Ingleborough (2)

This was a walk i did on my brother Craig's 29th birthday. The first real walk we had done together. I kinda expected the weather to be like it was (wet,windy and full of mist) so I wasnt disappointed! We had both got some new walking gear the day before and although Craig ended up cursing his wet clothes and he ended up sockless in the car on the way home after he had wrung them out we both had a good time. When we eventually scrambled over the wet rocks in the mist to the top we didnt stay too long as its like walking on a sponge at the top it was so saturated! The mist deffo adds atmosphere and when it clears for a few seconds you get a little windows where you can enjoy the view (briefly). I think Craig enjoyed doing something different like this and it does give him a little bragging rights to say he climbed a 2300 feet mountain in the mist when he gets back to Cambridge :)

Catbells

Me and Gary took a day off work to go to Catbells. it was actually 20th june not July as the camera says. We came here last September and got the boat accross the lake from Keswick and did our walk. we did the same here, and I realised just how unfit i am! :(

It is though a TOUGH walk. though its only 1500 feet high you climb it in a short space of time so its very steep. I was totally breathless with my heart racing and sweat pouring off me! A guy who went past me didnt think i would make it to the top but i proved him wrong! You have to use your hands and feet alot to 'scramble' over some bits as in the picture here.

We also on the way down took a 'shortcut' to save time and only ended up cutting thru dense vegetation with streams that you couldnt see until you stepped or fell into them!

I got completely wet and ended up with a cold for a week afterwards but its still maybe the most beautiful place i have been :)

Darwen Tower

This was a walk me and Gary did on a blazing hot day. it was about 5 miles up and around Darwen Tower and was a perfect day for it. The Tower itself sits on the top of the hill and you get great views from the top. It looks like something out of Flash Gordon and we could see it for most of the walk.

We got a little lost and kind of made our own route up but it was one of those walks that you just wanted to do all day. either that or lay in the sun all day :)

This walk i orginally did in about September 06 with Amy and Henry and was the only one i had turned back on as i was boiling hot and knackered!

Garys 'Yoda' figure also made a suprise appearance. I think he got a tan ;)

The Calf - Cautley Spout waterfall

Me and Gary went to the Howgills for the 1st time to walk the 2000 foot hill called 'The Calf'' The scenery here is stunning with wild horses and the biggest cascading waterfall in England.

But what i remember most is how hard work it was!! you climb a path at the side of the waterfall that ascends nearly 1000 feet and is like climbing a huge staircase except this one has big drops and is exposed in places. I had to stop several times here for breath, my calves were burning, I had blood in my throat and my heart was pounding. Even Gary who is not normally too tired by most walks had to stop several times. Once I had collapsed at the top of the waterfall its then a steadier climb by a lovely stream to the top of the hill.

Once there an old man who was walking on his own tagged along with us, he meant well but began to bore us after half an hour of endless anecdotes!

You get down a steep track on the way back which hurt my ankles and was so steep i couldnt stop running at times! still it was such hard work i lost 3-4 pounds in weight that day! and i got a tan so it aint all bad. deffo want to go there again :)

Nicky Nook -Scorton

This was the 1st time I had been on a walk with my brother Craig and his wife Celia. While they were here we decided to go to Scorton, visit the gift shop and then go for a walk over Nicky Nook down to the Lake and into the Bluebell covered woods and back :) On a humid day that was quite hard work but we all enjoyed it :)

Parlick & Fair Snape

This was a walk me and Gary did of about 6 miles. We aint really done much walking this year and it told! As soon as you park up, the hardest part of the walk is upon you. A nice warm day, plenty of paragliders and microlights in the sky and some great views :)

Williamson Park - Lancaster

What a disappointment this walk turned out to be :(

Everything was perfect. the weather was gorgeous and the place i chose today was perfect. Williamson Park in Lancaster is very very nice and really lifts you when you walk around it. The stunning Ashton memorial tower looks like something out of the Lord of the Rings films and the park is filled with lovely views, good facilities, a butterfly and animal house and statues and lakes fill the park.

However it all went wrong after 2 mins when my walking trousers ripped big time as I bent down! And in the worst place too! a huge tear right in the groinal area which left me rather exposed and very embarrassed. I quickly unfastened my coat for which you can turn into 2 coats by unfastening the fleecy underlayer and wrapped it around my waist for a 'cool' new look. Hoping that this would keep my dignity intact and stop me being arrested in a public place!

Unfortunatly as i just couldnt relax for fear of things all going wrong and people pointing and laughing at me we decided to cut the walk short after less than an hour. a great shame on a otherwise perfect day :(

ps. click on my picture to see my inprovised look ;)

Cuerdan Valley Park- Near Preston

This was a short and easy walk in Cuerdan Valley Park south of Preston with Amy,Henry and our friend Terry. A great walk for dogs and Henry loved it. the weather held off till near the end when we all got soaked.

The park has lots of paths and a river running through it with several bridges and a nice lake. Some higher ground means you can look down on the river and the people walking it. This would be a nice place to come back in the summer when the weather is better. Time i think to do something slightly more challenging :)

Pleasington circular walk - near Blackburn

This is my 1st walk since October, my first with my new boots (i chucked the old ones)and my first with Amy since we did a walk a couple of miles from here in September.

We started in the village of Pleasington not far from Blackburn and did a 5 mile circular walk accross large fields,by rivers, through woods,under railway viaducts and past plenty of streams. Oh and a very cool waterfall too!

I was full of cold, was unsure of the leg i injured in December and had boots that were cutting into my feet. Amy was tired too and Henry the dog had been sick the night before and was very off colour!

As it was January the walk was very muddy in places but we had no rain and a bright blue sky at least. The walk was picturesque and a good starter for tougher walks later in the year. We all enjoyed it and wondered just how nice it would look in the summer :)