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That sounds great.
We rode Abergavenny - Llanthony - Gospel pass - Craswall - Skirrid Inn - back to Aber recently. It was a great day out with a nice bridleway section to avoid the drop to Hay
Well after getting rained off on last years trip to Scotland we were more successful this time and so on Ash's 44th birthday we took on Beinn Alligin, did it clockwise but I think next time I would gone for anti clockwise. Then a few days later we saw another opportunity and walked up the mighty and astonishing Suilven!!
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I'm now considering starting to chip away at the Wainwrights considering we now live in Cumbria.
Stunning.
I was hoping to get mrs_oab back up there for a few days in October, but not sure it's going to happen now...
Me too Matt, but the short days are rolling in fast.
Was supposed to be going to Torridon this weekend for a compleation, but completely forgot it's a training weekend, so that's that gubbed.
I was one of the idiots attempting to hike in the lakes this week. Looking for advice on gaitors as feet got very wet. I was wearing waterproof keen boots and waterproof over trousers so I’m guessing the water wicked down my socks. Do gators work, do you wear them over the waterproof trousers, any recommendations to length, or even brand and type. Also, the rain covers on all our different brand ruck sacks were useless, I’m going back to liners. Finally, I’ve always been a bit underwhelmed with my paramo Quito which I’ve had for years but it performed faultless - completely dry after 6 hours in heavy rain and the venting zips worked well
A gator yesterday:
🙃
Aaaaand...
Gaiters under ovies. Even with overtrousers and a top end hardshell jacket, you'll get wet eventually.
Rain gets in through the facehole and wicks down your front and up your sleeves from the hand holes. It then wicks down the front of your troos and often joins in with condensation to wet your legs - even with the most expensive fabrics. On a biblical day, you'll still get wet feet from rain wicking down troos/socks and the Gore-Tex boot liner eventually letting water in.
There's always holes somewhere that aren't sealed plus condensation even when you spend the most money possible. When it's really bad for long enough, you'll be getting wet at some point.
The humble plastic sac liner still outperforms the taped/expensive liner options IME.
By default, I wear my gaiters under my waterproof trousers, as I'll start off with them on over top of boots and trousers, and invariably pull on waterproofs after when it starts to rain. This means the water runs off and over gaiters, so works well.
Not having gaiters, and wearing fabric type boots, I have had days where the wet grass has caused the outers of my boots to get soaked, and 'leak' over and into the inside. Gaiter help this no end.
As for the pack rain covers, I reckon the rain runs down the straps and inside the rain cover, so I never use them. I have all my kit in dry bags, not only does it keep stuff dry, it means I know where everything is, which works really well camping too.
Nothing will beat some of the current weather.
Another gaiters under over trousers here - and remember that no gaiter is breathable enough, so they do get damp over a day anyway.
We have Black Diamond Cirque short gaiters for short of leg mrs_oab - they fit well, stay in place and suit short of leg. I have Rab goretex gaiters - less well fitted but noticeably more breathable, too long for short legs but ideal for mine.
I am another plastic bags are better than dry bags, and that pack covers do very little when it gets really wet. Everything in my pack is in a plastic bag, lid pockets I use ziploc bags.
If it isn't windy, umbrella is ace ;-)_
Thanks all, good advice
Gaiters under over trousers in the rain, but gaiters over (over) trousers if you're walking through snow.
A couple of weeks ago in the Forest of Bowland
I love these signs
Gaiters under over trousers in the rain, but gaiters over (over) trousers if you’re walking through snow.
Gwahn, why is that? (As a habitual gaiters under wearer...)
Gwahn, why is that? (As a habitual gaiters under wearer…)
If you're walking through snow then snow going up your trousers is a bigger problem than it getting down your gaiters from the top.
I'm going to experiment this winter then. One leg in, one leg out.
Still the best solution was my old Patagucci XCR breeks with inbuilt snow gaiters...
Nah. I think he's made that up. Gaiters under ovies snow/rain/peat slop etc - lifetime wearer...
I always wear gaiters as the outer layer. More insulation, better scuff resistance on rocks and they're easy to get on and off anyway. If you have to stop for overtroos on/off then another 30 seconds for gaiter removal isn't an issue
Has anyone got any good photos from recent walks??
Eh? What is this chat about wearing gaiters wrong. Clearly they go under your waterproof trousers.
This is as bad as bog roll and washing up. Of course gaiters go under over trousers.
Has anyone got any good photos from recent walks??
Too busy riding bikes and being drawn into long family wedding events that last a week at a time.
Has anyone got any good photos from recent walks??
Sadly not, last 3 weekends have been lost to DIY 😪
Anyone got any good suggestions for walks in SE lakes. Nice and easy to get to from the M6 coming from the south. Normally head into the central fells but with the light dropping so much I can't be faffed with driving all the way in and dealing with the excess traffic.
Kentmere Horsehoe?.
Cheers. Done that one, its awesome.
Have you had a look over the other side of the M6 - Howgills?
Aye, was gonna suggest crossfell or high cup gill? Wee bit further north, but not far off M6
I suggested this a while ago on another thread but if the cloud is not low then park at Barbon church hall and walk up Eskholme, Castle Knott, Calf Top, back via the valley from Fellside (car at each end is much better)
From Loch Lomond way in September...
An Socach last weekend...
Was bloody windy, cold and wet but felt all the better for getting out. Definitely time to swap the autumn bag contents for the winter gear now. Was expecting a bit of snow to be fair as the Angus Glens got a dusting, but nothing up Glenshee yet.
Blackflag, we did a horseshoe walk from Sadgill a few months ago tarn Crag, Branstree, Harter fell, Kentmere pike.
edit, was also going to suggest the Barbon village hall - calf top circuit, but seen it's been suggested.
It's probably less than 20 mins from M6 J36 to Ingleton, 25 mins to Chapel le dale, from where various circuits of whernside/Ingleboro can be worked out
Both Sadgill and Barbon routes look just the ticket. Cheers all.
For the start of the circuit from sadgill parking area there's no paths marked on OS maps up Sleddale Fell (Great Howe - tarn Crag - Branstree) but the path is there on the ground with a stile from the parking area.
Cheers, what's the parking like at Sadgill? Looks quite limited. Is it one of those get there for 8am or your knackered type deals?
You can see on google maps satellite view, there's probs space for about 8-9 cars but inevitably on your day there'll be one parked by some div who clearly didn't consider others. We met mid week at 10am and were the only car there, weekends might be different I expect.
what’s the parking like at Sadgill?
normally quite a few cars squeezed on the verge up the track but not sure what it'll be like after this rain. The church at Kentmere is a safer bet (£4 cash IIRC).
Has anyone tried the Bestard boots currently on Sports Pursuit? They look decent and well priced but I don't think I've come across them before.
I doesn't the Church at Kentmere only have about 5 spaces and once they are gone there are zero options?
My mate was in a bothy on friday night in Feshie. Guy sticks his nose in, sees it's full, so backs out, and locks the door!.
He was there with his dad and his uncle, who had a mole at the counter 🙂 and subsequently popped the door open with a spade, haha!.
I doesn’t the Church at Kentmere only have about 5 spaces and once they are gone there are zero options?
There's sometimes a field further down the road opened up with an honesty box but I don't know if that's a regular thing.
had a mole at the counter 🙂 and subsequently popped the door open with a spade
Eh?
There’s sometimes a field further down the road opened up with an honesty box but I don’t know if that’s a regular thing.
Yep, that's the one I was thinking of. I thought that was the church car park.
There’s sometimes a field further down the road opened up with an honesty box but I don’t know if that’s a regular thing.
No it's limited days of the year presumably due to planning, change of use or whatever other local council rules prevent them from providing a permanent car park. You can go on the Kentmere website and there's a phone No. For the owner who you can phone to check when it's open
Eh?
His uncle was bursting for a shite, door was bolted on the outside, there was a spade in the bothy that he used to wedge the door open.
Winter is coming.... I just bought another walking axe last night, brand new but older Black Diamond.
We are planning a few more wintery days over the next few months if we can.
After a few weeks hiatus from being on the higher hills for illness and other reasons, I am itching to get back out.
Any winter plans from anyone else?
I'd just love to have a full on winter day out in the hills at some point!
It's been nearly 2 years since my last winter day out on the Carneddau in N Wales. It was amazing. There's something really satisfying about doing a big winter walk, in and out of snow & ice all day long followed by a few beers next to a log fire.
After a few weeks hiatus from being on the higher hills for illness and other reasons, I am itching to get back out.
Mrs inexplicably abandoned a cushty dayshift clinic job 6 months ago to go back on shift, on the wards. My weekends have been a mess since, she does her last shift tomorrow before going back to a clinic job, so the weekend will be once again, ours. 🙂
Planning a wee summit camp with a mate on Mullwharchar on saturday, here's hoping weather is decent, not wet warm claggy shite.
Sunday was bitterly cold above Weardale, North Pennines.
Some lovely colours in the peat groughs on Chapelfell Top and when the sun burst through the clouds it was gorgeous lighting
Sunday was bitterly cold above Weardale, North Pennines.
Ditto the Galloways. Walked in from the east over Mullwharchar, had planned a summit camp there as its pretty much the central summit, but it was blowing a hoolie up top, so we dropped down and camped at Loch Enoch instead.
It's a long dark night in November....
Found the sleeping man of Mullwharchar though!
That looks great.
Hoping that we might get a hill in this weekend - follow the weather time, but hoping to look at the Angus glens.
Any recommendations for C1 crampons? Looking at Petzl Vasak at the moment, but open to suggestions. I like the look of the lever, set em up first time then they're theoretically much easier to fit with cold fingers.
Quite excited for winter after so much time with the Highland hills on the horizon like forbidden ice-cream. Had a day on Beinn a'Bhuird a fortnight ago where winter was beginning to show its teeth. Full winter above 800m and good to get a reminder of how to operate and do a bit of navigation in anger for the first time in a while.
Love all of the pictures on this thread, some great inspiration to get out in the hills. Liking the sound of Friday's mountain forecast for the Cairngorms and Monadhliath of "Exceptional snowfall following after dark."
EDIT – For C1 crampons I quite like something that will fit on as many boots as possible so that I can loan it to folk I'm heading out with or fit them to snowboard boots. Think they're Grivel G12 New Classic. That Petzl lever lock looks great for ease of fitting though. I have some Black Diamond C3s that are so much easier to fit in a cold hoodie hiding behind a boulder without all the strap nonsense so less faff definitely an advantage.
Leverlock are ideal if your boots have a suitable heel welt. If not go for the flexlock.
Aye, after typing that, I've been looking through the myriad of options SOM, and clocked that, thanks.
The forecast for the next two days on MWIS is from reading. No hill day likely this weekend.
Crampons I would have no idea about - mine are 25 <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">years old!</span>
Aye, weather looks hellish, MRT search training tomorrow night will be a tad interesting.
A few from Cul Beag today. Pretty decent weather really and the snow showers just added to the ambience.
That's a win of a day considering the forecast and last 24 hours! 👍
Yes, it was fantastic. That snow, moor, loch, sea combo you get in Coigach and Assynt is pretty special.
Amazing. ❤
Good that looks good! I'm so jealous
My favourite place to go walking but sadly only get up there about every 5 yrs.
My favourite place to go walking
I came to the conclusion yesterday that if all I could do for the rest of my life was wander round Coigach I'd be quite happy. Well, maybe Assynt as well. 🙂
Looking for a bit of inspiration for hills to do with with the kids from you knowledgeable mountain folk.
Took them up Ben A'an last weekend, daughter loved it and said it was the best hill ever. I think the mix of it not being too big, but with some fun steep bits and boulders and slabs to play on was the winner.
Anyone got any tips for particularly good hills they've done with kids in Scotland? Can be anything from 80m to say 350m climb. Best I've come up with so far is Arthurs seat just for the novelty of it.
Opposite A'an is Ben Venue - although a path, there's lots our lot used to scamble over and range like puppies off the lead.
Tarmachan ridge is interesting as hills go, ours loved it from a young age. Imo, just go up to summit then first 15 mins of ridge, after the down scramble bail into the corrie and the hydro track out.
Ben Ledi via Stank glen is another kid friendly and engaging day with different paths and feel all the way up and down.
Perthshire Vorlich similarly, and ours enjoyed the scamble up Stuc a'Chroin. Odd walk out if you don't go back over Vorlich though.
Chonzie is not a scramble, but it's the easiest Munro in the land! Great for a summer picnic.
Carn Liath at Blair Atholl and Ben Vrackie at Pitlochry also offer steep, short, interesting days out for kids.
Lomond is a busy but interesting and short Munro.
I've got more if you want 😉
Tough following Ben A'an fir a kid, as it feels like a proper little mountain, many higher more rounded mountains will seem like a slog to them.
Dumyat and Meikle bin worth a couple of hours, lomond hills, agree Arthur's seat, and also tarmachan ridge or even beinn ghlas as the car park is a good head start for them. Ditto cairnwell munros. Pap of glencoe is another shout, or even Ben a chrulaiste just for the view of the great herdsman.
Another couple from today. Climbing on Fionn Bheinn but the start and finish of every winter climbing day is hillwalking so I thought I'd put the views on here. 🙂
Good photos, @spin. It certainly looks like winter has proper arrived this weekend. I must get out again after too many years of enforced absence.
It certainly looks like winter has proper arrived this weekend
It'll all be in the sea a few days from now!
Pea souper of a day, wee Corbett ticked off in Arrochar Alps - Beinn Luibhean.
No pics sadly, twas grim. Good chat though, and as always better than being at work.
Couple of munros lined up for Saturday, weather looks decent. 🙏
First walk for the new Manta GTX - impressed.
I'm hoping to be out over Christmas, but need a healthier mrs_oab as sidekick.
Pea souper of a day, wee Corbett ticked off in Arrochar Alps – Beinn Luibhean.
No pics sadly, twas grim. Good chat though, and as always better than being at work.
Couple of munros lined up for Saturday, weather looks decent. 🙏
First walk for the new Manta GTX
Did my first and only hill of the year a couple of weeks ago just across the road - Beinn an Lochain.
Belter of a wee winter walk, short and direct but nicely mountainous at the top, shame the sole fell off my Manta boot just as we left the car, summer boots and microspikes for the win!
Couple of munros lined up for Saturday, weather looks decent
Saturday looks great.
Very true!
Just make sure you go high!
I've set myself the task of walking/running all of the Lake District Wainwrights in 2022 that I havent done already. I Know its a bit meh etc and I am not one really for tick lists but having spent 40+ years running and walking almost all of the larger peaks there, I am looking forward to seeing some of the less well known areas.
Great day on Great Coum in Yorkshire Dales NP
Mini-inversion with Morecambe Bay covered in cloud. It was t-shirt weather for about 2hrs
Absolutely amazing warm, clear day today with YoKaiser on the Dorain duo.
Not often you can see the Merrick and Macdui from the same spot in December!.
