6.48 miles 4h 12m ascent 197m
Stenkrith Park-Thrang
Part 10 was to be Stenkrith to Hellgill with a loop back to Thrang along the Pennine Bridleway. But misfortune struck and we only managed the Thrang-Hellgill-Thrang loop of part 10. We had to miss out the five or so miles from Stenkrith to Thrang. Today we plugged that gap.
Continue reading1.67 miles 1h 22m ascent only about 80m
Second failure, in two days, to reach its summit. The first, yesterday: I had intended going from the summit of Lochbank Hill across the Craigend Hill, which is really just a second top of the same hill off to the SW. But Lochbank’s top has been felled and the the way across looked as though it would be a bit of a bind.
So, I was back to have another go at Craigend Hill.
Continue reading2.37 miles 1h 14m ascent 137m
I had intended walking up Lochbank Hill then across to Craigend Hill but Lochbank had been recently felled and was a bit of a trudge, finding a way though the debris. I didn’t fancy flogging through more of that to get over to Craigend Hill.
5.04 miles 2h 2m ascent
Hillhead Hill, Woodhead Hill
That’s the Mabie Monicas done….ish.
Continue reading3.26 miles 1h 21m ascent 175m
Larch Hill from the Yellow Trail
“The planted larch trees are burnished gold.
Tomonari
What a wondrous forest they have become.”
Wee Monica: definition – a hill whose name appears on the OS 1:25K but not the 1:50K.
Continue reading4.2 miles 1h 54m ascent 232m
Craigbill Hill, Auchenfad Hill
A Monica: a hill with its name on the OS 1:50k. A Wee Monica is named on the 1:25k, but not the 1:50K. Not every hill has a marked spot height, so I have chosen to include any hills whose highest contour is in the area bounded by the Forestry boundary. There are six Mabie Monicas, but two of those have their summits just outside the boundary, but within a biscuit-toss. Of the four Wee Monicas, one has a top outside the boundary. I’m not sure if it a biscuit-toss away, but a pebble-toss, yes.
Continue reading4.8 miles 2h 12m ascent 273m
I would be an exaggeration to say Marthrown Hill has been a thorn in my side but it has been a bit of a prickle. Walking around it these last few weeks brought that price to the fore. It had foiled my attempts to uncover its etymology and nine years ago, with a spaniel and a border terrier I failed to reach its lowly top. The terrain, particularly some new fell, was too much for us.
I decided that this time I would have to do it without the dogs. Christy might manage but I doubted Mabel could. I had several possible routes in mind but remained undecided. Since I had two dogs with me (though not the same two as nine years ago), this was just going to be a recce. I would see which direction looked most appealing.
Continue reading4.84 miles 3h 27m ascent 211m boot-wetness: extreme
Nateby Common-Nine Standards Rigg circular
This was day 3 of our Kirkby Stephen walks, and following the previous day’s exhausting outing, called for a straightforward route that wasn’t too demanding. Indeed, since it was to be a short walk we decided not to take lunch. We could eat in comfort after the walk. Can you hear the distant maniacal laughter?
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