Sunday 24th August - Birkrigg bouldering

A couple of hours playing on steep limestone after taking the dogs for a wander over Birkrigg Common. Polished footholds and sharp fingery finger holds seem to be the main features of this suntrap; a great little crag for blowing forearms on!

Saturday 23rd August - Corney Fell

As Bruce had a poorly foot and was under doctor's orders to rest, Sue and I took Dugal for an afternoon dash from the Corney Fell road. Intending to walk west onto Black Combe, the grey sky and cold wind decided for us; we turned east and up past Paddy Crag onto Buckbarrow Crag. After a quick munch and brew, we walked off, around Backbarrow and toward Guide crag, but ever stronger wind and rain caused yet another change of plan; we ran back to car and home to see how Bruce was coping... (he was, of course, fine. But we had to make certain...)

Sunday 17th August - Coniston from below...

Paul and Sue; rain, sun, wind and more rain at Brown Howe, Coniston.

Gentle paddle across to the islands, Sue improving all the time but somewhat bemused by the sudden appearance of a divers mask. More so when Paul decided to chase fish rather than complete his roll!

"Please don't make me do anything horrible.....!"

August 9th & 10th - Sunshine in Scotland (well, for a while)

Up to Sue's folks on the Clyde coast for the weekend; what better than a walk along the coast between Portencross and Hunterston to raise an appetite after the drive. Beautiful sunset which the camera really didn't do justice!

Arran from Portencross

Portencross Castle and the Cumbraes across Fairlie Roads

Portencross Castle is said to be the last mainland resting place of Scottish kings, from the time of Kenneth MacAlpine until Malcolm Canmore; their bodies were brought to be ferried from Portencross for burial on Iona. The castle as seen today was rebuilt in the 14th century, on the rocky promontory overlooking Arran.

Sunset across the Clyde

After spending Saturday doing some Glasgow culture (no, really - the Hunterian Museum and Galleries), shops and restaurants, Sunday was to be a little more challenging... After detours around the bottom of Loch Lomond, we eventually arrived in Arrochar at lunchtime so, reasonably, stopped for lunch at a roadside diner where Sue went for the local delicacy - haggis in a bun. Nice. Perhaps.

The new path up toward Ben Arthur (aka The Cobbler) is steep gravel, zigzagging up through forest - with plenty of raspberries to ease the monotony. Soon enough the path opens onto the hillside and the distinctive rock peaks of The Cobbler come into view. At least they do if the mist and clouds lift, which, thankfully they did.

Out of the woods...

The three peaks of the Cobbler from the Nairnan Boulders

The clouds were sent scurrying by ever-increasing winds and while the views improved the temperature fell and occasional showers whipped through. We weren't going to be spending long on the top!

Bog Asphodel below The Cobbler

Sue, just about keeping her feet and looking across the "Arrochar Alps"

July 26th / August 3rd - More Welsh weather...

Saturday 26th - First day, eager beavers, so away from Rhynys Farm early, breakfast bun at Ogwen Cottage and up to the Idwal Slabs, Cneifon Arete, Glyder Fawr and the Devil's Kitchen; a tad more than Sue was expecting on her first day out in Snowdonia... OK; I survived, but there were moments when I wasn't certain that I would. And Sue can now tie a clove hitch...!

Top of the second pitch of "Hope" on the Idwal Slabs

Exposed ground on the Cneifon Arete

Y Garn and Nant Francon from high on Glyder Fach

Hanging out over Lliwedd

The Idwal Slabs from below the Devil's Kitchen

Sunday 27th - A beautiful day, stuffed on breakfast from the cafe at Capel Curig and taken aback at being charged a measly quid for all-day parking Gwen Gof Isaf farm, we were literally full of beans as we wandered past the source of the Llugwy onto Pen Yr Helgi Dhu and the Carnedds ridge. Comprising the largest stretch of hills over 2500 feet in Wales, we were to spend almost 4 1/2 miles above 3000 feet including 3 summits (Carnedd Llewelyn, Carnedd Dafydd and Pen yr Ole Wen) - a long day in blazing sunshine.

Glyder Fach, Tryfan and Foel Goch across the Ogwen valley

Tryfan and Pen yr Ole Wen

Y Foel Goch and Tryfan from the zig-zags above Ffynnon Llugwy

On the ridge just below Carnedd Dafydd summit...

Tryfan and the Glyders from Pen yr Ole Wen - Sue bottom left

To anyone thinking of the direct descent from Pen yr Ole Wen to Ogwen Cottage, just one word of advice - don't! There is a far gentler path down the east ridge which leads to the Afon Lloer and the valley below. Use it, especially if you need to finish your walk with a few miles of tarmac to the car (or, strike it lucky and have the first car that passes stop and give you a lift!). We were both shattered after the long day in the sun; Sue's genius struck and we were straight into the Chinese in Betws y Coed for a top-notch feed, rehydrating on soup and shandy before dinner! One of my best days walking in Snowdonia for sure.

Monday 28th - and the rains came with a vengance. Very timely though, given that we were both feeling the after effects of two long days out plus too much exposure to that Welsh rarity - sunshine! A good day, lounging about, eating, drinking, searching in gear and book shops before speaking with Carol who insisted that we should leave our tent pitched and gear in it, despite us decamping and moving into the White Horse at Capel Garmon for the next few nights.

Tuesday 29th - off to Bala and Sue's first visit to the "mighty" Tryweryn. Despite an early, impressive start, the speed and strength of the water was just a little too much. Finding herself upside down in the kayak, unable to communicate with fishes and avoiding large chunks of granite just didn't do it for her. Strange, some folk! No worries though, a relaxing evening watching the locals was just as much fun.

Wednesday 30th - loose plan was to drive out to the west and see where we ended up - kind of. Sue had mentioned that she quite fancied Port Merion, so, strangely enough, that's where we found ourselves.... After a couple of hours, it was back in the car and to Caernarfon, more shop-window gazing before heading back toward Llanberis and the Beacon climbing wall.

"I am not a number....!"

Beware the big white balloons

Thursday 31st - Plas y Brenin and the Llugwy

The nice lady at the Plas y Brenin reception said that we could park in their riverside carpark; so down we toodled for a few hours paddling around the buoys and getting Sue well up to speed in the Madness. Before moving downstream (and having Dave Luke ask why I was swimming - again!) onto the Llugwy, Sue took her life in her hands and ran the drop from Llynnau Mymbyr down into the river...

Going for it on the jet below Plas y Brenin (note the colour co-ordination...)

There are no photos of our paddle down the Llugwy towards Jim's Bridge; suffice it to say that the sun shone, there were lots of wild flowers in the meadows and walking the shuttle to bring the car back only took 20 minutes... To round off a fun day, we went and did our best ringer impression at the White Horse, beating the locals in their monthly pub quiz; we know how to win the hearts and minds of the locals!!

Friday 1st - having swum across the farm to get away from the tent, we drove over to Pen y Pass for a blast up (on?) Snowdon. It was raining as we arrived and determined to keep on raining. From the Pass the path gradually climbs to Llyn Llydaw and the causeway, passing the old mine workings and onward to Llyn Glaslyn (the blue lake). As we turned a corner above Glaslyn, a sudden gust almost sent Sue for an early bath and a halt was called. We jumped (squeezed?) into my group shelter (small group?) for a brew and to share the view - not the one that we could no longer see, but the one that saw us about-face and walk off the mountain. Discretion, valour and all that... It really was so much worse than the photos suggest.

Hmm - are we really going up there?

Nope, thought not!

Saturday 2nd - and the sun came out to play again. For a while. We'd been walking for maybe 20 minutes when the first spots of rain hit us, 10 minutes later it was time for waterproofs, but we sucked it up after yesterdays aborted mission and were determined; Moel Siabod or bust (or, maybe, pub and early lunch?). The weather teased us for much of the day, but all was good, some scrambling on the SE ridge, occasional views from the summit and a (long?) walk out through the woods above the Brenin and along the Llugwy; although wild raspberries before arriving back at Pont Cyfyng made up for some of that.

Deja vu?

On the SE ridge above Llyn y Foel

Sunshine trying to break through - Nant Gwryd with Crib Goch in the disance

July 15th - 20th Wet 'n dry in Snowdonia

A flying start saw Donal, Jamie and me arriving at Rynys Farm outside Betws y Coed by 9 pm on Tuesday evening. After catching up with Carol, we had the tents up, sorted boats and climbing kit and got ourselves settled in for - hopefully - a long weekend of playing.

Wednesday morning was dull but calm, so we headed off to the Ogwen Valley hoping to get onto the Idwal Slabs and Cniefon Arete and the Glyders. Unfortunately the weather worsened; we were almost off the top of the slabs when the heavens opened... I always thought that the descent into the gully was far worse than climbing on the slabs and today proved no different! A quick abseil off the steep ground into the gully bed and we were soon heading back, wet through and hungry. Paul was texting us before we got back to the car Excellent - straight to the Royal Oak in Betws where the evenings merriment began...

Thursday started as it meant to continue, wet and windy. A day for shopping, then to Llanberis, check out the tides in SurfLines, pig-out in Pete's Eats before making like grockles with a trip into the Dinorwig pumped storage scheme aka The Electric Mountain. I was doubly lucky - popped into the gallery and bookstore in Llanberis... an Abraham's first edition for less than twenty quid : ) though the lads were more impressed by the sizes of the portions in Pete's!

Friday arrived - despite attempts by beer and various other distractions of the "Silver Fountain" - and the weather had improved at last, but what to do?

Decisions, decisions....

Since the paddlewagon was already packed it was off to the Menai Strait for a play on the Swellies and a bridge jumping sesh under the old bridge.

Jamie and Donal apppear to have had a spiffingly good time..

...as did Paul!

As we headed back toward the campsite it became clear that there had been RAIN! A quick change of plan saw Jamie back to the tent and Paul, Donal and I heading off to Pont Cyfyng and a cheeky run down the Llugwy to rinse the salt water from our kit. Extra large pans were scavenged and a heap of pasta, more beer and hushed (possibly?) chat saw us into the early hours...

Saturday morning arrived all too soon. More boating in prospect as we drove over to Bala for breakfast in preparation for a paddle down the lower Tryweryn. Jumping on above the magic box and bouncing over Chapel with the rest getting on below we were soon flying back toward Bala. Jamie had a few "moments" before bailing and carrying his boat to the road, but all went well as he managed to blag a ride, boat and all, into town!

At least one of us had to run BMF

Sunday and, despite wobbly heads, tents and gear soon disappeared into the car and van before hitting the long road north, via Cheshire Oaks and a pie or two.

Sunday 13th July - Slobbing on Lindale Slab

Lindale Slab in the sunshine, the day after the night before, with Sue, John, Goose, Nige and Bex...

Saturday 12th July - Limestone country (with a sore head)

Birkrigg - a limestone quarry outside Ulverston - for a couple of hours before heading off to Marks n'Sparks for party food. Steep, fingery and sharp rock up to 30 feet high with fencepost belays above. Fun in the sun - makes for good finger training!

Thursday 3rd July - L2K Assessment

At last! Down to Dallam, sorted boats, BAs, decks and paddles, rouned up a dozen eager school children, herded them into the Dallam bus and followed them down to Fell Foot on Windermere. Johnathon, Colin, Emma and myself were up for assessment...

Friday 28th June - Not so difficult on Tryfan Fach

Quick visit to North Wales; the rain stayed off and we had a top time with a couple of routes on Tryfan Fach. Sue led her first pitch, the top of a three pitch Diff. and had a really good day; no "moments" and was picking up on mistakes being made by other teams on the crag by the time we had to leave (maybe something to do with the new soft shell top that she bought that morning??) Great fun hopping on and off route, picking the thinner lines to push it a bit.

Popped into Pete's (Thai Fishcakes - be warned!!) afterwards and a took the scenic route (Llanberis Pass) back to Northwich just in time for the river cruise - but that's another tale!