2019 Walking Totals

2019 was an unusual year as there were no significant walks. Valerie's leg had become worse at the end of 2018 and she needed crutches to walk by the start of 2019. Things slowly got better over spring and by May, she could walk short distances.  

Accordingly, many month's best day was a 'typical' day, with only a few best days being while driving anywhere and getting out to walk around a bit.

The most walking of the year, was on a road trip !  Just as we stared the NC500, while in Inverness, we walked into town from our 'edge of town' hotel, and then explored small areas as we drove around Loch Ness. 

Wayland's Smithy

 A simple walk, from the White Horse car park to Wayland's Smithy.  A walk so short, it wouldn't normally be recorded here, but due to Valerie's leg problems in 2019, this was a major expedition !

2.68 miles

2018 Walking Totals

2018 was a mediocre year for walking. 

However there were a few highlights.  My long planned walk along Buttermere Edge in the Lake District in May was easily the most dramatic and energetic.

Revisiting a favourite stretch of the South West Coat Path including Golden Cap was my 2nd longest walk.

However it was a weekend break in Southend, including a walk along the worlds longest passenger pier, that had the most steps of the year.

Colmers Hill

While on holiday in West Bay, we always planned to walk up the iconic Colmers Hill - so we did !

Technically we walked a bit longer then 2.3 miles as I forgot to start tracking until a little way in.

Lyme Regis to West Bay (to be completed)

A placeholder for Lyme Regis to West Bay.

More details and photos to come ...

Hay Stacks and Buttermere Edge - Four peaks in one walk.

Val & I had started this walk before back in 2016, as detailed here, but it was clearly too much for Val and so we cut it short.  So upon returning to the Lakes in May 2018, I set off by myself.

Again catching the bus to Honister Mines, I set off to climb Hay Stacks and Buttermere Edge, which included High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike.

This was a "glad I've done it, but never again" walk!  All the loose scree along Buttermere edge made ascent hard and descent positively scary. If anyone asked by advice - I'd say take walking poles to help balance and move on the scree.

My route, as recorded in Viewranger

Ullswater : Howtown to Glenridding

A holiday with wider family is always a balancing act of doing something together yet going off for a long walk which others may not be able to cope with.  

In this case, during a holiday in the Lake District, it was boat trip down Ullswater, but I got off and walked back, while the others stayed on the boat !

Further details and photos to follow ...