How the Duke of Cornwall stole a footpath and I rediscovered it

February 19, 2020 Good causes bodmin moor, britain, cheesewring, cornwall, hill walking, ordnance survey, public access, public footpaths, ramblers association, walking 7 Comments

The Ramblers Association has launched a campaign to reclaim some of Britain’s lost footpaths before legislation comes into effect that turns them permanently into private land. The campaign was accompanied by the launch of a clever app which I had some fun with last weekend.

Monte Amaro up the backside: a bittersweet ascent in the Apennines

November 13, 2019 Trip reports abruzzo, apennine 2000ers, apennines, hill walking, italy, maiella, monte acquaviva, monte amaro, monte macellaro, monte morrone 0 Comment

Welcome to this, the second in my series of Apennine ‘up the backside’ posts, so called because I tackle the mountain from the opposite of its usual side. I have previously talked about an ascent of Monte Marsicano via its

The Ring of Steall: a Scottish hill walking classic

August 14, 2019 Trip reports am bodach, an gearanach, ben nevis, britain, hill walking, mamores, munros, ring of steall, schiehallion, scotland, scottish highlands, sgurr a mhaim, stob coire a chairn 5 Comments

A short distance south of Ben Nevis is a hidden sanctuary encircled by mountains. This hanging corrie has a single outlet which drains into Britain’s second highest waterfall. A full circuit of the ring of mountains involves 4 Munros and 7 peaks in total.

Monte Camicia and the last snow of spring

July 3, 2019 Trip reports abruzzo, apennine 2000ers, apennines, edita, gran sasso, hill walking, italy, monte camicia, monte tremoggia, pizzo di camarda 0 Comment

Some people say you should never return to a place where you have enjoyed happy memories, because it will always be a disappointment. Monte Camicia had been my favourite ever day out in the Apennines, so how would I enjoy it the second time around?

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, via the CMD Arête

June 19, 2019 Trip reports andy hogarth, ben nevis, britain, carn mor dearg, edita, hill walking, munros, scotland, scottish highlands, viewranger, walkhighlands 5 Comments

An estimated 160,000 people climbed Ben Nevis last year, but it has a not-so-secret route around the back that follows a stunning ridge, and if you’re lucky you’ll have it to yourself. It was the obvious choice for Edita’s first ascent of Britain’s highest peak.

Why I prefer hiking to biking

June 5, 2019 Opinion and advice britain, cycling, great glen way, hill walking, scotland, scottish highlands 12 Comments

If you’ve been following my adventures on a bike in Scotland and Ecuador, you will know that cycle touring is an acquired taste that I’m still struggling to acquire. By contrast, I love hiking and I was recently given a good lesson why.

The Helvellyn and Fairfield Horseshoe via Striding Edge

May 15, 2019 Trip reports britain, crib goch, cumbria, edita, fairfield, helvellyn, hill walking, lake district, st sunday crag, striding edge 2 Comments

After taking Edita up Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, last year, it was a no-brainer to introduce her to a UK hill-walking classic: Helvellyn via Striding Edge. It would be fun for me too, because I hadn’t done it for 23 years.

Pizzo di Camarda: a return to the Apennines

May 1, 2019 Trip reports abruzzo, apennine 2000ers, apennines, gran sasso, hill walking, italy, monte corvo, monte ienca, pizzo di camarda 1 Comment

It was the Easter bank holiday weekend. We had booked our flights from London, and we were going back to the Apennines, come rain or shine. It was the first time I had returned to these peaks in nearly two years, and they carried some special memories.

Introduction to the Apennines — Part 5: Monti della Laga

February 27, 2019 Opinion and advice abruzzo, apennines, cicerone guides, hill walking, introduction to the apennines, italy, lazio, monte gorzano, monti della laga, pizzo di sevo 2 Comments

I was lucky to live and work for a year in Rome, where the highest peaks of the Apennines were accessible within a couple of hours. It was a hill walker’s paradise, with a feast of mountains of great variety,

Introduction to the Apennines — Part 4: Sirente-Velino

November 14, 2018 Opinion and advice abruzzo, apennines, cicerone guides, hill walking, introduction to the apennines, italy, monte sirente, monte velino, sirente-velino 0 Comment

Sirente-Velino has only regional park status, but don’t let this put you off. It’s easily the equal of the three surrounding massifs with national park status. There is great variety to be found here, from emerald-green paradise, to bare moonlike landscapes and dramatic cliff faces.