Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Today I nearly became part of the food chain, when a hulking great beast tried to eat me. Â Here's how it happened... Ok, I have exaggerated slightly above for literary effect, but the story itself is true. Â I woke to an outside temperature of -2C and then it started raining. Â Great. Â An iced-over driveway meant … Continue reading Becoming part of the food chain
Given my predeliction for the smaller fells, you might be surprised to find the big one in my list. Â But then again, it's a pretty obvious choice when you look at it. Â I've got to the point now where the gap between my favourite fells is quite narrow, and it wouldn't take much for them … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Scafell Pike
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