Blog Posts in Category: Walking

Skirrid

Alastair BegleyWalking Short Link

Due to a very windy forecast we decided to head out for a short walk at a relatively low altitude, as even on the summit of Sugar Loaf the wind was 40mph gusting to 60mph. We decided to head up the small peak of Skirrid, which is to the east of the Black Mountains, and as it turns out has a fantastic view of Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains. The walk around the base was pleasant, but a bit breezy. As we ascended up the steep north ridge it got progressively more windy, until about 10m below the summit. At this point the wind became exceedingly strong, to the point that standing up was very difficult! After a very quick walk down the south ridge we were back at the car in time to go for Sunday lunch at the Skirrid Inn.

Carnedd Llewelyn from Llyn Eigiau

Alastair BegleyNorth Wales, Walking Short Link

After a very warm January we were not expecting there to be snow on the mid January Avon Mountaineering Club’s trip to North Wales. However the winter seems to have just about started and we enjoyed a nice snowy walk in the Carneddau. The weather forecast was fairly mixed with one forecast suggesting that west was best and the other suggesting that east was best. Due to this we decided to go north in the hope we would get the best of what was available. The weather during the day was fine, it was cool and dry without much wind, but there was cloud above 600m all day which meant that we didn’t get any views which was a bit of a shame. We decided to walk up Carnedd Llewelyn from the northeast from Cwm Eigiau. Our plan was the walk up to Bwlch Eryl Farchog before heading to the summit having found a route from trail magazine which recommended it. However this didn’t look very probably from the bottom, and looked even less probable from the start of the steep bit. Due to this we retraced our steps and. Read the full article…

Walking in the Brecon Beacons

Alastair BegleyWalking Short Link

After an unhealthy Christmas and New Year we were keen to get out walking this weekend. With a cold and dry but very cloudy forecast we headed over to the Brecon Beacons to do the circuit up Craig y Fan Ddu until point 754, before heading over to Fan y Bîg, Cribyn, Pen y Fan, Corn Du and back down the ridge to the lower Neuadd Reservoir. The light throughout the day was very strange due to there being a lower layer of grey cloud and an upper layer of white cloud. We spend most of the delay below the cloud, other than the top of Pen y Fan. It was very cold in the wind, and it certainly felt like our first winter day out this year! Due to a big fell race it was not quite the quiet day out walking we had planned, but it was still enjoyable to be out. It ended up being a 19km walk which we made good time on, we were back home in Bristol by 4pm.

Late autumn walking around the Black Mountain

Alastair BegleyWalking Short Link

Making the most of some stunning November weather Becky and I headed over to the Black Mountain for a weekend of walking. Unfortunately we didn’t check the wind forecast as we assumed that with the wall to wall sunshine there would be no wind, this was a mistake as there was a very strong and cold wind! Thankfully with the walk we completed we were somehow sheltered for most of the day.

Three days in the Lairig Ghru

Alastair BegleyScotland, Walking Short Link

We had planned an Autumn trip up to Scotland with the hope that we would get an Indian summer and enjoy some nice settled weather with some of autumnal colours. Unfortunately this was not the case, so our plans were changed to head to the east because it had by far the best weather forecast for the whole of Scotland. After much debating on the way up we elected to spend two nights out in the Cairngorms staying in Bothies, which are old buildings in remote valleys which were originally built by the estate, but are no longer used. A change in the weather forecast yet again changed our plan, but somehow the weather forecast getting worse meant that we planned an extra night out… Neither of us had been to Scotland in the autumn before, and the array of colours that were on show in the valleys were spectacular. Unfortunately in the mountains the was not quite the same display of colours. Day 1 – Walk in to Corrour After a disorganised morning packing our bags (which were far too small) we were eventually ready to set off. To. Read the full article…

Weekend in North Wales

Alastair BegleyNorth Wales, Scrambling, Walking Short Link

I spent last weekend catching up with friends from University in North Wales. Thankfully we were treated to some excellent weather on Saturday. As were were a large group we decided to stick to grade 1 scrambling ground so that we could stay together as a group. We elected to avoid the classics which we have all done before, and we headed around to the back side of the Carneddau to climb the Llech Ddu spur which is a *** grade 1 scramble. The walk up towards the black ladders was lovely and very warm in the morning sun, and were soon at the start of the steep climb up to the start of the scrambling, and into the cold wind. The scramble was brilliant, there were outstanding views out towards Anglesey and there was just the right balance of interest to keep everyone engaged without terrifying anyone. After the scramble we walked over to Carnedd Llewelyn, before descending back down to the hut we were staying in. After an enjoyable evening with chilli and games we awoke to a less favourable forecast on the Sunday. So we enjoyed a mostly dry. Read the full article…

Walking above Les Haudères

Alastair BegleySwitzerland, Walking Short Link

After being evacuated from the campsite in Arolla due to landslides we headed down to Les Haudères. Due to an unsettled forecast we spent a few days doing day walks rather than heading up to the big mountains. The first walk was the ridge directly above the campsite, we walked up to the Col de Torrent and then aimed to walk along the ridge over the Pointe du Prélet and along to the Pointe du Tsate. The walk up to the Col de Torrent had lovely views up the valley towards the Pigne d’Arolla and down the valley towards some mountains north of the Rhone valley. As we were leaving the col we were treated to a close flypast by a bearded vulture which was stunning. The ridge was fantastic, with great views in every direction, some good scrambling and plenty more wildlife. Unfortunately we got to within 100m of the Pointe du Tsate and had to turn back due to a climb and some loose rocks which we weren’t willing to do without ropes. Thankfully the forecast thunderstorm did not arrive! The next day we planned on climbing the Pic d’Artsinol but decided to turn. Read the full article…

Walking in the Western Lake District

Alastair BegleyLake District, Walking Short Link

At the beginning of July I headed up to the Lake District for a long birthday weekend, we spent the weekend with the Avon Mountaineering club in the beautiful but remote Duddon Valley before heading over to Eskdale on Sunday. On the first morning we woke up to a spectacular day, with almost wall to wall sunshine it doesn’t get much better in the Lake District. There was a reasonably cold wind, but this didn’t matter as we weren’t able to climb as Becky had broken her finger earlier in the week. We elected to walk the obvious circuit from the campsite which included most of the peaks around the Old Man of Conniston. The circuit was great, with a short walk up a track to a picturesk tarn before making an abrupt ascent up to the ridge which connects all of the peaks. Once we had gained most of the altitude the views were stunning in every direction. To the south west we could see down the Duddon valley and out to the sea, to the north we could see Scafell, Scafell Pike and Crinkle Crags and to the. Read the full article…