Exploring and learning while out on outdoor adventures.
For many people, summer is all about finding escapes, trips that soothe the soul and create lasting stories. In August 1997, my old school friend and I (plus his enthusiastic golden retriever) set our sights on Jura, a rugged Scottish island known for its wild landscapes, sparse population, and the famous Paps of Jura. What …
Continue reading “Journey to Jura: A Dog, a Bothy, and a Lasting Memory”
Friday: The Journey to Plas y Brenin The week began in a blur of last-minute tasks. I had been working at East Cambridgeshire District Council in Ely, desperately trying to get all the loose ends sorted before it was time to get a lift across the country to Snowdonia with my father. The rush of …
Continue reading “Mountain Leader Training – A Week in the Hills (1997)”
A Morning Among the Wild at Creag Choinnich The best moments in nature often belong to those who wake early. As I left the hostel to the sound of an enthusiastic dawn chorus, I stepped into the fresh morning air. A robin, perched at the top of a bare tree, sang its heart out. The …
Continue reading “Braemar Wanderings: Forest Trails, Castle Ruins, and Highland Gems”
A Winter’s Day on Creag Leacach and Glas Maol in the Cairngorms I woke at 6:00 a.m. for a 6:30 breakfast, fueling up for a day in proper winter conditions. Heading north from Perth, the road climbed deeper into the Cairngorms. As part of my Winter Mountain Leader (WML) preparation, I had studied both weather …
There’s something special about stepping into nature in the early morning. As the world wakes up, the air is fresh, and the only sounds are birdsong and the occasional rustle of leaves. While most people were still lingering over breakfast, I arrived early for an RSPB Local Group field trip, enjoying those precious moments of …
Continue reading “Another Day at Attenborough Nature Reserve”
The Flower of Suffolk is one of those quintessential Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) events that blend community spirit, challenging terrain, and a “do it at your own pace” ethos. Back in the summer of 1997, my father signed us up for the 26-mile route starting at Framlingham Sports Centre, unaware that we would be …
Continue reading “Flower of Suffolk: A 26-Mile Ramble in the Baking Heat”
Last Adventure with Bloxham School When reflecting on my life so far, I see these transition points where one chapter closes and another begins. The summer of 1997 captured that feeling perfectly for me. One chapter was ending, and another was about to start. Fresh from A-level exams, I joined a group from Bloxham School …
For me nothing quite says “post-exam freedom” like a low-key wander through the Forest of Dean with a good friend and plenty of countryside pubs to discover. Fresh off my A-levels, I hitched a ride with a group from school who were heading to the forest for a Duke of Edinburgh expedition. Hedley and I …
Continue reading “A Wander Between Pubs in the Forest of Dean”
Weekend Break Before My A-Level Exams The end of May 1997 brought another chance to escape the bustle of everyday life and return to the mountains, this time on a bivvy trip deep in the Carneddau range of Snowdonia. Hot on the heels of my Rum Cuillin escapades and the YHA Peak Marathon from Edale …
Continue reading “Father-Son Bivvy Adventures in the Carneddau May 1997”
Hot on the heels of my adventure on the Isle of Rum, legs still sore and mind still buzzing, I found myself, just days later, gearing up for another epic outing: the YHA Peak Marathon. It was great to revisit my diary notes from all those years ago, and I’ve written them up here. Organised …
Continue reading “The YHA Peak Marathon from Edale to Ilam, 1997”