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!

September walk... Redbourn to The Holly Bush pub, Potters Crouch

It was beautiful weather for our autumn walk today. Starting on the Redbourn village high street we followed the Ver valley past the Redbournbury watermill to the Gorhambury estate where we past the Old Gorehambury house. After crossing the St Albans - Hemel road we finished at the Holly bush pub in Potters Crouch.

Distance approx: 6.5miles
Walkers: Derek, Emma, Fred, Kevin, Peter, Tony

Outside the Redbournbury watermill, the last working mill on the Ver:

September hike

Our next walk is lined up for Sunday 29th September… The walk will be 6.5 miles through the top of the Ver valley, north of St.Albans, passing Redbournbury mill, the last working watermill on the Ver. We'll then break off from the Ver valley into the Gorhambury estate near St Albans where we'll pass the Old Gorhambury House before descending to Potters Crouch - a tiny hamlet close near St Albans where we'll get some lunch at the excellent Holybush pub.

We're meeting in Redbourn aiming for a 10am start to the walk. 

The starting point is by Weymans convenience store at the southern end of the high street. They'll be plenty of free parking in the bays on the high street close by.

This will be a linear walk to so we'll Peter or I will park one of our cars at the other end of the walk so we can get back to Redbourn.   Estimated time for walking is  3 hours, plus about 1 hour at the Holybush pub and 20 minutes to drive back to Redbourn.

This will be quite an easy walk as they go, mostly flat with one or two small inclines and lots to see along the way. All we need is the weather on our side…. drop me a line if you reckon you can make it!! 

Links:-

Holybush pub:- http://thehollybushpub.co.uk/Welcome.html

Old Gorhambury house:- http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/old-gorhambury-house/

Google Maps link to starting point for the walk:- http://tinyurl.com/lrnudt9

Redbournbury Watermill & bakery:- http://www.redbournburymill.co.uk

Cloudy tops...

During the hol Peter and I spend a day on Bow fell and Rossette Pike in the Lakes..

While we had some cool views around 2000ft on Rossette Pike, the cloud didn't clear on top of Bow Fell.  Eventually the cloud did decide to lift from the top, frustratingly for us about an hour into our descent!

There's not much of a view but that doesn't stop a snack break at the top!

Helm Crag, Cumbria

Summer hols and me, Em and the kids tackle the Wainwright fell Helm Crag together. Emma and Ro find a comfortable seat near the top!

Photos from the Exmoor South West Coast path July 2013

This years walking weekend was another success - besides myself Mark, Peter, Rob and Richard trekked the 13 and a half miles up and down the cliffs from Lynton to Combe Martin in Devon. Here the first few pictures....

Around the Woody Bay area the sea mist was rising up over the cliffs keeping the walk nice and cool during the morning...

 Getting closer to Heddon's Mouth - the half way point and pub stop!

A drinks break high on the cliffs...

Descending from Great Hangman Point - the highest sea cliff in England - towards Combe Martin...