9th-14th October 2015- West Highland Way

Thursday night I caught the last train to Birmingham and then waited for the Megabus at 2:35am. A sleep on the bus and I was in Glasgow about 9amon Friday, from where I caught a train to Milngavie.

Start at Milngavie

I started the West Highland Way around 10am. A nice start through woodland parks and then into farmland. After Drymen (10mile) it was a walk through undulating forest and then over Conic Hill with views over Loch Lomond. 

View from Conic Hill

Down into Balmaha (20mile) I had a quick pint in a pub, during a quick shower. I then walked a couple of miles to the campsite at Cashel and pitched for the night.

Dinner at the campsite

Saturday. A dry start I set off along the banks of Loch Lomond in search of the Ptarmigan path up Ben Lomond, after first walking past I turned back and found it. 

Rowardennan

It was a long slog up the side of the hill and I eventually reached Ptarmigan summit and then headed up the cloudy top of Ben Lomond. At the top I was greeted by a friendly dog and the cloud cleared for some great views.

Ben Lomond Summit

I returned back down to the WHW and along the path to Rowardennan Lodge where I stopped for coffee before carrying on North. It was rocky round Rob Roy Cave and so was slower going. The path left the loch for a moment to go over a small hill and past a bothy where a German girl was residing for the night. 

Bothy at Doune

After a brief chat I carried on and after many miles along the banks of the loch I reached the head and came to the campsite at Beinglas farm, where I pitched and made the most of the pub. 

Bar at Benglais campsite

Sunday morning was another lovely dry day. The WHW goes through valleys following River Fillan in Strath Fillan to Auchtertyre where I stopped for a coffee and bacon roll. 

Strath Fillan

I carried along the WHW through Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy with the south face of Beinn Dorain looming over the valley. 

Towards Bridge of Orchy, Beinn Dorain on the right

I got to Bridge of Orchy just before 3 so decided to leg it up Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh, bagging two munros before it started to go dark. 

Top of Beinn Dorain

I had a quick pint in the hotel and then headed into the woods for a wild camp, it had been a long day and I settled for the best pitch I could find. It rained in the night and I was often woken by the sounds of the rutting stags. 

Pitch outside Bridge of Orchy

Monday. I packed up the wet tent and carried on the WHW, passing lots of deer on the way. It was another dry clear day and after following the drovers road from Inveroran passed Ba Bridge I detoured up the sides of Meall a Buiridh. 

A stag outside of Bridge of Orchy

I eventually got to the top of an impressive mountain called Meall a Bhuiridh spoiled by the ski lifts to the top, but apart from that the views were magnificent. I then went across a ridge to another munro Creise and then back over to descend following the ski lifts a Glencoe ski station. 

On top of Criese with Meall a Bhuiridh in the background

After a coffee it was a short walk to Kingshouse where I pitched in the wild camping spot by the pub. I enjoyed a nice meal with beer and whisky. 

Kingshouse with Meall a Bhuiridh and Creise behind

The sky was clear and the stars were out as I climbed into my tent. It was a cold night and the deer were in full voice again. 

Frosty morning outside Kingshouse

Tuesday. I woke to a cold frosty morning in Glen Coe and Buichille Etive Mor looked stunning under a crisp blue sky.

Glencoe, Buiachaille Etive Mor left

A few miles in Glen Coe and then up and over Devil's staircase. It was turning out to be a very warm sunny day. 

Over Devils Stiarcase. Mamores behind

After a long descent along forest track I was in Kinlochleven where I stocked up on some food from the co-op before heading back up the hill for the final phase of the WHW. 

Heading out of Kinlochleven

It was through a beautiful Valley, with perfect peace and quiet with only the occasional babble from the stream running through it. 

Ruin in the valley. Stob Ban behind

The walk then goes through some heavily forested woodland and towards Glen Nevis. The last section from Kinlochleven was long and I was glad to get to the campsite in Glen Nevis a few miles from then of the WHW, with Ben Nevis looming overhead.

Ben Nevis, from Glen Nevis

Wednesday morning I woke reasonably early to head up Ben Nevis hoping to beat the crowds, I passed several people on the way up, but then saw no-one as I turned off the mountain track to the valley between the Bens impressive north face and Carn Mor Dearg. It was a dry day, but the cloud came in over Ben Nevis' peak. 

Ben Nevis north face

I crawled up the steep side of Carn Mor Dearg and to the peakbefore heading along the CMD Arete. I enjoyed the easy ridge scramble towards Ben Nevis. 

Me on CMD arete

It was then a steep walk upto the peak which was covered in the cloud with many people on the top. 

Me on Ben Nevis

I then headed back down the mountain track passing at least a hundred people going up. Back at Glen Nevis I followed the WHW to the official end in the centre of Fort William.

End at Fort William

25th August 2015- Lakeland 50

After a good night in the tent it was a relaxed morning, having breakfast and a briefing before being taken by coach to the start of the Lakeland 50 at the Dalemain Estate. After cheering some of the tired looking 100milers pass by, we lined up for the start at midday.

The Start at Dalemain

We started with an easy 4 mile loop round the Dalemain Estate before heading onto the course proper through Pooley Bridge up the first small hill followed by a great run into Howtown where marshalls we're dressed as cowboys. 

Running towards Howtown, Ullswater on the right

It was then into Fusedale and the first real climb. It was a hot day but was nice and cool on the top with a long descent down to Haweswater.

Mardale Head

It was along the side of the Lake to the checkpoint at Mardale Head before the next big climb up Gatescarf pass and then down to a little Valley. Then a small climb and descent into Kentmere checkpoint. Another uphill over Garburn pass and a good descent into Troutbeck marked I was over halfway.

Lake Windermere, before coming into Ambleside

A small uphill and a good run down through the woods to Ambleside for a well stocked checkpoint with more marshalls in fancy dress. Some food a change of socks and I was away, feeling good. After a going over a small hill it was easy running through Elterwater and then the Langdale Valley.

The Langdale Valley

I was making good time and tried to maintain the effort levels. It was a tough ascent up the next steep hill and then the run along the rocky trail along Blea Moor. The running was then straight forward to the last checkpoint at Tilberthwaite. It was still just light as I ascended the last climb and visibility was good over the hill. Four of us ran the last section together and the last technical descent was followed by an easy run along tarmac track into Coniston, narrowly avoiding getting the headtorch out. I finished in 10 hours 36 minutes well ahead of my 12 hour target, so I was/am very pleased.

11/12th July 2015- Pennine Way- Hawes to Dufton

I parked at Gargrave and caught the Little White Bus to Hawes and started walking at about 11am. It was cloudy but still warm and dry as I set along the Pennine Way in the northerly direction and started to gain height ascending up Great Shunner Fell. It was a gentle gradient and I made it to the top of the windy summit of Great Shunner Fell (716m).

The Pennine Way towards Great Shunner Fell

I carried on north, down to Thwaite, passing a few people on the way down. I avoided the temptation of the cafe in the village and carried on, and along a pretty valley towards Keld. Instead of going into the little village of Keld the PW carries on north along another valley and then up the side of a hill to Tan Hill, the highest pub in England and probably the most remote. I stopped for a half pint of a strong Stout and a bag of scratchings before carrying on along the PW.

Highest Pub in England

From here there is little in the way of path for the PW and its just a case of following posts along a boggy and wild moor till you come to a track whichis followed until the turn off at Intake Bridge to cross more Moorland and fields to come to the Gods Bridge and the A66. I was making good progress and thought I would make the most of the light and decent weather before finding somewhere to camp. So it was over the undulating Cotherstone Moor to Blacktone Reservoir.

A wet evening, Grassholme Reservoir

It now was beginning to drizzle so I put on waterproofs and carried on over more farmland to Grassholme Reservoir and then uphill to the next bit of open access land on Crosswaithe Common. It was just after 9pm so I pitched my tent just before it got dark. It was a wet and windy night, but I slept well and woke just before 6am.

Sunday morning. 

I had breakfast and coffee and then I packed up and started walking again. It was down to the village of Middleton in Teesdale where I was able to get some water from the public conveniences and then it was back along the PW in a north/west direction following the river Tees. It was flat and boring to start with but Low Force and the more impressive High Force waterfalls kept the walk interesting.

High Force

   I was now in full waterproofs as the weather changed from drizzle to bursts of rain. After following the River Tees for about 8 miles, the PW turns off through another valley and towards the impressive Cauldron Snout where the path becomes a scramble up the side of the waterfalls.

Cauldron Snout

Its then a long ascent across moorland west towards High Cup Nick. The weather was slowly improving and by the time I came to High Cup Nick it was sunny and I was able to remove the waterproof layers. From here I could see oer the Eden Valley and over towards the Lake District and roughly see my destination of Dufton.

High Cup Nick

It was then the long decent to Dufton which marked the end of the section of the Pennine Way, but not the end of my walk as I had to walk 3 miles along country lanes to Appleby-in-Westmorland where I caught the train back to Garsdale getting back to my car late sunday afternoon for the drive back home.

13/14th June 2015- South Downs Way 100

A wet night and drizzly morning started the South Downs Way race, but it dried out before the 6am start on Saturday. The task of completing my first 100 miler was daunting, but the tactic was to break it down, getting from checkpoint to checkpoint. It was cool for the first 22 miles and so was easygoing from the start to the 2nd checkpoint at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, getting there in just under 4 hours.

Following the marker posts

It was warming up though and I was having to drink more than usual, but I was still eating well at checkpoints, while trying not to stay at checkpoints longer than 5 minutes each time. It was a long run through farmland and wooded areas with a couple of hills to get to the Washington checkpoint at 54 miles but I got there in a little over 10 hours. Runners we're greeted by Elvis and a cowboy and I had a twenty minute break to eat pasta, have a coffee and sort out kit from my dropbag.

It seemed hotter now and was hard going up the first hill, but some good running followed to Botolphs CP at 61 miles, but after this I struggled to eat much (just nuts and fruit).

Looking back over Botolphs

By mile 70 at Clayton Windmills CP energy levels we're low, but I eat a little and just kept going. It was good running to the checkpoint at 76miles but now I was feeling sick. I had a coffee and off into the dark up the first hill, which was pretty tough. I gritted my teeth and just concentrated on the nest next checkpoint at Southese 84 miles and then over the hill that followed and then along to Alfriston at 91.6 miles. I still felt sick and low on energy, but managed to get a littel soup down and some coffee and with the end feeling near, I headed back off into the night and uphill to the next CP at Jevington and following this up the last hill to the trigpoint that overlooks Eastbourne where you could see the floodlights that marked the finish at the athletics ground. Despite feeling sick I just ran all the way to the end wanting just to finish. Following the last downhill and through the streets of Eastbourne it was a lap round the athletics track to finish in 22 hours 7 minutes and 25 seconds, just after 4am Sunday.


My first 100 miler done and in a time I was very happy with.

Finishers T shirt and belt buckle

25/26th April 2015- The Fellsman

After a night in Threshfield, it was an early start to catch a bus to the start in Grassington. It was a wet start at 8:30 so i decided to start with full waterproofs.

Wet start in Ingleton

It took about 50 minutes to scale Ingleborough in the clag and to be welcomed to the summit by strong winds. The decent followed and then shortly after the ascent up Whernside in the wet clag and back down the ridge and then down the west slopes to the Kingsdale checkpoint with a steep climb to Gragereth after. It was still wet and visibility limited over Great Coombe and down into Dent.

Ascending Great Coum

After a feed at the Dent checkpoint, it was a slow ascent up to Blea Moor and nearing the top the weather changed for the good. After Blea Moor it was down to the Stonehouse checkpoint for another feed before ascending Great Knautberry Fell and at the top was rewarded by great 360 views of the Dales and over to the Lake District to the west. 

Descending to Redshaw. Ingleborough to the right

It stayed clear with little winds for the rest of the race which made conditions ideal.

It was down to Redshaw, then up Snaizeholme and then Great Dodd trying to continue the pace to get to Fleet Moss before they starting grouping runners. We managed to leave Fleet Moss checkpoint before the grouping time and avoiding the horrible trog through the bogs followed every other racer along a path just down from the bogs which went all the way to Middle Tongue checkpoint. It was a tough slog across moorland to Hell Gap and then easy down to the Cray checkpoint for another good feed.

Wharfedale

It was about 8:30 and all runners we're  grouped up, a couple of groups went off and then I was grouped with 3 others, with almost 20 Fellsmans between them including Tony who was on his 9th and 65 years old.

Head torches came on during the ascent up Buckden Pike and at the top a beautiful nights sky awaited. It was along the top and down to Top Mere checkpoint and then along to the Park Rash checkpoint for a feed and strong coffee. 

Checkpoint at Cray, Buckden Pike behind

The last ascent up Great Whernside was followed down to Capplestone Gate and then to Yarnbury checkpoint where we were split up for the last 1 1/2 mile road run to the finish, where i gave it the beans as i had some energy left in the tank. I finished at 1:45am, completing the 60 mile tough course in about 17hr10mins. I really enjoyed the race and was impressed with the organisation and all the marshals including the ones on the summit checkpoints and accommodating staff at feed stations.

Me somewhere about 30 miles in.