Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Today's post is going to be a bit short, as I covered the walk itself in my Favourite Walks pages. Red Screes and I didn't get off to the best start. Back in 2006 on the day I was due to travel home, I woke early and so decided to go for a walk to … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Red Screes
Before 2010, to me Green Crag was another of those peripheral Wainwrights whose main attraction was solving the problem of knocking it off efficiently. Â That's until I visited it, of course, and discovered a fell with many of the qualities that I look for. Â To start with the views are good across Eskdale, back … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Green Crag
People must wonder how bad the other fells must be after the experience I had on Holme Fell last year which still didn't stop it being a favourite. But like so many of the smaller fells, Holme Fell is interesting in a way that many higher fells just aren't. A variety of terrain and plenty … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Holme Fell
My first ascent of Mellbreak took place last year on the day that I finished the north western fells, by making it a circular walk from Buttermere around Crummock Water, also taking in Rannerdale Knotts. Â And it's ironic that the day I started the north western fells, was also the day I first saw Mellbreak. … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Mellbreak
There are going to be some people reading this that will think I've completely flipped. Â After all Binsey isn't that high (447m), consists largely of easy grassy slopes and looks pretty harmless. Â Set aside from the main bulk of the northern fells, AW called it "the odd man out" and "like a dunce set apart … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Binsey
This week my work situation became a little clearer, and I've felt able to view a trip at the end of April/start of May as something which is going to happen. Â And in order to enjoy the spontaneity that the trip will bring, some further planning and decisions will be needed. What's also happened is … Continue reading Wild Camping planning 2
Like most of the others, I've actually only done High Rigg once, but I enjoyed the day (well couple of hours, really) so much that it's placed highly on my favourites list. High Rigg's Wikipedia entry describes it  as a bit like a model of the Lake District in minature - with "crags, intermediate tops, … Continue reading Favourite Fells – High Rigg
Causey Pike makes it into my top group of fells for one reason. Â She looks good. Â I know it's shallow of me, but there you go. Â 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
For some reason I seem to have talked myself into covering a top 20 of fells. Â And I was going to cover the lower ranked in the top 20 in batches, so that I could quickly get to eulogising about the very special ones at the top of the list. Â But as I sat down … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Helm Crag
Ok, after the chat on Twitter last night when I announced I was working on a post about my favourite fells, I imagine a few people will have come over here to see the list. Â Well I'm sorry, I'm going to disappoint you. Â At least for the moment. It would be too easy simply to … Continue reading Favourite Fells…
I can't always go to the hills to walk, and so have to make the best of what's on my doorstep. Â Unfortunately, for a hill walker, that best is pretty poor. Â Not only does my local terrain have very little in the way of ascent, parts of it are actually below sea level, if my … Continue reading Fenplodder strikes again
I really don't know how to say this, and not feel pathetic, so I think I'll just come out with it: Â I've NEVER wild camped. Â No, not once. Â The nearest I've come is a deserted camp site, which I'd love to count, but don't really think I can. I've always wanted to do it, have … Continue reading Planning my first wildcamp
The second iteration Back in September, I tentatively started thinking about this walk. Â After abandoning my intention to walk the "official" C2C last year, I still had a lingering desire to do a coast to coast walk. Â With my walking calendar for 2012 starting to take shape, I picked up the plan again for a … Continue reading Coast to Coast Planning
With vague plans forming in the latter part of last year to do a coast to coast walk (note "a" not "the") and for my main trip to the Lake District in 2012 to be the Far Eastern fells, it's become clear that 2012 could see me step up a level in my walking. Â In … Continue reading Moving it up a level
I seem to have started the year off focussing on the negatives - first a post entitled "Failure" about walks that have gone wrong through the weather, navigation or even, cowardice. Â Then the follow-up, "Despair" got darker still and talked about my worst ever day hillwalking - the day I came closest to chucking it … Continue reading The Ghosts of Past Walks