 | Glencoe Midge Massacre with Andy Wallace
A weekend I had been looking forward to for a long time saw me staying in the Glencoe Hostel; the warm sunny weather seemed to bring out the worst of the midges. On Saturday we drove up the lovely Glen Etive to Invercharnan in order to walk through the Glenetive Forest before climbing Beinn Fionnlaidh in very warm conditions. On Sunday we made the long anticipated steep climb from Glen Coe to the summit of Am Bodach, a sudden rugged drop to a ridge that led us to the summit of Meall Dearg and on to the Aonach Eagach. Generally it was the most interesting and rugged of ridge walks, occasionally it was so exhilarating
that I didn't dare let go with either hand to reach for my camera in the places that would have made the best photographs; the Crazy Pinnacles are a place that I must visit again. The ridge ends at the summit of Stob Coire Leith; all you have to do then is climb up to the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh before the steep 2000 feet of descent on eroded scree and grass that proved that my knee is fully healed.
| 31st May 2008 |
 | V&G with the Nine Standards and Mallerstang Backpack
A circuit of Nine Standards Rigg and the High Seat ridge, including a visit to a new 500m top Nateby Common (Tailbridge Hill) and returning directly along the Swarth Fell / Wild Boar Fell ridge.
| 31st May 2008
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| Lords Rake and Broad Crag Tarn with Andy Wallace
It was my first visit to Wasdale of the year, partly due to poor weather and partly because of my knee injury; it looked as though it was going to be a good day. I parked at Brackenclose and walked up the Brown Tongue route with the usual crowd of other walkers but an unusually clear view of Scafell, it almost always mists over before I get there. Lord's Rake was in its early season state with a lot of loose rocks in the lower reaches; the fallen boulder is still in place but it continues to be undermined. I walked up to the third top of the Rake before walking back down and clambering under the boulder to get on to the West Wall Traverse; watching the climbers on Scafell Crag as I walked up to Deep Gill and on to Scafell. I descended by Foxes Tarn Gully before climbing Scafell Pike by a roundabout route in order to visit Broadcrag Tarn before an intesting clamber over boulders to reach the big path to the summit. I descended to Lingmell col and walked to the summit of Lingmell to descend its ridge rather than walk down the hard reconsructed path to Brown Tongue.
| 24th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Five go to Hopegill Head
Lorraine, Les and Kev, who we met through the OFC, are staying on holiday in Keswick and have motored over Whinlatter to join us on a walk up Hopegill Head. A fine day with evening celebrations too.
| 24th May 2008
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| Loweswatercam, Loweswater Farmers' Day Out
The Loweswater Discussion Group, known locally as the Loweswater Farmers, have organised a day out to include a Heritage Mine Tour and Farm Visit. Though not a farmer myself, I was welcomed along and had a great day out.
| 22nd May 2008 |
 | Loweswatercam, Rannerdale Bluebells visit
The last day of Helmut's 2008 visit and chance for him to visit the Rannerdale Valley Bluebells before he leaves for home. We walked from Loweswater and combined the visit with a climb to Helmut's 38th AW top of the week.
| 19th May 2008
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| V&G on The Wolds Way and Headland Walk backpack
Primarily a fast-and-light solo training walk of the Wolds Way with a continuation along the Headland Walk to Bridlington. It consists mainly of farm tracks, field-edge paths and woodland paths with some pleasant and peaceful dales, and my overall lingering impression at the end was one of intensive agriculture:- broad horizons seen over vast crop fields.
| 19th May 2008 |
 | Loweswatercam, Meeting Helmut on Hen Comb
Day Five of Helmut's walking tour of the lakes brings him back to Loweswater. Ann, Jo and John set off for Hen Comb to meet him on his last summit of the day. Hope their timing is okay.
| 18th May 2008 |
| Lingmoor and Helm with Andy Wallace
I had a rest from walking last weekend in order to help my knee to recover but I couldn't do that indefinitely so I bought a support and decided that I would live with the pain. It was another sunny day when I set off from Elterwater, through Sawrey's Wood towards Lingmoor Fell Quarry; rather than scramble up through the quarry I turned up the obvious path that takes you up onto the ridge of Lingmoor Fell. I walked the pleasant, undulating ridge to the summit before making the descent towards Blea Tarn, obvious at first but the path disappears on the steep grassy descent to the road. I walked down the road and up a track by the side of Greenburn Beck before climbing up to Great Intake and down to Low Tilberthawite. I crossed Yewdale Beck to get to the Hodge Close road, climbing up to the summit of Holme Fell before descending to Hodge Close Quarry and walking back to Elterwater. My knee felt much better afterwards, I know which therapy I will use in future.
| 17th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Souther and Bannerdale East Ridge
A Saturday walk while Jo was up for the weekend. We needed a slightly shorter walk in order to go to an evening lecture given by Stephen Venables as part of the Keswick Mountain Festival Week.
| 17th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Ullock Pike with Helmut
Our Austrian friend Helmut is over in the Lakes for a five day walking holiday. He is staying with us for his first and last nights. Today we accompany him on the first part of his Lakeland journey towards Skiddaw. | 14th May 2008
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| Gable, Scafell Pike and Langstrath Backpack
Another 2-day circuit from Rosthwaite, taking the Grey Knotts ridge approach to Great Gable and the corridor route to Scafell Pike, then returning via Esk Pike and the Rosset Pike edge down to Langstrath. | 13th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Lanthwaite Bluebells
A fine sunny spell has brought the bluebells out in force. After a day at work we get out for a short evening stroll to see how or local ones are progressing. | 12th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Lords Seat and Broom
Ann, Jo and John venture out to enjoy the continuing sun, but the forecast did suggest possible isolated heavy showers over some fells. Two surprises, meeting Ben at the start of the walk, and a second surprise nearer the end. | 11th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Unfrequented Great End
Sunny weather, the desire not to travel abroad and the Wainwright phenomena have brought more people than ever to the Lakes this year. We go to a popular place but pass few people by choosing a slightly different route. | 10th May 2008
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| Gary Richardson ascends Causey Pike via Rowling End
An ascent of Causey Pike via Rowling End, from Uzzicar, continuing onto Sail before returning over Outerside and Barrow.
| 10th May 2008
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 | Loweswatercam, Devoke Water and six outliers
The sunny weather continues and we invite a neighbour to walk with us for the first time. Her dog, Watson, made a great companion for our dogs too. A great afternoon and the first slight sunburn of the summer! | 7th May 2008 |
| Eastern Galloway Hills backpack
A grand circuit of the eastern Galloway region, covering the wild and little trodden heartland encompassed by the rugged Dungeon hills and returning along the smooth switchback ridge of the Rhinns of Kells. Both ranges of hills were completely deserted despite this being a bank holiday week, and we saw only a couple of walkers near the shore of Loch Doon and one small group on the Southern Upland Way.
| 6th May 2008
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| Loweswatercam, Mellbreak and the two Jens
The Bank Holiday weather breaks for the good and the girls are bathed in sunshine as they climb Mellbreak on their last morning. They continued the walk along the top to include Scale Force and then back by the lake. | 5th May 2008
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| Loweswatercam, High Stile Ridge with Jen and Jen
The girls wanted one big fell walk while they were up here. The High Stile ridge walk typifies everything that is classic in the Lake District... Big views, a great climb and ridge walk, lakes, rivers, high tarns, classic rock plus lunch at the top. | 4th May 2008
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| Kentmere and Longsleddale with Andy Wallace
It was a nice sunny day but I was trying to take it easy with my knee being sore; I was doing a low-level walk to try and rest it a bit. I parked near the church in Kentmere and walked up the valley, past Calfhowe Crag where I saw a deer run uphill and past Reservoir Cottage with a bit of exploring in the interesting quarry behind it. I walked all around the reservoir before climbing uphill to find the path going up to Nan Bield Pass; a few fell ponies were grazing by the side of the path. I dropped down from the pass to Mardale Head and walked up to Gatescarth Pass, down to Sadgill Farm and up on to the path back to Kentmere. It was the first time this year I had felt warm sunshine, although my knee didn't get too much of a rest during the eight hours it took me.
| 3rd May 2008
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| Loweswatercam, Low Fell with Jen and Jen
Our daughter and her friend are up in the Lakes for a few days so while Roger is at work Ann and the girls ventured out on a faster than normal walk of Low Fell. Too much energy these youngsters after their drive up! | 3rd May 2008
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