Stumbling across Il Sentiero Del Viandante
We had a short road trip down to Lake Como last week, a bit of a mad dash through France, Switzerland and then into Northern Italy. We camped at the bottom, eastern leg of the lake (at Abbadia Larianna) in a small campsite which is actually more local community bar / cafe than touristy campsite (but all the better for it). The plan was to just chill out for a few days, sample the Chianti (mission accomplished) and do the tourist thing in the small, picturesque towns that dot the shores of the lake.
3 Peaks, 2 with added views – The Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge for Simon On The Streets
Yesterday (Friday) I completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge for the 3rd year in a row. It was initially the hardest slog of all, despite the fantastic sunshine and a really nice bunch of folk to walk with. The sunshine was third time lucky for me – the previous two challenges have been misty, rainy and sleety affairs with no views to reward a knackered man at the top of a peak. Actually, the views applied to Pen-Y-Ghent and Whernside only, by the time we got up to the Ingleborough trig point it was shrouded in cloud. Two out of three aint bad though 
The Misty Mountain .. a walk up Snowdon
I planned for a while (along with son Joe) to have a walk up Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa, to ‘rectify’ not going all the way to the top in snowy February. Joe wanted to get the top as he’s never been to the summit and I wanted to see it in actual sunshine. All of my trips to the top have seen mist, rain, sleet or snow (or all four!).
And I also wanted some training for my forthcoming Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge.
We headed off early on Saturday in the hope of getting a space in the Pen-Y-Pass car park and then starting up the Pyg Track nice and early (7.30 ish). So, we left the house at 5 a.m, we did indeed get to the car park at 7.30 a.m – but it was already full. I parked further down the hill towards Llanberis in one of two large lay-bys. And we then walked for twenty minutes back up hill to the Pyg Track start. It’s all good Yorkshire 3 Peaks training exercise I guess Read More…
Yorkshire 3 Peaks 2013 for Simon On The Streets
I wasn’t planning to do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks this year but I attended a briefing session this week with Simon On The Streets* and before the meet I had a look on the site and realised they were planning a fundraising challenge.
They have a team doing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks on 31st May, so not that long to prep – but I’ve signed up and I’m planning to get fitter by then (says me, having a beer or 3 too many on Friday and Saturday night, doh).
I’ve taken part in the Y3P twice now (see links below) and actually this time it seems more daunting, if anything. When you have a good idea where the long trudges will be, where the steep climbs mean you have to dig in, where The Bog is.. well, it’s definitely as much as mental as physical challenge this time around!
I’m just hoping for some suggestion of good weather 
Planning a Ridgeway walk
One of the only photos from my brief Ridgeway foray 2 years ago.. MANY more photos to be taken next time
Two years ago I spent a couple of days in my old home town of Wendover (or as near a home town as I had I guess – with a Dad in the Air Force). One of the things we did as kids was play out in the beautiful Chiltern forest that flanked Wendover and also the RAF camp of Halton. Where we lived in something like 14 different houses over years of being posted back and forth! And we used to walk the woods with my Dad and the two dogs on a sunday. I love the moors and hills of Marsden and I’ve spent half my life (yikes) here now but I do miss those ancient woodlands.
I use Viewranger
Mark Kelly’s Hiking Blog
- Stumbling across Il Sentiero Del Viandante June 18, 2013
- 3 Peaks, 2 with added views – The Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge for Simon On The Streets June 1, 2013
- The Misty Mountain .. a walk up Snowdon May 5, 2013
- Yorkshire 3 Peaks 2013 for Simon On The Streets April 28, 2013
- Planning a Ridgeway walk March 31, 2013
- Kit Test : NO-AD suncream March 30, 2013
- A Roman Road circular hike .. the oxymoronic post March 20, 2013
- Snowdon In the Snow 2013 February 15, 2013
- A snowy slog on Swellands – Marsden Moor January 28, 2013
- Swellands hike – checking a Walkers Are Welcome new route January 6, 2013
