Beacon Hill

Not too far from us a country park known as Beacon Hill. Boxing day was wet and the park has a lot of dry access.

 Taking the outer route avoids all the Sunday afternooners.

 The view of Loughborough from the trig point at the top of the hill.

 Moss growing on the toilet blocks Swithland-slate roof

 Near to the lower car park is a grove of Rhododendrons. A boardwalk cuts a circular path through it.

 After a walk it's drink time. What better place could you choose for a good old fashioned cuppa? This is in the local steam preservation station at Quorn. A museum of world war two train travel. It costs more than a ha'penny for a Tea nowadays though :)

Stanage Edge September 2013

Derbyshire hills in late summer. An afternoon in the dark peak.
Here is the start point. Looking at what will be the last hill on our walk, Higgor Tor.

A downhill through Bolehill wood to start off

Across meadows to Hathersage village

After a late lunch on the cricket pavillion steps we went uphill, through St Michaels churchyard. Across more field on the upper side of Cowclose farm. Onward past a house made famous by Charlotte Bronte then up through the bracken beneath Stanage edge itself.
Up on the edge

We turned left as far as Crow chin

The view back from near Crow Chin

Retracing our steps and beyond to the trig point in the far distance of the above photo.

Then returning to the car via Higger Tor. We arrived back with about 20 minutes of useable light left in the sky.

Kinder, on the Pennine way

The Pennine way begins in Hope valley, rather apt considering it's considerable length. We had a day out and had a dauner along the first half-dozen miles. Jacobs ladder is early on and rises from Edale in the valley up to near the highest point in Derbyshire, kinder scout. Around four and half hundred feet of ascent. Here are some snaps of the day.

I can hear 'the Stones'

Photoshop gives you wings

Day 8 Rest day at Glen Nevis

A wander into Fort William and back today. A few supplies needed, wine, crisps and cheese being among them. All of these being consumed in one evening. The big ben tomorrow if the weather forecast doesn't change.

Day 9 Ben Nevis

Today we climbed a mountain, it was hot, hot, hot, cold, cold,cold, windy, sunny and in places very snowy under foot. The views were fantastic, it was a long hard journey up and almost as long to get back down again, it took us 7 hours in all, but was well worth it, we couldn't have asked for better conditions.

Day 7 Kinlochleven to Fort William

Not many photos on the phone today so they will be added when we return home. It rained for most of the night and all day. Relentless although slowing to only light rain at times. The paths were running water. The streams across the path were at times raging torrents. We were soaked through. Goretex is good but can only cope with so much. Boil in the bag as we climbed hills and constant downpour. Our packs were wet, our bodies were wet and our feet were wet. Not cold for the most part though. We pitched the tent at Glen Nevis, in the sunshine! We then donned our wet packs and carried on to complete the journey to Fort William, it bloody rained again as we started walking! A photo at the end taken by a lone Canadian who we had passed and been passed by several times at the end. We bought chips and a Scotch pie and ate them on a bench in the middle of the town. We started to walk back and guess what, the rain again, all the way to the tent. A shower and then a couple in the local bar to finish the day. Two knackered but happy hikers :)

Day 6 Kingshouse hotel to Kinlochleven

We left Kingshouse, change of plan though.After a day without showers or toilets we decided to not take the planned detour to the hidden valley but instead to stick with the WHW and go to straight to Kinlochleven. The Devils staircase was early on and we stopped halfway up and had a coffee and breakfast at a pretty stream. We had skipped these early on. Over the top of the staircase a long descent across moorland and through the forest down to Kinlochleven. A very steep and long descent down a forest road (gravel) of about 2 and half hours. We stayed at a camping area behind the McDonald hotel. A lovely evening, food in the Hotel was excellent. We had tried the local pub but were met with a very frosty reception so decided not to eat there. Two families from Glasgow at the campsite exchanging banter and friendly conversation made the evening very pleasant.