Bike and hike and wind.
Beinn nan Eun 743m (g)
Bike: 26.2km El: 236m. Hike: 5.70km. El: 380m
Oh my god. The ride is was lovely as the wind was to my back but I kept thinking this is going to be hard on the way back and it was very very hard. The wind got windier and Anne was on her e-bike. Never again 😆
A short walk on the way home
Meall na Fheur Loch 613m (g)
D: 6.92km. E:445m. T: 2hrs 10mins (2hrs 42mins)
A short walk on the way home from Durness. My knee was a little sore so didn’t want to push it before our planned trip to Skye. As it was the weather was a bit claggy and wet. So a good choice. The grahams are getting a bit ahead of the Corbetts though so need to get my Corbett finger out.
An easy Sunday – not really!
Meall Meadhonach 423m (sub 2000) Beinn Ceannabeinne 383m
D: 15.71km. El: 537m T: 4hrs 34mins (6hrs 37mins)
Today was supposed to be an easier day after yesterday but it didn’t feel like it! All the ladies went out together which was nice. A couple of lovely little hills for a not so promising weather day, as it was we got back to the hostel just in time before the rain came on. A good last day and a nice evening with a communal meal.
Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh
Cranstackie 801m (c). Beinn Spionnaigh 773m (c)
D: 14.67km. E: 1030m. T: 5hrs 13mins ( 7 hrs 55 mins)
A glorious but day with stunning views, steep hills and good company. Some pretty impressive boulder fields. One that went on for quite a way! Tired legs by the time I got back to the car.
Ben Hee
Benn Hee 873m (c)
D: 12.31km. El: 747m. T: 3hr 50mins ( 5hrs 33mins )
All packed up and on our way to the Ladies meet at Durness. Another place with lots of memories of Roger. On our way we stopped to climb Ben Hee. It was claggy so we didn’t go along the ridge but did make a little extension so we did a little horse shoe. Soft snow patches on the top and a fierce cold wind from the north. We got some views on the way down.
Hampsterly Forrest
Red Trail and a bit of blue
D: 21.23km El: 401m T: 2hrs 4 mins ( 2 hrs 48 mins )
Breaking the journey home from visiting Mary in Hull I found a good little secluded park up on the edge of the Forrest. After the £8 parking charge at Grizedale I decided I would avoid the vehicle registration car parks. Which were no overnight parking anyway. I enjoyed a short but very quiet night in the van as it was nearly 8pm before I parked. The next day I headed to the trails. I thought I would just do the blue but after 7km of Forrest roads I switched to the red which was still a fair way on Forrest roads but eventually did transform into single track. To be honest I wasn’t that impressed. I wouldn’t return there in a hurry. Next time I head up this way I think I will try Kielder Forrest next time.
After the ride I headed up to Haddington to be spoiled by Sue and Chris. We had a nice walk on the beach the following day before I headed home.
Bowderstone Crag
Bowderstone Pinnacle S 4a **
It was joes birthday and the weather was amazing, I had not bought the lakes guide books as we thought we would probably just go to a little limestone crag like Hutton roof. So we went into Kendal to get a guide book, coffee and scone and decide which Crag to go to. We made an excellent choice and climbed the “classic route” of the Crag. It was an interesting route which required a bit of thought and in an excellent exposed position. Joes first multi pitch route. We did forget the nut key and ended up leaving a bit of gear. Oh no! A rock 10.
Return to Grizedale
Red route
D: 18.14 km El: 324m T: 2hrs 5 mins ( 2 hrs 32 mins )
I wasn’t sure at what level the red route would be and as there wasn’t a blue I didn’t have much choice. But it was just spot on for my slightly out of practice body! Nothing to scary! In fact it was just superb. And some lovely views of coniston and the Langdales
A change of plan!
Creag Gharbh 637m (g)
Bike and Hike
20km and 441m elevation bike 2.1km and 132m elevation hike
The day started to not go as planned when I took the wrong route to get to the start of the walk I had planned up two Munros near Ben Lawers. So I was late at the start and also the cloud was so low it was nearly at the level of the start of the walk. I stopped in the Ben Lawers car park made a brew and had a think. I was on my way to Cumbria and had my bike with me as I planned to go to Grizedale to have a go on the red route later in the week. So I spied a walk report on walk highlands for the Fiona Creag Gharbh, someone had walked along the Rob Roy way from Glen Ogle and it looked very cyclable. So it was a plan.
Wow I am not bike fit. But there were some steep sections and you know how I hate pushing my bike! Which I had to 4 times. It was undulating too which meant some up on the way back but it was a good call as the top was clear and I could see the could on my first choice route was getting even lower. Back to the van and away south. I spend the night at my spot outside Moffat and then carried on to Kai’s via joes the next day.
Last Day of the Stontain Meet
https://www.strava.com/activities/8861002499
Carn na Nathrach 786m (c)
D: 19km El: 893m T: 5hrs 42mins ( 7 hrs 24mins)
We were all tired – the four of us that set of up this very very long ridge that undulated after a long forest road walk in. A good end to the weekend, blowy but dry.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 