tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603666695644713792024-03-06T07:49:29.306+00:00Dave Wood's BlogDave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-49562025719272680742013-08-22T23:53:00.000+01:002013-09-09T19:58:37.988+01:00Derwent Watershed Walk (A failed attempt)<div>
A quick post before I go off on my hols this weekend. A week in Skeggy with a hyperactive 4 year old granddaughter will be a test of my fitness levels if nothing else.<br />
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A couple of weekends back I thought it would be a good idea to have a crack at the Derwent Watershed walk, taking two days to cover the 40 odd miles around the watershed with a wild camp thrown in somewhere along the way.<br />
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The true challenge is to do the route in 24 hours.<br />
Taking two days with a heavy pack was challenging enough for me.<br />
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I caught an early train from Swinton station, connected with the Trans Pennine service in Sheffield and alighted this at Bamford at around 08:30.<br />
A steady plod ensued through Bamford village to pick up a path below Bamford Edge and then along an over grown path onto Bamford Moor with great views over to Stanedge Edge, looking a picture across the flowering heather foreground of the moors.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamford and the Hope Valley</td></tr>
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From Moscar Moor I followed a good track down to Cutthroat Bridge and headed up the the fine vantage point of Whinstone Lee Tor.<br />
This is a popular area for walkers and mountain bikers, rightly so as it offers great views of the Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs and the surrounding hills.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15HWLSZNx-Jpo1r1mf94ZWXGnNY2iISCgUa6x3Ci53AM_z6JnzuOe6E8ArHP8lbybsZea4mWzffRbELSr6DNamlQesOfWTIJdBYevGEUIT0nf6vVJVFUAv8Y-uxZpSj7A8GAH8qbplWs/s1600/P1030081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15HWLSZNx-Jpo1r1mf94ZWXGnNY2iISCgUa6x3Ci53AM_z6JnzuOe6E8ArHP8lbybsZea4mWzffRbELSr6DNamlQesOfWTIJdBYevGEUIT0nf6vVJVFUAv8Y-uxZpSj7A8GAH8qbplWs/s400/P1030081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Win Hill from the path up to Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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The path rises steadily up onto Derwent Edge and the odd rock formations that abound in this area.</div>
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A friendly chap kindly pointed out the spire of Lincoln Cathedral, probably 35 miles away as the crow flies, despite the grey skies the visibility was excellent today.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheel Stones?</td></tr>
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I plodded on, without much enthusiasm. My mood wasn't great and I started to question the reasons for taking on this walk. It would be easy to bail out now and head back to Bamford for the train home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJJkSftWq50X2h5BAPgJNrl5tPcA6YkxcQcAk8Ua87p337ybZxwBfd-ixoNn2TGVF1x-45lGRR7NJzFOLuy_9gVSK8etruYCUWt4nPS6jtdX8cx6vxThig4W6QJeqcfn_0L4h9H3Hm08/s1600/P1030090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJJkSftWq50X2h5BAPgJNrl5tPcA6YkxcQcAk8Ua87p337ybZxwBfd-ixoNn2TGVF1x-45lGRR7NJzFOLuy_9gVSK8etruYCUWt4nPS6jtdX8cx6vxThig4W6QJeqcfn_0L4h9H3Hm08/s400/P1030090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back Tor rock formations</td></tr>
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I didn't bail out, obviously or I wouldn't be posting this now. Instead I carried on, losing height to Lost Lad and Abbey Brook.<br />
This was new ground for me and it is a beautiful, quiet area of the Peak District.<br />
Feeling a bit brighter I took a steepish, overgrown path up on to Howden Moors and along the edge to Margery Hill, Cut Gate summit and Outer Edge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey Brook valley from Howden Moor</td></tr>
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From Outer Edge, the route is vague to say the least. I hadn't done much research so was just winging it a bit, in and out of the many groughs that abound in this pathless area over to Featherbed Moss.<br />
This is fabulous country if you enjoy solitude and a feeling of remoteness.<br />
I saw no other walkers from Outer Edge onwards, just mountain hares and larks for company, I was starting to enjoy myself at last.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGPXrPpjPBAlv9qVPXIiJJWPTwKpsURs20ZCrA5mS6DjBMcQtA7mKY2wek2uI23zf2CR0aTeKI1-YsvoihuIHy-uN9h8pJxKZ04gYIBYvLigIHXUmwX4MsoaGEdn8TNyXORxR1nWCthg/s1600/P1030097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGPXrPpjPBAlv9qVPXIiJJWPTwKpsURs20ZCrA5mS6DjBMcQtA7mKY2wek2uI23zf2CR0aTeKI1-YsvoihuIHy-uN9h8pJxKZ04gYIBYvLigIHXUmwX4MsoaGEdn8TNyXORxR1nWCthg/s400/P1030097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom stone in a pool on Featherbed Moss</td></tr>
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Eventually, after going wrong a couple of times due to careless navigation, Bleaklow Stones came into view.<br />
What a place!<br />
I pitched the tent on a nice flat area and wandered around taking photos of the strangely shaped stones and soaked up the views all around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv1wsROjeXQgVUbik165WtBUDJgy8zZOMnBAODSGY8aUQowqSyLe3Lg97TxKr7JO_kGwnoz0vtCgRy0UMMUZKdgvG648pWWnCstljS2fy-_YaBNfzWLPqdmdfB4VrC9ej16t1sulQ7RM/s1600/P1030101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv1wsROjeXQgVUbik165WtBUDJgy8zZOMnBAODSGY8aUQowqSyLe3Lg97TxKr7JO_kGwnoz0vtCgRy0UMMUZKdgvG648pWWnCstljS2fy-_YaBNfzWLPqdmdfB4VrC9ej16t1sulQ7RM/s400/P1030101.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaklow Stones camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view North, for miles and miles...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpK7t27UnfzyOXV4_g7r2xa0XaVvLILyMjBS7ERzcJCOQNFqvpPIr5ISxcFu7AW6c2ZCTCunXRp5UlO4JYVMC2rxwvsc85-om0ClUUaYpmSba44ZVbxBqDaR9ixtdKKvFj210qDvSalE/s1600/P1030113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpK7t27UnfzyOXV4_g7r2xa0XaVvLILyMjBS7ERzcJCOQNFqvpPIr5ISxcFu7AW6c2ZCTCunXRp5UlO4JYVMC2rxwvsc85-om0ClUUaYpmSba44ZVbxBqDaR9ixtdKKvFj210qDvSalE/s400/P1030113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset</td></tr>
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20 miles and over 1100m of ascent in a sometimes suitably bleak mood had been rewarded with probably the best wild camping spot I have ever had.<br />
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I got a bit of a shock at 10 pm as I popped my head out of the tent to see a bright light coming towards me at an alarming speed. It turned out to be a runner out for a late night run on Bleaklow! I formed the opinion that he was a lunatic, he probably had the same opinion of me, having seen the weather forecast for tomorrow.<br />
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I awoke to a grey scene. The cloud was down on Bleaklow and worse still, the cloud was depositing rain.<br />
Visibility was down to about 50 yards, just what I didn't need given that this is supposedly the most navigationally challenging area of the Peak District.<br />
Map, compass and GPS (mainly GPS) were used to get me over Bleaklow hill through the deep groughs.<br />
If there is a path hereabouts, I didn't find it.<br />
Happily the badly eroded Pennine Way path is a good landmark and I joined this just 50 yards or so below the summit of Bleaklow Head.<br />
It was now just a matter of following the Pennine Way off Bleaklow and over the Snake road to Mill Hill and Kinder Downfall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir6yfxHyWbPb7f9KkxGrXhya-yMBVfA8K6Qg9WUVZIuT-Rw26Pz5oWq7Taga-lr_t-i4FAjkbc60-EqeRbRJq_Aola4kNkTMhq25R5fUFX1FP6Fie3mMwhgnpUdAho_RMaurHisviWE4/s1600/P1030120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir6yfxHyWbPb7f9KkxGrXhya-yMBVfA8K6Qg9WUVZIuT-Rw26Pz5oWq7Taga-lr_t-i4FAjkbc60-EqeRbRJq_Aola4kNkTMhq25R5fUFX1FP6Fie3mMwhgnpUdAho_RMaurHisviWE4/s400/P1030120.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kinder Downfall through the murk</td></tr>
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It was somewhere close to Kinder Downfall that I decided I had bitten off more than I could chew. I felt tired after the exertions of yesterday and this morning's protracted navigation over Bleaklow.<br />
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The Derwent Watershed walk had defeated me.<br />
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I followed the Pennine Way all the way off Kinder to the Old Nags Head in Edale where I had a well deserved swift pint of Guinness before catching the 12:30 train back home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA-vW-DxhrL-Z2EOiPqhYbH80CB_ByeCjBbEtfyboqf0r655vKxUauNhLR2auomQtBm7a1oGTm2e58AMxAsBR7960fBbZvpkEvD38ClxP3ojHSToGBngJ2a3asD6Tv8T5xO4uFe4HIXE/s1600/P1030121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA-vW-DxhrL-Z2EOiPqhYbH80CB_ByeCjBbEtfyboqf0r655vKxUauNhLR2auomQtBm7a1oGTm2e58AMxAsBR7960fBbZvpkEvD38ClxP3ojHSToGBngJ2a3asD6Tv8T5xO4uFe4HIXE/s400/P1030121.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vale of Edale from the top of Jacobs Ladder</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1644734525"></span><span id="goog_1644734526"></span>Not one to take defeat lightly, I vow to tackle this walk again in the not too distant future, maybe next spring as a warm up to the TGO Challenge....maybe.<br />
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-82882789842927295452013-08-05T21:16:00.003+01:002013-09-09T20:00:01.396+01:00TGO Challenge 2013. Day 3: Loch na Caoidhe to "The House of the Hangman"It had been a cold night down by the waters edge and it was still cold in the morning as I put the stove on for the first coffee of the day.<br />
I unzipped the tent to find Charlie sat on guard outside his masters abode seemingly none the worse for his exertions yesterday.<br />
Charlie is a fine dog and great company in the hills but he does seem to suffer quite badly from short term memory loss. In Charlies eyes, one minute you are his best mate and the next you are an evil stranger with intentions of beheading his master and making off with all of his biscuits.<br />
Charlie had of course, forgotten who I was this morning, after all it had been 12 hours since he last saw me. Once he had remembered who I was, all was well and I was able to approach Richard's tent to discuss the options for today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuDiALvLgrYAvTkOB2taXLD4T2oR99lNpz_AxQ4A8f_9Jk4-4f2Y7_6m4FnlLV7xEb2fzxTuNiCBKqZqr6j9USKYVMMdxKhN8L-p7ocGpVTScw6BAYq3fwNu4ARyXLpcxwquf9JE2qI/s1600/P1020872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuDiALvLgrYAvTkOB2taXLD4T2oR99lNpz_AxQ4A8f_9Jk4-4f2Y7_6m4FnlLV7xEb2fzxTuNiCBKqZqr6j9USKYVMMdxKhN8L-p7ocGpVTScw6BAYq3fwNu4ARyXLpcxwquf9JE2qI/s400/P1020872.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie on guard duties.</td></tr>
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We had both slept in too late for a realistic chance of beating the bad weather on a mad dash over the Strathfarrar hills, so the discussion was a short one. Today's route was to be an energy saving, low level affair.<br />
The plan was to try to make it as far as Tighachrochadair (which wonderfully translates as The House of the Hangman) before the worst of the predicted bad weather caught up with us.<br />
I am sure I saw Charlie nodding his head in agreement as the plan was declared.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbvdfsdZEI0uXzVefyAU3Slafo6YYy6msRMSCH-Mvwlk3uHU-pgIBnlbWRvZQU8f0te4LRsFCzQTOPXig0kG14pPbepsBH3BTCTGO4pjCkilz5keZQjaGBPkWNPCGE5o_sdBUx9mTe4M/s1600/Glen+Orrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbvdfsdZEI0uXzVefyAU3Slafo6YYy6msRMSCH-Mvwlk3uHU-pgIBnlbWRvZQU8f0te4LRsFCzQTOPXig0kG14pPbepsBH3BTCTGO4pjCkilz5keZQjaGBPkWNPCGE5o_sdBUx9mTe4M/s400/Glen+Orrin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Heading down Glen Orrin. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photo courtesy Richard Wood</i></span></td></tr>
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It was a cold, grey morning, but we soon warmed up as we made our way below the crags of Beinn Mheadhoin, where I paused to look back towards the snow clad Strathfarrar Munros.</div>
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My timing was good as at that moment there was a majestic Golden Eagle high in the sky above us. </div>
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We watched it circle for quite a while before it headed north and went out of sight. </div>
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Not a bad start to the day at all.</div>
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An hour or so later we were making a brew in Luipmaldrig bothy. </div>
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This is a cracking bothy and is probably rarely visited. I believe it was built for the navvies working on the Orrin Reservoir project and it is now owned and well maintained by the Strathconnan Estate.</div>
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We had a snoop around, as you do, and found a back bedroom complete with double bed. </div>
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The bothy book revealed that the occupant of the bedroom last night was none other than The Goddess!</div>
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I expect she slept well, free from the alleged vibrations of fellow Challengers respiratory structures which had made her stay at Gerry's Hostel such a miserable experience.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Charlie in the posh bothy. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photo courtesy Richard Wood</i></span> </td></tr>
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Through the window I observed the unmistakable figure of Humphrey Weightman approaching the bothy. </div>
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Charlie gave Humphrey a frosty reception as he entered the building but was soon to be charmed by Humph who was then accepted as temporary member of our gang.</div>
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Following a brief chat, Humphrey set off towards the wobbly suspension bridge over the river Orrin. </div>
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We packed up and took a more direct, boggy line to the bridge. </div>
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Charlie, fearing that he was to be left behind by Richard, took the direct, damp route across the river in pursuit of Richard who had opted for the more conventional method of crossing the river using the bridge.</div>
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Once across, we followed the river to it's outflow into the reservoir and then more or less hugged the south bank of the reservoir all the way to the Allt na Criche, which we easily forded. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the river Orrin</td></tr>
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Charlie had a great time on this stretch, splashing in and out of the pools and burns feeding the reservoir. He had obviously not learnt anything yesterday about pacing himself.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orrin river flats</td></tr>
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Height was gained fairly quickly as we left the reservoir behind to pick up a sometimes vague path over to the track above Gleann Goibhre.</div>
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The weather was closing on us now as predicted, the wind had freshened considerably and we felt the first spots of rain of the day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View down to Orrin Reservoir. <i style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy Richard Wood</i></td></tr>
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The Hydro Bothy was a welcome sight and we were pleased to get out of the wind for half an hour for a brew and a bite to eat. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break in the Hydro Bothy <i style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy Richard Wood</i></td></tr>
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Then it was just a matter of pushing on for a further 5km along the track to our chosen destination of Tighachrochadair.</div>
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Squally rain showers, sweeping through from the west greeted our arrival and with the help of some borrowed nail pegs (cheers Richard), I managed to pitch the tent beside Richard's tight up against the gable end of the hangman's house.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Sheltered camp, Tighachrochadair</span></td></tr>
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Half an hour or so later, we were joined by Peter Molenaar, who had noticed our tents from the track above the house and headed down the heather clad hillside to share our sheltered pitch.<br />
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Charlie let Peter know in no uncertain terms that he was not to come too close to Richard's tent and it took liberal handouts of Peter's beef jerky supply before he was to be accepted into the clan.<br />
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I was now well ahead of my planned route, leaving just a short walk tomorrow to the fleshpots of Beauly.<br />
The plan to get ahead of the bad weather had proven to be a good one.<br />
It was not pleasant outside the tent tonight, but at least we had shelter from the worst of the elements which we might not have found in the hills to the west of us.<br />
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Excess supplies of food and Jack Daniels were consumed and text messages sent back home before I eventually settled down<i> </i>in the sleeping bag for the night.<br />
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Another good Challenge day.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-26358351962092345772013-07-28T23:28:00.000+01:002013-07-29T21:35:31.613+01:00TGO Challenge 2013. Day 2: Gerry's Hostel to Loch na Caoidhe The "Goddess" had suffered a less than heavenly sleep.<br />
Apparently there had been much snoring during the night emanating from various bunks.<br />
I was accused of being one of the culprits. I never heard anything myself, maybe she had been dreaming...<br />
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There was no rush for me this morning thankfully, as it was not pleasant outside.<br />
Richard and Charlie were not due to arrive at the station in Achnashellach until 10:40 and then they had an hour's walk along the road to meet up with me at the hostel.<br />
After the other Challengers had stepped out into the rain, I spent a lazy morning mainly drinking coffee and eating.<br />
Gerry made a brief, scary appearance wearing dressing gown and slippers and asked me to "spread the word", he didn't say what the word was though and I still haven't figured it out.<br />
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The weather began to brighten up as I packed and I observed the Kyle of Lochalsh train passing by, sure enough an hour later I met Richard and Charlie beside the road at Gerry's.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie and yours truly <i>photo courtesy of Richard.Wood</i></td></tr>
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Pleasantries were exchanged, much fussing of Charlie ensued, and then we were off, on our way off up the track towards Pollan Buidhe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9qA-vwQZiNlNe6Z-5C7237adAJgBvMLrq1CSTcVafBvEmoW-4Cm58zp3MMAyapbUYtjmH97rWyKq0tHoYLtyZJlR2WYgMtZ08fkDgaE9XazLi5YfuuBaFbl3bB0QfVtXPnJ30Kr0Rys/s1600/tired+charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>Richard brought news of impending bad weather, moving in from the west around midday tomorrow. Plans of a high walk on the Moruisg ridge were abandoned and we decided to push on as far as we could today to try to get ahead of the forthcoming crappy weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard and Charlie</td></tr>
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I first met Richard on the Challenge in 2007. We had both started out in Mallaig that year and our routes had crossed several times. We ended up finishing as part of a good sized group on St Cyrus beach and have stayed in touch ever since.<br />
Last year Richard completed his Munro round and I was pleased to be with him, his partner Becky and his friends when he achieved this.<br />
Richard and Becky had kindly offered to put me up for the night in Beauly and he had joined me as part of his training for a forthcoming Pennine Way walk. I was happy to have both Richard and Charlie along to join me for a few days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out into the wilds</td></tr>
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The miles always tend to pass by quickly when in company, and soon enough we arrived at Glenuaig Lodge where we stopped off for a brew and a bite to eat in what could be loosely described as a "bothy". We figured that this shed, including bunk bed and electricity! had been built to prevent emergency break-ins to the lodge. Good idea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenuaig Lodge shed <i>photo courtesy of Richard.Wood </i> </td></tr>
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We then headed out along boggy country for a few miles before crossing the River Meig about 1km west of the lovely path up the Coire Mhoraigeinn.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough walking</td></tr>
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The route up the high pass was wonderful, full of sparkling waterfalls and views back to the hills of the far north west. The sun made an appearance as we neared the top of the pass, but energy levels were low now and our thoughts turned to finding a good pitch for the night. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearing the top of the pass</td></tr>
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Once over the top of the high pass, views opened up of the Strathfarrar Munros to the south, maybe these hills were achievable tomorrow, before the weather closed in?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjnrhR4jWlsjmZJnrN-rETnYdBm5uX-K-VZ97AS26FQYiT0RAjLc8VWH2zyc8wBZu9CpVzYgB5OwxjB_MhDGOeM1ELDiIEjGTrQkMOTCrHAZ4hBU4qThSvXK-WQ9U8_LKE-vkWdJU5zI/s1600/P1020863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjnrhR4jWlsjmZJnrN-rETnYdBm5uX-K-VZ97AS26FQYiT0RAjLc8VWH2zyc8wBZu9CpVzYgB5OwxjB_MhDGOeM1ELDiIEjGTrQkMOTCrHAZ4hBU4qThSvXK-WQ9U8_LKE-vkWdJU5zI/s400/P1020863.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Strathfarrar Munros</td></tr>
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It was a fine descent to Loch na Caoidhe. Easy going along a good path with a choice of great camping spots ahead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrb1nnDS2NKrno1JQaaaUdhmaEI5Z-UugO4KHSLt5nKMLf4IL-pYzuSCKUbt3MMbkV6x4K9OKgeoC9lHmwCAQ19BgnMMkGo46K42Pnu7EA6Y5Pp2Bx_shXvz7klQ0LbN3J3Y3Gz9l3s/s1600/P1020864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrb1nnDS2NKrno1JQaaaUdhmaEI5Z-UugO4KHSLt5nKMLf4IL-pYzuSCKUbt3MMbkV6x4K9OKgeoC9lHmwCAQ19BgnMMkGo46K42Pnu7EA6Y5Pp2Bx_shXvz7klQ0LbN3J3Y3Gz9l3s/s400/P1020864.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down to Loch na Caoidhe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1fIqcV-4w5JgGtX-mEieuDytCXonsq8VNCCc_MywUV7E3l5IWRiTtFE3gF9_H8bPyArqZsiTTbkRdFpJ_ZOX3m-NYWHqYj__vJrIF5QfoQdVzeV4IlCUt6IO46_6ElbqPMt5jDWao3E/s1600/P1020866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1fIqcV-4w5JgGtX-mEieuDytCXonsq8VNCCc_MywUV7E3l5IWRiTtFE3gF9_H8bPyArqZsiTTbkRdFpJ_ZOX3m-NYWHqYj__vJrIF5QfoQdVzeV4IlCUt6IO46_6ElbqPMt5jDWao3E/s400/P1020866.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idyllic camp at Loch na Caoidhe</td></tr>
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It had all been too much for poor old Charlie though, and he collapsed into a deep sleep before the tents were pitched...soon to be revived by the smell of food cooking on our stoves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9qA-vwQZiNlNe6Z-5C7237adAJgBvMLrq1CSTcVafBvEmoW-4Cm58zp3MMAyapbUYtjmH97rWyKq0tHoYLtyZJlR2WYgMtZ08fkDgaE9XazLi5YfuuBaFbl3bB0QfVtXPnJ30Kr0Rys/s1600/tired+charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9qA-vwQZiNlNe6Z-5C7237adAJgBvMLrq1CSTcVafBvEmoW-4Cm58zp3MMAyapbUYtjmH97rWyKq0tHoYLtyZJlR2WYgMtZ08fkDgaE9XazLi5YfuuBaFbl3bB0QfVtXPnJ30Kr0Rys/s400/tired+charlie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog tired. <i>photo courtesy of Richard.Wood</i> </td></tr>
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Another brilliant day...Is there any wonder I am addicted to the Challenge?</div>
Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-64333256452856093132013-07-28T16:19:00.000+01:002013-07-28T20:11:40.259+01:00TGO Challenge 2013. Day 1: Torridon to Gerry's HostelTorridon is a special place.<br />
It had been 20 year's since my last visit on the second of two wonderful walking holidays in the Torridon area so imagine my delight to find myself back in the Torridon Inn, this time with a group of happy Challengers on the eve of The Great Outdoors Challenge 2013.<br />
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A few pints and a good meal were consumed and I left the pub in good company for the walk around the head of the loch back to the camping ground as the sun set over Ben Allligin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvl36q3-gWKjhPRCO8MYwFMWOv2Gdc0BW5ZdHZuGLvVDV0cZqQGq3_sWXvjtwCR51P-WeXUobPcQet1QcmQZmXFXHkmHP9_FcfCGHkXOGJreHWECSmIeZN9kHZ_sbKARIW35LSy5Ln2k/s1600/P1020824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvl36q3-gWKjhPRCO8MYwFMWOv2Gdc0BW5ZdHZuGLvVDV0cZqQGq3_sWXvjtwCR51P-WeXUobPcQet1QcmQZmXFXHkmHP9_FcfCGHkXOGJreHWECSmIeZN9kHZ_sbKARIW35LSy5Ln2k/s400/P1020824.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torridon Sunset</td></tr>
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Following an unsettled night in the tent, due to an altercation with a bumble bee deep inside my sleeping bag in the early hours, I emerged from the tent to a glorious Torridon morning.<br />
*Tip. Always check the inside of your sleeping bag for bees after airing out on the washing line.<br />
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I signed out at the Youth Hostel at 09:30 and made my way slowly back around the head of Loch Torridon to join the wonderful path from Annat to Achnashellach. The views over the Loch and down Glen Torridon are simply breathtaking. I was already having a good feeling about this crossing and the route I had planned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7JYDInsPCoZPvXxEQgWrlBvzKJrdZrOny3cYpy45SnvLUfWqivfLxT0243pszBN-W8-3np9M6fjEi0JpTNVhVUjw7-xRzKH4vZSgiAGLWcf7oeRdA8dDVHbHS06ybPjA3XULNupJ1OI/s1600/P1020831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7JYDInsPCoZPvXxEQgWrlBvzKJrdZrOny3cYpy45SnvLUfWqivfLxT0243pszBN-W8-3np9M6fjEi0JpTNVhVUjw7-xRzKH4vZSgiAGLWcf7oeRdA8dDVHbHS06ybPjA3XULNupJ1OI/s400/P1020831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Torridon on a glorious morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIicw1DbU0V1Ca6NeQil11PkPPKi42C-ws44La3HpsL6_EKkNLVmSjiiw5mCjYp4ayLEyHJtJBJUIcyKgJdNiB0gBXYnNUDYbBHK2pC45hKjzkcDUDjVzOueBqRVNtkhXJZLoEL7tmeME/s1600/P1020836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIicw1DbU0V1Ca6NeQil11PkPPKi42C-ws44La3HpsL6_EKkNLVmSjiiw5mCjYp4ayLEyHJtJBJUIcyKgJdNiB0gBXYnNUDYbBHK2pC45hKjzkcDUDjVzOueBqRVNtkhXJZLoEL7tmeME/s400/P1020836.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liatach and Beinn Eighe</td></tr>
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Before too long, I caught up with a few other Challenge walkers as height was gained towards Loch an Eion and the massive bulk of Moel Chean Dearg dominated the view ahead.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx5qJB_2cLL_s2yoI0lB-OIZlTIpo-_qGOxrFXMCxJTqbvEHHqaIU3lzblf1agt4LbzoxGgekik-silN5K6ACib4Yeaa097lSmEobL2InlOs2zkkIM-E3a8B6TXMVt7_8JF4zKJdUe2s/s1600/P1020839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx5qJB_2cLL_s2yoI0lB-OIZlTIpo-_qGOxrFXMCxJTqbvEHHqaIU3lzblf1agt4LbzoxGgekik-silN5K6ACib4Yeaa097lSmEobL2InlOs2zkkIM-E3a8B6TXMVt7_8JF4zKJdUe2s/s400/P1020839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moel Chean Dearg</td></tr>
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An early lunch was taken overlooking Loch an Eion with Peter Mollenar, Pete Varley and Mark Williams as the temperature dropped sharply and clouds quickly replaced the early morning blue sky.<br />
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Then it was off again, over Bealach na Lice and Bealach Ban to the magnificent natural amphitheater of Coire Granda. </div>
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Rain started falling steadily and so waterproofs were donned before the climb to the col between Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzbPISeAgspUmCTA5jqiNtEKSfsV7wp2MfRcLr9jq1q7OrnPwXxWTHnFiYEuDMSY2iRzG-ItCo4kyk-pNS8VMApDgfnfZjay0Lm0NuPRqHH_xQOxXZSESKb0e-ot4h-6eqXW9WHQxWlM/s1600/P1020841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzbPISeAgspUmCTA5jqiNtEKSfsV7wp2MfRcLr9jq1q7OrnPwXxWTHnFiYEuDMSY2iRzG-ItCo4kyk-pNS8VMApDgfnfZjay0Lm0NuPRqHH_xQOxXZSESKb0e-ot4h-6eqXW9WHQxWlM/s400/P1020841.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to Coire Granda</td></tr>
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I had planned to do the full ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor but due to the worsening weather conditions I wasn't sure that was a good idea. I decided to compromise, and dropped the pack at a lochan at around 700m and in a wanton act of Munro bagging, I climbed the craggy path to the boulder strewn Munro on the northernmost edge of the ridge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV6NoXuXgPUaHc7Aq4RZjWyi3yqJHT4hI_NR1XyethLfQwgFtlHHRP9anLqDSTrwT2Oo3hqCdEsfPR_dnbvmLL1Ra1ntpbWf4hCXYsRtarxLQeaLugcELq4SObLxu-ANCN_UnU0ID4QE/s1600/P1020844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV6NoXuXgPUaHc7Aq4RZjWyi3yqJHT4hI_NR1XyethLfQwgFtlHHRP9anLqDSTrwT2Oo3hqCdEsfPR_dnbvmLL1Ra1ntpbWf4hCXYsRtarxLQeaLugcELq4SObLxu-ANCN_UnU0ID4QE/s400/P1020844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beinn Liath Mhor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmcwjd8Y7RObwr95dMcqn1PA_zNZJ7yq2gES8SKAsFWRU188lJV_psrzkivweLSkG7C7k7sWFHoIOymvEfpNd3ycpBugJSHsG3KzH8t6wWpGj1GM8_iJOF5dkezT2eduVxAc7r17CWM0/s1600/P1020845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmcwjd8Y7RObwr95dMcqn1PA_zNZJ7yq2gES8SKAsFWRU188lJV_psrzkivweLSkG7C7k7sWFHoIOymvEfpNd3ycpBugJSHsG3KzH8t6wWpGj1GM8_iJOF5dkezT2eduVxAc7r17CWM0/s400/P1020845.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beinn Liath Mhor ridgeline</td></tr>
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On the way back down to the pack I passed Ali Ogden and Sue Oxley who were heading up with full packs to tackle the ridge.These two ladies are obviously made of sterner stuff than me.<br />
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Eventually, I rejoined the path and continued along Coire Lair, pausing regularly to soak up the stunning views all around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xtonWscCwR8FOeEcXfH9Zh1Y1SP2dLxAgqsmV-x8QPtlWOpYYHliv4KKofpwMh0nzk50F7osHX96zoKJzoOC1IT55yQL8pLFnLCu9aRtc5Fp8mHphdhJXNW-efFxnwc74RHj82sJIQ/s1600/P1020848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xtonWscCwR8FOeEcXfH9Zh1Y1SP2dLxAgqsmV-x8QPtlWOpYYHliv4KKofpwMh0nzk50F7osHX96zoKJzoOC1IT55yQL8pLFnLCu9aRtc5Fp8mHphdhJXNW-efFxnwc74RHj82sJIQ/s400/P1020848.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coire Lair</td></tr>
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I had planned to camp here but couldn't find an attractive enough pitch in the rain, so I continued through the forestry to Achnashellach and pushed on along the road for 5km to Gerry's Hostel.<br />
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The last time I stayed here, back in the 90's Gerry had been away, so I had not had the dubious pleasure of meeting him until now. I had heard a few stories about his eccentricity and was not to be disappointed.<br />
Gerry greeted me at the door and assured me there was room in the Hostel as I walked in to find Pete Varley, Peter Mollenar and a lady challenger who I know only as "Goddess" already making themselves at home beside a roaring fire in Gerry's front room.<br />
I think Gerry took a shine to me when I mentioned I had stayed there previously, and as I was cooking dinner, he whispered that he had a limited amount of alcohol for sale...cans of Caffreys at £2 a can and I was not to tell the other guests about this.<br />
I promptly bought a tenners worth and when Gerry had retired upstairs for the night, I shared my secret supply of alcohol with the others.<br />
The hostel had not changed one bit in the 20 or so year's since my last visit, including the freezing cold bunk room, dodgy showers, ridiculous decor and ornaments. It's a quirky place and Gerry is an eccentric but the place does provide a service to hill walkers and backpackers in an area that is not well served for budget accommodation.<br />
Everyone passing this way really should stay there at least once before it is no more, I fear when Gerry finally decides he cannot keep going that this place will not function as a hostel and that would be a shame.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerry's Hostel</td></tr>
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All in all, a wonderful first day's walking to kick off my 2013 Challenge adventure. </div>
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Tomorrow I was to be joined by a friend and former Challenger, Richard Wood and his dog Charlie, who were to walk with me to for the next few day's to Richard's home in Beauly. </div>
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Despite the cold bunk room, I fell to sleep contented with the journey so far and looking forward to the journey ahead.</div>
<br />Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-3998388279943428492013-07-28T13:33:00.000+01:002013-07-28T14:21:22.646+01:00Berghaus Freeflow 20 Rucksack reviewHere goes with my first (and probably last) attempt of a gear review.<br />
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Quite some time ago I had been contacted and sent a <a href="http://store.berghaus.com/">Berghaus</a> day-sack to review. It seems I am not the only one and there appears to have been a concerted marketing drive recently to use blogs as a way of advertising Berghaus products. If you Google "Berghaus Freeflow 20 Rucksack review" the results will bring up several reviews of this product. Most, or all of which will probably be better written and more informative than this effort.<br />
It has took me a long time to go to the trouble of writing up a review, mainly because I have rarely used the bag, other than on a couple of day trips in the Peak District and also because I have not posted on here for ages and don't seem to find the spare time to do so lately.<br />
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The quality of Berghaus rucksack's has always been very good, the first one I owned was a 35 litre Dart, which is still as good as new although I never use it now, preferring my more modern Vaude Gallery Air 30+5.<br />
There's no doubt that the Freeflow 20 is packed with features for such a small bag including the Freeflow back system and hydration pack compatibility, it looks OK (apart from the garish green one I have been sent) and carries well. There should be a shower proof rain cover included, although this is not present on the bag I have been sent.<br />
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I suppose the key question is, would I spend up to £60 on a day-pack when I already own a very similar one?<br />
The answer would have to be no.<br />
There is nothing essentially wrong with the bag, but I tend to do most of my walking outside of the summer months and for that reason alone, I am more than happy with the larger Vaude bag, which has all the features that the Freeflow 20 possesses and more besides.<br />
I prefer the larger capacity Vaude and find the Berghaus bag to be too small for my needs. I would probably use it for other activities such as bird watching as it is large enough to carry binoculars and a few necessities, but for long day walks in cool conditions where waterproofs, spare clothing as well as food and drink and other essentials are to be carried, then I would leave it at home and take the Vaude.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCO95jMb9F17x9VU1WFtJ8fqvnwmtZJbR4l3xeBdtN6hRr3-XDUAhfxhxr7MuQi25G6apaoMUL7rFMEezTmyUX3shB_pudUe_s_GJilFeoybXIy6ucOwGuEnGC4_6eyN43bB3Y9pL8vk/s1600/P1030042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCO95jMb9F17x9VU1WFtJ8fqvnwmtZJbR4l3xeBdtN6hRr3-XDUAhfxhxr7MuQi25G6apaoMUL7rFMEezTmyUX3shB_pudUe_s_GJilFeoybXIy6ucOwGuEnGC4_6eyN43bB3Y9pL8vk/s320/P1030042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freeflow back system</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonMBEfkXTMuoV4J8l0co022lWr-ZIMP3aqZvF32v12RAB-CitDaCfUA1cuRU-O6U1ajnAHE86pallUMrle9-aKyEnFAfZK_GGayt8ltQoao2ZQdHqD5m8Yiclm6tg8_ZYXUoVtHltaaM/s1600/P1030043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonMBEfkXTMuoV4J8l0co022lWr-ZIMP3aqZvF32v12RAB-CitDaCfUA1cuRU-O6U1ajnAHE86pallUMrle9-aKyEnFAfZK_GGayt8ltQoao2ZQdHqD5m8Yiclm6tg8_ZYXUoVtHltaaM/s320/P1030043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydration system compatible</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4IRshR4-VSVaV6Gwam7TqEBzWDQAl0SGFeAsCmt4OCic1df6atJNcEUg3lmQ08ogYbDu4Jjy9KPDQIcwLxZoPgvF1ccPMu2rckMijNWcLj7-MiyY9CFATWQNjENwjXYWc6VseTFJVs4/s1600/P1030044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4IRshR4-VSVaV6Gwam7TqEBzWDQAl0SGFeAsCmt4OCic1df6atJNcEUg3lmQ08ogYbDu4Jjy9KPDQIcwLxZoPgvF1ccPMu2rckMijNWcLj7-MiyY9CFATWQNjENwjXYWc6VseTFJVs4/s320/P1030044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small side pockets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9tGR5ik0yzMN2fuuFBICU18U50aMW5fzwbYCOGpsopS5qoL7_onc4u6clOaMb4fhkoqCqGOJqhznxl4WTeDvMBi98LCPTO2Y7OTRpWbeGrctGuOkhreHpVQ9KdRD2D6cRf_Se__APU/s1600/P1030046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9tGR5ik0yzMN2fuuFBICU18U50aMW5fzwbYCOGpsopS5qoL7_onc4u6clOaMb4fhkoqCqGOJqhznxl4WTeDvMBi98LCPTO2Y7OTRpWbeGrctGuOkhreHpVQ9KdRD2D6cRf_Se__APU/s320/P1030046.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front pocket, just about large enough for a map.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And there you have it. My one and only gear review.<br />
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<br />Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-46646394724577252112012-11-11T20:41:00.002+00:002012-12-24T16:30:56.132+00:00Shap to Ravenglass - Across the Lakes in Autumn<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month I walked from Shap to Ravenglass with a couple of mates....it was a grand walk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some photographs and a few words with which I hope to do the trip justice.</span><br />
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13/10/2012<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of bed at stupid o'clock to collect John in Sheffield at 05:30 and then over the Snake pass to pick up the motorway links up Cumbria. We arrived in Shap just before 08:00 and met up with Richard in the car park. Richard's drive had been a much longer one, he had travelled down from Beauly the day before to spend the night sleeping in the back of his car in a lay by just outside Shap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cars were secured and left in the car park and we were on our way.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1.</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shap to Gray Crag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following a visit to the co-op to stock up on supplies we probably didn't need, we walked through the village and then out on lanes to Keld on what was turning out to be a beautiful morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The line we were walking was that of the Old Copse Road which once linked Mardale with Shap Abbey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tarmac was left behind close to some farm buildings and a soggy path was joined to take us over to the isolated hamlet of Swindale Head.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAhBsU166UZibdcesKonv1KpBKugtvEYhWalyxaLfqp_y73zyFcoMhlfSKx94KLTBce-1Rh5Y10p8I1Cn4lIxVZYsUQnR-RYXdYJhYdfuIJRgvQnXo-kteHMElCcFQRzrInN9mWSHaAw/s1600/P1020612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAhBsU166UZibdcesKonv1KpBKugtvEYhWalyxaLfqp_y73zyFcoMhlfSKx94KLTBce-1Rh5Y10p8I1Cn4lIxVZYsUQnR-RYXdYJhYdfuIJRgvQnXo-kteHMElCcFQRzrInN9mWSHaAw/s640/P1020612.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Swindale</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Swindale Head, the Old Copse Road rises steeply through woodland on to the ridge of Swindale Common where we left the Copse Road to take the gradual ascent to Selside Pike, our first Wainwright of the trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevTciBvygJ3IpihmCraoSjJ7Unqx3eSzxvLTrxLW5HX9a5bMe_qnhThIpIo27o0nwwE5uWgHw55jrqqzuTlhmUKkOaJ0DI1sCdieLT8zmJaFfY4ZLa-HgAcqvNUcI-ViOm6hJGrpHrNo/s1600/P1020617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevTciBvygJ3IpihmCraoSjJ7Unqx3eSzxvLTrxLW5HX9a5bMe_qnhThIpIo27o0nwwE5uWgHw55jrqqzuTlhmUKkOaJ0DI1sCdieLT8zmJaFfY4ZLa-HgAcqvNUcI-ViOm6hJGrpHrNo/s640/P1020617.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Rough Crag and High Street from Selside End</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The top of Selside Pike is unremarkable but the views all around are stunning, we paused here for quite some time until the cold started to penetrate expensive layers and we reluctantly continued along the broad ridge and past some impressive cairns to Branstree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A short descent to the Gatesgarth Path was followed immediately with a steady climb to Harter Fell, interrupted only to pause for impressive views and photographs down the length of Haweswater. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBXaff22t_BYjRwb3n9ovpVwFoPAdjLecZuCtTM25g2cixsWpYnjod9RfOjZoSdzPDXXfPhA8IPkjLp7qrKpj54QAoS0LkcrKmnj9kI1ZtlZbHAxpVNUgtHIvAau0muawXfrn0Q_coBc/s1600/P1020622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBXaff22t_BYjRwb3n9ovpVwFoPAdjLecZuCtTM25g2cixsWpYnjod9RfOjZoSdzPDXXfPhA8IPkjLp7qrKpj54QAoS0LkcrKmnj9kI1ZtlZbHAxpVNUgtHIvAau0muawXfrn0Q_coBc/s640/P1020622.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Haweswater</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Onwards and upwards, with a bit of downwards thrown in for good measure, to Harter Fell, Mardale Ill Bell and across to the High Street summit trig point. The weather had been great all day and we made a group decision to make our way over to Thornthwaite Crag and then out along the ridge to Gray Crag to try and find a suitable place to pitch the tents for the night.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiatZGZvkLlSiN_sVrVZVV2JIPr9_b-5gzEO8fQ70lS8i4Lfkrl-hIrTF0XWCoXsDzSFPDywrEP2rNz_pvXxdgl9HLNjA5OOEM1BG1ff4QHvtQldadGgi4u70eU-DeZe1Mx-PJKYAJ1NE/s1600/P1020638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiatZGZvkLlSiN_sVrVZVV2JIPr9_b-5gzEO8fQ70lS8i4Lfkrl-hIrTF0XWCoXsDzSFPDywrEP2rNz_pvXxdgl9HLNjA5OOEM1BG1ff4QHvtQldadGgi4u70eU-DeZe1Mx-PJKYAJ1NE/s640/P1020638.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Gray Crag camp site</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tents were pitched before 5 pm and the usual routines were followed, food was consumed, whisky was shared and the conversation went on until the sun eventually set over the hills of tomorrow.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8hZ3AUkJbCKsJ44od3GBwxgnp2rfVjh0LSueyhKT6CsvgPW_0yCIiyd4Y1SJpE-r7IdgUYZdp3OshuRhoySW5QrncN0KWbBQSKSuRyx_PHUYRAFj7je9RDAySw6yiWxIk94P7kN5fqI/s1600/P1020642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8hZ3AUkJbCKsJ44od3GBwxgnp2rfVjh0LSueyhKT6CsvgPW_0yCIiyd4Y1SJpE-r7IdgUYZdp3OshuRhoySW5QrncN0KWbBQSKSuRyx_PHUYRAFj7je9RDAySw6yiWxIk94P7kN5fqI/s640/P1020642.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Henry Shires Scarps and the setting Sun </i></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As night fell, and the temperature dropped sharply, stags could be heard roaring in the valleys around us as the rutting season was at it's peak. Stars appeared one by one until eventually the Milky Way was clearly visible in the night sky. Just before I finally zipped up the tent, I caught sight of a shooting star to cap off a wonderful day's walking in the Far Eastern Fells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Day 2 </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gray Crag to Easedale Tarn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been a cold night in the tent, sleep had been a fitful affair, interrupted several times as I sought out the warmth deep inside the sleeping bag. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As day broke, the stags were at it again...roaring their heads off. A hind appeared briefly on the ridge just behind our tents but scampered off when alerted to our presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A great advantage of a high camp is the down hill start to the day and it was a steep descent down the spur of Gray Crag to Hartsop and out along the road to pick up the path to the Hartsop above How ridge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqi_x2eddzx5M9DElsLaX0Q0r3fe8r0kFVTRIPDqG6t8rjckg4Nl3UAQiLvQeLFOvbABA973e6JiMrRrcSN5XnZ5fdhETL7jN6_Ty1HRVMQqtMCoBItRpp9rwRlFjF0bmCMHb_jHhWPYM/s1600/P1020655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqi_x2eddzx5M9DElsLaX0Q0r3fe8r0kFVTRIPDqG6t8rjckg4Nl3UAQiLvQeLFOvbABA973e6JiMrRrcSN5XnZ5fdhETL7jN6_Ty1HRVMQqtMCoBItRpp9rwRlFjF0bmCMHb_jHhWPYM/s640/P1020655.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Gray Crag </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The path from Bridgend initially winds its way through woodland, which looked a picture this morning in the Autumn sunshine. An early rest stop was taken here before we started the long pull up the ridge to Hart Crag. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Energy levels were running low this morning, a result of the strenuous first day, the lack of a proper nights sleep and in my case, a general lack of fitness. John decided to push on ahead rather than stop for a break on the highest point of the Hartsop above How ridge. The sky had clouded over by the time we approached the final slog up the steep scree which led to the top of Hart Crag. The hard work was over for the day, or so we thought, as we followed the well worn path up to Fairfield and around the horseshoe to Great Rigg where we branched off to Stone Arthur. We decided to cut short our route today and camp at Easdale Tarn instead of the planned Angle Tarn camp. The lure of an extended break in Grasmere was a temptation we could not resist.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DfSxB3635rOjI2f_fo29KwqGF5VqJ3lBp04PVMJxjpPDZtBJRdH_KuA7ilp_kj8CIPQc085T_GZBptqfF2Ppgfk9BrulGc9b85y99i6FKZ-TVzhLJx9h5Jdgji08MYaZ5G_TQDH_5NY/s1600/P1020663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DfSxB3635rOjI2f_fo29KwqGF5VqJ3lBp04PVMJxjpPDZtBJRdH_KuA7ilp_kj8CIPQc085T_GZBptqfF2Ppgfk9BrulGc9b85y99i6FKZ-TVzhLJx9h5Jdgji08MYaZ5G_TQDH_5NY/s640/P1020663.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Grasmere from Stone Arthur.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a steep descent from Stone Arthur down to the A591, our group three walkers became three solo walkers, conversation petered out as we made our way off the hill. We were all feeling leg weary and ready for the flesh pots of Grasmere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually we traipsed into the village and made initially for the co-op for much needed refreshment. Pork pies, chocolate bars and other such luxuries were snaffled up and stuffed in the packs for future treats. Next port of call was the Red Lion, where we settled down for an hour to enjoy a couple of pints of Cumberland Ale, before crossing the road to a bakers shop to buy delicious hot pasties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suitably nourished and refreshed we left Grasmere at 4.30 pm for the pleasant walk along Easdale and up past Sour Milk Gill and to Easdale Tarn, </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dvP_q-igANzPjWOTZTn7ueKmYqgfIRzeiXIkEpcFvOeORSDTo6AKr0Jz9xuNKLPw4ZM4AKsgJ4SuQADO2Mc2y8CSaXjTagHmsdUPfph9eqvKT1iiwYpw_EODgLv8lplpoTNkkAOsoL0/s1600/P1020672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dvP_q-igANzPjWOTZTn7ueKmYqgfIRzeiXIkEpcFvOeORSDTo6AKr0Jz9xuNKLPw4ZM4AKsgJ4SuQADO2Mc2y8CSaXjTagHmsdUPfph9eqvKT1iiwYpw_EODgLv8lplpoTNkkAOsoL0/s640/P1020672.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Easedale Tarn camp.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Day 3</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easdale Tarn to Wasdale Head</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another cold night in the tent. The cloud was down on the surrounding fells as we broke camp and set off for what would be another memorable walk. I'll let the pictures tell the story of our route through some of the best mountain scenery to be found anywhere in the UK.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>On Blea Crag</i></span><br />
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<tr><td><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_hcdhfaErICwYFfMQzM1kC6GnPXs_VfYnHEx7x97OF9vifwlEnu1PIlqEkkbcN017fGZUnMmnBBm2KipWj2sGONxFbSs_XPc2FXwNC_sOcyIPthiVR_ELVTtBrbOVn9B30ASExSqNzo/s640/P1020678.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pavey Ark and Angle Tarn through the clouds</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>High Raise</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Richard looking towards the Scafell range.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Group photo on High Raise</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Langstrath</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Langdale from Rossett Pike</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Great Gable from Allen Crags</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Yewbarrow and Wasdale Head </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ours were the only tents on the camp site at Wasdale Head, which is now run by the hotel and boasts a shower, washing up area and a smart toilet block situated behind Ritsons Bar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The MWIS forecast pinned up in the shop warned of impending stormy weather, heavy rain and high winds were set to move in overnight and continue into tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cleaned up, we retired to the pub for a few beers and some food. The food was decent but not as good as it was on my last visit here a couple of years ago. The beer was excellent though, as was the Talisker night cap. Richard and myself decided we had had enough at about 8pm, leaving John to burn the midnight oil in the Hotel bar, a special invite from coming from a couple of Jeeves and Wooster lookalikes.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 4</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wasdale Head to Ravenglass</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bad weather arrived as predicted and we awoke to the sound of heavy rain on the tents. Lazy breakfasts were taken washed down with several cups of coffee in the forlorn hope that the rain would stop. Eventually, as the field was on the verge of being transformed into a village pond, we packed up and headed for the shelter of the wash room to consider our options for the walk out to Ravenglass. It was a no-brainer really, 70 mph winds were forecast for the high fells. Illgill Head, Whinn Rigg and Muncaster Fell would be saved for another day and our final day would be a road walk all the way to Ravenglass.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Looking back to Yewbarrow</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John And Richard with Wast Water backdrop</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As road walks go, this wasn't so bad. Luckily the rain had stopped and the miles passed by quickly with lively conversation and discussing options for another trip next year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hamlet of Santon Bridge provided a convenient half way refreshment stop. John opting for hair of the dog in the pub and Richard and myself opting for the excellent Woodlands tea rooms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were reunited again as the sun came out, on the long straight road at Gubbergill and we walked together to Saltcoates and over the railway footbridge crossing the River Esk estuary to Ravenglass. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Ravenglass from Saltcoates</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of celebratory pints of Guinness were swallowed down in the Ratty Arms before heading for the camp site to pitch tents for the last time on this trip. We made use of the showers before returning to the Ratty Arms for more beer and good food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A great walk across the Lakes. The Autumn colours, the unique Lakeland scenery and the great company will ensure that this trip lingers long in the memory.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfso2iXjWY1HnkmKgkj_24vt7xxpZasP1gCo-2vnvawN-zj9FcF72dxtqNrxjJbDtg9KQj2tuddUWhy4olfLZII1uYWxVqm8vy3Fv3O3CdvZCT5uelPcZZFZyCi88L2wX5JSiHKt3MP98/s1600/P1020709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfso2iXjWY1HnkmKgkj_24vt7xxpZasP1gCo-2vnvawN-zj9FcF72dxtqNrxjJbDtg9KQj2tuddUWhy4olfLZII1uYWxVqm8vy3Fv3O3CdvZCT5uelPcZZFZyCi88L2wX5JSiHKt3MP98/s640/P1020709.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Ravenglass sunset</i></span></td></tr>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-40435605181086297072012-07-22T00:43:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:00:20.096+00:00Eastern Fells Overnighter.Managed to take advantage of a rare decent weather forecast last weekend and nipped up to the Lakes to combine a Wainwright bagging outing with a first overnight stay in my brand new Scarp1 tent.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I returned to the Eastern Fells with a plan to take in a circuit including the Dodds from Dockray, with a high camp somewhere on the route.</span></div>
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I had actually attempted this as a day walk a couple of weeks ago, walking clockwise over the Birketts of Common Fell, Swineside Knott and the Brown Hills up onto Hart Side. The weather beat me on that occasion and I made it only as far as Swineside Knott before returning to the car defeated, dishevelled and demoralised.<br />
The weather did improve later in the day allowing a nice walk on Gowbarrow Fell but this was scant consolation for the high route I had planned.</div>
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This time around the weather was more kind and I managed to fit in a couple of bonus hills, Little Mell Fell and Great Mell Fell on the way to Dockray.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtHhxZlKoYeO_WeUBL0lFFbgERF6rjjS7VQ5DyiGKLYpLEFrT174K7Z-DxhcSdd2IcTVmlI_kJwOjyYA5guGjBESrfKHqtJZSShsQC_w4L4QqP-WjMFgUpA0bVcf2gH9LGBMYeQN2Es/s1600/P1020407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQtHhxZlKoYeO_WeUBL0lFFbgERF6rjjS7VQ5DyiGKLYpLEFrT174K7Z-DxhcSdd2IcTVmlI_kJwOjyYA5guGjBESrfKHqtJZSShsQC_w4L4QqP-WjMFgUpA0bVcf2gH9LGBMYeQN2Es/s400/P1020407.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Happy to be back on the Fell, any Fell would do.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wf7X75ruQYi4d3Lq90sgB1BdDkj54YC8BfZEeaacHOcJeYLZLMOlNFG0QHJbg1JPqCmG9-lBn_anrtEtCeGQWYhimHwrOQoiTonQ2FHN-1goVPNW9m07III5bWNtvoQTlro6S2tlhzs/s1600/P1020408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wf7X75ruQYi4d3Lq90sgB1BdDkj54YC8BfZEeaacHOcJeYLZLMOlNFG0QHJbg1JPqCmG9-lBn_anrtEtCeGQWYhimHwrOQoiTonQ2FHN-1goVPNW9m07III5bWNtvoQTlro6S2tlhzs/s400/P1020408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Blencathra from Great Mell Fell</i></td></tr>
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Both Little and Great Mell Fells are much maligned and I have to admit that the former is a bit of a non-event. Up and down and back at the car within half an hour before driving along the minor roads to begin the walk onto Great Mell Fell.<br />
I enjoyed this one, a nice, fairly dry path leads up through pleasant woodland to the small cairn where great views open up of Blencathra and the Vale of Keswick.<br />
It's just a short drive into the lovely village of Dockray and the Royal Hotel public bar. I had a bit of time to spare and spent an hour over a couple of extortionately priced pints of Guinness.<br />
I used my dubious charms to sweet talk the barmaid into letting me leave my car on the hotel car park overnight before eventually setting off again at 4pm.<br />
I had studied the map in the bar and decided to reverse my aborted route of a couple of weeks ago. On that walk, I had identified some potential great camp sites on Swineside Knott overlooking Ullswater and the surrounding fells. I wasn't sure if I could complete the round before darkness fell, but I was fairly certain I would find somewhere on Hart Side if push came to shove.<br />
The lane walk up beside Aira Beck was a pleasant affair, views down to Dowthwaite Head opened up and soon enough the stile which signifies the start of the Old Coach Road was scaled.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlq5HkwbNDURKXpXyr6ualcrB60lkATNLMNeyfVlDd7aLcObSZ21YeHqfM7j8e7MNqO2ucwyX4l592mDyAjyymUb-hcj7-d35lTcsdbqjR9gWQzGimjm6m__2eBXuTAibM4iHH2-BtAo/s1600/P1020414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlq5HkwbNDURKXpXyr6ualcrB60lkATNLMNeyfVlDd7aLcObSZ21YeHqfM7j8e7MNqO2ucwyX4l592mDyAjyymUb-hcj7-d35lTcsdbqjR9gWQzGimjm6m__2eBXuTAibM4iHH2-BtAo/s400/P1020414.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Great Mell Fell from the Old Coach Road</i></td></tr>
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The weather was holding out as forecast and the walk along the Old Coach Road was a fine one.<br />
Setting out late in the afternoon had ensured I had the track to myself. Blencathra came into view and my eyes were drawn like magnets towards the elegant ridge lines of this beautiful hill as I made my way along the track below Wolf Crags to eventually head off upwards on a steep pathless ascent to White Pike and Clough Head.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUjdQRYOheT19oMoZ51UELRSQBGg8hS-mXTP34fwM-UhUelQGxHJYLKF7Zsuz9qoXEef98iqZvR4UteNrMM67dsHsw65tr_o-2jGNpBWh2KPMMrAKVogPykuwA4mhEQeF8JgXjsy3t44/s1600/P1020421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUjdQRYOheT19oMoZ51UELRSQBGg8hS-mXTP34fwM-UhUelQGxHJYLKF7Zsuz9qoXEef98iqZvR4UteNrMM67dsHsw65tr_o-2jGNpBWh2KPMMrAKVogPykuwA4mhEQeF8JgXjsy3t44/s400/P1020421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Skiddaw and Blencathra from Clough Head</i></td></tr>
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It was great to be up here alone and I was in my element as I strode out on a surprisingly dry path to the Birkett of Calfhow Pike and its rocky summit with fine views down to Thirlmere.<br />
I spent a while here picking out the fells I have walked and the one's I have yet have the pleasure of doing so in my quest to complete the Wainwrights.<br />
Great Dodd was next on the agenda, the highest point of the afternoon at 856m.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w9_rTIczKPyaVEbvRbPqtWBJ5kGgeCpEiu3JRbe3_EzljtSrbFGY4Xy-pEp1CVgr1rhF5OmaNzmsMU3aRNB_ZoY-4ggOjRic6vc_9eHptBDLjMgBufoVqLGpdjTKm1LSR9pQlFE8LdU/s1600/P1020426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w9_rTIczKPyaVEbvRbPqtWBJ5kGgeCpEiu3JRbe3_EzljtSrbFGY4Xy-pEp1CVgr1rhF5OmaNzmsMU3aRNB_ZoY-4ggOjRic6vc_9eHptBDLjMgBufoVqLGpdjTKm1LSR9pQlFE8LdU/s400/P1020426.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Helvellyn massif from Great Dodd</i></td></tr>
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The hard work was done for the day now and with very little effort I walked out to Watson's Dodd to take a moody photograph of the darkening sky out to the west. It looked like the weather was closing in quickly from that direction and I wondered how much further I could walk before the dark clouds enveloped these hills.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoLe0rTfoyoS7Mpsa7yLSrFzRKvZkJUPk8LBI6dM04-T0FAB8sVQ7CxuHc2nPMaS-MtcTxT9bVlko36J0rp1SSd_MsKqmbOQh6sc4kT0KwY-mSNY9rnFwBwIH3Jryz2aspq9nIwbY1cA/s1600/P1020428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoLe0rTfoyoS7Mpsa7yLSrFzRKvZkJUPk8LBI6dM04-T0FAB8sVQ7CxuHc2nPMaS-MtcTxT9bVlko36J0rp1SSd_MsKqmbOQh6sc4kT0KwY-mSNY9rnFwBwIH3Jryz2aspq9nIwbY1cA/s400/P1020428.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spotlight on Keswick</i></td></tr>
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I put a spurt on over Stybarrow Dodd and out along the broad ridge to Hart Side, missing out the Birkett of Green Side with all thoughts now focussed on finding a nice sheltered spot to pitch the tent.<br />
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The cloud had now dropped and it had started raining, the wind freshened considerably as I reached the top of Hart Side.</div>
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I estimated I had about half an hour of daylight left in which to get the tent up, so pushed on to Birkett Fell and descended beside a wall onto Brown Hills where I found a suitable flat spot overlooking Ullswater and set about putting up the tent.</div>
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Pitching a new tent in the back garden on a fine day with the instructions to hand is one thing, pitching one in the fading light, in the pissing rain and with a strong wind to contend with is a different proposition. Fortunately, there were no observers of my comical performance over the following 10 minutes or so.<br />
I eventually managed to get the Scarp looking something like a tent and crawled inside to start emptying the pack. The rain was hammering it down outside and drips of water were coming through and forming a small puddle on the floor of the inner. First thoughts were that my DIY seam sealing efforts had been a failure but on closer inspection I realised that the tent wasn't tensioned correctly and the water ingress was due to contact between the outer and inner skins of the tent. Out I went again to apply further tension to the corners and readjust the positions of the pegs. Much faffing ensued before I finally settled down for the night.<br />
It had turned into a pretty rough night, the wind and rain were providing a stern test for the Scarp, my old Laser would have been complaining loudly in these conditions but the Scarp stood up manfully to all that the elements could muster.<br />
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Sleep was interrupted at 03:50 for a call of nature and I emerged to a pre-dawn vista of incredible beauty.<br />
The Sun was just about to rise and the horizon was lit up with a marvellous orange band of light for as far as the eye could see. The crescent Moon, Jupiter and Venus were in close proximity just above the horizon. There was not a breath of wind now and this moment gave me a surreal experience that will live long in the memory. It''s just a pity the camera wasn't capable of capturing the intensity and beauty of the moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2MwHf3ahrRs3Mctqjk9dmFc3S1d9mFcVNtKcmohu06F_VepVfi2Gr_HVAPH98ySAaAh6ELHOwbgqbCM6qScHpjc5I_RB1PfYKEzpQqCn3OHsZOu78JBSqVq2qVPvUT0awse-4jwCE-k/s1600/P1020433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2MwHf3ahrRs3Mctqjk9dmFc3S1d9mFcVNtKcmohu06F_VepVfi2Gr_HVAPH98ySAaAh6ELHOwbgqbCM6qScHpjc5I_RB1PfYKEzpQqCn3OHsZOu78JBSqVq2qVPvUT0awse-4jwCE-k/s400/P1020433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View east at 03:50. The Moon, Venus and Jupiter above the emerging Sunrise</i></td></tr>
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I drifted back off to sleep for a few hours and emerged from the tent at 07:30 to enjoy the wonderful views of Ullswater and the surrounding fells.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme33iZAI9oi-uJ6qTYOaHr1hAOjOgr6fAsHxv4JjGbBfhJanemjvn2rEF1dc9cVDzVSPTPAj82onIjb79QnWq-aOSBvjEO7vTbYd1DKzT_R-nGIEy4MznS3kCfu-Yo5yFnCXJ5vmbD40/s1600/P1020438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme33iZAI9oi-uJ6qTYOaHr1hAOjOgr6fAsHxv4JjGbBfhJanemjvn2rEF1dc9cVDzVSPTPAj82onIjb79QnWq-aOSBvjEO7vTbYd1DKzT_R-nGIEy4MznS3kCfu-Yo5yFnCXJ5vmbD40/s400/P1020438.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A nice place to wake up</i></td></tr>
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The walk back down to the car was a short but sweet amble over Swineside Fell and Common Fell offering lovely views all around</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruCWa4j_wwQc9zyIqx54pPBtN_7rpzFJQf8RKale5AHU0rT8KnaV8gnkhVGE-mUwS9uOvc2BzLdbciB1-auVGj3QWOGCk_7zLph9SbIRIT-2PmfMlUwuFwXaFHQbcUnkesdj50829ecc/s1600/P1020443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruCWa4j_wwQc9zyIqx54pPBtN_7rpzFJQf8RKale5AHU0rT8KnaV8gnkhVGE-mUwS9uOvc2BzLdbciB1-auVGj3QWOGCk_7zLph9SbIRIT-2PmfMlUwuFwXaFHQbcUnkesdj50829ecc/s400/P1020443.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dowthwaite Head from Common Fell</td></tr>
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This was an all too brief outing. 7 Wainwrights were ticked off though and I enjoyed a fine first night out in the new tent.</div>
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I still have a further 80 Wainwrights to bag and I feel that backpacking is the best way to link up the remaining unconquered fells. The Scarp passed this first test with flying colours and apart from a few niggles I am delighted with my new acquisition. Here's to many more such outings. </div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-80182975616779067082012-05-07T22:10:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:00:53.656+00:00A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 5)<u>Day 6</u><br />
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Loch Sligachan to Portree<br />
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I was up and off early this morning, and immediately missed the path to the road end at Peinchorran. Instead, I ended up scaling a few fences on the way over moorland to pick up the coast road before taking the "low" road beside the sea.<br />
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It was a grey morning and my thoughts turned to home as I made my way past Balmeanach Bay. I had pre-booked train tickets for the journey home on Tuesday, today was Friday.<br />
This meant the last couple of days from Portree to Rubba Hunnish would need to be rushed and hard going, totally out of context with the walk so far.<br />
I wanted to finish the walk to the northern point on Skye in the same way I had enjoyed the walk so far.<br />
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It was at this point that I decided that this walk would end at Portree and that I would return at a later date to continue to the far north or the island in the same leisurely manner that I had enjoyed over the past week.<br />
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The landscape of Skye is far too good to rush.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wPSrUdQbZsKVfSGcEbJhI1N4KJJhxNANTEKEvXJlrlB0Bix7WKvXWGQQu7NcwamEAMaGFYkIZyroCIr_pHKVdVbL00SMFyuEuY0cpzeA_mHW9H2MCVZbAMkUFDx2nKn1cMXBsE608AQ/s1600/P1020268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wPSrUdQbZsKVfSGcEbJhI1N4KJJhxNANTEKEvXJlrlB0Bix7WKvXWGQQu7NcwamEAMaGFYkIZyroCIr_pHKVdVbL00SMFyuEuY0cpzeA_mHW9H2MCVZbAMkUFDx2nKn1cMXBsE608AQ/s640/P1020268.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Glamaig from moorland above Loch Sligachan</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcSL9iMmr6zJ-6QtyMcTUyG04B1l2umSOIqlQbU5jVWAMarhhwdPe0OzU9sPHqg5ND2KrErUzyHWcAX6Dwvqy3z_SRx7CevdlsKCzXC67g9Woh2uwnKcRUxKITMuL7g6yKtBu6rqinYo/s1600/P1020269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcSL9iMmr6zJ-6QtyMcTUyG04B1l2umSOIqlQbU5jVWAMarhhwdPe0OzU9sPHqg5ND2KrErUzyHWcAX6Dwvqy3z_SRx7CevdlsKCzXC67g9Woh2uwnKcRUxKITMuL7g6yKtBu6rqinYo/s640/P1020269.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Narrows of Raasay</i></td></tr>
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As far as road walks go, this was a little beauty, great views over to Raasay and up the coastline to Ben Tianavaig.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99ltYN-lw6341S13ZsXqReo0EaIji4wv2MwuSFVRxlj6oO8BOWF8fcXGVo6Qg-skpkT2dEYeu1ViMeQILUe0AIZohY2rLg5HfHwETg57v_ozmLG0DFGkEffD4vRr5SitcGfm-zJCddsM/s1600/P1020271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99ltYN-lw6341S13ZsXqReo0EaIji4wv2MwuSFVRxlj6oO8BOWF8fcXGVo6Qg-skpkT2dEYeu1ViMeQILUe0AIZohY2rLg5HfHwETg57v_ozmLG0DFGkEffD4vRr5SitcGfm-zJCddsM/s640/P1020271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ben Tianavaig from the Braes</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg980jjtmDw-Q8F-uE8_1dOX82HqLJXKGfUcrySlUX6QeEPJGvs8HTB3tMoCBUT3iqepWzOPLoSyXHzm_T6bheMjZ9AcHJh4FPUgvrYoTm38MGayh9MV3ZiEgG-rn5NCjApt3Ji3A-Bq_M/s1600/P1020272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg980jjtmDw-Q8F-uE8_1dOX82HqLJXKGfUcrySlUX6QeEPJGvs8HTB3tMoCBUT3iqepWzOPLoSyXHzm_T6bheMjZ9AcHJh4FPUgvrYoTm38MGayh9MV3ZiEgG-rn5NCjApt3Ji3A-Bq_M/s640/P1020272.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Braes from memorial cairn</i></td></tr>
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The cairn commemorates a brave battle for land tenure by the former crofters from these parts during the clearance programme in 1882. A bit of research has revealed that this was a very important battle in Scottish clearances history which led to new legislation being written protecting the rights of crofters.<br />
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The route from here involved more road walking, breakfast was taken at the Aros centre before I plodded through town to the harbour.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktPVMu9dVNKGo3P0K5_x7qqhnruwin08ISpHqkU_tqt2RfEjcWFONBio2RNM1uZ4d6A_zkOmUxEy2FQraFC5iPcir9II_BHg-CTvWmBp1_KEHpB7hj0ReZEXkSaQow7oS4AhcoGHPzmY/s1600/P1020276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktPVMu9dVNKGo3P0K5_x7qqhnruwin08ISpHqkU_tqt2RfEjcWFONBio2RNM1uZ4d6A_zkOmUxEy2FQraFC5iPcir9II_BHg-CTvWmBp1_KEHpB7hj0ReZEXkSaQow7oS4AhcoGHPzmY/s640/P1020276.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Portree Harbour, Journeys end......for now.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">During the planning for this walk I had discovered that a favourite Scottish band of mine, Frightened Rabbit, were playing at the Community Centre in town tonight. I had purchased a ticket for the show and this would bring the curtain down nicely on what had been a great week on Skye.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I dropped on Frightened Rabbit recording songs on the beach at Portree in the afternoon before catching the show later on.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Needless to say, I woke up the following morning with a hangover, I groggily packed up my gear for the last time on this trip and caught the bus to Inverness to begin the long journey home. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2i9icfYbgH_KJ65WxfiiwNbLGP7x93XPAN3Ntku54rZWy6rGP72ew1SAxYpJS5fMlDor0XsqDHCmIbYp_WqMEtiR55HPXRgWt2yafpfNu54qDiidsxkK1iy-uCZfbajwFV1fqd16eEo/s1600/P1020278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2i9icfYbgH_KJ65WxfiiwNbLGP7x93XPAN3Ntku54rZWy6rGP72ew1SAxYpJS5fMlDor0XsqDHCmIbYp_WqMEtiR55HPXRgWt2yafpfNu54qDiidsxkK1iy-uCZfbajwFV1fqd16eEo/s640/P1020278.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Frightened Rabbit on Portree beach</i></td></tr>
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The Isle of Skye is a remarkable place. Granted, I had been blessed with exceptional weather for almost all of the trip but I have a feeling I would have loved this place in any weather.</div>
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Until the next time.....</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY">Swim Until You Can't See Land</a></div>
Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-45789568660481558072012-05-07T18:28:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:01:17.370+00:00A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 4)<u>Day 5</u><br />
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Loch Coruisk to Loch Sligachan<br />
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The Loch Coruisk wild camp had been something I had wanted to do ever since I had first seen photos of this wild place. I had made the most of it, and stayed awake until late watching the stars appear and drinking on the last of the whisky.<br />
As a result, I enjoyed the best sleep of the trip and woke at about 8 am. I loitered around for a while, marvelling at this spectacular location before finally packing up and setting off walking back along the path beside the Loch.<br />
A soggy path ascends below Sgurr na Srti up the the bealach below Sgurr Hain.<br />
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It was another beautiful morning and I was blessed with wonderful views all day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4fW1ch9MuPgr-_rYxIOFffEQe0s14H-t_kSEy34QwDF7k4UXcc-qTWhCeFl0EPTJnrbLuqX47e4c3j2b9Qwuvwz2j1LJKtiiQmdXlXGTImmpfpFdvcWCHA9mt7NRgelO4Auwh0NAzjw/s1600/P1020252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4fW1ch9MuPgr-_rYxIOFffEQe0s14H-t_kSEy34QwDF7k4UXcc-qTWhCeFl0EPTJnrbLuqX47e4c3j2b9Qwuvwz2j1LJKtiiQmdXlXGTImmpfpFdvcWCHA9mt7NRgelO4Auwh0NAzjw/s640/P1020252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch a' Choire Riabhaich</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7acXkN0Umkrhu3Fqy5FD04HU7QbbJTpmnAM5qBr5vhTS9ef8HXvDzQ0AFmaj-a1_pBAwfEqg8GvIFRYuOT65dfaUBpb-PX2rtBsG4PbTBk65iz1CCmSf3FWwv3KVbZtsmMWD11WaUH8w/s1600/P1020253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7acXkN0Umkrhu3Fqy5FD04HU7QbbJTpmnAM5qBr5vhTS9ef8HXvDzQ0AFmaj-a1_pBAwfEqg8GvIFRYuOT65dfaUBpb-PX2rtBsG4PbTBk65iz1CCmSf3FWwv3KVbZtsmMWD11WaUH8w/s640/P1020253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coullin backdrop from the bealach below Sgurr Hain</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuu1mR3e4AR06QIS3mzX3gGzmTmGo64LJ3_SKapu5B_6REmOzti7dGg7hzELU7tFJoZcACP1jQs_gyIzrl0fnk3B70BCgxGb-3pgppwT9iE4oEuBZPOKqeAO_3OfpGCBNg1eGTByu8L1s/s1600/P1020254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuu1mR3e4AR06QIS3mzX3gGzmTmGo64LJ3_SKapu5B_6REmOzti7dGg7hzELU7tFJoZcACP1jQs_gyIzrl0fnk3B70BCgxGb-3pgppwT9iE4oEuBZPOKqeAO_3OfpGCBNg1eGTByu8L1s/s640/P1020254.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Marsco and Ruadh Stac</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdfem9CumtpUYqLfH9egSJHm4OrE2NSdTYyv4PkWxLtETqRMqRSPE4DBKYx2P_9y4IukJ46bpzMfsrrkZVvtoFBg3B_di7iNt4xA-4Z__cV7K7pUcQMaIKRwTxt_hHy2ypjUNEi1qQ3I/s1600/P1020256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdfem9CumtpUYqLfH9egSJHm4OrE2NSdTYyv4PkWxLtETqRMqRSPE4DBKYx2P_9y4IukJ46bpzMfsrrkZVvtoFBg3B_di7iNt4xA-4Z__cV7K7pUcQMaIKRwTxt_hHy2ypjUNEi1qQ3I/s640/P1020256.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sgurr nan Gillean from River Sligachen</i></td></tr>
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The walk out to the Sligachan Hotel was a pleasure, I passed the only walkers that I had seen on the entire trip, three solo walkers heading in the opposite direction.</div>
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The peace and quiet was interrupted at one point by a couple of low flying Tornado's out on exercise.</div>
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Lunch was taken in the hotel. Fish and Chips washed down with a few pints of Guinness sat by the log fire in the lounge bar. </div>
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There was no need to hurry today, in fact the entire walk had been a leisurely affair and extended lunch stops and early camps had been a feature of the walk. </div>
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Eventually, I shouldered the pack and pushed on along a lovely path on the north shore of Loch Sligachan to a perfect pitch a mile or so short of the road.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteYbgDjctbEco0-VV_zNw50xXr5ctsLDh2_R7_ky9m_vdNpI8LUj03ozoOOHtzvFoOsTSqSl9o1W-T1OgMJWgTj67OD8m0_NgUoIxSpytdqdfUPIPr_MaiIRC1Rkdr6OPekrNN7MTcs/s1600/P1020258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteYbgDjctbEco0-VV_zNw50xXr5ctsLDh2_R7_ky9m_vdNpI8LUj03ozoOOHtzvFoOsTSqSl9o1W-T1OgMJWgTj67OD8m0_NgUoIxSpytdqdfUPIPr_MaiIRC1Rkdr6OPekrNN7MTcs/s640/P1020258.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Burn on An Leitir</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhrBCuxwYwHy8uKCXsqFm4JMlzszDmOyW07onZ14hpa39WdfGTBn-pKn9IJpqzUI4J40InFONY3IZU2P4P2ouD9KyTiDnXiqBl187vt4IjXJIaFKQD4knwaC9ppCHd7IJBUnw2irqEm0/s1600/P1020259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhrBCuxwYwHy8uKCXsqFm4JMlzszDmOyW07onZ14hpa39WdfGTBn-pKn9IJpqzUI4J40InFONY3IZU2P4P2ouD9KyTiDnXiqBl187vt4IjXJIaFKQD4knwaC9ppCHd7IJBUnw2irqEm0/s640/P1020259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch Sligachan camp.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6lm_fUpViv-WJ-1BU7jIoC33Z3ZavQYwAX-th-xnvX9nf6Km_Lo1bsBi7H9fqLpsb2Z6el1az-grLRGagN_V-MpOX7DoCJorOS9l6zu-mp0QAyc7NrBcluZhGEqVGJPG_14BZXojJ80/s1600/P1020260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6lm_fUpViv-WJ-1BU7jIoC33Z3ZavQYwAX-th-xnvX9nf6Km_Lo1bsBi7H9fqLpsb2Z6el1az-grLRGagN_V-MpOX7DoCJorOS9l6zu-mp0QAyc7NrBcluZhGEqVGJPG_14BZXojJ80/s640/P1020260.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Glamaig across Loch Sligachan</i></td></tr>
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Another memorable day's walking on the Winged Isle.</div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-3244596421269985122012-05-03T21:45:00.000+01:002013-03-04T22:00:56.474+00:00A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Day 4 Broadford to Loch Coruisk.<br />
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My logistical problems had been solved by paying a visit to the bus stop to read the timetables on the way back to the hostel from the pub. It turns out that on school days there is an early morning bus service from Broadford to Portree via Torrin and other surrounding settlements.<br />
And so at 07:20 I returned to the bus stop on a glorious frosty morning for the short journey along a narrow road to pick up my planned route at Torrin. I was the only passenger to board the bus at Broadford and chatted to the driver who explained that the bus service operated to transport pupils to the only secondary school on the island in Portree some 20 miles or so away.<br />
Despite my disappointment of having to cut out part of the route due to the bad weather the previous day, I had enjoyed the break in Broadford. It is a friendly town with all the amenities I needed and I could see this being a good base for a future visit to Skye.<br />
As it was, I alighted the bus by the shore of Loch Salpin and stood looking in awe at the magnificent mountain that is Bla-Bheinn soaring above the far side of the Loch.<br />
The weather was outstandingly good once again as I set off along the road around the head of the Loch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaf-IXnPryAL9e_z8gAugHnS1JE24opFzJS4Tyv13LNSxtXdKbbCrtQPvFq9MBMFi0N6GamVzMoRC2_FqphTE0xuc3alPAgV19tF3vzU_aRarLL7JytPayIW1iSxQu7zaKJxrLVErkYk/s1600/P1020178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaf-IXnPryAL9e_z8gAugHnS1JE24opFzJS4Tyv13LNSxtXdKbbCrtQPvFq9MBMFi0N6GamVzMoRC2_FqphTE0xuc3alPAgV19tF3vzU_aRarLL7JytPayIW1iSxQu7zaKJxrLVErkYk/s640/P1020178.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Snow capped Bla-Bheinn and the ridge line to Belig</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_PJD6Sip-8uZuYstLVaNCSGfryGW1bWHO1bAL46826X70euvMs66QUDrhj3FvMSewVwQHkusSSeoH7PP09jlHqLWmw9qgitmc6JiknH5sFP9Bjj3GLlHWSmohg4JcPv0CiMgUtfSpHA/s1600/P1020180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_PJD6Sip-8uZuYstLVaNCSGfryGW1bWHO1bAL46826X70euvMs66QUDrhj3FvMSewVwQHkusSSeoH7PP09jlHqLWmw9qgitmc6JiknH5sFP9Bjj3GLlHWSmohg4JcPv0CiMgUtfSpHA/s640/P1020180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch Salpin</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZRoYXn60PTrMyZMuSxn5WrzstmWA-YiyuUENHKoOQFIxZrTPPb_4XQkCIot1wlZZd33JnEDLd8N8c89whOWC_exV7WS-iKPxdXL780R-5Vx69dnG42fz-QZZhW833MZDQFPqESXfdZU/s1600/P1020188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZRoYXn60PTrMyZMuSxn5WrzstmWA-YiyuUENHKoOQFIxZrTPPb_4XQkCIot1wlZZd33JnEDLd8N8c89whOWC_exV7WS-iKPxdXL780R-5Vx69dnG42fz-QZZhW833MZDQFPqESXfdZU/s640/P1020188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reflections</i></td></tr>
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I followed the B road soaking up the views in all directions as far as Kirkibost where I turned off on a minor road, alongside the river to the beach at Kilmarie. An early lunch, which was becoming a feature of this walk, was taken looking out over Loch Salpin towards the west coast of Sleat that I had walked two days ago. </div>
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I called in at an atmospheric old graveyard before continuing the walk along tracks and paths just above the coastline to Glasnakillie to pick up the minor road to Elgol.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO4whGgqdv2z6DnuHz6uEm1rSgssEDsrbGOxAYp3zWi4HPTK1le7UNeombx_oZZOn4FEWwVZ2eaR2L_kDTiXsVZa0XQECrfg2srbrbUk8N3Xb02HT4YOd6iUbG3gGFBUbrhfPpmOhQ6c/s1600/P1020196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO4whGgqdv2z6DnuHz6uEm1rSgssEDsrbGOxAYp3zWi4HPTK1le7UNeombx_oZZOn4FEWwVZ2eaR2L_kDTiXsVZa0XQECrfg2srbrbUk8N3Xb02HT4YOd6iUbG3gGFBUbrhfPpmOhQ6c/s640/P1020196.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the road to Elgol</i></td></tr>
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I called in at the shop on the way into the village which also doubles up as a tea room and stocked up on half price, out of date Mars bars and enjoyed mugs of tea and coffee cake sat outside in the mid-day sunshine. </div>
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While in the pub last night, I had researched the Elgol-Loch Coruisk boat trips on my smart phone and I had phoned Stuart at <a href="http://www.mistyisleboattrips.co.uk/">Misty Isle Boat Trips</a> who explained that the boat ran trips all day and that a ticket could be purchased for a one way trip only. This had not been on my original route plan but I quite fancied the idea of travelling in to Loch Coruisk by boat. </div>
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I made my way from the tea room to the jetty to await the next Misty Isle boat.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N5v0WBX71Gss3rMwHAkpix00iX-_O6T4zoW_i4pEQcr7tCDf0bkN_0Q9YHUmgKHRMHMD2XanUvJA1SqYjwTe-th1bzUgy76yKjfhlUESikiGoqGzyqGa07xjJklcSmF8Wf7A3mJPuMs/s1600/P1020198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N5v0WBX71Gss3rMwHAkpix00iX-_O6T4zoW_i4pEQcr7tCDf0bkN_0Q9YHUmgKHRMHMD2XanUvJA1SqYjwTe-th1bzUgy76yKjfhlUESikiGoqGzyqGa07xjJklcSmF8Wf7A3mJPuMs/s640/P1020198.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Coullin Hills from Elgol beach</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhM1YUSq0J2rLftsV0sHZPVK1uMmOVjdXERE6lZhHTPNLblN8Cyy0YlbypeLhMogjmE9Bs_MD8QauUFgdn5z4aqiksE7yJxkNb83hUJdEMIkbo7cTVIfFNmqVt-fIcUUJfKKkjWBcaH8/s1600/P1020199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhM1YUSq0J2rLftsV0sHZPVK1uMmOVjdXERE6lZhHTPNLblN8Cyy0YlbypeLhMogjmE9Bs_MD8QauUFgdn5z4aqiksE7yJxkNb83hUJdEMIkbo7cTVIfFNmqVt-fIcUUJfKKkjWBcaH8/s640/P1020199.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My idea of heaven</i></td></tr>
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I had an hour or so to wait for the Misty Isle to return to Elgol and spent the time chatting to Anne in the kiosk and lazing about on and around the beach taking photos of the Isles of Rum and Soay and the stunning Coullin Hills. </div>
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Eventually the beautiful Misty Isle returned to the jetty and I boarded the boat along with a few other passengers for the short journey across Loch Scavaig to Loch Coruisk.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_3XeIqkkag6ugKYDKpgrCeazTdmSdzuLJISv1maf1kTLhhcQEXHVbfLRN7jMq9bWLn9qRrEn6gBD3_eIgYZz3q8TYG2AEtiwf0797eckGO2hA6RER5LQEbofYskd-4OW9rXdjqhBPs8/s640/P1020211.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stewart entertains whilst dad Seumas skippers the Misty Isle</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_2VVY0Og6O2dz5_oZ0QoxjFi5wfkD2dk00GogypZh3d6HLIRx1OMxQrdfPpT0BtY-nVH1WHEeeCtG1cp_yA051uwRFvMakPdjfLrFs3XscNlcXFrb42yl4TxZQDiENGKma9MhoLTuCM/s1600/P1020219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_2VVY0Og6O2dz5_oZ0QoxjFi5wfkD2dk00GogypZh3d6HLIRx1OMxQrdfPpT0BtY-nVH1WHEeeCtG1cp_yA051uwRFvMakPdjfLrFs3XscNlcXFrb42yl4TxZQDiENGKma9MhoLTuCM/s640/P1020219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Emerald lochans on the approach to the landing point </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aRLR_bwAD6pLoNlQ1kypKI4oHIBMX52X03tQc76skhDH5eRy5teYwTK4lpalDNcxfFYYBbadzwda9Eb-a89ckH6IsuFKgimfeROzUanojBKcKv8P9TMtKR1HGwtaZtaQT39qsmJHDx4/s1600/P1020234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aRLR_bwAD6pLoNlQ1kypKI4oHIBMX52X03tQc76skhDH5eRy5teYwTK4lpalDNcxfFYYBbadzwda9Eb-a89ckH6IsuFKgimfeROzUanojBKcKv8P9TMtKR1HGwtaZtaQT39qsmJHDx4/s640/P1020234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch Coruisk and some joker</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T3NlbYRkSv74uV0LNqs3lI9cjUoBiMBZqYrNH3fFRze38M56CV2Sm6Zg6Nec8T7ZrS92mmpk7BgvGBKSKbBm_R3h6ENcShioxffzyqBtJ1XOoGWMpfv7Z74tPoRF4Kwlrx0oXtjReCM/s1600/P1020236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T3NlbYRkSv74uV0LNqs3lI9cjUoBiMBZqYrNH3fFRze38M56CV2Sm6Zg6Nec8T7ZrS92mmpk7BgvGBKSKbBm_R3h6ENcShioxffzyqBtJ1XOoGWMpfv7Z74tPoRF4Kwlrx0oXtjReCM/s640/P1020236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Unspoilt view of Loch Coruisk</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxeu5t0OmbzLqnYDlMP2d4KtvddKy9sDfG7r8gh7GwTC7pOXN5PSLw7hS4CpeWjDsWLitmoxApM1t3lr8S-NKjaCBkEFGeACUKkAGMfYzpdQlf9Kp-W-Naon_lHg3fyDNlDmglybdHVY/s1600/P1020238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxeu5t0OmbzLqnYDlMP2d4KtvddKy9sDfG7r8gh7GwTC7pOXN5PSLw7hS4CpeWjDsWLitmoxApM1t3lr8S-NKjaCBkEFGeACUKkAGMfYzpdQlf9Kp-W-Naon_lHg3fyDNlDmglybdHVY/s640/P1020238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking back, from the path by the Loch</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_BXQuoWOVCCz37uYUyoh4AiIZyGwEJT-AX7ib-btBfy_zgHgFPqlSEHy0eSWrmozH0pXPWV8_GNxVxvn1MNHOc0SqZNtWYHKF-_dEY6LrTpWSdVz-o207lXKlwhFN0qtdIQxGHqiNoA/s1600/P1020240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_BXQuoWOVCCz37uYUyoh4AiIZyGwEJT-AX7ib-btBfy_zgHgFPqlSEHy0eSWrmozH0pXPWV8_GNxVxvn1MNHOc0SqZNtWYHKF-_dEY6LrTpWSdVz-o207lXKlwhFN0qtdIQxGHqiNoA/s640/P1020240.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wild camp at the head of the Loch</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXdacphaoxaRVg8kwpjl87VeZPMBo6tvx3k7TD4E53-hSylkPCS-nDSNCF_u7oPq5QWvC25X7xxMt6m9q-gw0TwyILBimxtDj9bLy6WyzlLOqhfxGetKOdprSUW-VRCecBx94BNnj8eM/s1600/P1020241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXdacphaoxaRVg8kwpjl87VeZPMBo6tvx3k7TD4E53-hSylkPCS-nDSNCF_u7oPq5QWvC25X7xxMt6m9q-gw0TwyILBimxtDj9bLy6WyzlLOqhfxGetKOdprSUW-VRCecBx94BNnj8eM/s640/P1020241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking towards Sgurr na Stri from the best camp site in the World (probably). </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRBUcjFOBlJH8p8dYGFij0wrK1-IsGE3IoECDgUSDrXr5_OyzUrfC7x0WZWjw0M6M6Hn6X7g5k15Mu5lfcrp7812v_JHi5YKOBnBiWHYTAK52u1fhQy_sbwyOs4V5fXVUT4PS7tfaym4/s1600/P1020247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRBUcjFOBlJH8p8dYGFij0wrK1-IsGE3IoECDgUSDrXr5_OyzUrfC7x0WZWjw0M6M6Hn6X7g5k15Mu5lfcrp7812v_JHi5YKOBnBiWHYTAK52u1fhQy_sbwyOs4V5fXVUT4PS7tfaym4/s640/P1020247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waiting for the stars </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjsGMV70KNbU9y3WT0WtGhC1bs90z2daYqXbarHg-98Jxr3jp2zh0XywdRbNT4RDGax4BmMynjslRHZIhTbiCxN5qd3oFDcqHYBz9i0_mqVt4E_RbIivQnsqhuuZdXwkCtEofuTBuY3E/s1600/P1020248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjsGMV70KNbU9y3WT0WtGhC1bs90z2daYqXbarHg-98Jxr3jp2zh0XywdRbNT4RDGax4BmMynjslRHZIhTbiCxN5qd3oFDcqHYBz9i0_mqVt4E_RbIivQnsqhuuZdXwkCtEofuTBuY3E/s640/P1020248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cuillin skyline</i><br />
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All in all....not a bad day at all.</div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-15454239729566272822012-04-30T22:48:00.002+01:002012-12-24T16:02:08.255+00:00A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 2)Day 2. Inver Dalavil to Loch Eishort<br />
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It was another cold night in the tent but I had a better night's sleep and awoke to another glorious morning on the Isle of Skye. I opened the tent to the sight of another clear blue sky and hardly a breath of wind.<br />
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I had a leisurely breakfast and eventually packed up and set off walking at about 08:00. The walk today was to be almost entirely along the west Sleat coastline and the views to the Cuillins were first class all day.<br />
The first three miles were quite strenuous, there is a vague path in places but generally this section is rough going and time consuming just picking out a route above the shoreline.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaNCX6ay_XQTRdcIpKaZg_s5AcLW793FNFmF6GHFjsgTrWwV2nH7mu7uxgeEuppiwJ65DdknFaVqv01KNsxNJqIJhBmyY8gu8-91O1AJqR3npN-OZh_31uQq2pbTLoA4z6TNktbBGOGQ/s1600/P1020119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaNCX6ay_XQTRdcIpKaZg_s5AcLW793FNFmF6GHFjsgTrWwV2nH7mu7uxgeEuppiwJ65DdknFaVqv01KNsxNJqIJhBmyY8gu8-91O1AJqR3npN-OZh_31uQq2pbTLoA4z6TNktbBGOGQ/s640/P1020119.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>West Sleat coastal scenery</i></td></tr>
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I reached the beach of Tarskavaig Bay and chatted to a lady out walking her dog, she warned me of impending heavy rain and gales, forecast to move in from the west at about 5pm. It was hard to believe this news given the stunning weather so far on the walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1l3WoGsyK5m3SM807rCdIwvgc-1CUQw2mb8h5NkFUvYqj-mYaKiFgESgNkghRVUoI6-LzLXsK6CaoQhnv38tmDCP6XN37RV-IfcyMGNmghs-ZrKirqg7Xh3Z3XDdM9R_OZuvmJE6Cs0/s1600/P1020132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1l3WoGsyK5m3SM807rCdIwvgc-1CUQw2mb8h5NkFUvYqj-mYaKiFgESgNkghRVUoI6-LzLXsK6CaoQhnv38tmDCP6XN37RV-IfcyMGNmghs-ZrKirqg7Xh3Z3XDdM9R_OZuvmJE6Cs0/s640/P1020132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tarskavaig</i></td></tr>
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The next section of the walk follows the road to Tarskavaig and Loch Gauscavaig to Ob Gauscavaig, which is a stunning little bay with great views of Bla-Bheinn and the Black Cuillins, an ideal spot for a rest and a lazy lunch. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJL8zliSYQy-5LW2wTLfv7ymczkV8YcqPurTiTF79ihauiVjO7qZLwUU_421Ev3-Ilv0m3vbdZcGDlKeNBqtVk4kdIBs8scZ7M8Getnslpjl9MrD6GImFik5nrbiIkwpd5776zKIuExk/s1600/P1020133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJL8zliSYQy-5LW2wTLfv7ymczkV8YcqPurTiTF79ihauiVjO7qZLwUU_421Ev3-Ilv0m3vbdZcGDlKeNBqtVk4kdIBs8scZ7M8Getnslpjl9MrD6GImFik5nrbiIkwpd5776zKIuExk/s640/P1020133.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch Gauscavaig</i></td></tr>
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Mindful of the impending storm I decided to make the best of the good weather and detour slightly to the ruins of Dunscaith Castle which is beautifully situated at the entrance to the bay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn465xEbbTe74vI5jgs9p_SBxQoY5XZQO7zwGQv-i2TliZap3hQ_0T5HWOjdRAB4OLu8fYW_DSEKJfMrgXPltGLsCbZ7RmgEJNlqLPuz8EWEFCkG_6w3jkwGF1JjrDE-M-H5LtSuRa1uo/s1600/P1020147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn465xEbbTe74vI5jgs9p_SBxQoY5XZQO7zwGQv-i2TliZap3hQ_0T5HWOjdRAB4OLu8fYW_DSEKJfMrgXPltGLsCbZ7RmgEJNlqLPuz8EWEFCkG_6w3jkwGF1JjrDE-M-H5LtSuRa1uo/s640/P1020147.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Dunscaith Castle ruins</i></span></td></tr>
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The main stairway to the castle has long since collapsed but it is possible to tiptoe along a ledge to gain access to the top of the castle ruins. The views from here were the best of the trip so far.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK-_heMVDb5vjG9xEtxP4t6Rc7HkpooWyYLwVC2Xh6tIxqxqNbrYACrIEWl87e2J9z_925Ty5wv83QntVsIhNvWvKhMLJJzFYBGXBn_397SFoEqwtMtv3lAVMwDWeitDQqGeS1BPD5wE/s1600/P1020142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK-_heMVDb5vjG9xEtxP4t6Rc7HkpooWyYLwVC2Xh6tIxqxqNbrYACrIEWl87e2J9z_925Ty5wv83QntVsIhNvWvKhMLJJzFYBGXBn_397SFoEqwtMtv3lAVMwDWeitDQqGeS1BPD5wE/s640/P1020142.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wow factor goes off the scale</i></td></tr>
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Rather than retrace my steps back to the road I decided it was time for a bit more rough stuff and headed out over Druim Dubh, knee deep heather bashing, deer fences and the occasional boggy bits led me to another lovely bay at Inver Aulavaig. This would have been a great place to camp but I decided it was too early in the day and wanted to push on a bit further if the weather was about to break as forecast.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Inver Aulavaig</i></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Approaching Ord</i></td></tr>
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More of the same rough coastal walking took me to the small settlement of Ord.<br />
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It was impossible to rush any part of the walk today, the views were quite simply breathtaking and improved with every step taken. Many times I paused to soak it all up. I temporarily left the sea behind at Ord and took the road out of the village for about 1km, I then ascended to half height of Sgiath-bheinn an-Uird, a magnificent block of white quartzite stretching for 3km from above Loch Eishort.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Sgiath-bheinn an-Uird</i></span>
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I didn't have the time to visit the top of this hill today and instead followed a faint track which traverses below the hill to some lovely woodland before descending to Loch Eishort at the outflow of Allt a-Chinn Mhor where I pitched the tent.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch Eishort Camp</i></td></tr>
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It was not yet 4pm but I decided that this spot would do just fine and I pottered about on the beach doing nothing much at all.</div>
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I managed to get a few text messages away and blogger Carl Mynott confirmed the weather was about to take a turn for the worse for the next 18 hours or so.</div>
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At just before 8pm the first drops of rain hit the tent, the wind stiffened significantly and I lay looking out at the Loch reflecting on a great day. Just at that moment a fox trotted down from the woods behind the tent to the Loch side less than 30 yards away from me, I reached for the camera but before I had time to take a photo, it sensed my presence and quickly ran back to the cover of the woods.</div>
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Eventually I zipped up the tent and drifted off into a deep whisky induced sleep.</div>
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Day 3. Loch Eishort to Broadford</div>
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Considering the conditions I had slept like a log apart from one or two occasions when the wind and heavy rain were at their most ferocious. </div>
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When I unzipped the tent for a call of nature at about 5.30 I realised just how heavy the rain had been. The level of the Loch had risen significantly and the Allt <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">a-Chinn Mhor, which had been nothing more than a trickle last night, was now in full spate.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Water morning</i></td></tr>
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I didn't hang about this morning and was packed up and walking before 07:00. I had concerns that the planned day via Heast, Boreraig and Suishnish may well be dangerous in these spate conditions, I was proven right as it took me almost two hours to walk a mile and a half to the stony beach below Drumfearn. There were many more burns on the ground this morning than were shown on the map and all were raging torrents posing problems to cross. It was raining again now as the time had come to make a decision.</div>
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Without further ado, I bailed out along the minor road to meet the A851 and hitched a lift to Broadford Backpackers Hostel where I spent the night..</div>
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By the time I had got cleaned up, done a bit of shopping in the Coop and had some fish and chips, the weather had reverted to clear blue skies again as if the storm had never happened.</div>
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I was now off route and left with the headache of trying to get to Torrin early the next day to continue the walk.</div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-36005301867313305932012-04-29T16:34:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:02:25.769+00:00A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Loyal followers of this blog (both of you) may be aware that I had decided to take a year off from the TGO Challenge this year to take a shorter, more leisurely backpacking trip in an area outside of the TGO Challenge boundaries and I had latched on to David Paterson's excellent book "A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye" which describes a route from Armadale in Sleat to Rubha Hunish which is the most northerly point on Skye. I had tweaked Paterson's route slightly to include a visit to the Point of Sleat on the first day of the walk, thereby enabling a most southerly to most northerly walk on Skye.<br />
The details of the route plan can be found in a previous posting on here... <a href="http://davewoodwalks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/isle-of-skye-toe-to-tip-plan.html">Link to plan</a><br />
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This is the story of my Long Walk on the Isle of Skye.<br />
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<u><i>The Journey to Skye.</i></u><br />
I travelled up to Skye on Saturday 14h April firstly on the early morning train out of Doncaster to Glasgow then on the familiar 12.20 Glasgow to Mallaig train.<br />
I have caught this train several times over the years, usually when travelling up to one of the TGO Challenge start points on the west coast.<br />
The station concourse on these occasions is always full of happy, smiling Challenge entrants and the event starts here, among friends.<br />
This time there were no friendly faces, no Roger Smith to shake my hand and wish me well as I passed through the gate onto platform four to board the train.<br />
Somehow, it just didn't feel right this time, just not the same sense of excitement and anticipation for the long walk ahead of me.<br />
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I started to relax soon enough as the Highland scenery on this classic rail journey started to take hold of my emotions and by the time the train split in two at Crianlarich I was in full holiday mode and relishing the thought of a long walk on the Isle of Skye.<br />
The entire journey is superb and one that I will never tire of making, memories of previous Challenges and Munro days came flooding back as the train made steady progress to stations such as Bridge of Orchy, Rannoch and Corrour. <br />
From Fort William onwards to Mallaig the scenery is just breathtaking and I was fortunate to have clear blue skies all the way to Mallaig.<br />
There was a strong bitterly cold northerly wind blowing straight into my face as I walked over to the ferry terminal ticket office where I bought a one way ticket to Armadale and boarded the MV Coruisk for the short journey across the Sound of Sleat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heading for Skye </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Knoydart from the ferry</i></td></tr>
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Finally, after 13 hours of travelling I set foot on the Isle of Skye.<br />
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In true Challenge tradition, the first point of call was the pub... <a href="http://www.ardvasarhotel.com/index.html">The Ardvasar Hotel</a> where pan fried scallops were devoured, washed down by a few pints of Guinness.<br />
I had spotted a few potential pitches quite close to the sea as I was walking up to the hotel and eventually I reluctantly left the warmth of the lounge bar and made my way back towards Armadale.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Scouting for the ideal pitch</i></td></tr>
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The wind had thankfully dropped but it was still a cloudless and bitterly cold evening. I managed to find a sheltered enough spot close to the sea, put my tent up in the fading light and huddled deep inside the sleeping bag looking over to the mainland and the twinkling street lights of Mallaig.<br />
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<u><i>The walk.</i></u><br />
Day 1. Armadale to Inver Dalavil<br />
I slept fitfully, waking several times during the night feeling cold and uncomfortable, finally at around 6am I decided to get a brew on and start to prepare myself for the first days walking. It was a glorious morning outside the tent, not a cloud in the sky and the Sound of Sleat was like a mill pond, Oyster Catchers noisily went about their early morning business flitting up and down along the foreshore of the bay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Early morning tranquillity </i></td></tr>
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It was 08.30 when I eventually left the bay and set off back along the road towards the hotel.<br />
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The road walk out to the the scattered community of Aird of Sleat is pleasant enough with the south Sleat coastline always in sight on my left, the air was full of the sounds of birdsong and nothing else. At one point I startled a roe deer and it elegantly hurdled over a fence and disappeared under the dense canopy of Tormore forest.<br />
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The road ends abruptly at a steel gate, beyond which there are the scrapped remains of cars and tractors quite out of character with the surroundings. Once past this eyesore the scenery improves again, good views open up of the isles of Eigg and Rum as the track undulates towards the Point of Sleat. </div>
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A Scottish Rights of Way signpost indicates the point at which to leave the track and follow a path out towards the lighthouse at the Point of Sleat. As I made my way along the path a Buzzard took to the sky from its perch quite close by and noisily circled above me, I can only assume that the nest site was on the nearby crags of Creag Mhor given the raucous behaviour of the bird.</div>
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Just a short distance further along the path starts to descend towards the most idyllic white sanded bay imaginable. This is the much photographed beach of Camas Dariach. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sandy Bay, Camas Dariach</i></td></tr>
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It was only 10.30 but I decided that this was the just the most perfect spot to get the stove on and have an early leisurely lunch. After all, it's not often that you have a paradise like this to yourself. I spent about an hour here, just strolling along the beach or sitting on the rocks listening to the gentle lapping of the waves breaking on the virgin sand.<br />
Of course, all good things come to an end and I shouldered my pack and made my way back along the path for a short distance before branching off up and over the headland to the Point of Sleat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Point of Sleat lighthouse</i></td></tr>
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The old lighthouse was demolished in 2003 to make way for this concrete structure, the light is solar powered and would probably be fully charged given the clear blue skies today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0GZr02KKP1ucQ7U6EquoBZL8a8PCctw1W1uUpP4gBM8XpcJMRJ7Ym7w-bEgjIrs2nZsEJlngAz3H1lQiGohjL0dxo4j2npAC6r1WywnzcQ7npCUO42Z6LbIzey1HS9MItNAjLyHcY8A/s1600/P1020100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0GZr02KKP1ucQ7U6EquoBZL8a8PCctw1W1uUpP4gBM8XpcJMRJ7Ym7w-bEgjIrs2nZsEJlngAz3H1lQiGohjL0dxo4j2npAC6r1WywnzcQ7npCUO42Z6LbIzey1HS9MItNAjLyHcY8A/s640/P1020100.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solar panels on the lighthouse </i></td></tr>
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The lighthouse is not particularly pleasing on the eye but that is more than made up for with the superb views over to the Isles of Rum, Canna and Eigg. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlkWo8W_1P7eg_hbZYH12EI5vV8eBTqsXCfRfqDL3p4IDAkRZI2LT72zNz3GILXhckV5snJsz5p1D_GNVECp6dQaYHxVj-bSUMnd5B55mMbU3VAARhMe0gKgUOqjE4fQg3fm4M9Qtqp4/s1600/P1020101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlkWo8W_1P7eg_hbZYH12EI5vV8eBTqsXCfRfqDL3p4IDAkRZI2LT72zNz3GILXhckV5snJsz5p1D_GNVECp6dQaYHxVj-bSUMnd5B55mMbU3VAARhMe0gKgUOqjE4fQg3fm4M9Qtqp4/s640/P1020101.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Isle of Rum from Point of Sleat</i></td></tr>
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To pick up the route over to Inver Dalavil involved retracing my steps back along the path to regain the track towards Aird of Sleat . After about 1km I left the track to follow a burn up to Loch Aruisg, this was pathless rough walking, a mixture heather bashing and bog trotting. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FCft1aQbib9jkSwHe5nLlwC_F78GQYvAXqY-B6abv0QzmpnDpwkcY9xR2POaUl-uKspaGeJyx5y23LopWH0CB_fAsji2CeJ5HZIIcZZbbXtFiapz47t1XBO6WIb9g4eraqLI_wKxyDg/s1600/P1020103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FCft1aQbib9jkSwHe5nLlwC_F78GQYvAXqY-B6abv0QzmpnDpwkcY9xR2POaUl-uKspaGeJyx5y23LopWH0CB_fAsji2CeJ5HZIIcZZbbXtFiapz47t1XBO6WIb9g4eraqLI_wKxyDg/s640/P1020103.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Loch </i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><i>Aruisg</i></span></td></tr>
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I followed a deer fence for a while to link up Loch Horaveg and Loch an t-Seilich. Superb views of the Cuillins began to open up and eventually I descended from the Bealach Garbh to paddle across Allt a' Glinnhe and set up camp close to the outflow to Inver Dalavil.
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It was only 4 o'clock but the camp site was too good to pass by. Following dinner I spent my time wandering around on the rocky shoreline soaking up the views. Curlews, Oyster Catchers, Shag and assorted Gulls had made this part of Sleat their home as had about half a dozen Seals who sempt totally oblivious to my presence as they fooled around in the bay.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrtNKPck-WSQHfocvawZbphSAv_sYqHOM5ErJAmjab2i23HFLmZGpFIOe4nkcqHmL_IcYDuBXu2y2PmKn8oL-ZhlwiZIXK1s_JIWw3QyBNih-GAjifKEVWMms0LEC7o_tpBwEDBJc81U/s1600/P1020114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrtNKPck-WSQHfocvawZbphSAv_sYqHOM5ErJAmjab2i23HFLmZGpFIOe4nkcqHmL_IcYDuBXu2y2PmKn8oL-ZhlwiZIXK1s_JIWw3QyBNih-GAjifKEVWMms0LEC7o_tpBwEDBJc81U/s640/P1020114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fine views of the Cuillins </i></td></tr>
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I could not have hoped for a better days walking on my first ever visit to Skye. I sat and reflected on the day as the sun dropped below the horizon. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRvVjYYKORHaNkLzIRWsJqinXgREZcqzwx7AhX8pjNsAKuRxjYymgXxCBdpZxTH-Pd1eQyRmyh5RxlQd1sgUJ2Hss43Y-eys8d2mnUBU0eRT2iVtuzCo6HCEwoJvXKKpXL77yMeWlaSk/s1600/P1020118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRvVjYYKORHaNkLzIRWsJqinXgREZcqzwx7AhX8pjNsAKuRxjYymgXxCBdpZxTH-Pd1eQyRmyh5RxlQd1sgUJ2Hss43Y-eys8d2mnUBU0eRT2iVtuzCo6HCEwoJvXKKpXL77yMeWlaSk/s640/P1020118.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset, Sea of the Hebrides</i></td></tr>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-11009767671086826382012-03-07T21:53:00.001+00:002013-09-09T20:00:56.404+01:00Mr Wood's Bittern and other short stories.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It had been a while since my last jaunt in the hills, November 5th last year to be precise when my mate Mark and I did a lovely round of fells from Mungrisdale including a thrilling ascent of Blencathra via Sharp Edge.<br />
A few things have conspired to get in the way since then and kept me localised until very recently and through the winter months I had increasingly found myself holed up in The Bittern Hide at Old Moor RSPB reserve in the Dearne Valley. <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/d/dearne-oldmoor/index.aspx">Old Moor link.</a><br />
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Over the last 18 months or so, I had become increasingly frustrated with my pathetic attempts to get a glimpse of the Bittern's that allegedly frequent the reed beds close to the hide.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOEj-8vVlorYslwfauDrgJRB28LhSXJXKJlccyrrl14l51lyr2eBN3dcqfsNf4LpHarsJjMnyCVa9I3N5v_RsEad99tp5IFXup052dCE-ISatGhHJypGa_uuw3lq88YVGrIvILOri8eQ/s1600/P1010918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOEj-8vVlorYslwfauDrgJRB28LhSXJXKJlccyrrl14l51lyr2eBN3dcqfsNf4LpHarsJjMnyCVa9I3N5v_RsEad99tp5IFXup052dCE-ISatGhHJypGa_uuw3lq88YVGrIvILOri8eQ/s400/P1010918.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Bittern Hide, home from home</td></tr>
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My optimistic, and subsequent disappointed "Tweets" of each lengthy and fruitless visit to the hide caused much merriment and indeed, hilarity amongst the volunteer staff at Old Moor.<br />
During the week, when I was at work, there would be regular sightings of said birds and on occasions stunning photographs of the Old Moor Bitterns swooping in to roost on the reed beds would be posted on the Old Moor forum, as if to taunt me.<br />
When the weekends came around I would eagerly turn up at Old Moor and scurry around to the Bittern Hide clutching my binoculars firmly in gloved hands, log book and pencil at the ready and wait patiently for hours on end for the Bitterns to appear....Coots, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese and the occasional Mute Swan would sometimes break the monotony of this seemingly senseless pastime.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC5hx1bDDyWg8pFzKYPcClkpi6bKu1Fn3EU4m8SpzoCvFO92AVqfnIzXULwSWsgKzHWCF5gnurZFfJ2XfRsZKBihLVNTy0BjhLPzPy8bneaGLm2uxhwOqdsEZ_4b4vWKWlyjzwKXiR68/s1600/P1010899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC5hx1bDDyWg8pFzKYPcClkpi6bKu1Fn3EU4m8SpzoCvFO92AVqfnIzXULwSWsgKzHWCF5gnurZFfJ2XfRsZKBihLVNTy0BjhLPzPy8bneaGLm2uxhwOqdsEZ_4b4vWKWlyjzwKXiR68/s400/P1010899.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mute Swan passes serenely in front of the Bittern Hide </i></td></tr>
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On each occasion I would trudge back to the visitor centre in the fading light with hands in pockets and shoulders hunched, cursing my bad luck.<br />
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But I am a determined, stubborn old bugger if nothing else, every Bitternless visit made me more determined to succeed (excuse the pun) and eventually my patience was rewarded.<br />
<b>On Sunday 5th February at precisely 4:34 pm my big moment came. A brief, but positive sighting of the bird of my dreams! </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qFgV3b7wujcnw0utBydP4IyKHtLSoJsprKymdI_t36iCXsNkouNFnqsslz8RTdneQNKvEqyxwYoB85rWE0mAdGR-j_6kxRhSJQPuUy76fVzkOGzKunp0rcGvjF5KB6ksiptAair_g3g/s1600/P1010920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qFgV3b7wujcnw0utBydP4IyKHtLSoJsprKymdI_t36iCXsNkouNFnqsslz8RTdneQNKvEqyxwYoB85rWE0mAdGR-j_6kxRhSJQPuUy76fVzkOGzKunp0rcGvjF5KB6ksiptAair_g3g/s400/P1010920.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>BITTERN!</i></td></tr>
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The news of this momentous occasion spread like wildfire, my Twitter time line almost went into meltdown trying to cope with ironic/sarcastic messages of congratulations and I even merited a special mention that evening in Dave Simmonite's daily sightings form Old Moor.(link here) <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/dearnevalley/b/dearnevalley-blog/archive/2012/02/05/mr-wood-s-bittern.aspx">Mr Wood's Bittern</a> All good clean fun, and proof that all things do indeed come to he who waits, if you're daft enough to wait long enough!<br />
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You would think that I would have seen enough of the Bittern Hide, the reed beds, and usual paltry gathering of common as muck birds to last me a lifetime, not the case, I will be back doing the rounds on on the reserve and heading off to the bittern Hide as usual in the coming months and hopefully years.<br />
It was never about the Bittern at all really. I love Old Moor and the reed beds in particular. It's a lovely place to spend a few hours to gather my thoughts and I am fortunate to have it so close to my home.<br />
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Anyway, back to the hills...The weekend before last, a favourable weather forecast saw my mate Mark and I speeding westwards to Snowdonia to snatch another memorable hill day in this spectacular corner of Great Britain. The two best day walks I have ever done, The Snowdon Horseshoe and a traverse of Tryfan, Bristly Ridge and the Glyders were both done in superb weather conditions and were were not to be disappointed this time either.<br />
Ogwen Valley was the start point for a smashing circular walk taking in Y-Garn, Elidir Fawr, Carned Y Filiast and back along the minor road to Ogwen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Npc8Ug-NhSqRjZ_sMwBZ8fzZYSpmBcZTg_wA4QzpJccCdndlnpXwxUHiEjzMFl1xeJg9bHqPfVuxV3GyTUR1J3G9X2b11mS0w2zufrQNaSJ-SMswysDLCFhWFglvjWOnRhdEGh6W6w/s1600/P1010934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4Npc8Ug-NhSqRjZ_sMwBZ8fzZYSpmBcZTg_wA4QzpJccCdndlnpXwxUHiEjzMFl1xeJg9bHqPfVuxV3GyTUR1J3G9X2b11mS0w2zufrQNaSJ-SMswysDLCFhWFglvjWOnRhdEGh6W6w/s400/P1010934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynn Idwal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHqNbfMUVnG2dIlTR6B8J6hFOBRfIDG6aYbm4C_uCMzbogZfr_rCiUj2MWNrN8BNaPhFqiFeBCHU11oDNBEXQyy0yvx2RZfC-07VvOTiEDSyRH46VLFzadqGFdhblJ0PP6wxyAEL0xn4/s1600/P1010949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHqNbfMUVnG2dIlTR6B8J6hFOBRfIDG6aYbm4C_uCMzbogZfr_rCiUj2MWNrN8BNaPhFqiFeBCHU11oDNBEXQyy0yvx2RZfC-07VvOTiEDSyRH46VLFzadqGFdhblJ0PP6wxyAEL0xn4/s400/P1010949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ogwen Valley from Y Garn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPVMh-bTrZ20rcqDl95fGAa_ebFppcQsMAMwnbSJa3EBJOr61LykfQruCEfuSMJU2QZoI2BhyZLFvlw4JLQMwftVDfCPLuAGerswh0azEGrRcuJn6NJ88TUU1E5XaU8SKH_UlYBMFs1Q/s1600/P1010954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPVMh-bTrZ20rcqDl95fGAa_ebFppcQsMAMwnbSJa3EBJOr61LykfQruCEfuSMJU2QZoI2BhyZLFvlw4JLQMwftVDfCPLuAGerswh0azEGrRcuJn6NJ88TUU1E5XaU8SKH_UlYBMFs1Q/s400/P1010954.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark on the shapely summit of Foel Goch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRb1X6gW13OA_hADf9Pfes0JF5rAut6DJv6L6N7q-mHb93MqtSrHFAgIrzb6OyIdkguJasGi-cZPunKC9ykz-7gZUTG6msIHB_qBZyQ9jHHj76xQq4XWabhJ69uojyy3VtTk1gviHBlQ/s1600/P1010962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRb1X6gW13OA_hADf9Pfes0JF5rAut6DJv6L6N7q-mHb93MqtSrHFAgIrzb6OyIdkguJasGi-cZPunKC9ykz-7gZUTG6msIHB_qBZyQ9jHHj76xQq4XWabhJ69uojyy3VtTk1gviHBlQ/s400/P1010962.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elidir Fawr</td></tr>
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Another great day spent in Snowdonia, I am looking forward to spending more days and weekends there in the not too distant future.<br />
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My hill walking exploits tend to run similar the the old Yorkshire Traction buses, I don't get one for ages, then suddenly two come along together.<br />
Hence, when a twitter pal, Carl Mynott, aka "@Locomountaineer" aka "good bloke" (see link to Carl's pages here) <a href="http://locomountaineer.blogspot.com/">Carl's blog</a> , suggested a trip for a bit of a backpack/wild camp outing in rehearsal for his 1st TGO Challenge and my forthcoming Skye trip, I eagerly snatched his hand off and set about planning a route.<br />
Carl is from somewhere "darn sarff" and he drove up the A1 early on Saturday morning to meet me at the services just north of Doncaster. I took up driving duties and 2 hours later we found ourselves tucking into breakfast in" Laura in the Lakes" in Keswick, before pushing on to park the jalopy in the village of Grange.<br />
It turned out that Carl and I share similar interests other than walking, and the journey passed quickly as I bored him with details of my previous TGO Challenge trips, and stories of elusive Bitterns.<br />
The route from Grange took us up through lovely woodland to the delightful top of Grange Fell and onwards to Great Crag, where a sudden, violent hail shower blew in just as we left the top. Descent was a bit precarious and I almost came a cropper at one point on the wet stony path down to Stonethwaite Beck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3adB2DBPn8f4D2uWbHgReOXAyvAnbq6lxZyGuYT-UwcPD0luwlGwXWpum0OLtEt7edWh4gp1Wej4IEMiiG5-wq-ljx3GubF21GHMbJDzk30H1IdrAgTORsp9IgPt11B4vNizuZ_lRkHg/s1600/P1010967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3adB2DBPn8f4D2uWbHgReOXAyvAnbq6lxZyGuYT-UwcPD0luwlGwXWpum0OLtEt7edWh4gp1Wej4IEMiiG5-wq-ljx3GubF21GHMbJDzk30H1IdrAgTORsp9IgPt11B4vNizuZ_lRkHg/s400/P1010967.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King's How on Grange Fell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhvckg6-50Y4hOrX-tp2dLOcAzOGJDS2rIzgHIccvU-V39rTPUw-eSWS0FL_RnWpTAV4TVvEf281GWPGye8us9re0osQ6KJUWZkyPtK1Zp8uMWdw5ZXrMKEhV7BrwweMHL-i1iTj4ZFY/s1600/P1010970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhvckg6-50Y4hOrX-tp2dLOcAzOGJDS2rIzgHIccvU-V39rTPUw-eSWS0FL_RnWpTAV4TVvEf281GWPGye8us9re0osQ6KJUWZkyPtK1Zp8uMWdw5ZXrMKEhV7BrwweMHL-i1iTj4ZFY/s400/P1010970.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle Crag in the sunshine</td></tr>
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The route was then along the lovely Langstrath, which has a Scottish glen like feel to it, hemmed in by the high hills on 3 sides.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl admires the view back down Langstrath<br />
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We took a joint decision to cut short my planned route up to Tongue Head and Allen Crags, and instead headed straight up the hillside to find a suitable camping spot on Glaramara as the weather was closing in a bit.<br />
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We found a couple of nice pitches at around the 2000' contour height overlooking Langstrath and the Langdale Pikes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp at 2000' on the flanks of Glaramara</td></tr>
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Food and whisky were consumed and I eventually drifted off to sleep to the sound of rain on the tent at about 8.30 ending a good day.<br />
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I woke several times during the night, feeling the cold.and listening to the flapping of the tent in the wind. I eventually dropped off into a restful sleep and opened my eyes at around 06.30. </div>
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Unzipped the tent to be greeted by this wintry scene...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the tent at dawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old Laser not bearing up too well to the conditions</td></tr>
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Another joint decision saw us abandon plans of two further Wainwright ticks in the blizzard like conditions and instead head back down to Langstrath.<br />
Just below the level of our camp site we copped a sighting of 4 Snow Buntings taking flight up the hillside, as identified by Carl. A life tick for me and great to see them in their natural environment,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl leading the way on the tricky descent</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Langstrath</td></tr>
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It was a lovely low level mornings walk back to the car. Birdsong and wildlife abounded, we had sightings of Jay, Buzzards, Ravens, Red Squirrel, Chaffinch, Coal Tits and a Grey Wagtail along the way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Squirrel</td></tr>
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We called in at a lovely cafe in the village of Rosthwaite for hot tea and bacon sandwiches before eventually continuing below Castle Crag and beside the river Derwent back to Grange to pick up the car for the long journey home.<br />
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It had been a great couple of days spent in the company of Carl in a glorious area of Lakeland. </div>
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I have decided that backpacking is probably the best way of mopping up the final 80 odd Wainwright's that I still have to complete and hopefully Carl and I can team up again sometime for another outing.<br />
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All in all not a bad start to the year...<br />
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-16697548663009902872012-02-02T23:08:00.000+00:002012-12-24T16:04:11.966+00:00The Isle of Skye "Toe to Tip". The plan<div>
10 years ago, while studying for a degree at Sheffield Hallam University, I managed to win an award.</div>
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I can't remember the reason for winning the award now, but I do recall having it presented to me at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield. It was all very posh and I stood out like a sore thumb as the only wrinkly amongst a crowd of fresh faced and very bright, young engineering students. </div>
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The award was a £500 allowance to travel to Europe to spend a few days at participating Engineering company of my choice, with a £50 book voucher thrown in to help me along with my studies.</div>
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Toulouse was very nice and the staff at the Rolls-Royce office there were very accommodating. </div>
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When I returned, I trotted off to Waterstones bookshop on the university campus and bought 2 books. "Fatigue and the Applications of Fracture Mechanics" and "A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye" one of which they had in stock, and one of which I had to order.</div>
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I never did get around to reading the Fracture Mechanics book but I'm sure it is a very interesting read...maybe one day when I have a bit of spare time?. </div>
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I have however, read and marvelled at the stunning photography of "A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye", written by David Paterson, many times over the last decade and always had it in the back of my mind as the inspiration for a long walk on Skye if the opportunity presented itself. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Walk-Isle-Skye-75-mile/dp/0952190842">(link to book)</a></div>
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Having decided to have a break from the TGO Challenge this year to do something else instead that does not use up most of my annual holiday allowance, I now have perfect opportunity to visit Skye for the first time and follow in Paterson's footsteps.</div>
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The book details a route starting at Armadale, which is handy for the Calmac ferry from Mallaig, and heads initially over moorland to the western coast of Sleat, it then follows the coastline through the settlements of Tokavaig, Ord, Heaste and Torrin. There is then an opportunity to bag the Munro, Bla Bheinn (Blaven) before heading for the magnificent setting of Loch Coruisk and onwards to Sligachan. </div>
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More coastal walking beside Loch Sligachan and the Narrows of Rassay to Portree for an optional well earned rest day before tackling the Trotternish ridge, and the long final day's push to Rubha Hunish. </div>
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In the main, I plan to follow Pattersons route, with the exception of the first day, when I plan on walking or hitching to the Point of Sleat, thereby enabling a "most southerly" to "most northerly" point to point walk on the island.</div>
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I will be wild camping all the way, except for a night on the camp site at Sligachan and maybe a b&b in Portree. </div>
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Although the walk is less than 100 miles long, I fully expect this to be as tough as any long distance walk that I have ever done. Much of the walk is pathless from what I can gather and the first few days especially, are very committing, with no bail out options of a hotel, b&b or even a bothy if the weather is rough. The going underfoot will be testing to say the least and some river crossings may well be impossible if in spate resulting in lengthy detours.</div>
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So that's my big walk planned for this year, I just have the minor details to finalise. The route is sorted and train tickets are booked for April 14th from Doncaster to Mallaig,......now where did I put that other book?</div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-40042353144785688932011-12-31T01:19:00.000+00:002012-12-24T15:58:15.456+00:002011 A Year of Ups and DownsAs another year comes to an end I suppose I ought to try and put things into prospective and summarise my year both on and off the hill.<br />
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<u>Family Life</u></div>
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On a personal note, it's been an awful year for my family. </div>
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My Mum passed away in October following a short illness and it's been a real struggle trying to come to terms with her passing. </div>
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Mum was 82, a good age I suppose, but no matter how much I had tried to prepare myself for the inevitable, I was not ready when the time came. </div>
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I will get stronger with my feelings as time goes by and everyone has to go through the grieving process at some point in their lives, but for now I am finding it very difficult to deal with.</div>
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Throughout Mum's illness and during the weeks that followed, my close family were a tower of strength. My "kids" all now grown up, were an absolute rock and without their support I don't know how I would have coped at all. </div>
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The one bright shining light this year has been my beautiful granddaughter. </div>
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Phoebe was 2 in June and is an absolute delight to be around as are all children of that age. I see her almost every day as my wife Steph looks after her while her Mum, Hannah works in the afternoons, I can't wait to get home from work to spend some time with her. She is just adorable. </div>
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<u>Work</u></div>
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I work as a Quality Engineer for an engineering company in Rotherham. I have been with them for just over 8 years, which is not bad going these days. The company is doing as well as can be expected in the current climate and is as secure a job as one could hope for. </div>
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I managed to get my son, Andrew a job working in my department in August and he works on the next desk to his old man...which is nice.</div>
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<u>Sport</u></div>
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I no longer participate in sports, other than a frustrating game of golf from time to time and instead get my sporting pleasure from watching Andrew play cricket. He's a talented batsman, far better than I ever was, and represents Wath CC 1st team in the South Yorkshire League. Andrew also represents England Deaf cricket team and played in Australia last year.</div>
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For my sins, I also support Sheffield United and the least said about them this year the better.</div>
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<u>Walking</u></div>
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An average year on the hills for me this year. Steadily plugging away at the Wainwrights hill list, of which I have now completed 124 including 27 this year. Highlights include Place Fell (100th) in January, Rampsgill Head, (107th) half way point in June, a lovely backpack through the Central Fells with an overnight camp on Greenup Edge in July, and more recently, on 5th November, a sparkling round of fells including Blencathra via Sharp Edge. </div>
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My mate Mark and I will continue to plug away at the Wainwright's over the next few years until we have both completed AW's list.</div>
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I completed my 5th TGO Challenge walk in May, which will go down as one of the toughest Challenges ever, weather wise. I was disappointed with the walk, in that I hardly walked any of the grand, high level route that I had planned, yet still enjoyed the event because of the great camaraderie that exists amongst Challengers. This really is a great event and I hope to be back for my 6th in 2013 as I am taking a voluntary year off next year.</div>
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<u>Bird watching</u></div>
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I am very fortunate to have a RSPB reserve on my doorstep, and when I have a bit of spare time I like to nip down to Old Moor in the Dearne Valley to spend a couple of hours watching birds and socialising with like minded folk. I'm not a complete anorak, you understand. and don't keep count of the birds I have seen or anything like that, but I do find that it's a great place to while away the time and gather my thoughts.</div>
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Highlights of the birding year include an Osprey which we had in the area throughout September, high tide wader watch at Gibraltar point in September, which I managed to sneak off to during a family holiday in Skegness, and the many hours I have spent at Old Moor throughout this year.</div>
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Well that's about it for 2011, it's New Year's Eve already!</div>
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Thank's for reading this, and any of my other postings this year, not sure how long I will keep blogging for, but I do enjoy it and for some reason I feel better about things just writing this post, so we'll see.</div>
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Here's hoping for a happier 2012.</div>
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Happy New Year everyone.</div>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-78646033977292360992011-09-08T21:29:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:05:05.656+00:00TGO Challenge 2011 Trip Report. Acharacle to Stonehaven.Due to an act of stupidity I have managed to delete a blogpost on the 2011 Challenge after weeks of struggling to put together an interesting and entertaining trip report. <br />
If truth be told, it was neither of the above, which is probably why it had taken so long. <br />
Far too much detail of wet and windy days, miserable recollections of hill days missed, mourning the loss of a mobile phone and generally loosing the will to live.<br />
So, rather than put myself (and any readers) through the pain of it all over again, I have decided to just tell the story of the walk in bullet point fashion with lots of photographs, instead of boring and not very well written text.<br />
So here goes...<br />
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The journey to my sign out point at Acharacle involved 2 trains, 2 ferry's, 2 buses and an overnight stop in Tobermory with fellow Challenger, Caburn <a href="http://www.caburn.me.uk/">(Caburns website)</a> .<br />
I took the 12.20 Glasgow to Oban train and hopped on a ferry over to Mull <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Oban on the ferry to Mull</td></tr>
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Tobermory was great, enjoyed award winning fish and chips on the sea front and a few pints of local ale with Caburn before turning in for the night. Me in a B&B and Caburn in one of his famous stealth camps beside the sea. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobermory</td></tr>
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We met up again the following morning for a lovely early morning ferry ride from Tobermory back to the mainland at Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan Peninsular.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Tobermory ferry terminal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A bus operated by Shiel Buses <a href="http://www.shielbuses.co.uk/">(Link to Shiel Buses website)</a> awaits the ferry and transferred Caburn to Acharacle, whilst I got off at Laga Bay where I would start my Coast to Coast walk.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 1</u><br />
Laga Bay to Resipole Campsite<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_yObIlNSMsKuSlwEEtePccfkL0eDKqWhcXNAFG8_JHwNCfgmMl8bi_Bw2zhk03vZpz4wBz2Bwrr19RhwQLe6TQKt8KqYP7aeYQ1sGIrUUPE-ORzc52iqMVgJWMmSaaIzJdfi6ovnxAA/s1600/P1010551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_yObIlNSMsKuSlwEEtePccfkL0eDKqWhcXNAFG8_JHwNCfgmMl8bi_Bw2zhk03vZpz4wBz2Bwrr19RhwQLe6TQKt8KqYP7aeYQ1sGIrUUPE-ORzc52iqMVgJWMmSaaIzJdfi6ovnxAA/s400/P1010551.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Laga Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Headed straight up to Ben Laga, a rugged little hill with stunning views all around.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0BVKn0KqXPTpOoEkQGi_jQIbuXGwYmMiNGJI2oJf1dQjw_UdMNRM8FjFhrjq5bL8zoKKyPBmXjmdoVUNXiWL7y4KiOkQBshbHOwaDFOJsvWMk0PKyIx04Qi5XrrcY1ig9GlG6guUx30/s1600/P1010552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0BVKn0KqXPTpOoEkQGi_jQIbuXGwYmMiNGJI2oJf1dQjw_UdMNRM8FjFhrjq5bL8zoKKyPBmXjmdoVUNXiWL7y4KiOkQBshbHOwaDFOJsvWMk0PKyIx04Qi5XrrcY1ig9GlG6guUx30/s400/P1010552.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking West from Ben Laga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Followed an old drove road from Loch Laga to eventually sign out in Acharacle at 1pm.<br />
Walked along the road to Salen where I enjoyed a lazy lunch at the Salen Hotel, <a href="http://www.salenhotel.co.uk/">(Salen Hotel link)</a> before strolling along the road to the campsite at Resipole. <br />
<br />
Distance 21km Ascent 780m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 2</u><br />
Resipole Campsite to Glen Scaddle<br />
<br />
It was raining when I packed up, so followed my FWA along the road to Strontian, calling in at the Nature hide overlooking Garbh Eilean on the way.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-LpEC-i6B5wc3Flno-x9wj6owMtYUIM-pxN52ZhCJI4j_vaeQ0xZ0W1UoV7DzEO7wAD6blCkS5hDrSOXdfRNDlh64C8DBH6v-FyrpV1jYmPKqrEIRKCMAuPAMDyYYVMKdkg2W3J5gvk/s1600/P1010556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-LpEC-i6B5wc3Flno-x9wj6owMtYUIM-pxN52ZhCJI4j_vaeQ0xZ0W1UoV7DzEO7wAD6blCkS5hDrSOXdfRNDlh64C8DBH6v-FyrpV1jYmPKqrEIRKCMAuPAMDyYYVMKdkg2W3J5gvk/s400/P1010556.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garbh Eilean observation hide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following lunch in the cafe at Strontian, I walked through the beautiful Ariundle Oak woods. <br />
The weather was holding off for now so I decided to take in the Corbett, Sgurr Dhomhnuill which is the highest point in the area. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q-coR95mCAJxgx25330iLDTXDU0KFZaSqbmeab0pyOhmddJ9U650L9a5qLNuG4wwr7ovM_R5Rp4V3l15gYdkIDoKCeZtRSssF6Voic2v2D-AXF3WQQAamgbPlEzTzkfdIaZxwrY2wB4/s1600/P1010561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q-coR95mCAJxgx25330iLDTXDU0KFZaSqbmeab0pyOhmddJ9U650L9a5qLNuG4wwr7ovM_R5Rp4V3l15gYdkIDoKCeZtRSssF6Voic2v2D-AXF3WQQAamgbPlEzTzkfdIaZxwrY2wB4/s400/P1010561.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Glen Gour from the ridge to Sgurr Dhomhnuill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwSs2sW_lTtjwsJFUqBGkg_rqV79bUdRyljL8eO5Q3MLkZ9KcN7E5VaOuXQHU2G3CTISCgYc_nf1gkwedabzE_Cl4dCJkVQ10GOlFPh5tCN6BN3Q7mzSjsDbnuppTsdFCLuuZ99WO9hM/s1600/P1010563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwSs2sW_lTtjwsJFUqBGkg_rqV79bUdRyljL8eO5Q3MLkZ9KcN7E5VaOuXQHU2G3CTISCgYc_nf1gkwedabzE_Cl4dCJkVQ10GOlFPh5tCN6BN3Q7mzSjsDbnuppTsdFCLuuZ99WO9hM/s400/P1010563.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Sgurr Dhomhnuill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_OzHd-C-l3pMWA7l2lwhyKKN7MhCfO8m-pcd1nYh66B6CZ3Sl1uhmgnNVfca4T3DYc8B9CwijOAsbUnzSSKTBQxSUqMva9SNsUPjVYaGXNNnKJhMGrwYW1GpKHhyphenhyphenBAT30xlaCuraz5Q/s1600/P1010565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_OzHd-C-l3pMWA7l2lwhyKKN7MhCfO8m-pcd1nYh66B6CZ3Sl1uhmgnNVfca4T3DYc8B9CwijOAsbUnzSSKTBQxSUqMva9SNsUPjVYaGXNNnKJhMGrwYW1GpKHhyphenhyphenBAT30xlaCuraz5Q/s400/P1010565.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ardgour Hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWpWVNGL4ebinHZ2Lefgcg-tmgnd5fKTFRfJEuk9RZhjG5xSsUXLveVIZP4altuMavU1DMmTNXWxNZBjIC1Mv1QifT-NA5m9_NTgDFWg7hxmls_OHp3UjN73l5nHM0yI9qEgg0tDNbhk/s1600/P1010567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWpWVNGL4ebinHZ2Lefgcg-tmgnd5fKTFRfJEuk9RZhjG5xSsUXLveVIZP4altuMavU1DMmTNXWxNZBjIC1Mv1QifT-NA5m9_NTgDFWg7hxmls_OHp3UjN73l5nHM0yI9qEgg0tDNbhk/s400/P1010567.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking shelter at the summit of Sgurr Dhomhnuill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahAsZshTDaPWOMAckXatWQItlo4kOn8iPacpFBCfUQbce5tsUFbgBsWJfH_PiPkrNyGP8yNWep28Y3QQjhJOnEbQwsT9s2hWtX4d-1pgFiGChWsduyZUU189mJ6urLelNPp0W1wBq9xc/s1600/P1010571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahAsZshTDaPWOMAckXatWQItlo4kOn8iPacpFBCfUQbce5tsUFbgBsWJfH_PiPkrNyGP8yNWep28Y3QQjhJOnEbQwsT9s2hWtX4d-1pgFiGChWsduyZUU189mJ6urLelNPp0W1wBq9xc/s400/P1010571.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Glenn Scaddle chased along by frequent squally showers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzGxLyBtJZd7iTM0xZIK_MWpV6jtXhOHOcpxDz9eo457xw4apMR_8BpNEPrCNQbcYDUoNItQZBwfpWGGTm5uaf4eBzzHSAZ01Bt-UbLqt8sYSAuq5cqckvRdy6KDPnNFd1wN7byT_g70/s1600/P1010572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzGxLyBtJZd7iTM0xZIK_MWpV6jtXhOHOcpxDz9eo457xw4apMR_8BpNEPrCNQbcYDUoNItQZBwfpWGGTm5uaf4eBzzHSAZ01Bt-UbLqt8sYSAuq5cqckvRdy6KDPnNFd1wN7byT_g70/s400/P1010572.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp by the River Scaddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Distance 30km Ascent 1250m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 3</u><br />
Glen Scaddle to Corran Bunkhouse<br />
<br />
Rained most of the night and was continuing to do so as I left my campsite.The river level had risen quite considerably and the walk to meet the A861 was a boggy affair.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lj_qUvIMKlc9_LZUWnpCZ9M6aAgUrU8HycMuQAKyhUFmsiZTlTnTd-zV_5xA8Tz8EydLt49KXs_G0m_L_VtsJBxrYDjuTH0C2usl3gVtAAOSMAZywoI_WiLmNMiKqI4bm8OFUtAsysA/s1600/P1010573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lj_qUvIMKlc9_LZUWnpCZ9M6aAgUrU8HycMuQAKyhUFmsiZTlTnTd-zV_5xA8Tz8EydLt49KXs_G0m_L_VtsJBxrYDjuTH0C2usl3gVtAAOSMAZywoI_WiLmNMiKqI4bm8OFUtAsysA/s400/P1010573.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swollen River Scaddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Called in for lunch at the Inn at Ardgour to try to dry out my phone, which I had, in another act of stupidity (there's a trend developing), dropped in a puddle beside the road. <br />
Caught the ferry across the Corran Narrows and decided to end the day here at the bunkhouse, which I recommend. <a href="http://www.corranbunkhouse.co.uk/">(Corran Bunkhouse)</a><br />
Distance 14km Ascent 150m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 4</u><br />
Corran Bunkhouse to Kinlochleven<br />
Pissed it down all day. Took the kop-out option and walked to Kinlochleven along the road. Today was not a highlight of the walk.<br />
Stayed in the Blackwater Hostel, which is OK I suppose.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb9HkYucnwOw9VsFQVcHNjJCgbPVYoM_5ybLkqVAWRjqMqB_KVyXDkb3M8mp6F5y6TaSEipgWCJVRE2taZoimTVUQI97uy-DBqubqo1cNtHn-UgoUgpfHYgKsYSv095wJ7lk070MKn5Y/s1600/P1010577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb9HkYucnwOw9VsFQVcHNjJCgbPVYoM_5ybLkqVAWRjqMqB_KVyXDkb3M8mp6F5y6TaSEipgWCJVRE2taZoimTVUQI97uy-DBqubqo1cNtHn-UgoUgpfHYgKsYSv095wJ7lk070MKn5Y/s400/P1010577.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheltered bay on Loch Leven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Distance 21km Ascent 490m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 5</u><br />
Kinlochleven to Loch Ossian<br />
<br />
Gave up hopes of the Mamores when I saw the low cloud and instead walked to Blackwater Reservoir where I picked up the path to Loch Chiarain and had lunch in the splendid bothy there. <br />
The afternoon walk was via Loch Treig and Corrour Station (Venison Burger and strong ale) to Loch Ossian. <br />
Camped about halfway along the North side of the Loch sheltered in the trees.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER0ztGX2rrzOMHQJnEsXCElTru14zE-ljazn0iS3Asw_196TB54MLQcN8O8_L8iyKhhfXOlj5k_0SWAth-GlGrsCq906thAMj0vkaUG4Z1cccuUB9CF5hZbjVg7sHRgwOC8OLMykXXbk/s1600/P1010581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER0ztGX2rrzOMHQJnEsXCElTru14zE-ljazn0iS3Asw_196TB54MLQcN8O8_L8iyKhhfXOlj5k_0SWAth-GlGrsCq906thAMj0vkaUG4Z1cccuUB9CF5hZbjVg7sHRgwOC8OLMykXXbk/s400/P1010581.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackwater Dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmbbi2xxQ_qTyYYEjM9zhjdMsxTgm37z0Y1hZ5R1hbUTU_MF8xUjSdc2N_JgirJ3pHcyv5cE0aO4mNvWapgdc4mAGQbQ4JE1EkRaz8j6J2jvHxBpx68A01RQPdPkFC4ddFyD8fuQ67TM/s1600/P1010587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmbbi2xxQ_qTyYYEjM9zhjdMsxTgm37z0Y1hZ5R1hbUTU_MF8xUjSdc2N_JgirJ3pHcyv5cE0aO4mNvWapgdc4mAGQbQ4JE1EkRaz8j6J2jvHxBpx68A01RQPdPkFC4ddFyD8fuQ67TM/s400/P1010587.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Ossian camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Distance 30km Ascent 850m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 6</u><br />
Loch Ossian to Dalwhinney<br />
<br />
Rain and strong winds virtually all night, lazy start hoping in vain that conditions would ease.<br />
Trudged past the Shooting Lodge and picked up and then lost the path beside the Uisge Labhair. Eventually I came upon a blue Karrimore tent flapping in the wind beside the river. The inhabitant of the tent was none other than Mike "the pie man" Knipe, who was taking a year off from the Challenge having completed his 10th crossing the previous year. Mike just couldn't stay away though and was hunkered down here offering hot drinks to any passing Challengers. Very welcome it was too, as was the conversation and usual humour offered up by master blogger Mike. <a href="http://northernpies.blogspot.com/">(Mike Knipes Blog)</a><br />
Whilst chatting to Mike, it stopped raining and the sun briefly made an appearance, short lived though and the rain would soon return with a vengeance as I pushed on up and over the Bealach Dubh to Culra bothy for a late lunch. Tempted to stay the night here but decided to push on to Dalwhinney to see if I could catch up with other Challengers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLbihXcYXPIflTGCHb0GTSoXY3anYoSqbl6qmUnyT1tx579tiKlL1s-_peVukpl5Qko7Q6VMbmx0S_GSeatyg6Ff5crTW8U5HasCySoxOjp7DGWI72mX7DVLuqUD4hL0g1sfBun6rFeY/s1600/P1010588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLbihXcYXPIflTGCHb0GTSoXY3anYoSqbl6qmUnyT1tx579tiKlL1s-_peVukpl5Qko7Q6VMbmx0S_GSeatyg6Ff5crTW8U5HasCySoxOjp7DGWI72mX7DVLuqUD4hL0g1sfBun6rFeY/s400/P1010588.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Water Everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n9x2f4vzy0Ibc6u_kEwMBCxY6A2Ic7gEwkoVJPuabScIt2qd4Ot5_qrZuqz18leduwJrrjVQvZaVm0kohR5hOsWbBXWJgT-BooFDbyUFeXRHzfahbx-wRxPxmRjtP6aaZmM8cJFGqDc/s1600/P1010589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n9x2f4vzy0Ibc6u_kEwMBCxY6A2Ic7gEwkoVJPuabScIt2qd4Ot5_qrZuqz18leduwJrrjVQvZaVm0kohR5hOsWbBXWJgT-BooFDbyUFeXRHzfahbx-wRxPxmRjtP6aaZmM8cJFGqDc/s400/P1010589.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bealach Dubh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU1YH4awwSYhbb8DNAN-iPWeb9Oa3_8DjJPnOiUEoQzCFz4Rbi1VIX50whoRFax2Q5xkhUSXuI-Lmdn8LD7zV6TPFpmPLZnGwSNUdfnR86Nzer7rVwhAA9SDrzqkxHeoDjSlL7eGCQ_A/s1600/P1010591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU1YH4awwSYhbb8DNAN-iPWeb9Oa3_8DjJPnOiUEoQzCFz4Rbi1VIX50whoRFax2Q5xkhUSXuI-Lmdn8LD7zV6TPFpmPLZnGwSNUdfnR86Nzer7rVwhAA9SDrzqkxHeoDjSlL7eGCQ_A/s400/P1010591.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Alder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0xKNxAmc0EuxDDPVHKhdcLzjloWGyvz1Ifw9pGNY7qeiBrgO1zau-oGVNIg0IGOADds_LqPIAEpjYQwb8if63PUjMClJQ4O4YsfOMxfnKegTutwYnr8x6wdaWR1yBSUJywT4JkMDtYQ/s1600/P1010594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0xKNxAmc0EuxDDPVHKhdcLzjloWGyvz1Ifw9pGNY7qeiBrgO1zau-oGVNIg0IGOADds_LqPIAEpjYQwb8if63PUjMClJQ4O4YsfOMxfnKegTutwYnr8x6wdaWR1yBSUJywT4JkMDtYQ/s400/P1010594.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Arrived at the filling station in Dalwhinney, soaked through and knackered. I was met by half a dozen Challengers, some of whom I knew, including Skippy, Terry Leyland and my Tobermory buddy, Caburn. They had hatched a plan for a night out in Newtonmore as Dalwhinney has nothing to offer in terms of nightlife since the Hotel closed down a couple of years ago. <br />
I had half an hour to pitch the tent as a mini bus had been booked to transfer us all to Newtonmore for a meet up with the Challengers staying there.<br />
A great night ensued in the Glen Hotel <a href="http://www.theglenhotel.co.uk/">(The Glen Hotel, Newtonmore)</a> where I met friends old and new. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_JVmvHzjQEFobNooTUrkfV-Gi3LpdOXsN_ayH_TE1uw8VAZCOB0OG4H9FhTv_auaEGaDszfwo3WMIpS67R64-gN7js-XETxlFc2ye4fOTdjyruOf9dIHiTZSJSktcFTxsmF_edD20Fw/s1600/P1010595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_JVmvHzjQEFobNooTUrkfV-Gi3LpdOXsN_ayH_TE1uw8VAZCOB0OG4H9FhTv_auaEGaDszfwo3WMIpS67R64-gN7js-XETxlFc2ye4fOTdjyruOf9dIHiTZSJSktcFTxsmF_edD20Fw/s400/P1010595.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newtonmore Gathering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Distance 33km Ascent 720m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 7</u><br />
Dalwhinney to Glen Feshie<br />
<br />
Slept like a baby and was last to pack up and leave the campsite behind the hotel.<br />
Spurred on by the first blue sky since day 2, I made good progress on the track to Loch Cuaich, following a brief rest I decided to take in Meall Chuaich, my first Munro of the trip.<br />
Forded the River Tromie which was knee deep and freezing cold then picked up the familiar route over to Glen Feshie. Another River crossing over the Feshie ended a good day's walking.<br />
Camped by the bothy as I have done on 2 previous Challenges.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BM5K58lLz4RAxonSaHtQckGPEF61dRDlHt-tQ_fq7kAZ78go4DcERERQ09vB1niPQE6aeGvzLUOXnk8rPE0WCtHlC8Aefy9esDsPxWBJCygqEc64xRcefMdGzn0g6f1Arqr4duDlO-M/s1600/P1010596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BM5K58lLz4RAxonSaHtQckGPEF61dRDlHt-tQ_fq7kAZ78go4DcERERQ09vB1niPQE6aeGvzLUOXnk8rPE0WCtHlC8Aefy9esDsPxWBJCygqEc64xRcefMdGzn0g6f1Arqr4duDlO-M/s400/P1010596.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rest stop at the locked bothy </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWFnUxAsOQRw6SXV5zZP8h7xh_x6r6etXEEBZHRLLLE1eqj80aDc-v4atJ2P3M5hVxowpL_UrsRM1GwFmunCbN47oR01g6qMxkA-lu_7haq7jl97isVZsNc2IWZgNyV2xug6wB8afuRw/s1600/P1010599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWFnUxAsOQRw6SXV5zZP8h7xh_x6r6etXEEBZHRLLLE1eqj80aDc-v4atJ2P3M5hVxowpL_UrsRM1GwFmunCbN47oR01g6qMxkA-lu_7haq7jl97isVZsNc2IWZgNyV2xug6wB8afuRw/s400/P1010599.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Munro at last!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SfZASgXtTsyMHgEazNhogd9BM-epobfD9WsZCfwJECA3eEO4oGekNlFhdo9Gp96e9ee11tdc0kyTmsarD4dkZw8p4YOzDvR_5sJgjDCHpP9VCcSJI-cu0XNsKO5UkN2wt_ACEdPxS58/s1600/P1010601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SfZASgXtTsyMHgEazNhogd9BM-epobfD9WsZCfwJECA3eEO4oGekNlFhdo9Gp96e9ee11tdc0kyTmsarD4dkZw8p4YOzDvR_5sJgjDCHpP9VCcSJI-cu0XNsKO5UkN2wt_ACEdPxS58/s400/P1010601.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lochan an t-Sluic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Distance 30km Ascent 1100m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 8</u><br />
Glen Feshie to Linn of Dee<br />
<br />
It rained in the night, and above about 600m it snowed in the night. <br />
Stayed in the tent hoping the rain would ease, which on this occasion it did. <br />
Decided to head up on to the Glen Feshie hills and see how conditions were up there. If it was bad I could always come back down the way I went up as I was now ahead of schedule so no need to rush.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTClbybd2tHC2XbJj-vwBc78874Qh6w7CYJPzS5Faffka9yuOsaAOlfFtmHFe8Kx6Li6LfIwdh2gLGEUJr0C7fvBn-zAoqvmebLFO6McLpY1cUKigCvSL6vxUX91EXODtPceqNZsQNZ70/s1600/P1010605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTClbybd2tHC2XbJj-vwBc78874Qh6w7CYJPzS5Faffka9yuOsaAOlfFtmHFe8Kx6Li6LfIwdh2gLGEUJr0C7fvBn-zAoqvmebLFO6McLpY1cUKigCvSL6vxUX91EXODtPceqNZsQNZ70/s400/P1010605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Glen Feshie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwDm_r1ny6_1c_oXm1_HzUEnQUGw8bHc2dNGzIctO1koRwE9Urif4l_YlmTQG8-oxzvfhWI4K3rz2NYUn3JdrV63czDBDOAuV7Gu1H2SaH0hYNtZh6PAlRNl7CDsHNfA4QWIH9VT908I/s1600/P1010607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwDm_r1ny6_1c_oXm1_HzUEnQUGw8bHc2dNGzIctO1koRwE9Urif4l_YlmTQG8-oxzvfhWI4K3rz2NYUn3JdrV63czDBDOAuV7Gu1H2SaH0hYNtZh6PAlRNl7CDsHNfA4QWIH9VT908I/s400/P1010607.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eastern Cairngorms from Mullach Clach a' Bhlair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRaWNGt5JrbKDZpUdFzpn4BWeidi9idSSsaSyB_jpv1tElqdjD7R4dnrOweo_P7_zQxud1J8SEjKVlP3t64T_ky7VUUSibLV7TBSl3QypsQIjnsmUbzakBZqbI2IJO32ckONJ9H0u22g/s1600/P1010608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRaWNGt5JrbKDZpUdFzpn4BWeidi9idSSsaSyB_jpv1tElqdjD7R4dnrOweo_P7_zQxud1J8SEjKVlP3t64T_ky7VUUSibLV7TBSl3QypsQIjnsmUbzakBZqbI2IJO32ckONJ9H0u22g/s400/P1010608.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Moine Mhor before the cloud blew in and snow started falling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0AQyF5_su9dgp4BuCucJ1WWvejKDXIb9IuUnWyaIqsfQ15YrTHJMhGn-XOACmfaTVY2JakEp6SjHgINKEvmuL8vpx6k1bcZ5rGmRkws5cjSq8tybdbzMyJiEmKyLIXBn792I5CmPK7s/s1600/P1010610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0AQyF5_su9dgp4BuCucJ1WWvejKDXIb9IuUnWyaIqsfQ15YrTHJMhGn-XOACmfaTVY2JakEp6SjHgINKEvmuL8vpx6k1bcZ5rGmRkws5cjSq8tybdbzMyJiEmKyLIXBn792I5CmPK7s/s400/P1010610.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bail out descent via the River Eidart. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsGFTHQsSPyOzbsgx5ZLAHEtG4M5_jLgKoP_Wl9CKYWte2HnLcGWVC64cxZtl41DG6Hlswh0-Qx8n8vkO0zZbC19D-ZxNe5C63DhFA69hSLYlIN2lzljlH-YXwCNMD6wKTCJRDFg5OLQ/s1600/P1010611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsGFTHQsSPyOzbsgx5ZLAHEtG4M5_jLgKoP_Wl9CKYWte2HnLcGWVC64cxZtl41DG6Hlswh0-Qx8n8vkO0zZbC19D-ZxNe5C63DhFA69hSLYlIN2lzljlH-YXwCNMD6wKTCJRDFg5OLQ/s400/P1010611.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geldie burn, bright but breezy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9NQv3lPU8RJwf_HjeglUVYfKK-tt4xWwiW_iAsfhbV809B-yp_FLwQEvsm_oJ6bfh-lBkPE9dCdikJqIkzfS_tTvHWWDJXIgGOP4UJ_kXzDJTA9PGHAVrILf578VGx70MsrCh_0C88g/s1600/P1010612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9NQv3lPU8RJwf_HjeglUVYfKK-tt4xWwiW_iAsfhbV809B-yp_FLwQEvsm_oJ6bfh-lBkPE9dCdikJqIkzfS_tTvHWWDJXIgGOP4UJ_kXzDJTA9PGHAVrILf578VGx70MsrCh_0C88g/s400/P1010612.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice pitch in the trees just short of Linn of Dee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A tough but very enjoyable day. <br />
<br />
Distance 36km Ascent 900m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 9</u><br />
Linn of Dee to Braemar Campsite<br />
<br />
Early start, walked through the grounds of Mar Lodge to join the road into Braemar, where a full Scottish breakfast had my name on it.<br />
Ambled up to the campsite and booked a pitch for 2 nights.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefthOuEOMNw6buac25DJhSA5A6iz71PMA8PMAz0cu823VsN2KYu6XisCPpTcKfJmWA5YN93AvWJa8Xh0kvsv5QrpiHiQ_0RmjceNwRrc_FE4dOtq1M-OFaNsr4iwlzliaxOHRAvJMpWU/s1600/P1010614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefthOuEOMNw6buac25DJhSA5A6iz71PMA8PMAz0cu823VsN2KYu6XisCPpTcKfJmWA5YN93AvWJa8Xh0kvsv5QrpiHiQ_0RmjceNwRrc_FE4dOtq1M-OFaNsr4iwlzliaxOHRAvJMpWU/s400/P1010614.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Dee from Victoria Bridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the day is a bit sketchy but went something like this....<br />
<ul>
<li>Shower</li>
<li>Washing clothes</li>
<li>Sleep</li>
<li>Hungry Highlander</li>
<li>Fife Arms</li>
<li>Socialising</li>
<li>Moorfield Hotel</li>
<li>More socialising</li>
<li>Bingo Wings</li>
<li>Pissed as a fart.</li>
<li>Stagger back to campsite in the rain.</li>
</ul>
For all the solitude that the Challenge offers, you just can't beat a good old Saturday night Challenge knees up in Braemar. <br />
<br />
Distance 12km Ascent 200m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 10</u><br />
Braemar Campsite to...Braemar Campsite<br />
<br />
Woke up feeling rather sprightly...considering.<br />
The weather forecast for the next couple of days was pretty awful, threatening very high winds and yet more rain, so I decided to make the best of the calm before the storm and bagged the Corbett, Morven, which stands proud over this part of Deeside.<br />
A good decision as I enjoved a nice mornings walk ,with great views all around. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMvMgpkwBkb464bda7mZRy7Zw2t8T1VqK3JjkyzL8ve2HpiHHPoFRtnXXmEOU9mBcHVuHbGMtgCpIcl_6GXPdjLCOABhOKrfPJrbcBUFl0kewSWYApMkKuX21Z-5Sf0FAurDmqsncCm0/s1600/P1010619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMvMgpkwBkb464bda7mZRy7Zw2t8T1VqK3JjkyzL8ve2HpiHHPoFRtnXXmEOU9mBcHVuHbGMtgCpIcl_6GXPdjLCOABhOKrfPJrbcBUFl0kewSWYApMkKuX21Z-5Sf0FAurDmqsncCm0/s400/P1010619.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to Braemar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTYxmR1SbNLJOsL3QC0hRGzVb2MfAgHzLibp_P3wvBo5jEKs5jRMuKLEAdsg3sx4LY8slLqNel3YL-MwM0QXH4qWEaLmAWHaVKOzLDY6eK63ZYQKmskP0vZDjbk75r9g2AXhvi7xpvnc/s1600/P1010620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTYxmR1SbNLJOsL3QC0hRGzVb2MfAgHzLibp_P3wvBo5jEKs5jRMuKLEAdsg3sx4LY8slLqNel3YL-MwM0QXH4qWEaLmAWHaVKOzLDY6eK63ZYQKmskP0vZDjbk75r9g2AXhvi7xpvnc/s400/P1010620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Callater and the Lochnagar Hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsZYSTbYWI8LKRxLz-Ej68umZ7mgq-MMV3GJz92C2DWmtXsRxbPNAP-AHbASSnQUksY6w9WqKY8PWIhnVZE-cJcMwd0LzS11WZ6Blabv8BE40HjbA6FMuQeDggqiax484-Smlcg6OVjc/s1600/P1010624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsZYSTbYWI8LKRxLz-Ej68umZ7mgq-MMV3GJz92C2DWmtXsRxbPNAP-AHbASSnQUksY6w9WqKY8PWIhnVZE-cJcMwd0LzS11WZ6Blabv8BE40HjbA6FMuQeDggqiax484-Smlcg6OVjc/s400/P1010624.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back over the landscape I had walked through</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Had a short nap back at the tent and then joined the rather more refined Sunday crowd in the Fife for a bit more socialising.<br />
<br />
Distance 13.5km Ascent 600m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 11</u><br />
Braemar Campsite to Ballater<br />
<br />
The day of the storm.<br />
I was off route at this stage and the only option I had was a low level walk to Ballater where I had pre-booked accomodation at Habitat Hostel, a parcel and replacement mobile phone were waiting for me there. <br />
The camp ground was all but deserted when I set off walking with David, first time challenger and fellow Yokshireman. <br />
We walked together as far as Connachat Cottage in pretty poor weather, where David left me to head on towards Gelder Shiel.<br />
The wind was really picking up now and the walk was a pretty dire affair, apart from seeing Roe Deer and Red Squirrels in the Balmoral Forest. <br />
Arrived in Ballater mid afternoon with the storm in full force. Two large trees had blown down on the campsite, and the site was closed on safety grounds. Challengers intending to pitch there had been accommodated in a utility room behind the camp site reception, hotel rooms and B&B's in the town were full to bursting as Challenge walkers abandoned high level routes and re-routed into Ballater seeking shelter from the storm. <br />
<br />
Distance 29km Ascent 400m<br />
<br />
<u>Day 12</u><br />
Ballater to Feughside Inn <br />
<br />
Last night in the pub, I decided I'd had enough of the rough stuff and hatched a plan to walk to the coast in two days, staying low level.<br />
There was interest from some other Challengers and it turned out that I would walk the final two days as part of a group.<br />
Following breakfast, I set off on the cycle route out of Ballater along with David Poole, Ray Johnson. John Enoch and Dave Wishart. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challengers on the cycle track to Aboyne</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome pint in Aboyne with Ray Johnson, Judith Barnes Dave Wishart, Dave Poole and John Enoch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Dee</td></tr>
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It was great to walk in company, and the miles passed by quickly with good humour and conversation. We eventually crossed the Dee at Aboyne and followed a B road to the campsite behind the Feughside Inn.<br />
Enjoyed a meal and a few pints in the pub and met a few other Challengers in there.<br />
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Distance 33km Ascent 300m<br />
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<u>Day 13</u><br />
Feughside Inn to Stonehaven<br />
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We left the campsite at about 08.30 for another long walk out to the East coast, which took us through the village of Strachan to pick up a track through the Fetteresso Forest. <br />
Some dubious group navigation involving 2 maps and various GPS devices eventually saw us emerge from the Forest at Mergie for the final few miles of lane walking to Stonehaven. <br />
We stopped of at a tea room in the garden centre just outside town to meet up with Dave Skipp who had waited for us to arrive so that he could finish his 10th Challenge with us on Stonehaven Beach.<br />
Time for the usual celebrations, involving handshakes, back slapping and a bottle of whiskey on the beach.<br />
Once the contents of the bottle had been consumed, we walked through town to the campsite and pitched our tents.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Stonehaven Beach</td></tr>
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Distance 31km Ascent 500m<br />
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And there you have it...Another Challenge completed, my 5th and by far the toughest in terms of the weather conditions.<br />
It was a walk of two contrasting half's with the first week spent almost entirely walking alone in pretty dreadful weather and the second week being a much more sociable affair culminating in a great final couple of days walking with friends to the beach at Stonehaven.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-20519077417340315462011-07-26T20:44:00.001+01:002012-12-24T17:13:54.321+00:00A NIGHT OUT ON GREENUP EDGEKeswick to Grasmere backpack. 23rd and 24th July. <br />
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I had been waiting for a favourable Lakeland weekend weather forecast for what had seemed like an age. It finally arrived last week, so I set off on the long drive to Keswick early on Saturday morning with a plan to bag a few Wainwrights from AW's Book 3, The Central Fells.<br />
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Parked the car close to Castlerigg campsite and ambled up to Walla Crag, small in stature it may be, but the views from the top are grand. A nice start to the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Keswick from Walla Crag</em></td></tr>
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Next on the agenda was Bleaberry Fell which is a lovely viewpoint for Skiddaw and Blencathra.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Looking North from Bleaberry Fell</em></td></tr>
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The next section is a bit of a boggy affair but the top of High Seat brought the reward of great views in all directions. All four of Lakelands 3000 footers are in view from here. A fine place to linger awhile.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Looking towards Borrowdale from High Seat</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Helvellyn from High Seat</em></td></tr>
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The less said about the following few miles, the better. Quagmire all the way to High Tove, then more bogs and heather bashing out to Armboth Fell and back. The going underfoot improves slightly from Blea Tarn towards Standing Crag but this is not a walk that I would want to repeat in a hurry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Standing Crag</em></td></tr>
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It's a long pull up to Ullscarf but the hard work was now done for today and I pitched the tent close to a tarn on Greenup Edge at about 5pm. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Wild camp on Greenup Edge</em></td></tr>
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I spent the following few hours reading, cooking and generally lounging about waiting for the sunset.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Looking over to Great End and the Scafells</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Distant Skiddaw </em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Rewarding sunset</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>View from the tent as night falls</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Almost time to turn in for the night</em></td></tr>
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A decent night's sleep was interrupted by a call of nature at 05.00. Unzipped the tent to find that the cloud had moved in overnight. </div>
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Packed up and walking by 06.30, </div>
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I was soon below the cloud and on the way downhill to the first Wainwright of the day, Calf Crag. </div>
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A beautiful mornings walk followed.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cloud on Greenup Edge from Calf Crag</em></td></tr>
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From here I nipped out along a ridge to Steel Fell, a lovely Fell with great views of Lakes and Mountains all around.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Thirlmere from Steel Fell</em></td></tr>
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Backtracked to a tarn on the ridge to pick up the pack. The cloud had now burnt away from the high tops. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cloud free on Greenup Edge</em></td></tr>
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Being out so early was an absolute joy, it felt as though I had this marvellous place entirely to myself. I lounged around for a while on Gibson Knott just soaking it all up.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Nosey Lamb on Gibson Knott</em></td></tr>
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Eventually I moved on to the last fell of the weekend, Helm Crag. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Lion Couchant.Helm Crag</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Lion and the Lamb</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Descent to Grasmere</em><br />
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As I made the steep descent down to Grasmere I met day walkers heading in the opposite direction. <br />
It would soon be teeming with people in the hills around, but the wild camp had given me an experience of having the hills to myself for a few memorable hours. <br />
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Two very contrasting day's walking, with the added bonus of 10 Wainwrights to add to the list, and a smashing high camp had made the long wait for a good weather weekend worthwhile.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-40035924857462111682011-06-12T21:23:00.001+01:002012-12-24T16:06:12.601+00:00Wandering along High StreetLovely walk yesterday, bagging Wainwrights from AW's Book 2. <u>The Far Eastern Fells</u>.<br />
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Set off nice and early for the long drive up to the Lakes, following breakfast in Tebay Service Station I drove through Shap and took the back roads to Haweswater. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Haweswater Reservoir</em></td></tr>
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The day promised to be a cracker, blue skies and hardly a breath of wind. The car park at the bottom end of the reservoir was already almost full but I managed to find a space and set off walking at 09:15, following the path around the reservoir to pick up the path just before The Rigg which ascends steadily towards Rough Crag. If there is a better route up onto High Street I want to know about it. Great views open up of the surrounding fells and tarns with every step. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Blea Water </em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Looking back along the ridge</em></td></tr>
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In no time at all I emerged on High Street and strolled across to the trig pillar. It had been 20 year's or so since my last visit up here.<br />
I had walked up from Patterdale on a round of Rest Dodd, High Street and Thornthwaite Crag. I had no knowledge of AW's books back then so today was an opportunity to bag Wainwrights that I had walked past that day. <br />
I set off along High Street heading North for The Knott. This is nothing more than a bump just off the main path but AW deemed it worthy of a place in his book, so it had to be done. Straight line from there to Rest Dodd, then out to The Nab, a nice lonely spot for lunch listening to Skylarks and soaking up the views.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The summit cairn on Rest Dodd</em></td></tr>
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Back to Rest Dodd, again (can I count this on my 2nd and 3rd rounds?) then over pathless ground close to the crags up to Rampsgill Head which is a great view point<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Martindale from Rampsgill Head</td></tr>
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This marked the half way point on my attempt to complete the Wainwrights and if I do manage to finish them, I doubt that I will have many better days than this.<br />
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Its just a short pull up to High Raise, standing at 802 metres which is second in height only to High Street in this section, <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On High Raise in the buff!</td></tr>
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Another short stroll over to the final hill of the day, Kidsty Pike. This hill is prominent for miles around and the lofty summit cairn looks over to Riggindale Crag and High Street, A fine top on which to finish my Wainwright day. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Riggingdale and Haweswater from Kidsty Pike</em></td></tr>
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Nice descent, if a little eroded in places due to it being on the route of AW's Coast to Coast walk. Back at the car after 6 hours of total pleasure. <br />
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On a day such as this, The Lake District really does take some beating.<br />
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"One day like this a year will see me right"<br />
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-61631328192605910192011-06-02T22:53:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:06:51.114+00:00TGO Challenge 2011 SummaryWell, the dust has settled on the 2011 TGO Challenge event.<br />
It proved to be quite an eventful one this year mainly due to the unsavoury weather conditions and may well go down as the wettest and roughest conditions since the event began,<br />
It was certainly the most challenging of my 5 crossings to date and due to the conditions, the route I walked bore hardly any resemblance to the grand high level route that I had spent hours planning over the winter months.<br />
Great credit to all the first timers that made it across this year, and sympathy to those who had to pull out.for whatever reason.<br />
I must admit, that option did seriously cross my mind on at least one occasion! I am glad I stuck it out though as I have many good memories to go alongside the bad ones. As time passes the former will become the lasting memories and no doubt, when October comes around I will be eagerly filling in the application form for next year....it's just that kind of event which keeps you wanting more.<br />
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I will eventually post an account of the walk, but in the meantime there are a few photos at the bottom of the page in a slide show format which does not appear to work too well... The best way to view them is to click on "Select all" then click on "view as a slide show" in Photobucket.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-75515299228986743862011-04-25T10:52:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:07:24.825+00:00TGO Challenge 2010 Trip Report Dornie to Dunnottar Castle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS1pNt0JwmdEkhdBRRI4I5b6MmvXNrEmfwUP9A-dXkXhDgyC-NaKuDw3PfISCw3CukHaAxsDSwjaVP9oRUqdzimqtfmf1gPkUKJu4lAXNDFIXenglvmf0StRzZAqAV1cuEuCXq_kizP8/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>As the start of the 2011 Challenge is now just around the corner (13th May) I thought I would get myself in the mood by looking back on last year's event, which was my 4th coast to coast walk across Scotland. <br />
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I chose to start at the village of Dornie which is situated nicely beside Loch Alsh and the wonderfully restored Eilean Donan castle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eilean Donan Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Alsh</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS1pNt0JwmdEkhdBRRI4I5b6MmvXNrEmfwUP9A-dXkXhDgyC-NaKuDw3PfISCw3CukHaAxsDSwjaVP9oRUqdzimqtfmf1gPkUKJu4lAXNDFIXenglvmf0StRzZAqAV1cuEuCXq_kizP8/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><u>Day 1</u><br />
Following night of relative luxury in the Dornie Hotel, I signed the register and set off on a deliberately planned steady first day. The route took me beside Loch Long and then straight into the country via the River Glennan and Glen Elchaig as far as Iron Lodge. I was in and out of company all day with other Challenge walkers along this popular route. A few of them branched off for the Falls of Glomach and a few more for the head of Loch Mullardoch. Following a lunch stop at Iron Lodge I pushed on for a few km's to Loch Mhoicean where I pitched the tent for the first wild camp of the trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badly pitched tent at Loch Mhoicean</td></tr>
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<u>Day 2</u><br />
A restless night under canvass as is usual for my first wild camp of the trip. <br />
The loch is a windy old spot and it rained in the night. I was out of practice in mastering the art of pitching a tent, meaning that I had about 3 hours of fitful sleep all night.<br />
The main reason for camping at the loch was to put me in a good position to tackle the Mullardoch ridge which has four Munro's along it's 10km length and is one of the finest ridge walks in Scotland.<br />
The rain had fallen as snow on the tops and I was unsure that the ridge was a good option as the sky promised more snow. I ascended to the bealach between Carn na Braebaig and Meall Shuas to assess my prospects of either a hill day or the notoriously awful trudge beside Loch Mullardoch. <br />
A few moments to consider the options....There was only ever going to be one outcome really. <br />
I decided to do An Socach and see what conditions were like on the tops. I could always backtrack if the going was too severe. <br />
Up ahead I noticed Julie ad Daniel, two of the Challenger's that I had met yesterday and set out in earnest to catch them up. <br />
I eventually reached the top of An Socach just as the weather closed in. as I was approaching the trig point, another walker came towards it from the opposite direction. It was, of course another Challenger, Heine, who had ascended the North ridge having started out at Strathcarron the day before.<br />
There were now 4 of us up on the ridge and we stayed close together for what was quite a battle over the Munro's We had snow, hail, rain and heavy wind bursts to contend with all the way, A proper Mountain day that will live in the memory for a long time to come.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Socach and the ridge beyond</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking shelter on Sgurr na Lapaich</td></tr>
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I camped beside Loch a' Bhana that night and slept well.<br />
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<u>Day 3</u><br />
A short day along a pleasant enough minor road to Cannich. Stayed on the excellent camp site there and unwound in the village pub that night along with plenty of other Challenger's. Slept well, in a slightly inebriated condition and awoke with the first hangover of the trip<br />
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<u>Day 4</u><br />
Another relatively easy day, quite warm with blue skies. Picked up paths to Loch Riabachain where I bumped into Julie and Daniel again, with the help of some dubious group navigation we eventually found the forest track leading to the ancient Corrimony stone circle. <a href="http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/site.php?a=201">Corrimony Stones</a> from there it was forest tracks all the way to the "Nessie" village of Drumnadrochit to pick up supplies and enjoy a welcome pint before tramping along the road to Temple Pier for the boat ride across Loch Ness.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First boat load of Challengers depart Temple Pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Urquhart</td></tr>
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I caught the 2nd Gordon Menzies boat across the loch to Inverfarigaig and enjoyed the minor road walk to Ault-na goire, where I camped along with many other Challenge walkers, whisky was passed around until darkness fell and we all retired for the night..a good day.<br />
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<u>Day 5</u><br />
Up and off early on a glorious morning. Short road walk to Loch Mhor, then over Meall Donn, where the path ran out and more dubious navigation had me tramping through knee deep heather to eventually emerge accidentally, in the back garden of a modern, turreted monstrosity of a mansion, no doubt owned by some millionaire who "entertains" here occasionally. No one at home today though, luckily, so I wandered through the manicured grounds to pass through a gate proclaiming "Strictly, No Entry"...oops. <br />
From Loch Connagleann I followed a track to Carn Odhar for first views of the Cairngorms. The network of tracks lower down are a bit confusing, quite a few of which are not shown on the map. The River Findhorn came into view and this was followed to a wild camp at the magnificently named ruins at Coignafeuinternich.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Findhorn</td></tr>
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Pitched the tent and then sat by the burn enjoying a few drams whilst watching a huge deer herd coming down from the hills to graze. </div>
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Another fabulous day.</div>
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<u>Day 6</u></div>
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Followed the Allt Mhuilinn and Allt Spioradail to the River Dunlain, lunch in the Red Bothy and then off on the long haul up the Burma Road. Ticked off my first ever Corbett, Geal-charn Mor which gave excellent views of the Cairngorms. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cairngorms from Geal-charn Mor</td></tr>
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Another very hot day and I was feeling fine until I hit the road into Aviemore, where I hit something of a brick wall, my feet were suddenly in bits and I had no strength at all, all the signs pointed to dehydration. The mile or so into Aviemore must have taken me over an hour. I needed a bed, a shower and some food. </div>
Plenty of food options in the town and I stayed in the Youth Hostel, showered and slept very well.<br />
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<u>Day 7</u><br />
I was half a day ahead of schedule and used it up by lounging around in and around the hostel, before a leisurely stroll along a cycle track to Loch Morlich and the campsite there. Met up with Colin and Gus there and we had a pleasant evening in Glenmore Lodge, returning to the campsite after dark. A welcome short day after the low point yesterday.<br />
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<u>Day 8</u><br />
I'll let the pictures tell the story...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cairn Gorm ski slopes still open for business</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Ben Macdui with Caburn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beinn Mheadoin and a frozen Loch Etachan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well pitched Laser, Derry Lodge camp</td></tr>
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Outrageous day. 3 Munros, Cairn Gorm, Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm. Great wild campsite at Derry Lodge where I was treated to a superb Golden Eagle sighting. Heavy rain and thunder as I settled down in the tent..<br />
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<u>Day 9</u><br />
Another epic day. Stroll along Glen Lui then cut across to Glen Quoich via the Clais Fhearnaig, a lovely spot for a dip. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKT1EWnfs6ewGn74AQoowclbXoZM4TLoD1mUe-pl0dGOHMnTCGltq4ePnNWFupfbTDq4mGxu3Ny7tkfreeyjtNq-K2Lf1IJjcp985kOY1mhcxKVnXvVLX747q-69PkJqJ5VPLXUUcOAM/s1600/149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKT1EWnfs6ewGn74AQoowclbXoZM4TLoD1mUe-pl0dGOHMnTCGltq4ePnNWFupfbTDq4mGxu3Ny7tkfreeyjtNq-K2Lf1IJjcp985kOY1mhcxKVnXvVLX747q-69PkJqJ5VPLXUUcOAM/s640/149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clais Fhearnaig</td></tr>
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It was a scorcher today and the combination of snow melt from Ben Avon and the heavy rain last night meant that burns and rivers were running high. I followed the north bank of Quoich Water but I was unable to cross the river where I had intended.due to the spate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz1vTrTRNqy_uBoos-VaKdGAwfljdf3DbeZwNbWC3kR3aSeuNk32A2J-lFc-8EJQ_CaXS6eaXhEi5Xrx5PXZkwRrKn4riLO4tcz8bxWaDgGwQ5_ppSPMuWigjbWVjPmhXiFLvpm7YQbA/s1600/152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz1vTrTRNqy_uBoos-VaKdGAwfljdf3DbeZwNbWC3kR3aSeuNk32A2J-lFc-8EJQ_CaXS6eaXhEi5Xrx5PXZkwRrKn4riLO4tcz8bxWaDgGwQ5_ppSPMuWigjbWVjPmhXiFLvpm7YQbA/s640/152.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quoich Water in spate</td></tr>
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I eventually found a place to cross about a mile upstream and back tracked to pick up the path to join the infant River Gairn. The burns coming off the mountains were white water and I spent a lot of time searching for safe places to cross, I had never seen conditions like this before, eventually I managed to cross to the pathless south bank of the river and tramped through heather for about a mile to pick up the tracks leading to Glen Gairn. It had been a tiring experience but once on the track along the glen the walking was easy and I pushed on to camp about a mile short of Tullochmacarrick at I spot I had used on my first Challenge in 2006. 22 miles today and a battle most of the way, fell asleep to the sound of Curlews, Lapwings and Oyster Catchers.<br />
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<u>Day 10</u><br />
Ahead of schedule again so just a short walk, mainly on roads to Ballater, following an early start I was sat down in a cafe at 9 a.m enjoying a full Scottish breakfast, mugs of tea and reading the papers, very civilised. Stayed on the campsite in Ballater with many other Challengers and had a nice evening in the pub, eating, chatting and drinking Guinness. <br />
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<u>Day 11</u><br />
I could not get moving this morning, I was one of the last to pack up and then mooched around in the village for a while before eventually setting off on the Mounth Keen path as far as Lach na Gualainn, followed a burn down to Etnach and onwards through the forest of Glen Tanar. No spring in the step today, felt very tired following the hard days over and through the Cairngorms.<br />
I camped beside the Water of Feugh just below Birse Castle where I slept, fully clothed for 12 hours solid. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepathon camp site below Birse Castle</td></tr>
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<u>Day 12</u><br />
All the exertions were over now and it was just two steady days to the coast. Still ahead of schedule I decided to walk along the road to Strachan and try to get in a B&B that had read about. The road walk was pleasant enough and the MP3 player kept me going at a good pace into the village. I found the B&B at the far side of the village but unfortunately it was full. Decided to push on to Banchory where I managed to get the last room in the Royal British Legion which offers comfortable rooms and good food at a very good price. Slept well in only the second bed of the walk.<br />
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<u>Day 13</u><br />
I was off route now and had no option other than to tramp along a minor road and then the A957 Slug Road. Nothing else for it, head down and get on with it. Back on minor roads at Mergie to walk with other Challangers for the last few miles to Dunnottar Castle which is a suitably spectacular place to finish the walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGKR6hK2BgBOny-gVaZxZJQfBK92biyTsXaGexUWENQhvhhXJ9u2H4dJKcyfE3gx5IiyN4Q6TBOW1Q78CGfopq4ED9Gxwky9uqQ3-X6jT1FuqZYrqthgdDwGW87aG2IyQX_4hkg_4hhs/s1600/184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGKR6hK2BgBOny-gVaZxZJQfBK92biyTsXaGexUWENQhvhhXJ9u2H4dJKcyfE3gx5IiyN4Q6TBOW1Q78CGfopq4ED9Gxwky9uqQ3-X6jT1FuqZYrqthgdDwGW87aG2IyQX_4hkg_4hhs/s640/184.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunnottar Castle</td></tr>
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It had been a great walk, my best yet. Two great mountain days, a crossing of the Monadhliaths, lovely wild campsites and, at times, great company.<br />
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I stayed on the campsite in Stonehaven and the following morning caught the bus to Montrose for the party at the Park Hotel. Great to meet up with friends, old and new and the party went on deep into the night. <br />
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Roll on May 13th when I will do it all over again on what will be my 5th Coast to Coast crossing of Scotland.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-37156758338306572442011-04-10T12:49:00.000+01:002012-12-24T16:07:58.354+00:00UNDER SKIDDAW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a beautiful spring day yesterday and where better to spend it than the Lake District?<br />
We were on the road early and by 9:00 we found ourselves sitting down for a full English breakfast in Keswick...very nice too.<br />
Back in the car for the short drive beside Bassenthwaite Lake with eyes peeled for the Ospreys which nest in Dodd Wood (more on the Ospreys to follow), a few minutes later the car was parked and we were on our way over lovely pastures to pick up the ridge for Ullock Pike.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpfUZr5x-5ZV4v9Nbd30qaN8v2tUebiDLP4NHoWQb95T8j2Yuirn7iJ4N2Ifo6MzODOlje_C29n9nkH2oGVbDSBz0tCAQ7-PIS7kcUnZd7VxnX8gylFl7TtCP7gDIICzoCtwE0ksRJxk/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+001%2523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpfUZr5x-5ZV4v9Nbd30qaN8v2tUebiDLP4NHoWQb95T8j2Yuirn7iJ4N2Ifo6MzODOlje_C29n9nkH2oGVbDSBz0tCAQ7-PIS7kcUnZd7VxnX8gylFl7TtCP7gDIICzoCtwE0ksRJxk/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+001%2523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ullock Pike and the ridge.</td></tr>
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The ridge itself was a delight, lovely grassy paths lead over several bumpy bits with views of Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding fells opening up all the while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZfKOjHXn6BFKcZTtTEz22IqPGm1nzqnuYCfqiUS9QhH_8Vs1g_vKnBCkBd-uW1bKX2UJPsAw-sfvIKuhRGV9_O1wQo1x00yjYfLNdvdjiZpqWShVd9C3vXDfM-2DHU7eBUMTl29fIJY/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZfKOjHXn6BFKcZTtTEz22IqPGm1nzqnuYCfqiUS9QhH_8Vs1g_vKnBCkBd-uW1bKX2UJPsAw-sfvIKuhRGV9_O1wQo1x00yjYfLNdvdjiZpqWShVd9C3vXDfM-2DHU7eBUMTl29fIJY/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards distant Binsey</td></tr>
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Ullock Pike provided the steepest walking of the day but it was such a pleasure on a day like this and there was no need to hurry. Once over the Pike the going is very easy along Longside Edge under the shadow of Skiddaw. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzoDp54lyjrsIszDBZHO6LOSPxQdNYUAzf-0CdhcSKlxYXurIrFkB0m8t_CoDgFnKnfc0-w8h3mUYzSwgKl04j-I7YqBgTWW_6v1dUuDiZahdk6kF08QIceTJyXPbYO_jzZzptHRaVw0/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzoDp54lyjrsIszDBZHO6LOSPxQdNYUAzf-0CdhcSKlxYXurIrFkB0m8t_CoDgFnKnfc0-w8h3mUYzSwgKl04j-I7YqBgTWW_6v1dUuDiZahdk6kF08QIceTJyXPbYO_jzZzptHRaVw0/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ullock Pike from Longside Edge</td></tr>
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A short stroll from Longside leads to Carl Side, which unbelievably was our third Wainwright in the space of a mile with hardly any effort required.. I can't recall an easier 2000 feet of ascent than this. <br />
The views all around were superb and we spent quite some time wandering around on the top picking out hills that we recognised. The Scafells, Helvellyn and Skidaw were all in view <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEzja4SsO-6oyoosbTNdRGhQIhyE90vKvF8t4qOTO1dzrtsKUuNIg_JLrlhdPSBWB96XufgIZcI7TRFFXYb_QUVA4uRRJfMHhLUzdkJ_4TbomlGJAXdCzciVCJHfSAe6D9gR7EvMS_O8/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEzja4SsO-6oyoosbTNdRGhQIhyE90vKvF8t4qOTO1dzrtsKUuNIg_JLrlhdPSBWB96XufgIZcI7TRFFXYb_QUVA4uRRJfMHhLUzdkJ_4TbomlGJAXdCzciVCJHfSAe6D9gR7EvMS_O8/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snap happy on Carl Side</td></tr>
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The path from here up to Skiddaw didn't look very inviting at all, however this was not our concern as we were headed downwards towards Dodd, our final Wainwright of the day.<br />
AW dedicated 14 pages in his Pictorial Guides to this fell and it appears that it has changed considerably since the book was written. Today the upper part of the fell has been stripped bare the pine trees which completely enveloped it back in AW's day. What is left behind is a mess of fallen trees and tree stumps and an ugly road which more or less goes to the top of the fell.. <br />
What it lacks in height and beauty though, it more than makes up for by providing a superb vantage point of Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite lake and the surrounding fells.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQh-qtM7MToQP_7wZ_SfFIAE-kLV1YTAZbzJzNsqzns424I2Gjx8NdrsSQKb6RVcYdtRiZuKFVMJ8U5h65ewYoLJne2i_gPhOVpzwGHtGW2_EQ1bejDqMnxp4fR6AeKwijN0jJ5RXL3Q/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQh-qtM7MToQP_7wZ_SfFIAE-kLV1YTAZbzJzNsqzns424I2Gjx8NdrsSQKb6RVcYdtRiZuKFVMJ8U5h65ewYoLJne2i_gPhOVpzwGHtGW2_EQ1bejDqMnxp4fR6AeKwijN0jJ5RXL3Q/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwent Water and memorial stone on Dodd</td></tr>
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The path down to the forest was a little tortuous and Mark took a nasty tumble at one point, luckily no harm done. The view of Bassenthwaite Lake was grand though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8miWdy9FjatzQU7S4kLmPw3SmE1El2ZF3G2HeMZ3UwNwU9yle-13_9JoIy5qTdgabXnHKaOTX-GOw7HLB8sOgtYTj7SgF7_mx8ngKauadj7pRHc8wEHYi-Ej-wO_RzfwqT0lKn_BxBbU/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8miWdy9FjatzQU7S4kLmPw3SmE1El2ZF3G2HeMZ3UwNwU9yle-13_9JoIy5qTdgabXnHKaOTX-GOw7HLB8sOgtYTj7SgF7_mx8ngKauadj7pRHc8wEHYi-Ej-wO_RzfwqT0lKn_BxBbU/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bassenthwaite Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U-xAnsjMSgLrgkCKcdE2Qi15Kc8fh6AeHY637Q1pB4KOjABnVtT-yygQ8U7-dp1k0Xvbo_MMxz1y89ceUiqmKPVJuDvZZ27fkihOG2SlWjPBEWObP9kP5byfUcUwcN-K0n-uDm3RwOw/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U-xAnsjMSgLrgkCKcdE2Qi15Kc8fh6AeHY637Q1pB4KOjABnVtT-yygQ8U7-dp1k0Xvbo_MMxz1y89ceUiqmKPVJuDvZZ27fkihOG2SlWjPBEWObP9kP5byfUcUwcN-K0n-uDm3RwOw/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumble of fallen trees on the descent</td></tr>
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Eventually the forest tracks were gained and we came across the RSPB Lake District Osprey project in a clearing. <br />
<a href="http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/">Lake District Osprey Project</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN_hBCd-rJIJKyJfhuEeJCFGQN-3SOx1d0MDpZBuoZBIgtMwmAO54umW3J7mbji6QJz-WhVkGCpsrR1vxWLBRu0qq5n-f8rhXvq_udakRNLw-Ae23iU6jNapFf_HOiHJWjS2Wn1nOioA/s1600/UNDER+SKIDDAW+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN_hBCd-rJIJKyJfhuEeJCFGQN-3SOx1d0MDpZBuoZBIgtMwmAO54umW3J7mbji6QJz-WhVkGCpsrR1vxWLBRu0qq5n-f8rhXvq_udakRNLw-Ae23iU6jNapFf_HOiHJWjS2Wn1nOioA/s400/UNDER+SKIDDAW+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey watch</td></tr>
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The Ospreys were down in the valley, perched on a tree to the east of the Lake and we got good views from one of the scopes that the RSPB had set up....stunning. <br />
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The walk back to the car was pleasant enough through the forest and completed a lovely day out in the Lakes.Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-42489527953547812182011-03-06T15:13:00.000+00:002012-12-24T16:08:32.530+00:00WENTWORTH FOUR FOLLIES WALKConscious that the TGO Challenge is looming, I decided it was about time to get out of the house and start putting in a few miles and make a futile attempt to be fit for the start of the Challenge on 13th May.<br />
So, with that in mind I was up early yesterday to do a local walk taking in all four of the Wentworth Follies.<br />
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The Wentworth Follies are; Hoober Stand, The Needles Eye, Kepple's Column and Rockingham Mausoleum. <br />
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The Monuments, or "follies" are situated in the locality of the village of Wentworth and were all built during the 18th century on the orders of Charles Watson-Wentworth the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham and twice Prime Minister of England, and his father, Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquis of Rockingham, formerly Earl of Malton. <br />
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Detailed info can be found here...<a href="http://www.inkamera.ukgo.com/wfolly/index.htm">The Wentworth Follies</a><br />
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It was spotting with rain when I left the house but the weather forecaster promised better as the day progressed. <br />
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Just a few hundred yards from my house is the Waterloo kiln which is all that remains on the site of the famous Rockingham Pottery which operated from here for about 100 years from the mid 18th century onwards.<br />
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More reading here...<a href="http://www.rotherhamunofficial.co.uk/history/tradeandindustry/rockingham/index.html">The History of Rockingham Pottery</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterloo Kiln</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BPcnwzyhUc1zcQEH-S6FuAO6SHWJVpaYW1wQvbdwhZLpk5RES5ErSNRowcoDpQaWEg_rR_mgOMaMrjLPWYAb_SN08gESTcezVOo2qwYFvNHz5iJ8Zl9sOsFCvtFYMxGalCQLyP2Lsrk/s1600/P1010454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BPcnwzyhUc1zcQEH-S6FuAO6SHWJVpaYW1wQvbdwhZLpk5RES5ErSNRowcoDpQaWEg_rR_mgOMaMrjLPWYAb_SN08gESTcezVOo2qwYFvNHz5iJ8Zl9sOsFCvtFYMxGalCQLyP2Lsrk/s400/P1010454.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterloo Kiln and Pottery Pond</td></tr>
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From here it's just a short walk to Wath Wood where the remnants of "The Roman Ridge" are still intact. The history of this Rig Bank is unclear but it is thought to predate the Roman period and was probably built as a boundary line around 2000 years ago.<br />
Link <a href="http://www.rotherhamunofficial.co.uk/history/roman/romanridge.html">The Roman Ridge</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6RRwcB6JoYc9tvFmpaKb543HjvyUArWAMGhyphenhyphenyia3jp-AGeHNS6dz0i9hCLuwazg_-74NsujE2c99W_FBHUZFs4PlsBpiv-CtGil5Kx5G0RQQxwamWfapAXQJ2XjvSqLBnhwiWXlcRbI/s1600/P1010455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6RRwcB6JoYc9tvFmpaKb543HjvyUArWAMGhyphenhyphenyia3jp-AGeHNS6dz0i9hCLuwazg_-74NsujE2c99W_FBHUZFs4PlsBpiv-CtGil5Kx5G0RQQxwamWfapAXQJ2XjvSqLBnhwiWXlcRbI/s400/P1010455.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking along the Roman Ridge in Wath Wood</td></tr>
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Once through the wood it is about two miles along lanes and paths to the first Folly, Hoober Stand. <br />
Normally Hoober Stand can be seen for miles around and is the most prominent of the local land marks in South Yorkshire, not yesterday however as the weather had deteriorated to steady drizzle and I did not get sight of it until I was about 100 yards from it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnD1dYlUxZdbrkPXHDeiTIR0cg1s8ROExmM74HA-CBOVCnH6qdGMfY-kLdk6a8QNyIu-qFaxLNXRNRnLu8beiHdTJeeZsb6MXADx_0WVzLRDMcCUW4qdTwK_FK-rxO0l1uA8OrjGABfDE/s1600/P1010457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnD1dYlUxZdbrkPXHDeiTIR0cg1s8ROExmM74HA-CBOVCnH6qdGMfY-kLdk6a8QNyIu-qFaxLNXRNRnLu8beiHdTJeeZsb6MXADx_0WVzLRDMcCUW4qdTwK_FK-rxO0l1uA8OrjGABfDE/s400/P1010457.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoober Stand emerges from the gloom.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYp9K6MyENZJ90zlussqATBvxOYMwtUelATVXauYhpn8yvyp6gpMzqxHBqlMlwOC0s58GPLv-5Sj4cubNp987p5F1joCvRr6zOJAuYmDw1kL6nkHtDeLngs-U3ZinFAnEVA_6N3lkbnw/s1600/P1010460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYp9K6MyENZJ90zlussqATBvxOYMwtUelATVXauYhpn8yvyp6gpMzqxHBqlMlwOC0s58GPLv-5Sj4cubNp987p5F1joCvRr6zOJAuYmDw1kL6nkHtDeLngs-U3ZinFAnEVA_6N3lkbnw/s400/P1010460.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoober Stand close up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvX1OU4LzH2VcQXW3D2c1Gkol0EPid8ldbRTRNCX2cke01ZyEMCEw5j0MtaZtLBDrLdUznMQoQbJ9iqTxPbfmbQ5MVLeEioJl3D78xa_BCYOrNd6ySEcicc1HwsO1NgdCmMyoAAre30c/s1600/P1010459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvX1OU4LzH2VcQXW3D2c1Gkol0EPid8ldbRTRNCX2cke01ZyEMCEw5j0MtaZtLBDrLdUznMQoQbJ9iqTxPbfmbQ5MVLeEioJl3D78xa_BCYOrNd6ySEcicc1HwsO1NgdCmMyoAAre30c/s400/P1010459.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall plaque</td></tr>
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It's less than a mile from here to the next Folly, The Needle's Eye which, local fable has it was built as a bet by the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham that he could drive a coach and horses through the eye of a needle.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFemrj8zfwW_la7stnS6cyq2sgK3AQEirzbjwrFYHkeb6YIpMHE5yN9Zib6OspuGbGfQ_R7BDvEfDycG5QQEQSHoChVFZRRWKnCAA6c8vQziURkUVkfqV1q255aPi33p_foGqPg1p7XA/s1600/P1010464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFemrj8zfwW_la7stnS6cyq2sgK3AQEirzbjwrFYHkeb6YIpMHE5yN9Zib6OspuGbGfQ_R7BDvEfDycG5QQEQSHoChVFZRRWKnCAA6c8vQziURkUVkfqV1q255aPi33p_foGqPg1p7XA/s400/P1010464.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Needle's Eye</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb7FqV96_reH5nyjFdH1SKD6OPZrNP1nok2Ys9WyVO8SBFUOkn5K7dT7i3534oDlWLaonE06AzaGPG5hUFzFXDA2qn-GT14dcZnDYx1cQg7mJAgC3ginZvJxZNTbbBwUIS_hKOdpDcPs/s1600/P1010462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb7FqV96_reH5nyjFdH1SKD6OPZrNP1nok2Ys9WyVO8SBFUOkn5K7dT7i3534oDlWLaonE06AzaGPG5hUFzFXDA2qn-GT14dcZnDYx1cQg7mJAgC3ginZvJxZNTbbBwUIS_hKOdpDcPs/s400/P1010462.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Needle's Eye </td></tr>
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Backtracking slightly, I walked down the road into the village of Wentworth where I then entered the grounds of Wentworth Park and the once magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse which was home to the Fitzwilliam family. The mansion is now privately owned and stands empty and seemingly falling into an irretrievable state of dis-repair. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0MkyhO9PionP-MjMYU_HJeCvo4065hws_SR9blgjMQqT72lMFZ54TH08FQJKZg8S6UgZel9I6Nld_K2d5dYqdBiw30ooiDMtm-FoszGFt_Uby6gHuDeRtf3aJ8DDadXmDfZIfcyUnT0/s1600/P1010466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0MkyhO9PionP-MjMYU_HJeCvo4065hws_SR9blgjMQqT72lMFZ54TH08FQJKZg8S6UgZel9I6Nld_K2d5dYqdBiw30ooiDMtm-FoszGFt_Uby6gHuDeRtf3aJ8DDadXmDfZIfcyUnT0/s400/P1010466.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wentworth Woodhouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYqd5WDyEKvdUJulrp7VUjKhuHwOd1VkwGbiODp9h8C00iVtKtfjwUDFJttJFAI7zGc2a9zJzq-C92HHOhqc8e88sMezDTidgPmlrB89pGrEXArYdLOISUo70EmiAJglg6BPQFdiRpws/s1600/P1010469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYqd5WDyEKvdUJulrp7VUjKhuHwOd1VkwGbiODp9h8C00iVtKtfjwUDFJttJFAI7zGc2a9zJzq-C92HHOhqc8e88sMezDTidgPmlrB89pGrEXArYdLOISUo70EmiAJglg6BPQFdiRpws/s400/P1010469.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The East Front<br />
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<a href="http://www.wentworthvillage.net/history/wentworth-woodhouse">History of Wentworth Woodhouse</a></div>
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Continuing through the park I came across the Wentworth deer herd who were taking shelter from the worsening weather under the trees watched over by an attentive stag <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKnwv51SbycJao_hH_Cx4WCRYzRh_9frmL6uEP0igdn690oOZRrYiGPd-uEYiVrwaV976ksK_JBHsGySqHGtSxMH7n2blaSaWJ16A3eE54Bz3qO7xE1HWKO7i83iVq7Fx822j88upwiY/s1600/P1010470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKnwv51SbycJao_hH_Cx4WCRYzRh_9frmL6uEP0igdn690oOZRrYiGPd-uEYiVrwaV976ksK_JBHsGySqHGtSxMH7n2blaSaWJ16A3eE54Bz3qO7xE1HWKO7i83iVq7Fx822j88upwiY/s400/P1010470.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer in the park</td></tr>
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The next stretch was, in a word...miserable. From the fishing ponds at the bottom of the park the route then goes over fields using a muddy path for about a mile and a half. I passed The Penistone Ramblers going in the opposite direction and from the look on their faces they appeared to be enjoying themselves even less than me. A nice collection of bushy grey beards though!<br />
Once over the quagmire there was some nice woodland which climbs steadily to Folly number 3...Kepples Column.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o7h7_9jfHBAAE7H5EkPRP9OJRqXD5Br-eN6OnhyphenhyphenJh0RH7VBX7l8Aq-fRkDdi7yP18W9oC5FJtu77RkZxlCuaTEMH7cS7dQzujcoJQgO0p7Qa6yiT9L5H4hCEOqbhZLqLnld3kWmUg3U/s1600/P1010471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o7h7_9jfHBAAE7H5EkPRP9OJRqXD5Br-eN6OnhyphenhyphenJh0RH7VBX7l8Aq-fRkDdi7yP18W9oC5FJtu77RkZxlCuaTEMH7cS7dQzujcoJQgO0p7Qa6yiT9L5H4hCEOqbhZLqLnld3kWmUg3U/s400/P1010471.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Kepple's Column</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxiqPFixDkubtwdnOJy3b6Zdiww63srgGYegwJcgWkyDRH3QkUxNGyPuJB6kD-CwMONxsEPwVxdogYjH4nkq4LLxxfUHhQdm5RGvOtTiVog1Y9dES6-o7An-4NCjvtvCxTi2AFefvKp4/s1600/P1010472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxiqPFixDkubtwdnOJy3b6Zdiww63srgGYegwJcgWkyDRH3QkUxNGyPuJB6kD-CwMONxsEPwVxdogYjH4nkq4LLxxfUHhQdm5RGvOtTiVog1Y9dES6-o7An-4NCjvtvCxTi2AFefvKp4/s400/P1010472.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kepples Column close up</td></tr>
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The persistent drizzle had stopped now...it was pissing it down! so I didn't hang around for long and headed back to the fishing ponds feeling sorry for myself.<br />
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From the ponds I picked up a vague path to final Folly of the day.. The Mausoleum<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTocUfbXXJ6Iq6YlsG2VdEZHF_kNjE0c3wo9TQhQKpfHDz0ASw3cSUBotegyE5LdDiKzLs-zX3ClDYheAdXYyJJ67sZWi51CU5ykBjlK4QXhMtervdrZRoRDCOQjx0LqDwm8Ie0KZdTw/s1600/P1010474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTocUfbXXJ6Iq6YlsG2VdEZHF_kNjE0c3wo9TQhQKpfHDz0ASw3cSUBotegyE5LdDiKzLs-zX3ClDYheAdXYyJJ67sZWi51CU5ykBjlK4QXhMtervdrZRoRDCOQjx0LqDwm8Ie0KZdTw/s400/P1010474.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mausoleum</td></tr>
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This is apparently open to the public during summer months and I may return on a dry day to have a closer look. <br />
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I had had enough by now though and got my head down for the final 3 miles or so back to my house and a welcome hot bath.<br />
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Points noted from yesterday's walk.<br />
<ul>
<li>I will not be fit for the TGO Challenge on 13th May. I will get fit on the walk as usual.</li>
<li>I will maintain a good level of fitness through June and will then gradually degenerate into a physical wreck for the next 11 months.</li>
<li>Walking in the rain for 5 hours is not much fun!</li>
<li>South Yorkshire has some interesting buildings and nice countryside...best saved for a sunny day.</li>
<li>The weather forecasters don't know what they are talking about.</li>
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Once dried out, I headed off to Leeds to see Frank Turner play a "secret" gig in a pub. He played this song which sums up how I felt at times during the walk yesterday.<br />
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"I lied about being the outdoor type"Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-14555222077081289172011-01-30T21:16:00.000+00:002012-12-24T16:08:56.099+00:00Wainwright Bagging.The First 100.<div class="separator" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
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I have been walking in the English Lake District for about 20 years now. Initially I would travel up there on my own for the occasional weekend or even drive there and back from South Yorkshire in one day. <br />
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Back then I was blissfully oblivious of the existance hill lists such as "Wainwrights", "Birketts, "Marilyns" etc, etc. I would simply pick a route from the maps and walk it. <br />
Early walks I recall included Coniston Old Man , The Fairfield Horseshoe, Helvellyn via Striding Edge, Bowfell and Crinckle Crags. </div>
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Gradually, my trips to the Lakes became less frequent, I had instead started venturing further north up to the Scottish Highlands.<br />
My walking would be confined to an annual trip to Scotland and occasional walks closer to home in the Peak District... I was neglecting the Lake District.</div>
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A few years passed by, then, a conversation with a chap I knew from the local cricket club (Mark Limb), touched on the topic of hill walking. It turned out that Mark also enjoyed walking in the hills and he was in fact "bagging" Wainwrights and he had ticked off 60 odd of them. I was aware of Alfred Wainwright's (AW's) work by this time and when I got home I looked up the list of Wainwrights and discovered I had inadvertently done about 30 of them.</div>
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For the benefit of the uninitiated <u>The Wainwrights</u> are a list of hills taken from the 7 books written and beautifully illustrated by AW between 1954 and 1966. His books are a testament of his dedication to the task, bordering on obsessiveness, and they are still a best seller today. </div>
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Much has been written about the great man and I don't intend to cover his life story here. </div>
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You can find more info here....<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wainwright">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wainwright</a> ...if so inclined. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7cMUpumcLdr590tEfIipcfTVlKW2P-V9slbMHjQE1UummP5-VvvaQ4_YUpAvDHHk-Npjp6sZAyn7Wy2AbAG6jBmjLWhVXS13ueEY3pGFpnqKup57gd5BfPGKc_oINeXZpV7bW7YH4jU/s1600/Pictorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7cMUpumcLdr590tEfIipcfTVlKW2P-V9slbMHjQE1UummP5-VvvaQ4_YUpAvDHHk-Npjp6sZAyn7Wy2AbAG6jBmjLWhVXS13ueEY3pGFpnqKup57gd5BfPGKc_oINeXZpV7bW7YH4jU/s1600/Pictorial.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of the first of the 7 Pictorial guides</td></tr>
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Over the last 3 or 4 years Mark and I have made regular trips up to Cumbria, sometimes for a weekend but more often taking turns to drive there and back in the day. <br />
Last weekend, we did a lovely circuit of the hills which surround Boredale in the Far Eastern Fells. Wainwrights were "bagged" and the last one of the day, Place Fell was my 100th hill from the Pictorial Guides of the Lakeland Fells by A Wainwright.. </div>
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In terms of shear beauty, the English Lake District has no rival in the British Isles. For such a relatively small area the region has it all in terms of mountain sceenery, stunningly beautiful valleys, rivers and grand lakes. I am not sure if I will ever complete all 214 of the fells in AW's books but they will give me a reason to keep going back there on a regular basis, and that will do for me.</div>
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Alfred Wainwright has another dedicated follower. </div>
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A few photo's from some memorable days. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql9ozD0mLDupiWEoy5V5RnJPxt1i9bJ7D0aDR436Ht4djXSBSWoqmcG4QOrSnhpm7nMP2RdJAAF5Hc_2o2cVZ4OxvTkhwRBaMjDzVOYjDI8ZiUQlbf3q7-d5cNFJN20Msn-idPacYKYw/s1600/Skiddaw+Panorama.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql9ozD0mLDupiWEoy5V5RnJPxt1i9bJ7D0aDR436Ht4djXSBSWoqmcG4QOrSnhpm7nMP2RdJAAF5Hc_2o2cVZ4OxvTkhwRBaMjDzVOYjDI8ZiUQlbf3q7-d5cNFJN20Msn-idPacYKYw/s640/Skiddaw+Panorama.bmp" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiddaw Panorama</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fMpBLXFSIGRMaNXgEr98biNkhCB2w7gJL3_TJq8vDeXaBjkvJGgDcjKP-ws_g2lFz4Nd4Toca62sSbtKQu9w5BGMgUq6O5W47hIm-fQFLAxcXQ4y2z8ZhZ-lD834gIHY1DuIY9WRQ0A/s1600/Peep+Around+The+Corner.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fMpBLXFSIGRMaNXgEr98biNkhCB2w7gJL3_TJq8vDeXaBjkvJGgDcjKP-ws_g2lFz4Nd4Toca62sSbtKQu9w5BGMgUq6O5W47hIm-fQFLAxcXQ4y2z8ZhZ-lD834gIHY1DuIY9WRQ0A/s400/Peep+Around+The+Corner.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Peep around the corner"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Oyjo-tTDzwZdKKdgfO4UytwWhYB8AeUKTfcUKa-ai9OqFyk1_4YXgUkMIsyDklosbyEypig3qm3MvXvgMpwSWm9-WqLqVVGsgqkMwD8yFkQCmXGOsZcIqeRIlwLqXNHGlHaW3GsHUw/s1600/Allen+Crags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0Oyjo-tTDzwZdKKdgfO4UytwWhYB8AeUKTfcUKa-ai9OqFyk1_4YXgUkMIsyDklosbyEypig3qm3MvXvgMpwSWm9-WqLqVVGsgqkMwD8yFkQCmXGOsZcIqeRIlwLqXNHGlHaW3GsHUw/s400/Allen+Crags.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarn on Seathwaite Fell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy75UWGHCez1QRtAwZy2hPL5_9an4fPgaiCfRvdz5GR6PWCMNsPdmLoD3N5jZEazSosVZZsgxHFeEIgYPN38y72qxljqPDWbuI0RDFywhCPYNQJ6PzLMCY18adxdZZRbrti9pjodGeqLE/s1600/Pavey+Ark.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 312px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 400px;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy75UWGHCez1QRtAwZy2hPL5_9an4fPgaiCfRvdz5GR6PWCMNsPdmLoD3N5jZEazSosVZZsgxHFeEIgYPN38y72qxljqPDWbuI0RDFywhCPYNQJ6PzLMCY18adxdZZRbrti9pjodGeqLE/s400/Pavey+Ark.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pavey Ark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn61Ul2bWt4Em4810I41f2Q6i8aYJoqTIGHf1XA7hQ1Pr0pJezFMqO05Dti8RL3C1x5VGrU9elwEOzWPRQGIP-vqUyMwxg7SVWOosn1eN0v60Y-WJ5URJLZPOSI0sC8KFQAnNPIZiGOYM/s1600/Pike+O%2527+Stickle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn61Ul2bWt4Em4810I41f2Q6i8aYJoqTIGHf1XA7hQ1Pr0pJezFMqO05Dti8RL3C1x5VGrU9elwEOzWPRQGIP-vqUyMwxg7SVWOosn1eN0v60Y-WJ5URJLZPOSI0sC8KFQAnNPIZiGOYM/s400/Pike+O%2527+Stickle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pike O' Stickle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFhz25M3gBNmZLKHqZUlYF0MX6wepvlrAqOXNhwtG7E0iUTX6dEZXpOEE-mRD0c2VRNMrEVZdzwbw6JrZWzxZyJdikADBVh5ujAVTrUI-7Obb-M2NNrXBhquuLZsgrnllY7YDrLCYBeA/s1600/The+Scafells.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFhz25M3gBNmZLKHqZUlYF0MX6wepvlrAqOXNhwtG7E0iUTX6dEZXpOEE-mRD0c2VRNMrEVZdzwbw6JrZWzxZyJdikADBVh5ujAVTrUI-7Obb-M2NNrXBhquuLZsgrnllY7YDrLCYBeA/s400/The+Scafells.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The majestic Scafells from Grey Friar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUkqub3GcOafdn46bZ6ZDrC0Mrbe6k8zzUkcAKLZzUr7L8tz0riR4dYUm82-_mPwgJNUb1bNEBkkkzpI1WaK-slTJFUjsx7i2hzv6N-Vu9Zlpm7k6-NSOvfcU8DrUjE7vHzpLxo2voAc/s1600/Place+Fell.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUkqub3GcOafdn46bZ6ZDrC0Mrbe6k8zzUkcAKLZzUr7L8tz0riR4dYUm82-_mPwgJNUb1bNEBkkkzpI1WaK-slTJFUjsx7i2hzv6N-Vu9Zlpm7k6-NSOvfcU8DrUjE7vHzpLxo2voAc/s400/Place+Fell.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Place Fell last week </td></tr>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-11831799898346842892011-01-23T21:10:00.000+00:002012-12-24T16:09:20.816+00:00TGO Challenge Route 2011. The second week.By this stage, one week into a long walk, life becomes a routine. All thoughts are focused on where you are headed that day, the weather conditions, navigation, rest stops and at the end of the day, finding a nice spot to pitch the tent<br />
This is a lifestyle of the most simplistic kind... Living the life of a nomad. <br />
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Fri 20th May.<br />
Head out of Dalwhinney with a heavy pack containing 4 days worth of food supplies, following the Aqueduct up to Loch Cuaich where there is a nice track along the length of the loch. Rough pathless walking then following the water courses down the the river Tromie.where there is a bridge close to Bhran cottage. Head north from here along glen Tromie before cutting across to Baileguish via Croidh-la and forestry. Hope to camp at Baileguish but rumour has it the this area is popular with deer tick's, so may push on to Glen Feshie<br />
Distance covered 24km with about 600m of ascent.<br />
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Sat 21st May<br />
Hopefully after 8 day's walking I will be fit as a fiddle by this stage. I will need to be as I have planned two seriously testing hill days through the Cairngorms. Today, the plan is to take the Foxhunters path up to Carn Ban More and navigate over the plateau to the Munros on the eastern edge. This is magnificent country and I really hope I get the weather to be able to do this walk. I have twice planned to do this but on both occasions have been thwarted by poor weather. Third time lucky I hope...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2cLJseHedht8IkPW2sjyJ8AvGqWSjQ2DgNdD83a2JkIeRHHFCn1_mn0a8bdWL64ORAopR8snVTCGZxxtK9hr9kg2vl-DvQEEuHMETdun3D_mVv4phBEJqG-a7OAOzO0w44ryeqNvGeo/s1600/Cairngorms.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 165px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 203px;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2cLJseHedht8IkPW2sjyJ8AvGqWSjQ2DgNdD83a2JkIeRHHFCn1_mn0a8bdWL64ORAopR8snVTCGZxxtK9hr9kg2vl-DvQEEuHMETdun3D_mVv4phBEJqG-a7OAOzO0w44ryeqNvGeo/s320/Cairngorms.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Ben Macdui</td></tr>
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I had a great view of these three Munros (Sgor an Lochain Uaine, Cairn Toul and The Devils Point) from Ben Macdui on last year's walk.</div>
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The descent to Corrour bothy can be tricky if there is significant snow in Coire Odhar, hopefully it will be fine on the day as I need to push on to camp close to Derry Lodge to put me in a good position for the long walk the following day.</div>
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Derry Lodge</div>
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I camped here last year and was lucky enough to have a great Golden Eagle sighting, a cracking end to a memorable day.</div>
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It's a really lovely spot close to the Derry Burn amongst the Scots Pines. There should be a few other Challenge walkers here but most will be ahead of me by a day and no doubt living it up in Marr Lodge or Braemar.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikYKfTn3EPWZUb7HUK7CWu-dEgBFyjaMw_GYRzwnjqfO7HnRldUMeXcKluQWNoUXgC1waFf_WXo4myS5xb1lDon9lj0JiW7DIHCI6pb-49NKWmO5fUgteqKIK8pRVOKN_gHBrJrG3kaY/s1600/Derry+Lodge+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikYKfTn3EPWZUb7HUK7CWu-dEgBFyjaMw_GYRzwnjqfO7HnRldUMeXcKluQWNoUXgC1waFf_WXo4myS5xb1lDon9lj0JiW7DIHCI6pb-49NKWmO5fUgteqKIK8pRVOKN_gHBrJrG3kaY/s320/Derry+Lodge+camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derry Lodge camp 2010</td></tr>
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Sun 22nd May<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Early start and another big hills day. I walked part of this route last year and enjoyed it so much that I included it again this year, Clais Fhearnaig has a wonderful lochan, few walkers pass this way and it's an ideal oportunity for a skinny dip/scrub up/tick check. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Glen Quoich is quite stunning too. From here I hope to head up to Ben Avon and its two Munros. If I am going to opt out of a high level day and instead take the FWA, then I suspect it will be today. Hope not though as I really want to see the topography on the Ben Avon tops.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK-heaBHCGstTmCmKryt_lE2kYsqW9jlU9lKTmHAHi2ws-AlbBj5KHZC6n7bhTlUf6nSi4X6ABFVlwIo2JK8qkG9wrUqjgUlXRckZXoM650CypuuZpvPF5v6Pv2sYrOg2vsGv__2tat0/s1600/Clais+Fearnaig.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK-heaBHCGstTmCmKryt_lE2kYsqW9jlU9lKTmHAHi2ws-AlbBj5KHZC6n7bhTlUf6nSi4X6ABFVlwIo2JK8qkG9wrUqjgUlXRckZXoM650CypuuZpvPF5v6Pv2sYrOg2vsGv__2tat0/s320/Clais+Fearnaig.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clais Fhearnaig</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Either way, I will end up following the River Gairn as far as Loch Builg where I intend to camp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Distance 30km</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ascent 1250m (If Ben Avon is done)</span></div>
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Mon 23rd May<br />
Easy day along Glen Gairn, familiar territory for me as I have passed this way twice before on previous Challenges. I like this glen a lot, the walking is easy on good paths and tracks and there are Oyster Catchers, Curlews and Lapwings in good numbers to add interest to the walk. I will then follow minor roads along side the river into civilisation again at Ballater and a welcome B&B. <br />
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25km and a lowly 400m of upwardness.<br />
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Tue 24th May.<br />
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REST DAY. Spent doing...well, not very much at all really except sleeping, eating and drinking Guinness.<br />
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Wed 25th May.<br />
Mounth Keen path to Mount Keen and onwards to Tarfside.<br />
Tarfside is a funnel for Challenge walkers heading for the coastline in the St Cyrus-Montrose area. <br />
On the Tuesday the "campsite" will be full of Atkos, Lasers, Tarps and the like and the Masons Arms will do a roaring trade on what is one of the most "sociable" evenings on the Challenge. <br />
I expect the Wednesday night crowd to be a bit more refined and I'm not even sure the Masons will be open. <br />
Still, it should mean that I can get a bed in St Drostans hostel and have the full attention of the lovely ladies who staff the hostel for the benefit of TGO Challengers.<br />
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Distance 27km Ascent 1150m (if Mount Keen not bypassed)<br />
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Thur 26th May<br />
The walk will be almost over now, just one and a half easy going days to the coast. Today I will just follow the River North Esk into Edzell for lunch and then on to the campsite at North Water Bridge.<br />
About 25km today with no ascent worth mentioning.<br />
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Friday 27th May.<br />
Early start along lanes and and paths to my finish point on the beach in Montrose Bay. Paddle in the sea and walk along the beach to hopefully catch the aftermath of the morning after the night before on the campsite in Montrose. <br />
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And there you have it.... The most challenging of my challenge walks to date with some long, tough days. It's within my capabilities though so long as I stay injury free, eat well and the weather is not too serious. It will be interesting when I post my trip report to see how close the actual route turns out compared to the planned route.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKm2r5gxTRFsKu0sZk7AC5RXwBPvvPN22-9W4GvkdG0fZhwnvYtJMELZbl5C9QOGIGz4vpIg_CGNbWx6XBkwOxu2yA-BRPzVcpyAmOysDyWE_x7NE0LcxKDSzJ23kL4xSSG-45pC3JKs/s1600/2007.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKm2r5gxTRFsKu0sZk7AC5RXwBPvvPN22-9W4GvkdG0fZhwnvYtJMELZbl5C9QOGIGz4vpIg_CGNbWx6XBkwOxu2yA-BRPzVcpyAmOysDyWE_x7NE0LcxKDSzJ23kL4xSSG-45pC3JKs/s400/2007.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach celebration St Cyrus 2007 after falling into bad company. </td></tr>
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Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160366669564471379.post-88299269546511446422011-01-18T21:22:00.000+00:002012-12-24T16:09:45.130+00:00TGO Challenge Route 2011. The first week.Well I finally managed to get my route completed last week and sent off for vetting.<br />
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The vetters are experienced Challenge walkers and they do a great job reviewing the 300 or so submitted routes. The main reason the route is vetted is to make sure that all participants know how to work out distances and ascents and that they have not inadvertently planned a route that may get them into trouble if the weather closes in. For any day where the route is high level, you have to submit a lower level "Foul Weather Alternative" (FWA) route for that day.<br />
I enjoy the planning aspect, and pass on many a winter's evening working out the routes, planning hill days, re-supply points and booking any accommodation along the route. This year I will only have one night of luxury , in a B&B at Ballater, I will camp out in the wild or on campsites on all the other nights.<br />
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I received my route back yesterday from Alan Hardy and was pleased when I read the his opening comments.<br />
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<em>"It's a very fine line that you are following this year with some great wilderness and hill days and the possibility of some good social evenings later in the walk"</em><br />
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Alan then goes on to pass on useful information on aspects of the route that he has previously.walked.<br />
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The route outline is as follows:<br />
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Thursday 12th May.<br />
Travel by train to Glasgow. Join the afternoon train there to Oban. Jump on a Cal Mac ferry to Mull where a bus awaits the ferry to take me to Tobermory.<br />
I will spend the evening in Tobermory and stay in the Youth Hostel that night.<br />
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Friday 13th May.<br />
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Early morning ferry to Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan penninsular then bus to Laga Bay on Loch Sunart. I will start walking from here. First hill of the walk will be Ben Laga which should be a great view point, then down the other side to Loch Laga to join up with the former drove road to Acharacle.<br />
All challengers must sign out at one of the designated start points so that the organisers know that you have started the walk. Acharacle is where I will sign out before an afternoon stroll down the road <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFvsYCi9M2xcDjr1RIeZtHqxQELGlJFnPyPOyWqYM2BpxpmW6hhQjNIehxGUWmJQsGGr7_9QvkIPwB8iTfTw8u-1mZQG5FOKctFZvqvcHmRwBYZWU2EaG3SFW7eepPz4jTGaAvQ7iIwk/s1600/Laga+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFvsYCi9M2xcDjr1RIeZtHqxQELGlJFnPyPOyWqYM2BpxpmW6hhQjNIehxGUWmJQsGGr7_9QvkIPwB8iTfTw8u-1mZQG5FOKctFZvqvcHmRwBYZWU2EaG3SFW7eepPz4jTGaAvQ7iIwk/s200/Laga+Bay.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laga Bay and Loch Sunart</td></tr>
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to Salen Hotel where I will have lunch.<a href="http://www.salanhotel.co.uk/">(Link to hotel)</a><br />
It has a good reputation and will be my last chance for "proper" food for a few days.<br />
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After lunch I will walk the 2 miles to <a href="http://www.resipole.co.uk/">Resipole Campsite</a> which is spectacularly situated beside Loch Sunart.<br />
A nice easy first day. 19km and 750m of ascent.<br />
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Sat 14th May.<br />
After yesterday's steady day, today will be one of the toughest of the trip.<br />
A path starts close to the campsite and heads straight into the hills. Beinn Resipol stands at 845m above sea level and will be my first big hill of the trip. Spectacular views are expected. Continuing in an easterly direction (that's the general idea) along the ridge, I will eventually descend to the ruins of some old lead mines, pass close by Bellsgrove Loch to yet more mine ruins where I will start the long climb to the days second Corbett, Sgurr Dhomhnuill and yet more breathtaking views. The plan then is to follow the ridge down to the River Scaddle where I will enjoy my first wild camp of the trip.<br />
23km and a monstrous 1900m of ascent.<br />
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Sun 15th May.<br />
A long day today, but easy going along tracks down Glen Scaddle to the A861. Along the road for about 6km to pick up the Corran Ferry, lunch in the Argdour Hotel then continue through Inchree, Gleann Seilach and Lundavra to pick up the West Highland Way. Heading eastwards (trend here) I intend to camp close to Larigmore ruin.<br />
35km and 640m of ascent.<br />
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Mon 16th May. Another "Biggie" today. Follow WHW to Kinglochleven, pick up supplies and enjoy a cooked meal then head out of the village for the eastern Mamores. Long hard climb to my first Munros of the trip, Na Gruigaichean and Binnein Mor. High camp at Coire an Lochan.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coire an Lochan</td></tr>
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Planned distance: 16.5km<br />
Ascent: 1500m<br />
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Tue 17th May.<br />
Following yesterdays exertions, today should be nice and steady. I have the option of nipping up Sgurr Eilde Mor (Munro), be rude not to, then dropping down (not literally) to Loch Eilde Mor and then along good paths to the bothy at Loch Chiarain. Following a leisurely lunch on goodies picked up in Kinlochleven in the bothy, I have a pleasant afternoon stroll to Loch Treig where I will pitch the tent and soak up the views.<br />
22km and 820m of upwardness.<br />
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Wed 18th May.<br />
The Munro, Beinn na Lap will follow immediately after breakfast. I have climbed this hill before on the Challenge in 2007 and it is a relatively easy climb, it's a smashing viewpoint though and one of my favourite hills.<br />
Onwards and eastwards then to Loch Ghuillbin, Lubvan and wild camp at Lochan na H-Earba<br />
22km, 850m<br />
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Thur 19th May<br />
Quite a big day today with two more Munros planned, Creag Pitridh and Geal Charn. <br />
Descent to River Pattack then rough going past Lochan na Doire Uaine and onwards to Dalwhinney.<br />
Hope to fit in a tour of the distillery here and also get a meal in the Inn of Loch Ericht in Dalwhinney<br />
28km and 1200m of ascent.<br />
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Week 2 to follow...Dave Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14927710910562262509noreply@blogger.com0