Ashridge Gaddesden Circular Sunday 5th October 2014

A glorious day of autumn sunshine between two grey rainy days blessed us for this 7.5 mile walk.

Starting at Great Gaddesden we followed the north west bridleway to Hudnall, through some woods and back into open fields before arriving at Little Gaddesden for a pub lunch at the Bridgewater Arms. After a very good pub stop we entered the Golden Valley before coming out on to the road then following an indistinct footpath through a very large field that eventually lead to Nettleden (just off the bottom of the map below). Finally we climbed a steepish hill towards St Margrets and back to Great Gaddesden late afternoon.

Walkers on the day: Bailey the dog, Fred, Joshua (aged 5), Peter, Tony

Map of (most of) the route:

Joshua, Bailey and Fred on the first half of the walk

A heart shaped tree stump, coming into Hudnall

Despite Little Gaddesden's elevation compared to the start of the walk it flattens out considerably on the approach into the village. Here you could here the stalks of the corn crackling as the warm autumn sun warmed the field.

Lakes trip June 27-29th 2014

This years weekend was another success trek along the Lake District mountain tops. We even avoided the rain while much of the rest of the country was pouring!

Mark and I stayed at the YHA in Buttermere while Peter, Richard and Rob were at the Bridge Inn in the village. We got off to a good start climbing Red Pike from the diagonal approach close to Sour Milk Gill. After a steep, tricky ascent on scree we found ourselves at the top of Red Pike!

Above: Tony, Mark, Rob, Peter Richard on top of Red Pike

The route was pretty straight-forward from here, a mostly grassy wide ridge route to High Stile (2648ft/807m), the highest point in the walking today. It was also an ideal stop for lunch with lots of rocks at the top and good weather on the day. We continued along to our third top of the day at High Crag before descending to Seat and descending scramble into Scarth Gap. Mark's injury forced him lake bound at this stage but the rest of us climbed the rocky Haystacks and Innominate Tarn, Wainwright's resting place. Peter, Rob and Rich descended on the path along the western side of Fleetwith Pike while I split off to top the peak and descended to Gatesgarth. Food was top notch in the Bridge Inn a good weekend all round!

Above: Rob and Peter on the Red Pike ascent, near the top of the first tree line.

The Ivinghoe Beacon practise walk 01/06/14

The practise walk was a big success with lots of sunshine, lots of warming up on the hills for the Lake District and of course a good pub lunch!
Walkers: Bailey the dog, Derek, Fred, Kevin, Peter, Tony

1st June 2014 - Ivinghoe Beacon - Little Gaddesden circular

Ivinghoe – Little Gaddesden – Sunday 1^st June 2014

This a roughly a 9 mile circular starting from the Pitstone Hill public car park on road between Ivinghoe and Aldbury, near Down Farm (see Map section 1 below). We'll set off in the direction of Steps Hill and on to Beacon Hill before descending on to the Icknield Way path towards Ringshall via the steep ascent to Ward's Hurst Farm.

Map Section 1

From Ringshall we'll follow the flat wooded path to Little Gaddesden (see Map Section 2 below) where we'll stop for some lunch at the Bridgewater Arms. Here's a link to the pub: https://www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/our-locations/the-bridgewater-arms-little-gaddesden

Map Section 2

We'll leave Little Gaddesden in the direction of lodge in Ashridge and then up to the monument where there's a National Trust centre. We'll then head back to the open hills on to Clipper Down before returning to our cars at Pitstone Hill car park.  

June Walk - Ivinghoe Beacon and Little Gaddesden - 1st June 2014

Spring is in full swing and we’re almost into May!

I’ve got a walk lined up for June….. is a bit of practise walk for the summer walking weekend in the Lake District, but everyone’s welcome of course! We’re starting from Pitstone Hill car park and hopefully will include Ivinghoe Beacon, Little Gaddesdon and the Ashridge monument along the way. We’re walking up to 9 miles with a few hill climbs along the way and lots of views. The planned pub stop is at Little Gaddesdon plus a cafe/refreshments stop at Ashridge monument on the way back. 

If you think you’d like to come along do me a line soon or give me a call. If you want you can meet at my house and go from there if you’e not familiar with the car park. The distance / route might vary depending on what we decide to do on the way, but it won’t be more than 9 miles!  If you would like to see the route let me know.

A quick word about the Lake District too (weekend 27-29th June) which is getting closer…. don’t forget to book the Friday off work if you haven’t already.  There’s also 1 spare bed in the YHA for anyone interested, or there’s two hotels to choose from where we’re staying in Buttermere. 

Round-up of past walking weekends to the Lake District

With our summer Walking Weekend coming up at the end of June this year I thought it would be fun to do a round-up of past walking weekends in the Lakes....

2005 ... Helvelyn & White Side (the Stag weekend) 3118ft
Wainwrights bagged: 2
Weather: Bright, sunny and warm
Stayed at: YHA Ambleside
Friday meal: The pub by Windermere
Saturday meal: Barbecue by the lake (with the hungry sea gulls!)
Walkers: Danny, Dave O, David N, Dominic, Fred, John, Mark, Neil, Peter, Rob and Tony

The walking weekend that started it all. Most memorable for cigars, gulls and the mini bus!

Here's my write-up of the walk..
http://www.loftcat.host-ed.me/walking/walkingweekends/Helvellyn2005.html

Dom(left) and Tony

Danny, David N, Dave O, Fred, Peter, Tony, Dominic, Cotty, Rob and Neil

Mark, Tony, Dave O, Fred, Rob and John on top of Helvelyn

2007 ... Dale Head (Honister) 2470ft
Wainwrights bagged: 1
Weather: flipping rubbish. Very very rainy and could not see much outside the YHA
Stayed at: YHA Honister (next to the slate quarry)
Friday meal: Sheppard's Pie at the YHA
Saturday meal: Pub in Stonethwaite
Walkers: Dave E, David N, Fred, Jason, John, Peter, Neil, Tony

left to right: Dave E, Tony, Neil, Peter, Jason, John, David N, Fred

2009 ... Scafell Pike 3210ft

Wainwrights bagged: 2
Weather: it was cloudy most of the time at the top but nice and dry
Stayed at: YHA Wastwater
Friday meal: Screes Inn in Nether Wasdale village
Saturday meal: Barbecue in the lake!
Walkers: David N, David O, David W, Derek, Fred, John, Lewis, Mark, Peter, Tony

We climb Scafell Pike from Wastwater up the popular Brown Tongue route. Some of us were silly enough to follow the ridge to Scafell via Foxes Tarn.  Derek completed a low level Wasdale circular. The YHA was a fantastic old building which I remember well.

A bit later in the year a few of us climbed Scafell Pike via the tricky Piers Gill route.

2012 ...  The Pennines / Arniston Crag Patterdale

Wainwrights bagged: 1

Weather: Bit of everything in the Pennines; bright and warm on Sunday in the Lakes

Stayed at: YHA Dufton
Meals: Pub grub washed down with beer both nights
Walkers (in the Pennines): Andrea, Derek, Kevin, Mark, Peter, Richard, Rob and Tony

Ok, cheating slightly here - 2012 was a trip to the Pennines but as it was so close to the Lakes a few of us slipped in a Wainwright on the Sunday morning. Worth it though!

Rob, Richard and Peter looking at the route ahead. High Cup Nick and Dufton Pike gave us some good views of the Lakes in the distance

Here's Peter on Arniston Crag in Patterdale on Sunday. Can you spot Mark?

Pictures from the London Walk 2014

Once again the London walk was a great success. We completed sections 4 and 5 of the Jubilee Greenway plus a section of Regent's Canal between Mile End station and Victoria Park.

Mark, Derek, Andrea & Peter near the corner of Victoria Park, East London

Towards the end of the walk... Royal Albert Dock: University of East London(right); Canary Wharf in the centre-background. Just out of the picture to the left is London City Airport and the Tate & Lyle factory. 

Summer Walking Weekend - Buttermere, Red Pike and Haystacks

It’s the time of year again to get our annual Walking weekend booked up - this year we’re returning to Cumbria to tackle the high ridges around Buttermere. 

Buttermere is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful areas of the Lake District, a modest tree lined lake surrounded by some impressive fells that we’ll be doing our best to tackle. Our ambitious route will take in up to 6 Wainwright over the weekend.  On the main day of the weekend (the Saturday) we’ll set off from Buttermere village along the embankment of Buttermere lake to Fleetwith Pike, a steep but steady climb to 648m for our first Wainwright fell of the day. We’ll then stay along the tops for the rest of the day, crossing to Haystacks  famous for the location of the late Wainwright’s ashes. 

After scrambling the rocky top of Haystacks we’ll then descend for a short way to Scarth Gap before climbing on to our third Wainwright fell of the day, High Crag (744m).  We’ll then follow the fantastic ridge walk to High Stile (807m), our forth Wainwright peak with (weather permitting!) spectacular views across the western lakes and valleys. 

We’ll continue along the ridge to our fifth and final peak of the day we’ll continue along the ridge to Red Pike, known for harbouring the high level Bleaberry Tarn. Our weary legs will then begin their descent back to Buttermere village via Scale Force waterfall. 

As we try to do on most walking weekends, I try to add a couplhe of optional walks on the Friday and/or Sunday. This year’s candidates are Rannerdale Knots and Low Fell, both Wainwright peaks.

There’s an open shore by Buttermere lake so if there weather’s kind there’s scope for a barbecue after the main walk. 

I think this will be a truly memorable walking weekend and I urge to you come along!

The dates for this year are Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th. As usual we’ll plan to leave earlyish on Friday (taking the day off work) and arriving during the afternoon. We tend to leave mid/late morning on the Sunday. We may make a visit to Keswick either Friday or Sunday, time permitting.

There’s a hotel and fantastic looking YHA in Buttermere village and I’m in the throws of booking up a room in the YHA. If you’re seriously interested please let me know either by email or give me a call/text. As usual we can work out lift sharing to cut travelling costs which we’ll discuss nearer the time.  The cost of the YHA accommodation will probably work out something in the region of £50 per person for both night’s stay. Food and drinks are extra. If you want to stay in the hotel that will obviously be dearer (I haven’t checked prices or availability there yet). 

If you're interested I will probably have a space in one of the rooms so drop me an email or give me a call :)

London walk 2014

Keeping with tradition for the winter walks over the last few years it’s a London walk - this time East London starting at Mile end and finishing at a cafe on the Thames.

Our route will follow 2 sections of the Jubilee Greenway Walk (http://www.walklondon.org.uk/route.asp?R=7) - a distance between 9 and 10 miles. We will walk sections 4 (Victoria Park to Stokes Road) and section 5 (Stokes Road to River Thames).  Check out the link in the website address above for maps, directions and videos of the walk.

The route will pass the Mile End stadium, Victoria Park, the Olympic Park, the Royal Albert Dock and the River Thames. They’ll be several places we can stop to get drinks and food along the way.

The walk will be on Sunday 23rd February. We’ll start from the Mile End tube station at 11am and return late afternoon on the Docklands Light Railway. Mile End is quite easy to get to from

the Bank tube station on the Northern Line - if possible we’ll try to travel from the same station (St Albans / Hemel /Hatfield etc, depending who’s coming along). If you think you might be interested please drop me a line. Look forward to hearing form you!