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Jim's Walking & Climbing Trips

Last Updated: Fri May 17 15:27:42 BST 2019


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The Trips

The Beacons Way, Wales. 8th April 2017 - 13th May 2019
A series of 21 there-and-back day walks to do The Beacons Way. Teasel the dog did all the walks with me.
Partners: Teasel
Blog: Walk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ...

Carrbridge, Scotland. 7th May - 14th May 2016
The return of the May Scotland Trip. Walks in the high peaks of the Caringorms, alternated with low level walks around Lochs.
Partners: Dave, Dave G, Sam, Andy N, Ahmed, Callum, Dave F, Duncan

Cotswold Way, England. 1st - 22nd May 2013
A series of 14 half-day walks to do The Cotswold Way, North to South. Teasel the dog did all the sections with me. Duncan and Lindsay joined me for one section, as did Helen and Minnie the dog. Caroline provided vehicle support.
Partners: Caroline, Teasel, Duncan, Lindsay, Helen, Minnie
Blog: Walk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Skarvheimen, Norway. 30th March - 5th April 2008
A 6 day snow-shoeing trek across Skarvheimen from the railway at Finse to the road at Breistølen with a side excursion to the local peak of Raudbergskarvet (1819m). We stayed in the excellent DNT huts in the area.
Partner: Simon
Route: Google Earth | Google Maps

St Fillans, Scotland. 12th May - 19th May 2007
My final Munro bagging trip. I knocked off my two penultimate Munros early in the week (two walks in a day - my thighs were aching after that), and, along with 9 friends, made a mass ascent of Ben Chonzie on the final day, and I became a Munroist. The weather was foul, but we had champagne and chocolates on the top and then beat a hasty retreat to the glen to have a celebratory meal in comfort.
Partners: Caroline, Dave, Frog, Sam, Dave G, Simon, Ruth, Duncan, Lindsay

Knoydart, Ullapool & Braemar, Scotland. 30th March - 4th April 2007
My penultimate Munro bagging trip. We drove up to Kinloch Hourn and backpacked into Knoydart to make an ascent of Ladhar Bheinn. Spent a couple of nights in Ullapool and polished off the Fannichs and then backpacked into the Cairngorms and made an ascent of Ben Avon. The weather was amazing - I hadn't expected to get sunburned in Scotland in March. I knocked another 7 off my hitlist which leaves me with 3 to do on my final Munro bagging trip in May.
Partners: Duncan

Tyndrum & Skye, Scotland. 6th-9th June 2006
A trip to try to bag some of my outstanding Munros in the Black Cuillin on Skye. As a warm up we did 4 peaks in the Ben Lui group from Tyndrum, and then the Aonach Eagach on the North side of Glencoe. We then drove to Skye and proceeded to knock off the remaining Northern and Central peaks on the Cuillin Ridge in two glorious days. I knocked another 13 off my hitlist (and repeated one that I'd done in poor winter conditions) - I'm down to my last 10 now.
Partners: Duncan

Cairngorms, Scotland. 2nd-6th April 2006
A five day backpacking trip into the Cairngorms. We set up base camp for two nights near Corrour Bothy (including one night in blizzard conditions), and then relocated camp to The Red House, by the Geldie Burn and spent two (quieter) nights there. I knocked another 8 off my hitlist - only 23 left to go now.
Partners: Simon

Fisherfield Forest, Scotland. 19th-24th February 2006
We had an excellent three day expedition into the Fisherfield Forest, staying overnight in the bothy at Shenavall. After that we did half of the Beinn Eighe ridge (including the Black Carls in Winter Conditions), and bagged a demoted top in the Cairngorms from Glen Feshie. I knocked another 8 off my hitlist.
Partners: Simon

GR20, Corisca. 20th-25th October 2005
We flew to Corsica to walk the Southern half of the GR20 (Conca to Vizzavona) in 6 days. We did the Alpine Variants on a couple of days (Aiguilles de Bavella, and Monte Renoso). 60 miles of walking, 20,000ft of ascent, carry everything we needed for the entire 6 day trek. An excellent trip, more details later...
Trip Report: Coming Soon
Partners: Simon

Gairloch, Scotland. 21st-24th October 2004
We were based at Gairlochy in Simon and Ruth's extremely spacious Vango Vista 600DLX tent, for what, on that face of it, didn't seem to be a too promising extended weekend of Munro bagging. As it turned out we had some dry spells on three of the four days, although I was glad of my (borrowed) waterproofs. I knocked 7 more off my hitlist (only 39 left to go now!), culminating in a 2-day backpack in Knoydart.
Memorable Moment: "Right - Let's go to work on An Eag!"
Partners: Simon, Ruth, Graham

Skye, Scotland. 16th-22nd May 2004
We stayed at a holiday cottage in Skye with fine views over to the Cuillin. Unfortunately this meant we could see that they were in cloud most of the time, but we managed a few forays into them and bagged a handful of peaks, and on the way back I picked off a straggler by bike.
Partners: Caroline, Dave G, Duncan

Strathcarron, Scotland. 20th-23rd July 2003
A backpacking trip to tick some of the more remote Munros.
Partner: Duncan

Hen Cloud, Staffordshire. 13th July 2003
Another trip to Staffordshire grit with Paul, Dave and Duncan in excellent weather.
Memorable Moment: Desperately stacking hexes to get some gear in while striggling up the first pitch of Central Climb.
Partners: Paul, Dave G, Duncan

The Roaches, Staffordshire. 31st May 2003
Paul and I made a day trip to The Roaches to make the most of the excellent weather.
Memorable Moment: Doing the initial moves of Crack and Corner as the first thing I'd done on real rock for over a year.
Partner: Paul

[Photo]

The Far, Far North, Scotland & The Lakes, England. 18th May - 3rd Jun 2002
Caroline and I spent a week in the North of Scotland touring around. Followed by a week in the Lakes. I knocked off 4 more Munros and completed my ascents of the 3000ft Peaks and Tops in England and Wales with my ascent of Helvellyn Lower Man, and also got in several good bike rides.

Arran, Scotland. 12th-13th May 2001
An excellent weekend. Sun, granite and a Classic Rock tick.
Partners: Simon, Ruth

Ilkley, Yorkshire. 7th-8th July 2000
A trip to Yorkshire to sample the delights of gritstone on Ilkley Moor and Hockney at Saltaire.
Memorable Moments: Spreadeagle.
Partners: Caroline, Simon, Ruth

Scotland. 14th-19th May 2000
The annual Scotland trip - reverting to it's original backpacking format. An excellent Classic Rock route with Simon in the Cairngorms, followed by a 3½ day backpacking trip around Ben Alder Forest and finishing off the week with a trip to the Arrochar Alps.
Memorable Moments: Having to do a 20m snow pitch to get to the start of our route, and then literally getting stuck into the first pitch. I-Spy on a Car Journey.
Partners: Simon, Dave G, Conrad, Sam

[Photo]

The Black Mountains, Wales. 14th December 1999
A quick trip into Wales to take advantage of a sudden snowfall. Frog took his skis and I took my plastic sledge.
Partner: Frog

[Photo]

Snowdonia, Wales. 4th-5th September 1999
A long overdue climbing trip to North Wales seeking out excellent routes away from the crowds.
Partners: Paul, Fred, Theresa

Peak District, England. 28th-29th August 1999
A rainy August ends with a fine Bank Holiday weekend. We join the crowds at Stanage.
Memorable Moments: Having the car broken into :-(
Partners: Frog, Sean, Mathias

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Kishorn, Scotland. 9th-16th May 1999
Annual Munro bagging and climbing trip. Bagged my 200th Munro and grabbed an excellent Classic Rock route. Weather got better and better throughout the week. Conrad surpassed himself as Games Officer, providing the sequel to Formula One in the shape of Formula Dé, a set of Boules and excellent entertainment packs for the journey up.
Memorable Moments: Conrad's Scallops, The Forcan Ridge, The Cioch Nose, ArsegelTM.
Partners: Dave, Frog, Conrad, Sam, Dave G, Simon, Ruth

[Photo]

The Gower, Wales. 1st-2nd May 1999
A hastily organised bank holiday weekend trip. Walking, climbing and paddling.
Partners: Caroline, Dave G, Duncan, Lindsay

[Photo]

Glen Etive, Scotland. 20th-21st March 1999
Another extended weekend trip to Scotland to do a backpack and hopefully pick off my 200th Munro. It was raining as we set off up Ben Starav and the weather got worse throughout the day. We camped on a high col in a storm - got no sleep as the storm tried to destroy the tent and got completely soaked. Fortunately the weather improved on Sunday. I exited the weekend with a Munro Count of 198.
Memorable Moments: Surviving!
Partners: Will, Ruth, Simon, Graham

Edinburgh, Scotland. 12th-14th February 1999
An extended weekend trip to Scotland to pick of a few Munros.
Memorable Moments: Doing an insanely long walk with Will and Ruth on the Friday. On the walk out we ended up on a track that wasn't on the map in the dark and added an extra few miles
Partners: Will, Ruth, Simon

Cornwall, England. 29th-31st August 1998
No climbing on account of a broken thumb, but pleasant walking along the coast path.
Partners: Caroline

Mont Aiguille, France. 30th-31st July 1998
A trip to France for Mark's Wedding. Providing an excellent opportunity for a rematch with Mont Aiguille after the abortive attempt four years ago. This time we made it to the top in perfect weather, bivvied on the summit, and then hastily retreated the following morning in the face of a rapidly approaching lightning storm.
Trip Report: Available
Memorable Moments: All of it!
Partners: Simon, Ruth

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Onich, Scotland. 23rd-29th May 1998
Annual climbing, Munro bagging and being eaten by midges trip.
Memorable Moment: Climbing The Buachaille (both tops) via January Jigsaw, Conrad threatening to kill Ruth and all witnesses when she pointed out that the next top was the main summit.
Partners: Dave, Conrad, Nick, Dan, Dave G, Simon, John, Ruth, Caroline, Sarah, Jo, Duncan, et al.

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South Pembroke, Wales. 2nd-4th May 1998
My first visit to the South Pembrokeshire sea-cliffs.
Partners: Will, Mathias

Lake District, England. 21st-22nd March 1998
Classic Rock & Classic Walking - two long routes on Dow Crag, followed by a lightning round of the Fairfield Horseshoe (4 hours).
Partners: Frog, Ruth

Brecon Beacons, Wales. 1st February 1998
A quick walk as the forecast promised the possibility of snow. No snow, but some excellent Brocken Spectres.
Partner: Caroline

Lake District, England. 25th October - 1st November 1997
A relaxed trip pottering around Eskdale.
Partners: Caroline, Dave, Jo

Cornwall, England. 13th-20th September 1997
Classic granite.
Partners: Caroline, Susi

North Pembroke, Wales. 7th-12th September 1997
My first visit to the North Pembrokeshire sea-cliffs.
Partners: Caroline, Will

[Photo]

Peak District, England. 25th-27th July 1997
Classic grit and a variety of weather - wind, rain and eventually sun.
Partners: Ruth, Susi, Dave, Nick, Dave G, Jo

Glen Cannich, Scotland. 11th-16th May 1997
Munro bagging and Formula One.
Memorable Moments: Pulling a couple of ticks out of my arm with tweezers after failing to drown them with Red Hackle (cheap whisky). The waterborne attack on the far Mullardoch hills using a boat, finding a floppy disk with an obituary on it in a plastic bag on the summit of Carn Eighe.
Partners: Dave, Frog, Conrad, Sam, Dave G, Simon, Ruth, Sarah H

Fort William, Scotland. 28th December 1996 - 3rd January 1997
Sun, snow and walking.
Memorable Moments: Self arrest with ice axe after tripping over my crampons and falling ~20ft down a steep ice slope. Fantastic weather and fantastic walking on the Five Sisters of Kintail.
Partners: Howie, Frog, Lizzie, Sam, Simon, Ruth, Will, Sean, Mark, Claire, Roger, Caroline, Rob G, et al.

Brecon Beacons, Wales. 23rd November 1996
A quick rush into Wales to make the most of the unusually good snow conditions.
Partners: Frog, Steve

Gower, Wales. 14th-15th September 1996
Sun, sea, sand and climbing. Culminating with an ascent of Osiris.
Partners: Dave, Dave G, Nick, Jo, Sarah, Duncan, Paul, Andy, Louise, Lindsay

Peak District, England. 22nd-23rd June 1996
Classic Grit Severes, that later turn out to be graded Hard Severe and finally upgraded to Very Severe in the latest guide.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Caroline, Sarah N

Sennen, England. 1st-7th June 1996
Memorable Moment: Will, usually so quiet, uttering (more than) a few curses on Demo Route.
Partners: Will, Ruth, Caroline

Ardverikie, Scotland. 18th-24th May 1996
Good peak bagging, but our plans on doing Ardverikie Wall were scuppered by the weather. And Sam's plans on doing anything at all were scuppered by breaking his leg just before the holiday.
Memorable Moment: Nick's rocket launch.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Conrad, Nick, Sam, Dave G, Ruth, Simon

Culm Coast, England. 4th-6th May 1996
Memorable Moment: Getting stranded on the beach by the tide and climbing out via a 400ft crumbling arête, only to be "rescued" from the Pub by the others who had waded out in failing light.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Sean, Lucy, Mike, Lucy K, Mathias

[Photo] [Photo]

Glen Coe, Scotland. 24th-26th February 1996
A winter weekend raid on the Highlands. In a hired camper van we headed north until it broke down 8 miles south of Fort William. After thrashing our way up loose powder on our warm up route, Dorsal Arête, Stob Coire Nan Lochan, we abandoned our original objective of Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis and went snow boarding instead.
Partners: Frog, Sean

Mull, Scotland. 27th-29th August 1995
Simon and Ruth's final Munro. The heat wave that had been affecting Scotland for the previous month stopped just in time to ensure we were hailed on and practically blown off the ridge. The weather also put paid to a planned attempt on The Long Climb, Ben Nevis.
Memorable Moments: Simon and Ruth assembling a large party of walkers in the car park, and then realising we were in the wrong place just as we set off. Soloing a route in big boots and saying it would be alright for Dave to lead at VDiff, it later turning out to be HS - his hardest lead.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Simon, Ruth, Brid, et al.

[Photo] [Photo]

Colorado, USA. August 1995
Climbing in the Flatirons. Touring around National and State Parks in Colorado and Utah.
Partner: Caroline

Peak District, England. 17th-18th June 1995
Memorable Moment: Steve's Batman impression.
Partners: Steve, Simon, Ruth

Kintail, Scotland. 28th May - 2nd June 1995
Excellent ridge walks, culminating in the seven summits of the South Cluanie Ridge, the last one being Dave's 100th Munro.
Partners: Dave, Nick, Sam, Dave G, Dan, Ed, John, Ade

Sennen, England. 20th-23rd May 1995
Partners: Dave, Frog, Dave G, Howie, Fred, Caroline, Sarah

Devon, England. 7th-8th May 1995
A quick trip to Devon to bag Wrecker's Slab turns into a nightmare when I crash my car.
Partners: Fred

Glen Lyon, Scotland. 11th-12th February 1995
Another weekend raid on the Highlands.
Partners: Simon, Ruth, Brid

Killin, Scotland. 28th December 1994 - 2 January 1995
Vicious winds and freezing temperatures - the perfect environment for Buffalo clothing. The wind was so strong we ended up crawling to the summit of Schiehallion on New Year's Day.
Partners: Dave, Simon, Ruth, Geoff, Susi

Arrochar, Scotland. 25th-29th September 1994
A trip up to Scotland to visit Sam (now living there) and do some climbing and walking. Slightly marred by Sam breaking his arm tripping over a railing in Dundee. We did some cragging at Glen Clova, dropped Sam off at the hospital and then went over to Arrochar and bagged a short route on The Cobbler before the weather broke.
Partners: Dave, Nick, Sam, Dave G

Grenoble, France. 26th August - 3rd September 1994
A quick trip to France to do some bouldering, cragging and mountaineering. We stopped off at Fontainebleau on the way out, and did some bolted routes near Ailefroide, before hiking up to a hut and doing The Traverse of Pelvoux (3946m, PD). Mark and I attempted La Fissure the following day, but we were caught in a thunderstorm and abseiled off. Similarly our attempt on the Voie Normale, Mont Aiguille was abandoned due to poor weather. (See, it doesn't just happen in Scotland).
Partners: Steve, Will, Mark

Devon, England. 14th August 1994
Memorable Moment: Arranging to meet Fred there because he thought an 8 a.m. start was too early, and then running into him just as we were about to leave.
Partners: Simon, Ruth, Fred (eventually)

Devon, England. 6th-7th August 1994
Memorable Moment: Climbers Club Ordinary living up to it's Very Severe grade.
Partners: Will, Steve, Brid, Bina

The Gower, Wales. 31st July - 1st August 1994
Partner: Dave

Snowdonia, Wales. 23rd-24th July 1994
A Classic Rock bag.
Partners: Steve, Brid

Peak District, England. 8th-10th July 1994
Memorable Moments: Being eaten alive by insects whilst indulging in an evening's ticking at Stanage and then stinking out the tent with TCP.
Partners: Frog, Steve, Will, Brid, Howie, Chris

The Gower, Wales. 1st-2nd July 1994
A lightning trip to The Gower to bag some routes and still be back in time to (fall asleep at a) party.
Partners: Simon, Ruth, Fred

[Photo] [Photo] [Photo] [Photo]

The Far Far North, Scotland. 21st-27th May 1994
Another glorious Scotland trip, with plenty of cragging, adventure climbing and peak bagging. And it never really got dark so we could get up as late as we wanted.
Memorable moments: The Old Man of Stoer and my first (and only) Tyrolean Traverse, Sgurr Fiona and "The Other One".
Partners: Frog, Dave, Dave G, Sam

Sennen, England. 7th-9th May 1994
Magnificent sea-cliff climbing.
Memorable Moments: South Face Direct with Fred.
Partners: Steve, Will, Fred

Cadair Idris, Wales. 1st-2nd May 1994
A trip in my new car to bag some Classic Rock.
Partners: Dave, Will

The Gower, Wales. 15th-17th April 1994
A trip to the sun and seaside (and bitterly cold wind).
Memorable Moment: Leading Scout Crack, then throwing up on the beach.
Partners: Steve, Brid, Bina, Steve M, Belinda et al.

Lake District, England. Easter 1994
A bitterly cold Easter weekend camping in Wasdale.
Memorable Moment: Great Gable in the Snow.
Partners: Dave, Nick, some others.

[Photo] [Photo]

Cheddar Gorge, England. 26th March 1994
A trip with Fred to bag the longest route in Cheddar.
Trip Report: Available
Memorable Moments: Read the story!
Partner: Fred.

[Photo]

Creag Meagaidh, Scotland. 12th-14th February 1994
A weekend raid to the Highlands, culminating in a tiring battle against the wind on Creag Meagaidh but with beautiful views.
Memorable Moment: Ruth having a deliberate (rather than an accident) after deciding to slide down a steep snow slope on a plastic bag.
Partners: Simon, Ruth, Heather

[Photo] [Photo] [Photo] [Photo]

Onich, Scotland. 28th December 1993 - 2 January 1994
Serious winter peak bagging.
Memorable Moments: Slogging up Sgurr Eilde Mor through thigh deep snow and descending on plastic sledges, Climbing Bidean on New Year's Eve via my first winter climbing route and reaching the summit fifteen minutes before dusk, The Danger Boys turning back, another snow shelter, my 100th Munro, Andy falling off a cliff.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Howie, Chris, Simon D, Simon, Ruth, Heather, Andy et al.

Colorado, USA. Summer & Autumn 1993
More bouldering and long routes on The Flatirons.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Peter, Duane, Simon

[Photo] [Photo]

Peak District, England. 2nd-4th June 1993
After an abortive trip to the Lakes, we arrived to better weather in the Peak District and knocked off bags of classic gritstone. Including The Rivelin Needle.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Mark, Matt

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Lake District, England. 30th May - 1st June 1993
After a glorious trip to Scotland the fun was set to continue in the Lakes. However bad weather put a stop to that and after spending a couple of wet days in a wind-swept campsite we decided a change of scenery was in order.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Mark, Bianca, Steve

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Torridon, Scotland. 23rd-29th May 1993
I popped back from the US to participate in the traditional Scotland trip. The weather was perfect for the entire week and we did a mixture of climbing and walking, culminating in an ascent of Beinn Eighe by the Triple Buttress. The route was 1000ft long and took Frog and me eight hours.
Memorable moments: Raeburn's Buttress, allegedly an easy scramble involving 30ft of Diff. It turned out to be three pitches of hard climbing over steep, loose rock.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Nick, Rob, Dan, Ed, Sam, John

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Colorado, USA. Autumn 1992 - Spring 1993
Walking in the Rockies. Bouldering and long slabby routes on The Flatirons in excellent weather. Two consecutive days on 1500ft slab routes left us with aching calves and me with sunburned ankles.
Memorable moments: Mark dropping his belay device 600ft down The First Flatiron, finding it when we got back to the bottom.
Partners: Mark, Peter

Snowdonia, Wales. 10th-11th October 1992
My last weekends climbing before I went to live in Colorado for a year.
Partners: Dave, Frog, Will, Steve, Mark, Lizzie, Bianca

Devon, England. 12th-13th September 1992
Another weekend trip to Devon and another fall.
Partners: Frog, Mark, Lizzie

Devon, England. 15th-16th August 1992
Mark and I took off for an intense weekend's climbing. During which he had his first lead and I had my first fall.
Partner: Mark

Skye and The Eastern Glens, Scotland. 1st-8th August 1992
The intention was to bag the Cuillin Ridge. We stopped on the way at Fort William to buy Dave a harness and headed for the Skye ferry. After a couple of days of getting wet and being eaten alive by midges we struck out for the East Coast and better weather.
Partner: Dave

Snowdonia, Wales. 13th-14th June 1992
Cragging, barbecues, beer, top-roping and a long classic mountain route.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Mike, Sean, Lucy et al.

Snowdonia, Wales. 23rd-25th May 1992
I lead my first two rock climbs in the Llanberis Pass, and the following day Dave and I did the Nantlle Ridge.
Partners: Frog, Dave

Applecross, Scotland. 2nd-9th May 1992
Wet, windy and remote. We spent a lot of time in the pub, with a few raids on the mountains. An attempt on Beinn Eighe was abandoned after we were blown off our feet.
Memorable moments: The battle of the Turnip Shed, Animals Without Backbones.
Partners: Dave, Conrad, Rob, Nick, Dan, Dave G, Sam, Ed

Lake District, England. 18th-20th April 1992
Including a quick ascent of Cross Fell - the culminating peak of the Pennines.
Partners: Dave

Snowdonia, Wales. 14th-15th March 1992
A cold, wet ascent of the classic Milestone Buttress Direct, Tryfan. I came down with a cold shortly after.
Partners: Frog, Mark

Cairngorms, Scotland. 28th December 1991 - 4 January 1992
A warm wet New Year.
Memorable Moments: Cragging on Cairngorm outcrops, Frog and I getting lost above 3000' as it got dark and descending into the wrong valley, the Spey bursting it's banks and becoming a mile wide lake stopping us leaving the cottage.
Partners: Frog, Lizzie, Mike, Howie, Lucy, Sean, Lucy K, et al.

Glen Affric, Scotland. 21st-27th September 1991
The first clap of thunder sounded about five minutes after we left the car, and it didn't stop raining for two days. Completely soaked on returning to our campsite we all voted to bugger off to a youth hostel for the night entailing a long and terminally damp walk out.
Partners: Dave, Nick, Sam

Cadair Idris, Wales. 24th-26th August 1991
Partners: Steve, Will

Ireland. 28th July - 2nd August 1991
Four people and a whole load of camping gear crammed into a Montego. We bagged the 3000' peaks of Ireland and drank a lot of Guinness.
Memorable moment: Being offered a carrier bag of wet fish by a child in a pub.
Partners: Dave, Nick, Dan

Inverey, Scotland. 5th-10th May 1991
A week on the edge of The Cairngorms. 23 peaks in a week, and a bit of winter work on the high plateaus.
Memorable moment: following Frog glissading down a gully and breaking through the surface and disappearing into the stream.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Rob, Conrad, Nick

The Black Mountains Roundabout, Wales. 27th April 1991
Eleven peaks in eleven hours. (25 miles).
Partners: Frog, Dave, Rob, Nick, Andy, John

Tregarth, Wales. 30th-31st March 1991
Memorable Moments: Setting fire to my face, Steve throwing up outside Rob's tent.
Partners: Dave, Steve, Nick, Sam, Dan, Rob

Cadair Idris, Wales. 16th-18th February 1991
Memorable Moments: Conrad's frozen puddle fondling and yeti impressions.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Conrad, Nick, Sam

[Photo]

Brecon Beacons, Wales. 8th-10th February 1991
Rushing off after work to buy ice axe and crampons. Then driving the van to Wales and abandoning it in a snow drift in a lay-by. We walked up the valley through the moonlit snow and camped, and spent the next couple of days hacking up snow slopes with our new toys, practicing falling with them, wandering around plateaus, building snow caves and generally getting frozen.
Memorable Moment: Putting contact lenses in at -12°C.
Partner: Frog

The Abominable Snowman Trip, Wales. 25th November 1990
A trip into Wales for a quick walk and to build a 12ft high snowman that six people could fit inside and could be seen outlined on the ridge from the road below.
Partners: Frog, Dave, Steve, Mark, Will

Lake District, England. 23rd-29th September 1990
Camping near Keswick and Wasdale Head, some fine ascents of the highest peaks in the Lakes (and one of the smaller peaks at night).
Memorable Moment: Nick in his shorts as it started snowing on the summit of Skiddaw.
Partners: Dave, Rob, Conrad, Nick, Anne

Glen Nevis, Scotland. 26th July - 3rd August 1990
Excellent peak bagging (22 in 9 days) - but not before lunch. Frog and I popped up in his van a to get a few days back-packing in before a week in a cottage in Glen Nevis. Highlights included the sole falling off one of my boots a days walk from the van, Frog's fiftieth Munro and shivering inside a cloud on the "hottest day of the year" (99°F in Cheltenham).
Partners: Frog, Dave

Wales. 26th-28th May 1990
The high peaks of Snowdonia and the smaller but quieter Rhinogs.
Partners: Steve, Will

The Black Mountains, Wales. 20th May 1990
Partners: Frog, Karen

Snowdonia, Wales. 6th-7th May 1990
A weekend trip to the high peaks of Snowdonia. Including a rapid ascent of The Snowdon Horseshoe (4:30).
Partners: Dave, Rob

The Black Mountains, Wales. 29th April 1990

Snowdonia, Wales. 15th April 1990
Partner: Dave

Brecon Beacons, Wales. 27th August 1989

Bavaria, Germany. 14th-20th July 1989
Sightseeing and walking in the Bavarian Alps. Including the ascent of a peak named Einstein.
Partners: Frog, Sophie

Knoydart, Scotland. 14th-19th May 1989
A trip to the wilds of Scotland to bag a mountain that Rob assured us was called Loony Bin. Back-packing in high winds and driving rain. I managed to leave my waterproof in a bothy and after returning for it sank into a bog up to my waist. When everything we owned was completely soaked we beat a damp retreat to Fort William and after drying out bagged half of the Mamores. This was the forerunner of what were to become regular trips to Scotland every May.
Partners: Dave, Rob, Conrad

The Black Mountains, Wales. 9th April 1989
A trip into Wales for a quick walk and to build a snowman.
Partners: Will

Cleveland Way, England. 8th-14th August 1988
Partner: Sophie

Brecon Beacons, Wales. 1st August 1988
Partner: Dave

XO Seven Mile High Tour, Scotland. 28th September - 4th October 1987
Ascents of the ten highest mountains in Britain. Camping and hitch-hiking in between. Both of us were surprised to find snow on the summit plateaus. Little did we know it at the time, but this was to be the start of some serious Munro bagging, that would carry on for the next twenty years. Again the whole thing was recorded for posterity.
Partner: Frog

XO Coast to Coast Tour, England. 13th-24th September 1986
Eleven days to cross England (192 miles). We carried a tent and camped along the way. The whole grisly story (including my epic nosebleed) was captured on tape, because for some reason we were carrying a tape recorder with us.
Partner: Frog
Route: Google Earth | Google Maps

Wolds Way, England. 15th-18th August 1986
80 miles in 4 days across the Yorkshire wolds. Planned to set me up for the upcoming Coast to Coast walk. The fact I could hardly walk for two days afterwards was hardly reassuring.
Partner: Dave


The Cast

Other Info

Munro
Sir Hugh Munro first catalogued the 3000ft summits (and tops) in Scotland in 1891. Since then people have been rushing up all 277 summits (or less often all 545 tops) and claiming their place in the back of the next issue of Munro's Tables. Me I'll be happy to knock the lot off by the time I'm forty.

Highest Temperature Recorded in Britain
On 3rd August 1990 the highest temperature ever recorded in Britain was recorded in Cheltenham (37.1°C, 98.8°F). I only discovered that this was the case on 31st August 1999. The record was recently broken - a temperature of 37.9°C was recorded at Heathrow Airport on 10th August 2003.


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