My journey along the Great Glen Way on a mountain bike

July 24, 2019 Trip reports britain, cycling, edita, great glen way, north coast 500, scotland, scottish highlands, ticket to ride 5 Comments

Edita wanted to do another bike ride in Scotland. I suggested the Great Glen Way because it went along a glen rather than over hills, so it should be pretty flat. I was surprised when the cycle hire shop recommended a pair of mountain bikes.

Monte Camicia and the last snow of spring

July 3, 2019 Trip reports abruzzo, apennine 2000ers, apennines, edita, gran sasso, hill walking, italy, monte camicia, monte tremoggia, pizzo di camarda 0 Comment

Some people say you should never return to a place where you have enjoyed happy memories, because it will always be a disappointment. Monte Camicia had been my favourite ever day out in the Apennines, so how would I enjoy it the second time around?

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, via the CMD Arête

June 19, 2019 Trip reports andy hogarth, ben nevis, britain, carn mor dearg, edita, hill walking, munros, scotland, scottish highlands, viewranger, walkhighlands 5 Comments

An estimated 160,000 people climbed Ben Nevis last year, but it has a not-so-secret route around the back that follows a stunning ridge, and if you’re lucky you’ll have it to yourself. It was the obvious choice for Edita’s first ascent of Britain’s highest peak.

Three lucky breaks and one unlucky one

May 29, 2019 Expedition dispatches britain, cycling, edita, great glen way, scotland, scottish highlands, ticket to ride 3 Comments

Last Tuesday found us cycling the Great Glen Way in Scotland’s West Highlands. We were riding through forest above the village of Invermoriston when Edita’s bike chain snapped. For many people – many of you, perhaps – this would be

The Helvellyn and Fairfield Horseshoe via Striding Edge

May 15, 2019 Trip reports britain, crib goch, cumbria, edita, fairfield, helvellyn, hill walking, lake district, st sunday crag, striding edge 2 Comments

After taking Edita up Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, last year, it was a no-brainer to introduce her to a UK hill-walking classic: Helvellyn via Striding Edge. It would be fun for me too, because I hadn’t done it for 23 years.

Putting Chulu Far East on the Nepal trekking map

May 8, 2019 Trip reports annapurna circuit, chulu far east, edita, mera peak, nepal, trekking, trekking peaks

There are times when a trip seems to be blessed with serendipity at every stage. Chance encounters and events seem to fall into place as you make your way around. Ten years ago, I had just such a trip to

Cadair Idris by the Minffordd Path

August 15, 2018 Trip reports britain, cadair idris, edita, hill walking, snowdonia, wales 2 Comments

Cadair Idris is the last peak in Snowdonia before the high mountains give way to the soft rolling landscape of mid-Wales. The Minffordd Path on its south side is one of the best horseshoe ridge walks in Wales. A couple of weeks ago I took Edita there.

Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, from Wasdale

July 18, 2018 Trip reports britain, camping, edita, ennerdale, eskdale, hill walking, lake district, langdale, microadventures, peak bagging, rock climbing, sca fell, scafell pike, wasdale 4 Comments

I had only climbed the highest mountain in England once, from the east side 22 years ago. It was time for me to climb it from Wasdale on the west side, and it was time for Edita to climb it for the very first time.

Monte Marsicano up the back side: 8 summits in one day

June 27, 2018 Trip reports abruzzo, apennine 2000ers, apennines, cicerone guides, club alpino italiano, edita, europe, hill walking, italy, monte marsicano, peak bagging, wildlife 2 Comments

Since climbing Monte Marsicano from the south on one of our first visits to Abruzzo National Park, we’d had in mind to climb the mountain via a longer route from the more remote northern side. This route took in no fewer than 8 Apennine 2,000ers in a single day.

Kangchenjunga base camp trek: Oktang and the south side

May 30, 2018 Trip reports 8000m peaks, asian trekking, bokta, drohmo ri, edita, himalayas, jannu, kangchenjunga, nepal, seven summits treks, trekking 8 Comments

We had ascended a long valley to climb our peak and see the north side of Kangchenjunga. Now it was time to see the south side, and the nature of the trekking was about to change as we crossed a number of passes. This is part two of my Kangchenjunga trek report.