Coniston Fells

It's been a while - since updating this blog and visiting the Coniston Fells.  I'm lucky to have great friends who like organising getting together in fun places.  This time round we were staying at the YHA at Coniston Coppermines. Perfect location for walking straight from the door :-) It is however an interesting drive up the track, especially in the dark!!

It's been at least five years since we have been in the area so it was like seeing a lot for the first time. There was much discussion on routes over the dinner table on the Friday evening which resulted in five different options.  We decided to go with the "interesting" option going up Steel Edge onto Wetherlam, onto Swirl How and then eventually onto The Old Man of Coniston.

Our group set off with 13, unlucky for some..... We knew there was to be a split fairly soon after we set off as some had decided not to join us on Steel Edge and just go straight to Wetherlam.  So we were soon down to 8 of us.

It's a nice walk out towards Steel Edge and nice and quiet.  Soon enough we were getting to the fun part.  Steel Edge is a nice wee ridge that was made a tad more interesting with some snow.  Microspikes on, ice axe out, and smile on :-)

Next we were off towards Wetherlam.  We did however get a wee bit distracted with the perfect snow slope for having a slide down.  There were a few few looking at us rather strangely as a group with an average age of 40ish throwing themselves down a snow slope in a survival bag!! Sorry I don't have the photos of this but if I get the link to the video taken I will share.

The weather was pretty benign with not much of a breeze but nippy at times so we pressed on to Prison Band where we encountered some more pockets of snow. The Microspikes were deployed once more. We were now down to four.  On Swirl How we checked out the original route plan, looked at the cloud that had started coming in over the final part of our route and decided to miss out the dog leg to Grey Friar and just head to The Old Man of Coniston.  A very nice wander along it was too.

Four o'clock and the four reach The Old Man of Coniston.  Discussion ensued over routes down.  My knee had been doing not too bad up until this point but I didn't want to push my luck.  So teh four turned in 2 and 2.  Maria and Robin took the steep and direct route back to the Coppermines Hostel.  Steve and I went for the gentle off path slopes towards the Walna Scar Road and back to Coniston for dinner in the pub. Nearly 15.5km, longest distance for ages :-)

 It's nice to be back.

Castle Tioram, Moidart

We've really been enjoying getting to know this area.  Moidart and it's surrounds are full of hidden gems.  Castle Tioram is one of them.  I apologise for the many castle photos but we were blown away at the grandeur of the place even it its ruinous state.  When the weather started looking a bit iffy we decided to drive out to Ardnamurchan Point in the hope it would clear over and we'd get a nice sunset.  It was not to be but still a nice place to sit.

Garbh Eilean Hide

We've been on a bit of a mission for a while now and without much success.  What be that mission? - to see an otter in the wild.  We have wiled away many an hour in many locations in search of this elusive creature.  Now here we were in an area that is renound for its otter population.  Surely this would be the time to tick that one of the list.

Sunart Woodland Trails had given us what should be the perfect place to achieve our goal, Garbh Eilean Hide.  It's a very impressive set up, fully accessible for disabled too.  The board inside documented there had been recent sightings of our prize.  Would we be lucky................................... not this time.  Ah well, we have a week here so fingers crossed.

Pastures new

It's been four months since I've been back at work and it's time for a holiday.  We struggled to find somewhere that met all the requirements - somewhere new, pub nearby nice cottage with a wood burning stove.  We found a couple of places that came close that will have to be re-looked at when the local hostelries are open.  You gotta love when Scotland closes for winter.

Well destination is Moidart.  Not totally new to us but we have never stayed there and looking at the maps we can't wait to explore the hills, bays, bothies and beaches that are going to be on the doorstep.  Just what I need to re-charge the batteries.

Catstycam

It was strange but familiar being south of the border.  Nearly two years since the last visit, tsk tsk.  We were very fortunate that a friend on Outdoorsmagic had arranged the accommodation (and the eating arrangements) for the weekend staying at the Bury Jubilee Centre at Greenside meaning the walk in was substantially shorter - result.

The weather was as ever not what we ordered but certainly paid a significant part in the days adventure.  With forecasted gusts of 70mph doing Helvellyn by the edges just wasn't on the cards.  Catstycam was the chosen destination so off we went.

Yes it was a tad blowy as we headed up the path but it wasn't until we reached the eastern ridge that we started feeling some of the force of the gusts.  It gave a whole new meaning to the statement "BRACE, BRACE"!!!!  This should be a really easy gentle stroll up the slopes to the top but we spent most of our time trying to remain upright.  No summit photos for this hill as we were too busy crawling back down.  Kirstin and Steve did manage a very impressive flying display at one point.  Thing was we were all still giggling away during our severe buffeting as Geoff Monk would say.

Helvellyn & the Edges

The nice easy ridge that was a tad windy

The as near to the summit shot as we could get

Steve & Kirstin where they landed after being taken for wee blow

Steve sky diving

White horses on Red Tarn 

De-brief in the bunkhouse later revealed that we had  2 hat casualties and a varied bruise collection from how we had a hit the deck at some point.  Great to be out :-)