Winter Walking Weekend

Last weekend I ran my first Winter Walking Weekend. These are open weekends where I plan guided walks for people - mini hiking holidays in the Peak District National Park. People can walk on both days or just one of the two. The idea is to get out whatever the weather and experience the joys of the UK winter. Sometimes I think that we can hibernate away these months when, in truth, it's a treat to get out, even when the winds bluster, the snow stings and the mud clings.
Last weekend we had good weather.

On Kinder Scout

On Saturday we took the train to Edale and as we got there the clouds began to thin. This walk began with a stiff climb to reach the edge of Kinder Scout's plateau. There was no hurry here, just a steady upward plod while the sky gradually brightened. After following the path eastwards the sun came out and temperatures became spring-like. There was hardly any wind and we took the opportunity to sit for a while in the heather and look out over the Edale Valley.

Crossing Crookstone Moor

Soon enough it was time to move off, for Crookstone Moor and the descent to Hope Cross and a welcome lunch break.

Heading for Hope Cross

From here there's a gentle steady climb over the next 4 kilometres to reach the sharp peak and excellent viewpoint of Win Hill.

Win Hill is one of the best viewpoints hereabouts

 We turned back on ourselves after that dropping down steeply at first to Hope and its railway station.
On Sunday the cloud set heavy on the high ground first thing, and it didn't clear until after lunch. In Hathersage we passed by Little John's Grave and climbed up towards North Lees Hall, the inspiration for Charlotte Bronte's Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr Rochester in "Jane Eyre".
She writes, "Leaning over the battlements and looking far down, I surveyed the grounds laid out like a map: the bright and velvet lawn closely girdling the grey base of the mansion; the field, wide as a park, dotted with its ancient timber; the wood, dun and sere, divided by a path visibly overgrown, greener with moss than the trees were with foliage."
Our climb continued up the steepening ground eventually following an old packhorse route to gain Stanage Edge. The wind blew colder here and the cloud was damp, and hugged the ground - no views yet. So we followed the edge southwards and I was surprised, seeing the occasional rock climber with more dedication than I would have in such conditions.

On Higgar Tor

 We left the edge at its southernmost point and headed across to Higgar Tor, dropping out below the cloud on this section - so there is a world out there! Higgar was crawling with holidaying families and friends. A child measured his short length, teetering and falling into a peaty mud puddle. He emerged to announce excitedly that he was the Mud Monster - a pretty indisputable claim.
We descended past the Iron Age fort of Carl Wark heading for the more contemporary Longshaw Estate cafe. Coffee and cakes were consumed before walking down towards Padley Gorge and Lawrencefield. Up the old hollow way to look down into the quarry before dropping down, past the abandoned millstones to Hathersage, our start and finish point.

Winter trip to Glencoe

I was invited to join Toby, Mark, Angus, Tim and Neil on their Scottish winter adventure last weekend. They'd booked a great cottage on the shore of Loch Linnhe below the foot of Glencoe, one of my favourite places. I've not had a trip to Scotland for a few years.
We met on Thursday evening and looked forward to three full days out on the mountains.
The idea was to get some winter walking/scrambling/climbing and, as usual, this depended on the weather gods permitting - we arrived to a good forecast.

The Aonoach Eagach Ridge across Glencoe

It was decided that we'd head out together with the intention of climbing some of the easy classic climbs beginning with Dorsal Arete on Stob Coire Nan Lochan.
Friday began with cloud on the tops but fairly calm and dry, and we began by taking the relentless treadmill of 2 hours up to the cliffs of our mountain. We set the pattern for the next few days, climbing in two groups of three. We hardly belayed en-route but placed running belays as we went; the last climber removing the gear placed by the leader.

Two climbers ahead, on the narrow fin of Dorsal Arete

Dorsal Arete begins as a broad buttress of snow covered rock which narrows to a fine fin as it reaches towards the top. Everyone, even the less experienced climbers moved well and we soon got into a rhythm. The snow was thin over the rock but it was most enjoyable climbing. Topping out on the summit ridge we turned right to regain the corrie bowl and headed back down the steep valley to the glen.
Saturday we got going early to ensure we got back to the cottage in time for Six Nations rugby. The plan was to walk up Glen Eilde at the top of Glencoe to reach a fine steep ridge called Sron na Lairig. Saturday was sunny and our route was beckoning us on as we followed the icy path up the valley.

Walking a short section of Sron na Lairig, heading for the next steep bit.

 The final approach took steep snow to reach the rock at the toe of the buttress. We then headed directly up the starting rocks.

A succession of small false summits on Sron na Lairig

 Once again the buttress narrows and becomes a narrow crest in its upper reaches. It's quite exposed and lots of fun shuffling carefully along with steep, deep drops on both sides.

Looking down on the narrowest part of the ridge

Topping out we emerged onto a broad ridge, blasted by a vicious wind carrying sharp, cutting spindrift. We didn't linger, heading down the ridge in the sunshine, enjoying magnificent views across the mountains despite the hostile wind.
Sunday; day 3, Aonach Mor. Mark suggested heading north to take Aonoch Mor's ski gondola and walk to the mountain's west face. The route he had in mind was Golden Oldy, a route none of us had climbed before.

Toby swinging the axe as he climbs out of the crux chimney of Golden Oldy

 The route is graded 2 but at 450m rather longer than the first two climbs. The sunny theme continued as we made our way up the Allt Daim and the usual steep final approach to our climb. As usual the broad start offered a wealth of alternative lines but the ridge narrowed as we gained height.

Angus stepping carefully on the crest of Golden Oldy

 A steep chimney gave us a bit of ice before the ridge became a knife edge or snowed up rock. By this time we had become an effective climbing party and moved fast but we were undoubtedly tired by the time we reached the summit of our mountain.

Nearly at the top.

Mark and cake at the Gondola cafe

It's an easy walk off, however; cross the plateau northwards and drop into the top of the skiing area and follow the tows back down to the gondola and the delights of cake and coffee in the cafe.
When the weather's good like this it's hard to think of a better place than the Scottish Highlands for a short winter break.