My son Tom and I drove to Stonethwaite, parking just past the school where there are a couple of areas for parking beside the wall. There is no parking beyond this. We started walking about 8.45am. We will do a circular walk up to Rosthwaite Fell sum…

It had snowed overnight, so for my birthday walk I decided to drive to Torver, which is on the main road and gritted, to walk up to Dow Crag. The lay-by at Torver was full of forestry vehicles so I parked in the Village Hall car park, which was cover…

I drove to Old Dungeon Ghyll NT car park in Great Langdale to walk over to Blea Tarn and returning via Side Pike. Good weather was expected today. The walk was about five miles and would take three hours. Always a good little walk with great views. J…

On Monday the weather was set to be sunny but very cold. I wanted to get in some snow, but without the danger of slippery roads. So I chose Black Crag and Tarn Hows from the bottom of Tom Gill. The car park is directly off the main road (A593) at Gle…

It was going to be a hot day so I chose to do a short walk with excellent views. I set off early and drove to Eskdale, I was ready to walk at 7.45am. The walk was about four miles and took me three hours and fifteen minutes. Great views, but was stil…

The winds of recent days had died down so Ged and I drove to the Old Dungeon Ghyll NT car park in Great Langdale to climb Bowfell via The Band, the Climbers’ Traverse and the Great Slab route. We would then go down to Ore Gap turn right for Ang…

The weather was due to be showery with gale force winds on the high fells, so we decided not to venture too high. We parked at Yew Tree Tarn and would walk up to Holme Fell via Ivy Crag, visit the reservoirs, then Hodge Close Quarry, and walk back vi…

On Wednesday Ged and I drove to the Glen Mary NT car park for the walk up beside Tom Gill to Tarn Hows, and then on to Black Fell. My first mountain walk of 2022, and first since having Covid before Christmas. An easy six mile walk on a beautiful day…

After several weeks of almost constant rain, there is finally a good weather day! As it was forecast to be windy I decided on Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater. I could visit some of the mine levels and ruined mine buildings and then drop down to Blea Ta…

On Friday I drove to Tilberthwaite to climb up Wetherlam via Steel Edge. A walk of six miles. I left home about 6.30am. It is under an hours drive, so I should be up and down before it gets too hot. Unfortunately the road between Coniston and Tilbert…

The best of the weather was going to be early morning, so I left home just before 6am to drive to Great Langdale and walk up Pike o’ Blisco.  A circular walk, going up from the steep road over to Blea Tarn and coming back via Browney Gill…

On Friday I left home at 6.10am to drive to the Old Dungeon Ghyll car park and climb up Pike o’Blisco. In all my years of walking in the mountains I have never felt vulnerable or uncomfortable in the presence of another walker, nor felt the nee…

On Friday we decided to Walk up to Swirl How and Great Carrs via Levers Water and Levers Hawse, returning via the Prison Band, starting from the Walna Scar Car park. The weather was excellent, warm, no wind and blue skies. The walk would be just unde…

Our first hill walk of the New Year was going to be a local walk in the snow. Dow Crag is in the Constituency of Barrow and Furness, I look out at it every day from my window, and it is currently covered in snow! From Torver it is a quiet and relativ…

On Christmas Eve I decided on a walk up to Black Crag, as it fitted the parameters of being under an hour away, having good views, not requiring rucksacks, and being back home in time for lunch. We parked at the Mary Glen NT car park (south of Yew Tr…

With lockdown number two, Ged and I have not walked together for over two months, so we decided on a walk up to Coniston Old Man. Not too far to travel, and always plenty to go and look at if the weather is not so good. Despite the lack of any summit…

I’ve not left the house for two weeks, being too busy weeding and planting out all the plants that I’ve grown from seed. Now I’ve finished I thought I’d combine Great Worm Crag and Green Crag from the Birker Fell Road. A walk…

On Thursday I completed my third time around the Wainwrights. I have had to wait over a year for my new knee to be up to this strenuous 11 mile walk comprising three fells. Accompanying me were Derek and Sue Fryer. A couple of weeks ago Derek complet…

On Friday Ged and I drove to the NT car Park at Brackenclose, Wasdale Head, to climb up Scafell via the Green How route……straight up the front. Then walk on to Slight Side returning beneath the slopes of Scafell, skirting the top of Hardr…

A short walk up to Blea Tarn in Eskdale with my sister, Ness, using the Ravenglass to Eskdale Steam Railway. A circular walk of four miles and only 1000ft of ascent. I have not visited Blea Tarn since I was on a ecology field trip as an undergraduate…

The forecast for our last walk together was rain and gales, so we decided on a lower, shorter walk. John hasn’t walked any southern fells, so we walked up Black Crag via Tom Gill waterfall and Tarn Hows, starting from Glen Mary NT car park, by…

On Saturday morning I joined the Pollocks (Andy, Jo, Cameron and Jason) on their walk from Wasdale up beside Piers Gill. It was a walk in memory of Andy’s friend, Ian Blakey, who died in a fall from Piers Gill on May 3rd 1997. Fellwalking and m…

On Saturday Brendan and I drove to Seathwaite in Borrowdale to walk up Seathwaite Fell and visit Styhead Tarn on the route back. The walk would be about 7 miles. I recently had a corticosteroid injection in my knee joint and it is now much less painf…

It was predicted a week in advance that the day after Storm Doris would be a good day for a walk. I haven’t been able to post any walks for a while as my knee problem has prevented me from driving for any more than 20 minutes; but today Ged vol…

On Wednesday I had planned to walk up to Black Crag from Yew Tree Tarn, but the road to Skelwith Bridge from Coniston was closed for re-surfacing, so I had to start from Tarn Hows instead. This is an easy walk at the best of times, but starting from…

On Thursday Ged, Kas and I drove to the top of the Wrynose Pass to walk up Wet Side Edge to Great Carrs, Grey Friar and Swirl How. A walk of six miles. Three years ago we did a walk into the Greenburn Valley and found a small piece of fuselage from t…

This would be mine and Ged’s first walk together since the start of the exam season, in early May. I decided on Rosthwaite Fell from Stonethwaite, visiting the summit, Bessyboot and Rosthwaite Cam and doing a circuit of Tarn At Leaves, but this…

There was yet another storm forecast for Tuesday night, so we decided to try and get a walk in before it arrived. With the recent relentless rain and gales it has been ages since we have been able to get out. Our choices were limited as we can no lon…

On Wednesday afternoon I met up with two fellow bell ringers, Anne and Keith, to do a walk up to Holme Fell from Hodge Close, near Coniston. We arranged to meet at the Spark Bridge turn off and continue on in one car. Even though they are keen walker…

After a week of rain and gales, Thursday turned out to be quite a nice day. As it was the Easter holidays we decided to get well away from the ‘madding crowds’ and go to Seathwaite in order to climb up Wallowbarrow Crag, take a detour via…

Finally we get a nice day with no wind, so Ged, Kas and I headed for Eskdale via Birker Fell, parking at Jubilee Bridge at the bottom of the Hardknott Pass. Our route would take us up and around the back of Harter Fell. The weather was quite warm and…

Today, son, Tom and I went for a walk to find some snow. We decided on Coniston Old Man from Torver, climbing up the south ridge (Jack Diamond path) and back via Goats Water. A walk of just over 7 miles. Torver and the Coniston Valley was shrouded in…

Yesterday Ged and I changed our walking plans to head to Eskdale and on up to Great Moss to look out for Jasper, a border collie who went missing at Cam Spout, below Scafell Pike, on Sunday. There would not be enough time for us to go up to Scafell P…

There were blue skies early yesterday morning, but the hills were in cloud as were the valleys. I was bell ringing in the morning so we did not set off until after 11.30am, hoping that the early morning cloud would have burned off by then. Brendan an…

Yesterday on a still, beautiful blue sky day, I drove to Hodge Close in order to climb Holme Fell. I would visit the quarry too and drive home with a stop off at Kelly Hall Tarn. Rain and gales were forecast for the following day, so this would be th…

On Monday my sister, Ness and I decided to take a walk up Tom Gill to Tarn Hows, and weather willing we would walk up Black Fell to Black Crag (1056ft), a Wainwright mountain! The county was feeling the effects of Hurricane Bertha and it was forecast…

I left home at 6.30am on Friday so I could be back home by lunch in time to be at St. James’ church, Barrow, before the start of the Anniversary Peal, 137 years after the first peal, and the first peal to be rang this century. My plan was a wal…

On Thursday Lynne, Ged and I used our day off work in order to climb Wetherlam via Wetherlam Edge from Tilberthwaite. It was forecast as the best day of the week, unfortunately that weather of blue skies and sunshine came on the following day when we…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and me drove to Great Langdale to climb Crinkle Crags (2816ft) via Hell Gill, Cold Pike (2300ft) and Pike O’Blisco (2313ft). A walk of about 10 miles. There was a thick sea mist on Walney Island this morning when I set off, a…

Yesterday, on what was the hottest day of the year so far, Ged, Kas, Tom and I drove to Brotherilkeld near Eskdale to walk up the River Esk to Tongue Pot for a swim. Then we would go over Hardknott and walk back down the Hardknott Pass. A six mile ci…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to the side of Wast Water in order to do a circuit around the lake by climbing up Whin Rigg and Illgill Head. But also detouring down to Burnmoor Tarn for a swim. A walk of just about 11 miles…….in yet more…

I send my walking emails to Claire, an American from South Carolina who lives in Barrow, and she forwards them on to friends of her’s in the States. Two of those friends are Leigh and Deb from Richmond, Virginia. Leigh is an old college friend…

Yesterday’s forecast was for strong winds on the high fells so I took the opportunity to do a lower level walk I had been planning to do for some time. I had never visited Greenburn Mine, having only looked down on it from the ridges above, on…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to the lay-by at Yew Tree Tarn for a walk up Black Fell (1056ft) via Tom Gill and Tarn Hows. The road here is on a bus route so was clear of ice. We made a late start as the weather was due to get better after lunch. A…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to Torver to climb Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag. A walk of about eight miles. Blue skies and sunshine…….and snow on the tops! What could be better? An excellent walk in the snow! The walk took us under seve…

Four whole days of blue skies and sunshine! Brendan and I decided to climb Glaramara (2560ft) as the route up would give excellent panoramic views. Hopefully the sunshine would have dried up all the boggy ground! I decided on the interesting route vi…

On Tuesday myself, Ged and Kas drove to Seathwaite to follow the route up Grains Gill to Esk Hause and then on to Great End (2984ft), Ill Crag (3068ft), Broad Crag (3051ft) and Scafell Pike (3210ft). Then down to Lingmell Coll following the Corridor…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to Elterwater to climb Lingmoor (1540ft) and Side Pike and to return to Elterwater via Blea Tarn, The Wrynose Pass and Slater Bridge. A walk of just under 10 miles. We then headed back to Elterwater stopping for a coffe…

On Sunday Brendan and I went to Eskdale Green to climb Irton Fell, Whin Rigg (1755ft) and Illgill Head (1998ft). These are the fells that make up the top of the Wasdale Screes. We then went down to Burnmoor Tarn and walked back through Miterdale. A w…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to Coniston to climb Wetherlam (2499ft), Black Sails (2444ft), Swirl How (2630ft), Great Carrs (2558ft), Brim Fell (2611ft), and Coniston Old Man (2633ft). A walk of just over 10 miles. We parked up the top of the road…

On Friday Ged, Kas and I drove to Wasdale to climb Lingmell (2649ft), Scafell Pike (3210ft), Scafell (3162ft) and Slight Side (2499ft). A walk of ten miles. Back in January 2009 I decided to have a go at completing all the Wainwright Fells in a year….

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to Great Langdale to climb Bowfell (2960ft), Esk Pike (2903ft), Great End (2984ft), Seathwaite Fell (2073ft) and Rossett Pike (2132ft). A walk of about 15 miles over very rough terrain that would eventually take us near…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to the top of the Hard Knott Pass to climb Hard Knott (1803ft), Harter Fell (2140ft) and Green Crag (1602ft). A walk of nine miles. It was a blue sky day, but rather windy! The water was very low, but still plenty of Br…

Ged was back from Vietnam so yesterday we went to Stonethwaite to climb Rosthwaite Fell (1771ft), Glaramara (2568ft) and Allen Crags (2572ft) returning via the Langstrath Valley. A very arduous and long walk  of 12 miles that would take us 9 hours to…

This morning the weather was too good to stay home, so I drove to Hodge Close for a quick walk up Holme Fell (1040ft). A good little walk, only two miles, plus the detours to the quarry and tarn. I was back home for lunch! Jo….

All the schools were shut again yesterday and as it was a blue sky day Ged and I were determined to go somewhere. Especially since due to the weather it had been over a week since our last fell walk. Finding somewhere with access to park would be the…

Yesterday Brendan and I went to Coniston, parking at the Fell Gate Car Park to climb Coniston Old Man (2633ft), Brim Fell (2611ft), Dow Crag (2555ft), Buck Pike (2441ft) and Brown Pike (2237ft) returning via the Walna Scar Road. A walk of about six a…

Yesterday Brendan and I drove to Great Langdale to climb Pike o`Blisco (2312ft), Cold Pike (2299ft) and Crinkle Crags (2816ft). A walk of nine miles. We retired to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel bar for a coffee and a beer. The walk had taken about six…

On Wednesday Ged, Kas and I went to The Three Shires Stone at the top of the Wrynose Pass to climb Great Carrs (2585ft), Swirl How (2638ft) and Grey Friar (2533ft). The weather was overcast, with mist on the tops but it was due to clear later in the…

Today Ged, Kas and I went to Eskdale Green to climb Irton Fell, Whin Rigg (1755ft) and Illgill Head (1998ft). We then went down to Burnmoor Tarn and walked back through Miterdale. A walk of just over 10 miles. A good walk. Not difficult at all. Great…

On Sunday Brendan and I decided to do the Greenburn round. We went from Low Tilberthwaite (hoping to miss the Easter Holiday crowds) up to Birk Fell (1750ft), Wetherlam (2502ft), Black Sails (2443ft),Swirl How (2630ft), Great Carrs (2575ft), Little C…

On Wednesday Ged, Kas and I went to Elterwater to walk Lingmoor Fell ridge returning to Elterwater via the Cumbria Way path. A walk of eight miles. We made our way up to Side Pike for lunch. Then strolled down to the valley floor and walked back to E…

Yesterday Ged, Kas the blind dog and I headed for Coniston. We parked at the Fell Gate and headed for Coniston Old Man (2633ft) via the old mine workings and Low Water. We then went to Brim Fell (2611ft) and Swirral How (2630ft) and down the Prison B…

It was a warm and sunny day today so we drove to Hodge Close, an old quarry where climbing and scuba diving takes place. A good little walk with lots to see, only about 4 miles long and easy walking. Jo….

Brendan has been on holiday for the last week which meant the weather has been awful with rain and gales. Yesterday there was a break in the weather so we decided to go up Scafell Pike, England`s highest mountain at 3210ft. Brendan and Tom had never…

It rained this morning but was okay by this afternoon so Brendan and I drove to Glen Mary Bridge just north of Coniston to walk up Black Crag (1056ft), one of the smallest Wainwrights. We went up by Tom Gill which had the most water I`ve ever seen in…

Yesterday was going to be the one good day to be had over the next week and the boys needed some exercise, so we left home at gone 1pm for Torver, to walk up Dow Crag (2555ft) via Brown Pike (2237ft) and Buck Pike (2430ft). I thought it would be a go…

Yesterday we went back to Borrowdale to climb Rosthwaite Fell (1808ft), including Bessyboot and Rosthwaite Cam, a walk of under 5 miles. When we arrived this morning there were loads of cars on the verge that would normally be empty mid week. I guess…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I went to Seathwaite in Borrowdale to climb Seathwaite Fell (2070ft), Esk Pike (2904ft), Allen Crags (2572ft) and Glaramara (2569ft). A walk of eight and a half miles. The visibility was good but for most of the day the skies w…

For our last walk of 2008 Ged, Kas the blind dog and I headed for Coniston. We parked at the Fell Gate and headed for Coniston Old Man (2633ft) via the old mine workings and Low Water. We then went to Brim Fell (2611ft) and Swirral How (2630ft) and d…

There was no school for Tom or me today so we had a couple of walks planned. Hard Knott (1811ft) and Wallowbarrow Gorge. We had set off before 8am and headed for the Roman Fort of Mediobogdum at the start of the Hardknott Pass. We returned to the New…

On Tuesday Janet the dogs and me went up Harter Fell (2140ft) and Green Crag (1602ft) from Birks in the Duddon Valley. A walk of about 7 miles. We skirted around Harter Fell and went back via Birks. The walk took about five hours. It was windy and co…

I did not intend to go walking today, but on looking out of the bedroom window I saw blue skies and mountains covered in snow. So I decided on a solitary walk up Lingmell (2649ft) and maybe Scafell Pike (3210ft) from Wasdale. I set off at nine and st…

Finally we reach half-term and get a glorious day. Janet and I, plus Poppy and Miffy the dogs, went to Torver and trekked up to Coniston Old Man (2633ft) by the Boo Tarn route that goes via Bursting Stone Quarry and the south ridge, then over to Dow…

The gritter lorries were out on Sunday night indicating that it was going to be clear and frosty. So Ged, Kas the blind Border Collie and me went to Great Langdale in order to hike to Great End (2984ft). We set off from the Old Dungeon Ghyll car park…

Yesterday Ged, myself and Kas the blind Border Collie decided to walk from Elterwater Village to Great Langdale via the ridge of Lingmoor Fell (1539ft) and Side Pike and then to follow the Cumbria Way path back to Elterwater Village and then take a d…

I decided to revisit Black Crag 1056ft and Holme Fell 1040ft. I had done these with Janet in July but the day had been rainy and misty and there had been no views at all from the summits just a total white-out. The visibility forecast for this mornin…

Tom and I drove to Blea Tarn car park via Great Langdale in order to walk up Lingmoor Fell. A small fell at 1530ft that shouldn`t pose too much of a problem for Tom. We stopped on the way at Coniston Water. A warm day. Superb visibility! Jo….

On Monday Janet, Poppy and I went to Wasdale to visit Burnmoor Tarn and climb up Slight Side (2499ft), Scafell (3162ft) and Scafell Pike (3210ft). Quite an epic walk, about 9 miles of mostly awkward, rocky terrain. Another day of excellent visibility…

Janet, Poppy and I decided on a trip to the Langdales while it would be relatively quiet. We parked at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and set off for Red Tarn, Cold Pike (2259ft) Crinkle Crags (five Crag summits, the highest being Long Top at 2816ft) Sh…

Janet, Poppy and I decided to do the Seathwaite Round. 10 miles and eight summits including Grey Friar (2536ft), Great Carrs (2575ft),Swirl How (2630ft), Brim Fell (2611ft), Coniston Old Man (2633ft), Dow Crag (2554ft), Buck Pike and Brown Pike. We m…

Today Janet, Poppy and I decided to do the Greenburn round. Nine miles and seven summits. We went from Low Tilberthwaite (hoping to miss the Easter Holiday crowds) up to Birk Fell (1750ft), Wetherlam (2502ft), Black Sails (2443ft),Swirl How (2630ft),…

This week is forecast to rain apart from today, so when I got a call at 7.20 this morning to go to work I turned them down in favour of a solitary walk in the Fells. I`m already working Wed,Thurs, Friday so I can afford to be choosy! I parked at Low…

Another glorious day so Janet and I went to Torver and treked up to Dow Crag (2555ft) and Coniston Old Man (2633ft) via Brown Pike (2237ft) and Buck Pike (2430ft). The walk was about nine miles and took us six and a half hours. Another good day tomor…

Yesterday I had to look out of the science lab window in Dowdales at clear blue skies. I hate that! So today in order to make the most of a similar day Ged and I went up Bowfell (2960ft). The Weather Website said that the visibility would be very poo…

Today Ged, Kas and me went to Great Langdale to take a walk up to Pile o’ Blisco. It was very hazy, still, but warm. We were not hopeful of any views, but could do with the exercise! Only a short walk of under 5 miles. It took us four hours. Jo…

Decided to go up from Wasdale Head to Illgill Head, on the side of Wast Water, and known as the Wast Water Screes (2000ft). A circular walk along the tops of the screes to Whin Rigg, down to Nether Wasdale and back along the Lake to where we started….

Went up Coniston Old Man yesterday (2633ft). The weather was dull and overcast, but the wind of the last few days had died down. I got to Torver about 9.45 and parked the car on the side of the road and headed up the lane. It`s 3 3/4 miles to the top…

It was such a nice day I decided to go up Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England at 3,210ft. I went up by myself going from Wasdale via Brown Tongue and Mickledore. The route up to Mickledore can be seen below, just follow the Gill up. There w…