Exploring and learning while out on outdoor adventures.
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 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 …
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 …
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”
It’s been over three decades since I first set foot on the Isle of Rhum—spelled “Rum” in many an old guidebook. This trip was my second trip to the Isle of Rum, the first being a similar school trip year before with a group and my father. Flipping back through my tattered diary from the …
Continue reading “Remembering Rhum: A Fell-Running First on the Isle of Rum”
The train ride north offered time to reflect. My rucksack, stuffed with crampons, an ice axe, endless layers, and more than a few nerves, sat beside me. Leaving my kids was bittersweet, but this was an essential pilgrimage: a chance to develop my winter leadership skills, refine my decision-making, and learn to manage people in …
Continue reading “Winter Mountain Leadership Training (Cairngorms, March 2016)”
Sunday, 18th DecemberDistance: 20 kmAscent: 638 mTime: ~7 hours We overslept slightly and barely squeezed in a shower before breakfast at 7:30. I’m sure this is a side effect of so many consecutive days on the hill, plus all the planning. If I do something similar again, it would be nice to schedule a rest day in a …
Continue reading “Cairngorm 2016: My Solo Mountain Diary (Part Two)”
Monday, 12th December I handed in my work laptop and BlackBerry, then headed out with the team for our Christmas lunch, courtesy of Brendon. Afterward, I stopped by the office to grab my bags before heading to the train station for Edinburgh. In the evening, I picked up a few last-minute supplies (including food and …
Continue reading “Cairngorm 2016: My Solo Mountain Diary (Part One)”
Reflecting on a Multi-Day Adventure in the Scottish Highlands Ten years ago, I set off on a solo winter backpacking trip across the Munros of the Cairngorms. It was a week of cold nights, long days, and relentless wind, but also one of incredible solitude, wild landscapes, and a deep connection to the mountains—oh, and that unforgettable …
Continue reading “Lessons from a Solo Winter Backpacking Trip in the Cairngorms, A Decade On”
I finished my last work obligation on Friday afternoon with a buzz of anticipation. The Lake District was calling, with the recent weather condition there was some great wintry conditions reported in the fells. My drive up from the midlands was pleasantly uneventful; with my usual McDonald’s fix at Leeming Bar Services. I couldn’t help …
Continue reading “A Winter Escape to England’s Highest Peak: A Weekend in Borrowdale”