It’s Lancashire just outside the YD & LD National Parks

It’s Lancashire just outside the YD & LD National Parks

Ah, that’ll explain why it’s in the Lancs climbing guidebook 🙂

Actually I’m wrong. They’re just inside the Cumbrian border – it’s the old Westmorland area. The border does do some strange things around there which explains why Gragareth is in Lancs

Any one get out over the weekend?

With no work on I’ve been making good headway through the Wainwrights (decided I should visit them all while I’m 52). Highlights:
Lonscale, Skiddaw, Bakestale on the bike, from home, with a nice tailwind
Big day in T shirt and shorts – Base Brown, Green Gable, Seathwaite Fell, Gt End, Esk Pike, Bow Fell, Rossett Pike, Allen Crags and Glaramara.
Weekend at Skiddaw House in summer sun – Gt Calva and Mungrisedale
A winter round of Lingmell, Scafells (first time by Foxes Tarn) and Slight Side
A glorious day around the full Newlands Round to tick off Cat Bells and Robinson.
The last two days were done with a cold, which then really got a grip and has floored me for a week.
Mostly just the SE fells to do now for ‘the completion’ – not something I’d normally do, but has taken me to new places, close to home (some of which I won’t rush back to)

Did the Paps of Jura at the weekend but haven’t sorted photos. I’ll get some up later in week as it was a cracking day. Nice to do them not in the race and be able to appreciate the view!

A few from Jura:

@Spin – I think we’ve a picture of you on the top…

Where were you?

Second picture is Ardalanish bay on Mull looking due south, taken on Friday. You can see the Paps of Jura in centre, Colonsay to the right, Scarba, Luing and mainland left.

The hill was the toty small one on Iona – we walked a circuit of the two high points while my dad was at the Abbey. The picture of summit is looking North West at Mull, with Skye just visible in another picture when looking North.

The smallest days hillwalking in a while – and utterly blissful.

My friend the eagle on Maoile Lunndaidh a few days ago.

Lovely

There was a pair actually but I only got a good shot of one.

@Spin – that’s great

Anyone got any weekend walking plans? We’re off to the north Lakes with bikes and boots. Forecast is cloud and dry which is good enough for us.

Forecast is cloud and dry which is good enough for us

I hope it pans out like that for you, that’s been the forecast in the Highlands for the last 4 days and it’s rained for big chunks of it!

The forecast turned out to be correct for once.

Ended up doing much more hill walking than cycling last weekend in Iveragh. Couple of good signposted hikes (Castlequin / Paddy Casey & the Castlerock loops) and a brilliant largely off piste one near our house and up towards a lough we’d not been near before. The farmer who’s land it was (the second photo is his old home) gave us directions up his property to make a big loop of it. Only got soaked the once as well 🙂

No great heights, but picture perfect dales and improbably clear chalk streams from a long way south of the Highlands and Islands.

Decided that this year is the one to get back into fell walking after almost exclusively riding them for the last 35 years. I grew up fell walking from an early age with my old fella and the local club but switched to bikes in my 20’s.

Anyway, replaced my trusty old Scarpa trionic’s which served me well for years and years with a fancy pair of Altberg Nordkapp boots. My god, boots have come a long way. So comfy and supportive, but feel like I’m wearing some slippers.

Last weekend I did the Tarmachan Ridge above Loch Tay. Wonderful day out and rekindled my love for fell walking. However, my knees were utterly destroyed by the end of the day. No problem going up, but coming back down I was in agony. I’m told that getting a pair of walkiing / trekking poles will be a big help.

Before I commit to purchasing a pair could you experienced people advise if this is the case and they will help with the descending ? If so could you recommend any ?

Thanks all.

Gratuitous pic from last Sunday.

Before I commit to purchasing a pair could you experienced people advise if this is the case and they will help with the descending ?

They do but I’d also be looking at exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles

I was going to say the same, in particular the exercise of walking down hills more often should be perfect😉

+1 on being hill fit is bigger benefit than poles are.

I spent 5 years with Tarmachan as the lounge view from my house. It’s a brilliant day out – varied route, a few scrambly bits, some nav that needs a think, great views, still not overly busy. I’ve been up there about 50 times for work and play, and my eldest chose to have a Tarmachan dawn raid as his 18th birthday party – in December…

We’ve three sets of poles.
Expensive Leki – heaviest and least pleasant, but very old.
I’ve cheap Vango – they work.
Mrs_oab has cheap Spraway(!) carbon – noticeably lighter and nicer feel.

I’ve got Easton alu poles and they’re very good.  They replaced some old Lekis and the only thing I miss is the cork grip – on long hot days trekking in Europe the cork grip is much nicer to use.

Poles are great for extra support if carrying a heavy multi-day load, or for descending steep routes when you’re an old git with dodgy knees. On big wide paths you can motor along with them so in Europe they’re great

“Chase Mountains” on YouTube has some good hiking-specific exercise videos for your knees.

What works for me decending is lots of small steps always from a flexed leg down onto a flexed leg. Glutes get a kicking but knees don’t suffer at all. I see lots of folk using poles to facilitate big downhill lurches, could be that their knees are screwed or just as likely that pole use is encouraging bad walking technique.

I meant quads not glutes, shouldn’t write when pished.

As suggested, days in the hills to build supporting muscles but also suggest poles. I suffer with bad knees on the downhills, especially on multi-day hikes so swear by poles to take the pressure off.

I’ve had a couple of different pairs and I’m very happy with my current poles which are comfy, lightweight and sub £60 – Fizan Compact 4

Longshot but anyone been up Buachaille Etive Mor or Beinn Alligin in the last few days? Hoping to go up through the corrie on BEM on Sat and wondered if it’s holding any snow. Beinn Alligin should be less of an issue…cheers

Anyone else been oot and aboot in the good weather?

Ben Eigh?

Yes, went up Ling, Lawson and Glover’s route.

Anyone else been oot and aboot in the good weather?

Got 6 days to walk Hadrians Wall starting Friday, hope the weather stays good, did 11 miles in the Chilterns today.

@Spin – once again Wow !!!

I’m very jealous

A little walk up Baildon Moor doesn’t really compare

☹️

Got 6 days to walk Hadrians Wall starting Friday

Lovely bit of the country. I climbed at Peel Crag and Crag Lough last summer which are just below the wall near Twice Brewed. Are you camping? Nice campsite near there.

The section from Birdoswald to Housesteads is stunning

Have a great time

Are you camping? Nice campsite near there.

Not camping, mixture of bunkhouses & hotels – we have the shepherds hut booked at the campsite I think you might be on about 🙂

Have a great time

Thanks I’m sure we will

we have the shepherds hut booked at the campsite I think you might be on about

Winshields it’s called, quirky place with friendly owners.