...
Milford Track Day Two Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut

Milford Track Day Two Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut

Sometime during the night the rain had stopped and when we left the bunk room the sun was breaking through ...
Milford Track Day Three Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut

Milford Track Day Three Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut

As forecast we awake to a completely different scene from the Sunshine and clear blue skies of yesterday. Cloud and ...
Milford Track Day Four Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point

Milford Track Day Four Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point

It’s our final day on the Milford Track and there is a sense of anticipation in the air. Today, the ...
Routeburn Track Day One, Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut

Routeburn Track Day One, Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut

Driving to the start of the Routeburn track I was wondering if the walk we were about to do could ...
Routeburn Track Day Two, Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut

Routeburn Track Day Two, Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut

Day two on the Routeburn Track dawns bright and clear. All twenty or so bunks in our room were full ...
Routeburn Track Day Three, Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide

Routeburn Track Day Three, Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide

All was quiet and still in the valley as I paid a visit to the outside toilet during the early ...
A walk along the Hooker Valley Track

A walk along the Hooker Valley Track

After completing two of the ten ‘Great Walks’ in New Zealand we’re working our way slowly up through South Island, ...
Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, New Zealand. A Walk on the other side of the world.

Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, New Zealand. A Walk on the other side of the world.

It’s only sitting at home, a few weeks after my return from New Zealand that I have time to reflect ...
A walk along the Three Mile Pack Track, Okarito, New Zealand

A walk along the Three Mile Pack Track, Okarito, New Zealand

We are nearing the end of our month walking and travelling through the beautiful South Island of New Zealand / ...

 

 

Hiking The Tour Du Mont Blanc

My hike along one of Europe’s classic long distance trails. Click on the walk to read the post or use the interactive map to see the route. 

The Tour du Mont Blanc - An Introduction

The Tour du Mont Blanc – An Introduction

It’s been a long two days in the driving seat, it turns out the Alps are a long way from ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day One - Les Houches to Refuge du Fioux

Tour du Mont Blanc Day One – Les Houches to Refuge du Fioux

The storm eventually passed over in the early hours leaving behind a dry but overcast morning. Steve slept right through ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Two - Refuge du Fioux to Refuge de Nant Borrant

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Two – Refuge du Fioux to Refuge de Nant Borrant

The Tour du Mont Blanc and the Alps in general are perfect for hut to hut walking. In France they ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Three - Refuge de Nant Borrant to Les Chapeiux

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Three – Refuge de Nant Borrant to Les Chapeiux

If day one of the Tour du Mont Blanc was an hors d’oeuvre and day two a starter, day three ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Four - Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Four – Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta

The small village of Les Chapieux sits at the western most point of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Although it’s ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Five - Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Five – Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur

Dawn brings with it another gloriously sunny day on the Tour du Mont Blanc. We are now in the Italian ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Six - Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Six – Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti

“The beauty of adventure is to dream of it, to give air to the imagination, then you also try to ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Seven - Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Seven – Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly

Today we will enter the third country on our walk around Mont Blanc. This country is a land of mountains, ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Eight - La Fouly to Champex

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Eight – La Fouly to Champex

For the last week we’ve been in the heart of the mountains. Walking along narrow rugged trails surrounded by snow ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Nine - Champex to Trient

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Nine – Champex to Trient

When we step outside to boot up for day nine of our Tour du Mont Blanc there are ominous dark ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Ten - Trient to Tre Le Champ

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Ten – Trient to Tre Le Champ

Today we have the third and final border crossing of our Tour du Mont Blanc when we say goodbye to ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Eleven - Tré Le Champ to Refuge la Flégère

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Eleven – Tré Le Champ to Refuge la Flégère

Stepping onto the wooden balcony that adjoins our room at 6am all is silent in the valley. The cool, still ...
Tour du Mont Blanc Day Twelve - Refuge la Flégère to Chamonix

Tour du Mont Blanc Day Twelve – Refuge la Flégère to Chamonix

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For ...

 

 

Trekking In Nepal

Trekking in Nepal. From Lukla to Everest Base Camp and then a taste of ‘real’ Nepal walking out to Jiri. Click on the walk to read the post or use the interactive map to see the route. 

Nepal - A Journey of Discovery

Nepal – A Journey of Discovery

Everest (centre) juts up from behind the Lhotse Wall with Ama Dablam on the Right I have travelled before, to ...
Kathmandu

Kathmandu

“Katmandu I’ll soon be seeing you And your strange bewildering time will hold me down” I am not sure if ...
Nepal - Epilogue

Nepal – Epilogue

We walked for twenty three days on our Nepal Trek. The Germans have a word for it, Zielwanderung or 'destination ...
Nepal - Lukla to Phakding

Nepal – Lukla to Phakding

Lukla 9,283ft to Phakding 8,701ft Up at 6.30am. A cup of tea was followed by finishing off packing the rucksack ...
Nepal - Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Nepal – Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Phakding 8,701ft to Namche Bazaar 11,306ft Up at 7.10am. A breakfast of porridge with honey, toast and jam does the ...
Nepal - Khunde and Khumjung

Nepal – Khunde and Khumjung

Namche Bazaar walking to Khunde 12,602ft and Khumjung 12,402ft Namche Bazaar is known as the 'Sherpa capital'. If you are ...
Nepal - Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

Nepal – Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

Namche 11,306ft to Tengboche 12,687ft The walk from Namche Bazaar to Tynbouche (or Tengboche) is a pure delight every step ...
Nepal - Tengboche to Pherice

Nepal – Tengboche to Pherice

Tengboche 12,687ft to Pheriche 13,911ft including rest day acclimatisation walk to Dingboche 14,272ft It was very cold in the lodge ...
Nepal - Pherice to Lobuche

Nepal – Pherice to Lobuche

Pherice 13,911ft to Lobuche 16,175ft The aim of the day is to get to Lobuche all in one piece and ...
Nepal - Lobuche to Kala Patar

Nepal – Lobuche to Kala Patar

Lobuche 16,175ft – Gorek Shep 17,008ft - Kala Patar 18,192ft – Lobuche I slept fitfully and not very well at ...
Nepal - Lobuche to Dzongla

Nepal – Lobuche to Dzongla

Loubuche 16,175ft to Dzongla 15,846ft Today has that feeling to it, the feeling that you have after your own wedding, ...
Nepal - Dzongla to Dragnag via Cho La Pass

Nepal – Dzongla to Dragnag via Cho La Pass

Dzongla 15,846ft to Dragnag 15,387ft over the Cho la pass 17,782ft We were up early, 5.30am for what will be ...
Nepal - Dragnag to Namche Bazaar via Phortse

Nepal – Dragnag to Namche Bazaar via Phortse

Dragnag 15,387ft back to Namche Bazaar via Phortse (12,467ft) There is no rush to get out of bed today as ...
Nepal - Namche Bazaar to Jubing

Nepal – Namche Bazaar to Jubing

Namche Bazaar 11,306ft to Choplung 8,727ft After the hard work of the last week we enjoyed a well earned rest ...
Nepal - Jubing to Junbesi

Nepal – Jubing to Junbesi

Jubing 5,499ft to Tragsindho 9,612ft I'm sitting in the lodge in Tragsindho watching sport on a Television, Aston Villa v ...
Nepal - Junbesi to Sete

Nepal – Junbesi to Sete

Junbesi 8776ft to Sete 8448ft We were up early for what is going to be a hard day compared to ...
Nepal - Sete to Bhandar

Nepal – Sete to Bhandar

Sete 8448ft to Bhandar 7198ft ​After our efforts getting over the Lamjura La Pass yesterday we are in no mad ...
Nepal - Bhandar to Jiri

Nepal – Bhandar to Jiri

Bhandar 7,198ft to Shivalaya 5,905ft It's another leisurely start to the day. Breakfast outside in the sunshine again and we ...

 

 

Book Three The Central Fells

All the hills of the Central Fells listed in height order with the eleven walks that took me over them and interactive map showing hill location and route. Click on the hill or the walk to read the post. Scroll down to use the interactive map.

1. High Raise 762m 2,500ft 8. Loft Crag 680m 2,231ft 15. Calf Crag 537m 1,762ft 22. Grange Fell 415m 1,362ft
2. Sergeant Man 736m 2,415ft 9. High Seat 608m 1,995ft 16. High Tove 515m 1,690ft 23. Helm Crag 405m 1,329ft
3. Harrison Stickle 736m 2,415ft 10. Bleaberry Fell 590m 1,936ft 17. Eagle Crag 525m 1,722ft 24. Silver How 395m 1,296ft
4. Ullscarf 726m 2,382ft 11. Sergeant’s Crag 571m 1,873ft 18. Armboth Fell 479m 1,572ft 25. Walla Crag 376m 1,234ft
5. Thunacar Knott 723m 2,372ft 12. Steel Fell 553m 1,814ft 19. Raven Crag 461m 1,512ft 26. High Rigg 357m 1,171ft
6. Pike of Stickle 709m 2,326ft 13. Tarn Crag 550m 1,804ft 20. Great Crag 450m 1,476ft 27. Loughrigg Fell 335m 1,099ft
7. Pavey Ark 700m 2,297ft 14. Blea Rigg 541m 1,775ft 21. Gibson Knott 420m 1,378ft  
A walk up Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell.

A walk up Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell.

It's the second day of a settled weather pattern that has brought crisp, calm and ...
Four Wainwright's from Thirlmere Dam

Four Wainwright’s from Thirlmere Dam

Commitments and the never ending rain which makes planning clear summit days difficult have kept ...
A walk up High Rigg

A walk up High Rigg

From the campsite I can see a fair chunk of today's walk from the van ...
A walk up Tarn Crag (Easedale)

A walk up Tarn Crag (Easedale)

I have some personal rules which guide my journey through the Wainwright’s (here) one of ...
Four Wainwright's from Grasmere

Four Wainwright’s from Grasmere

I’ve had company over the last couple of days. A Robin arrives regularly at the ...
Great Crag and Grange Fell from Rosthwaite

Great Crag and Grange Fell from Rosthwaite

Over the last few years I have become familiar with every twist and turn of ...
Silver How and Loughrigg Fell from Grasmere Village

Silver How and Loughrigg Fell from Grasmere Village

It’s summer, or at least that brief moment in time that passes for summer these ...
A walk up Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag

A walk up Eagle Crag and Sergeant’s Crag

It’s the second time I’ve stopped at Chapel House Farm campsite in the last few ...
A walk up Ullscarf from Thirlmere

A walk up Ullscarf from Thirlmere

My last visit to Ullscarf was thwarted when the clouds which had been hovering above ...
The Langdale Pikes

The Langdale Pikes

Just as autumn seemed to have arrived, summer sunshine and warmth has returned for one ...
An Outer Langdale Round

An Outer Langdale Round

'If I should bow my head let it be to a high mountain' Maori Proverb ...

 

 

An Outer Langdale Round

‘If I should bow my head let it be to a high mountain’ Maori Proverb

I’m back in Great Langdale just a couple of weeks after my previous visit when I was fortunate to walk the Langdale Pikes in glorious weather. The weather isn’t so good today but it’s dry and the tops are clear which is what matters. I’m heading for a group of hills that form an outer circle around the rather compact Pikes, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, High Raise and Thunacar Knott. And in visiting these, I’ll also bring to a conclusion my journey through Wainwright’s Book Three, The Central Fells.

Continue reading “An Outer Langdale Round”

Book Two The Far Eastern Fells

All the hills of the Far Eastern Fells listed in height order with the sixteen walks that took me over them and interactive map showing hill location and route. Click on the hill or the walk to read the post. Scroll down to use the interactive map.

1. High Street 828m 2,717ft 10. The Knott 739m 2,425ft 19. Tarn Crag 664m 2,178ft 28. Arthur’s Pike 533m 1,749ft
2. High Raise 802m 2,631ft 11. Kentmere Pike 730m 2,395ft 20. Place Fell 657m 2,156ft 29. Bonscale Pike 524m 1,719ft
3. Rampsgill Head 792m 2,598ft 12. Froswick 720m 2,362ft 21. Selside Pike 655m 2,149ft 30. Sallows 516m 1,693ft
4. Thornthwaite Crag 784m 2,572ft 13. Branstree 713m 2,339ft 22. Grey Crag 638m 2,093ft 31. Beda Fell 509m 1,670ft
5. Kidsty Pike 780m 2,559ft 14. Yoke 706m 2,316ft 23. Hartsop Dodd 618m 2,028ft 32. Wansfell 488m 1,601ft
6. Harter Fell 778m 2,552ft 15. Gray Crag 699m 2,293ft 24. Shipman Knotts 587m 1,926ft 33. Sour Howes 483m 1,585ft
7. Caudale Moor 763m 2,503ft 16. Rest Dodd 696m 2,283ft 25. The Nab 576m 1,890ft 34. Steel Knotts 432m 1,417ft
8. Mardale Ill Bell 760m 2,493ft 17. Loadpot Hill 671m 2,201ft 26. Angletarn Pikes 567m 1,860ft 35. Hallin Fell 388m 1,273ft
9. Ill Bell 757m 2,484ft 18. Wether Hill 670 m 2,198ft 27. Brock Crags 561m 1,841ft 36. Troutbeck Tongue 364m 1,194ft
Selside Pike and Branstree

Selside Pike and Branstree

Endings and Beginnings are, as Mufasa might say all part of the great circle of ...
A High Street Round

A High Street Round

The low morning sun is glistening off the still waters of Haweswater and the bright ...
Grey Crag and Tarn Crag from Sadgill

Grey Crag and Tarn Crag from Sadgill

I arrive at the little hamlet of Sadgill at the far end of Longsleddale just ...
A Harter Fell Round from Sadgill

A Harter Fell Round from Sadgill

It’s the second day of my stay in the little hamlet of Sadgill and I ...
A walk up Wansfell and Wansfell Pike

A walk up Wansfell and Wansfell Pike

I knew that I had to get away before Christmas otherwise the festive season with ...
A freezing walk up Sour Howes and Sallows

A freezing walk up Sour Howes and Sallows

When I leave my warm sleeping bag and look at the thermometer it tells me ...
A short walk up Hallin Fell

A short walk up Hallin Fell

My wife and I have very different interests and hobbies. She is a creative, an ...
A walk up Gray Crag and Thornthwaite Crag

A walk up Gray Crag and Thornthwaite Crag

It’s a promising morning, the sun is shining and blue sky is all around. As ...
Brock Crags from Hartsop Village

Brock Crags from Hartsop Village

From the car park at Hartsop the lush green tree peppered slopes of Brock Crags, ...
Five Wainwrights from St Peter's Church Martindale

Five Wainwrights from St Peter’s Church Martindale

The morning sunlight is casting soft shadows over the quiet valley of Martindale as I ...
Stony Cove Pike and Hartsop Dodd from Brotherswater

Stony Cove Pike and Hartsop Dodd from Brotherswater

Putting my boots on in the car park of the Brotherswater Inn, my eyes are ...
A walk up Rest Dodd and The Nab from Brotherswater

A walk up Rest Dodd and The Nab from Brotherswater

It’s a dank grey day in Lakeland with a cloud filled leaden sky hovering worryingly ...
A walk up Place Fell from Patterdale

A walk up Place Fell from Patterdale

Place Fell is one of Lakeland’s iconic and best known mountains. The walk up it ...
Cloudbusting in Kentmere

Cloudbusting in Kentmere

It’s been a while. My summer has been spent elsewhere but the seasons wait for ...
A walk up Troutbeck Tongue

A walk up Troutbeck Tongue

Troutbeck Tongue is a small mound of a hill, separated from the higher hills surrounding ...
Beda Fell and Angletarn Pikes from Patterdale

Beda Fell and Angletarn Pikes from Patterdale

Winter has arrived in Lakeland. Which is a day early for the Meteorological calendar and ...

 

 

The Langdale Pikes

Just as autumn seemed to have arrived, summer sunshine and warmth has returned for one last hurrah and I’m fortunate to be in Great Langdale to enjoy it. The Langdale Pikes are an iconic group of hills whose relative accessibility, moderate height and interesting routes have made them emblematic of all that is attractive about the English Lake District. From the moment their shapely and unique outline is glimpsed across Windermere on the road to Ambleside you know you have entered into the heart of Lakeland with its mountains, lakes and rivers. It’s time to relax, breathe out, and for a while leave your workaday stresses behind and allow your heart to be stirred in anticipation of adventures that lie ahead. And today, in the sunshine, I’m walking the Langdale Pikes.

Continue reading “The Langdale Pikes”

A walk up Ullscarf from Thirlmere

My last visit to Ullscarf was thwarted when the clouds which had been hovering above it all day decided to lower onto the summit plateau just as I reached it. As I have a rule that I will be able to see the view from each top on my journey through the Wainwright’s this unfortunately meant a return visit. At least going up again gives me a chance to try a different route and today I’ll be ascending via Harrop Tarn and returning down the Wythburn valley which means I don’t have to walk back on myself.

Continue reading “A walk up Ullscarf from Thirlmere”

Book One The Eastern Fells

All the hills of the Eastern Fells listed in height order with the sixteen walks that took me over them and interactive map showing hill location and route. Click on the hill or the walk to read the post. Scroll down to use the interactive map. 

1.Helvellyn 950m 3,117ft 8.Great Dodd 857m 2,812ft 15.Great Rigg 766m 2,513ft 22.Middle Dodd 654 m 2,146 ft 29.Low Pike 508m 1,667ft
2.Nethermost Pike 891m 2,923ft 9.Stybarrow Dodd 843m 2,766ft 16.Hart Side 756m 2,480ft 23.Little Hart Crag 637m 2,090ft 30.Little Mell Fell 505m 1,657ft
3.Catstycam 890m 2,920ft 10.St Sunday Crag 841m 2,759ft 17.Seat Sandal 736m 2,415ft 24.Birks 622m 2,041ft 31.Stone Arthur 500m 1,640ft
4.Raise 883m 2,897ft 11.Hart Crag 822m 2,697ft 18.Clough Head 726m 2,382ft 25.Heron Pike 612m 2,008ft 32.Gowbarrow Fell 481m 1,578ft
5.Fairfield 873m 2,864ft 12.Dove Crag 792m 2,598ft 19.Birkhouse Moor 718 m 2,356 ft 26.Hartsop above How 570m 1,870ft 33.Nab Scar 450m 1,476ft
6.White Side 863m 2,831ft 13.Watson’s Dodd 789m 2,589ft 20.Sheffield Pike, 675 m 2,215 ft 27.Great Mell Fell 537m 1,762ft 34.Glenridding Dodd 442m 1,450ft
7.Dollywaggon Pike 858m 2,815ft 14.Red Screes 776m 2,546ft 21.High Pike, 656 m 2,152 ft 28.High Hartsop Dodd 519m 1,703ft 35.Arnison Crag 433m 1,421ft

My Journey Through the Wainwright’s, One Book at a Time.

My Journey Through the Wainwright’s, One Book at a Time.

My first visit to the Lake District was in 1982 and from that day on, ...
A Winter's Walk up Hart Side

A Winter’s Walk up Hart Side

I arrive early at the National Trust car park just South of Dockray and am ...
A Mell Fell Double

A Mell Fell Double

So today is the day. The day when I start my quest to complete all ...
Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike from Glenridding

Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike from Glenridding

Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike, the objects of today’s walk form the northern wall of ...
A walk along the Dodds

A walk along the Dodds

It’s a bright, sunny morning and the birds are singing as I’m dropped off at ...
Aira Force and Gowbarrow Fell

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Fell

I last walked up Gowbarrow Fell in the summer of 1992. We were stopping in ...
St Sunday Crag via Arnison Crag and Birks

St Sunday Crag via Arnison Crag and Birks

As I leave Side Farm campsite I can see the three hills of my intended ...
A walk up Seat Sandal

A walk up Seat Sandal

The cloud is hanging low in the valleys as I leave the campsite. It is ...
The Helvellyn Ridge, Dollywaggon Pike to Raise

The Helvellyn Ridge, Dollywaggon Pike to Raise

Starting today’s walk at Dunmail Raise, nearly 800ft above sea level does seem a little ...
Hartsop above How and Dovedale

Hartsop above How and Dovedale

Last night I stepped out of the campervan at Aira Force and was greeted by ...
High Hartsop Dodd and Little Hart Crag in the Snow

High Hartsop Dodd and Little Hart Crag in the Snow

Standing on top of High Hartsop Dodd with the snowfall becoming increasingly heavy I wondered ...
Red Screes and Middle Dodd

Red Screes and Middle Dodd

I’m back at Sykeside campsite to complete a walk that was cut short a few ...
A Walk up Stone Arthur

A Walk up Stone Arthur

It’s not often, hardly ever in fact that you get to see the summit of ...
The Pikes and Dove Crag from Ambleside

The Pikes and Dove Crag from Ambleside

It’s my first trip to Lakeland this year. The busyness of life has kept me ...
Hart Crag and Fairfield from Dovedale

Hart Crag and Fairfield from Dovedale

Having had the pleasure of walking down Dovedale last summer after climbing Hartsop Above How, ...
Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar

Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar

Gazing out at the glorious views of Lakeland from the summit of Great Rigg I ...
Birkhouse Moor and Catstyecam

Birkhouse Moor and Catstyecam

It’s the Queens Platinum Jubilee Weekend and Seventy years of Her Majesty on the Throne ...