My brother and I were riding up from Glenelg to Suadarlan bothy one night after the pub, no lights and it was getting dark (mid summer). Near the brocks a couple of deer suddenly burst out of the undergrowth a few feet ahead of us, both of us nearly shat ourselves. Further up the road we blundered into a farmyard, much to the delight of the dog who lived there, so we made off pretty smartish. Further up the hill I was ahead, following the track by following ground that was slightly paler than the surrounding darkness when the paleness stopped. I stopped, switched on my head torch and discovered a massive ravine where heavy rain had taken the track away. I don’t know why we weren’t riding with at least head torches; stupid really.
I’m happy to night ride alone but am concerned about the possibility of an accident then lying freezing cold all night on the fells. Years ago an old boy was found lying half in the Irwell, he’d fallen down the bank, broken his arm and been unable to move so he lay there all night half in the water, freezing. Sad.