Tag Archives: hiking

Feb 24 2023
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Walkers on Knott Rigg

Thursday 23rd February 2023, 12.40pm (day 4,200)

Walkers on Knott Rigg, 23/2/23

It was about time I paid another visit to the Lake District, having missed out on most of the winter, and I was not the only person to be thinking that it was too nice a day to stay indoors. The walkers stand on Knott Rigg, a fairly inconsequential lump that becomes the 306th Wainwright bagged on my second round, so I have 24 to go. In the background, Red Pike.

I notice that this blog, which was started on my 42nd birthday — hence the name — has now reached day 4,200. I am sure that I will think of some way of marking 6th April, which I calculate will be day 4,242.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Feb 14 2023
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

The Ladies’ Mile, Swinley Forest

Monday 13th February 2023, 11.35am (day 4,190)

Ladies' Mile, 13/2/23

Day off work today and glorious weather, so I got out and bagged the latest County Top: this one lying in the vast expanse of Swinley Forest, south of Bracknell in Berkshire. The ‘Ladies’ Mile’ was this seemingly endless, dead straight path; this view epitomising the day, both for the trees and also the large number of dogs running free, their owners largely oblivious.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jan 25 2023
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Two Stone Tops

Wednesday 25th January 2023, 11.05am (day 4,171)

Two Stone Tops, 25/1/23

You didn’t think I had come all the way out to St Helena just to work, did you? Not a chance, not when there is some great walking to be done. Like the hike out to Great Stone Top, here on the right — and its smaller (but less accessible) brother, Little Stone Top as well. (More detail and photos on my other blog.)

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Jan 08 2023
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

The Lomond Hills (masochism)

Sunday 8th January 2023, 10.55am (day 4,154)

On West Lomond, 8/1/23

It was a nice sunny morning in Dundee, some 20 miles, as the crow flies, from where this picture was taken. I was not the only walker lulled into a false sense of weather security as a result. The damp splodges on this shot are unfortunate but, really, unavoidable. Anyway — here we all are on West Lomond, the highest point in the county (and ancient kingdom) of Fife. In the background, East Lomond, which I may haul myself up one of these days — but in better weather, I can assure you. (For more detail feel free to consult my County Tops blog.)

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 30 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Above the clouds

Tuesday 29th November 2022, 10.05am (day 4,114)

Wansfell Pike, 29/11/22

A day when it was hard to pick one single photo, but that is why — for such occasions — I have my other walking blog, where I don’t submit myself to such silly rules as one pic per day. The weather conditions for a walk in the Lake District were marvellous today, not just because of the blue skies above but the clouds below, filling up the valleys all day and allowing even the most humble of mountains to float above giant lakes of whipped cream for a while. The parts of Loughrigg Fell that are on the left cannot be more than about 400 feet above sea level, at the points where they emerge from the clouds. Wansfell Pike, the prominent rise in the background, is about 1,500 feet.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 04 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

The summit of Brock Barrow

Wednesday 2nd November 2022, 11.25am (day 4,087)

Brock Barrow summit, 2/11/22

Brock Barrow is only about 750 feet above sea level (228m for all you metric system users) but it has a good view, including of Coniston Water below. Nice cairn too. It becomes my 303rd Wainwright on my second round: 27 to go. Tell you what though, it was damn windy and cold up there, even if it doesn’t look it. I just about got my 202nd Wainwright walk in before a storm arrived at lunchtime.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 09 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Wind farm, above Walsden

Saturday 8th October 2022, 12.45pm (day 4,062)

Wind farm, 8/10/22

After five interior shots I had to get outside, the day being of the pleasant sort that might not recur too often before winter really hits. No trains, however — blame the government — so I had to conduct my wanderings somewhere nearer to home. Between Walsden and Bacup there lies a chunk of moorland that was previously unexplored, so I duly explored it. This shot is taken from very close to the Yorkshire/Lancashire border, but still just on the Yorkshire side.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Sep 22 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Skiddaw Forest

Wednesday 21st September 2022, 12.15pm (day 4,045)

Skiddaw Forest, 21/9/22

The title of this post is not ironic: despite appearances, this place really is called Skiddaw Forest. I don’t know if other parts of the world use the word or its equivalent to describe places that are as vastly treeless as this is, but we English do pride ourselves on our sense of wry humour, do we not. (For more pictures of this and nearby places, see my Lake District walking blog.)

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Sep 18 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Darrach Hill (an arse)

Saturday 10th September 2022, 11.25am (day 4,034)

Darrach Hill, 10/9/22

Darrach Hill lies a short (but not easy) way north of the town of Kilsyth, in central Scotland. Ot becomes the fifty-ninth County Top that I have surmounted — and if you’re interested in that parallel project please do follow my other blog. The summit of this hill is only 1,171 feet/357m above sea level — sounds easy, right? Don’t you believe it. The crap that one has to negotiate to reach the summit fully justifies my use of the anatomical reference in the title of this post.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jul 18 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

The Naked Rambler of Stokenchurch (rear view)

Sunday 17th July 2022, 11.20am (day 3,979)

Naked rambler, 17/7/22

Like this gentleman, I felt that a ramble in the Chiltern hills was a fine way of spending a warm, sunny Sunday morning (and I got another County Top out of my efforts, if you want to read more). Unlike this gentleman, however, I did it in clothing: this bloke really was stark bollock naked other thank his pack and shoes. This shot is a rear view only but I can assure you he was letting it all hang out. I hope he had sunscreen. He looked rather grumpy about it, all things considered.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
← Older posts
%d bloggers like this: