Wild Camping mountain expedition - Lake District

Mountain Expedition

Upper Eskdale & Scafell, Lake District

11th & 12th August 2012


A warm, bright and sunny weekend, except for thick mist and 40mph winds on the top of Scafell! We met at the Woolpack Inn at Boot in Eskdale, from where we walked up into Upper Eskdale via Brotherilkeld to Lingcove Bridge from where we headed up into Green Hole below Bow Fell. We then crossed over High Gait Crags and, due to dry streams, dropped down to Upper Eskdale above Great Moss. We then decided to tackle Scafell via Cam Spout and Foxes Tarn, only to have almost zero visibility on the summit, although we soon dropped down below the cloud en route to Slight Side where we had lunch. We then followed the Terrace Path back to Boot.

Wild Camping mountain expedition - Lake District

Mountain Expedition


Eskdale & Scafell, Lake District
4th & 5th August 2012

Wild Camping website

We met Saturday morning for a pre-expedition coffee at the brilliant Woolpack Inn at Boot in Eskdale, from where we walked up into Upper Eskdale and the summit of Scafell. The weather was warm and sunny for most of Saturday, but Sunday was different with low cloud and a dramatic thunderstorm.

Our route....


Boot, Whahouse Bridge, Taw House, Great Moss, Cam Spout, Foxes Gully, Foxes Tarn and Scafell. As we began our descent towards Slight Side it then went dark, and hail stones soon began to fall. We descended quickly to Slight Side where we sheltered in a gully whilst lightning flashed across the massif, with thunder booming - an unexpected and unforecast thunderstorm! It was exciting but quite daunting to be in the midst of a storm like this, but very memorable. The storm soon cleared and we had some brief sunny spells on the long descent towards Quagrigg Moss before more rain came in. We then followed a narrow, meandering and very wet path to Stony Tarn and Eel Tarn before descending back to the Woolpack for food and beer.

Wild Camping expedition - Carneddau, Snowdonia

Mountain Expedition


Carneddau, Snowdonia

7th & 8th July 2012


We stayed over at Betws-y-Coed on Friday evening, then set off to Ogwen Cottage on Saturday morning from where we headed up onto the Carneddau mountains. Despite much of Britain having a very wet weekend, we only had a few spots of rain, with frequent sunny spells.

Our route....


Ogwen Cottage, Llyn Ogwen, Cwm Lloer, Pen yr Ole Wen eastern ridge (scrambling), Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Cefn Ysgolion Duon then down the ridge above Craig Llugwy to Cwm Llugwy. We then headed up onto Carnedd Llewelyn's SE ridge (Penywaun wen), then down the scrambly ridge onto the narrow col of Bwlch Eryl Farchog before heading down to Ffynnon Llgwy and back into the Ogwen valley. Finished with a stop at Capel Curig for lunch at the Bryn Tyrch Inn on our way back to Betws-y-Coed.

The Inn Way walking weekend

'The Inn Way' walking weekend
9th & 10th June 2012

A journey of discovery and exploration in the Yorkshire Dales

Last weekend, I guided a wonderful group of 12 people along Stages 1 & 6 of 'The Inn Way... to the Yorkshire Dales'

SATURDAY
From the Devonshire Hotel at Grassington, we walked across Lea Green, traversed Dib Beck then dropped down to Conistone. From Conistone we walked beneath Kilnsey Crag before heading up into Littondale, where the wild flower meadows were in full bloom. Lunch at the wonderful Falcon Inn at Arncliffe, where beer is still served straight from the barrel out of a porcelain jug. From Arncliffe, we followed the riverside path through Scoska Wood to Litton, where we stopped at the Queens Arms, before the long climb over Birks Fell to Buckden, through thick mist. We then caught the bus for the quick journey to Kettlewell where we stayed overnight. The day's weather was sunny spells and gusty winds in the morning, which contrasted sharply with the low cloud, thick mist, drizzle and winds during the afternoon.

We had a meal at the Racehorses at Kettlewell followed by a pub quiz. Kettlewell is a great place to stay, with three pubs, plenty of B&Bs and always busy with people.


SUNDAY
Sunday was a brighter day and the wind had dropped. From Kettlewell, we walked up across grassy moorland to the wonderful viewpoint of Capplestone Gate, before heading over to the lead mines at Yarnbury from where we followed the track snaking down through Hebden Gill to the Clarendon at Hebden for lunch (excellent soup and sandwiches). We then meandered down to the suspension bridge across the Wharfe then up through Thorpe before a final drink at the last pub - the Fountaine at Linton. A walk across the footbridge above the spectacular Linton Falls ended this walk.

We walked around 13 miles each day and managed to visit eight pubs!


JOIN US ON OUR NEXT WALKING WEEKEND

'The Inn Way' walking weekend
13th & 14th October 2012
Grasmere - Lake District

Join us for a wonderful weekend of walking in the Lake District in autumn.

For more details visit:
www.teamwalking.co.uk/outdoor-adventures/the-inn-way-guided-walks.html



ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COPYRIGHT MARK REID 2012

ITV Walk - Lastingham

ITV Yorkshire Walk
'A Breath of Fresh Air'

Lastingham, North York Moors
Last Thursday, we recorded our latest TV walk for ITV Yorkshire. Myself and Jon Mitchell, ITV weatherman, went to Lastingham in the North York Moors and walked a 5-mile circuit around Spaunton and Hutton-le-Hole. We finished back at the Blacksmiths Arms at Lastingham, a fine country pub.

This TV walk should be shown on ITV 'Calendar' at 6pm on Friday 1st June 2012

For our archived walks click here

Wild Camping expedition - Lake District

Mountain Expedition

Patterdale & High Street, Lake District
19th & 20th May 2012


We met Saturday morning at the White Lion at Patterdale for a pre-expedition briefing and gear check, then set off at around midday.

Our route....

Patterdale, Boredale Hause, Angle Tarn, The Knott, Straits of Riggindale, High Street (summit), Long Stile ridge, Caspel Gate and Blea Tarn. We then headed back up Long Stile ridge, High Street (summit), Thornthwaite Beacon, Gray Crag and Hartsop, back to Patterdale.