One of the best things about living in North Wales is the proximity to the mountains. When the weather’s like this, it really is an incredible place to live. I’ve never known a period of weather like it. To be honest, I’d have loved to have spent the day high up on one of the Read more

Arriving home from Ireland at 03:30am there was already light on the horizon as I drove the last stretch down the hill. I just about made it into bed before falling asleep. A leisurely day was going to be needed and thankfully, The Cottage is the perfect place to hang out and recover quietly. The heatwave wasn’t Read more

This week, I’ve been in Ireland, supervising some Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups along the Wicklow Way long distance footpath. After several warnings about bottomless peat bogs and constant drizzle from several of my Irish friends, we arrived in the midst of a heatwave. The heat has been extraordinarily incredible; the ground is tinder Read more

The heatwave continues. And while we’d both have loved to have been out climbing all day, there was computer based work that couldn’t wait. Still, I didn’t mind so much as The Cottage is a nice place to be, especially when the garden is full of sunlight and warmth. By late afternoon, we had to Read more

Well, the unpredictably crazy life of Ian Martin continues…. Today, I found myself (with about 60 seconds notice!), having to run a 400m relay race at School Sports Day! A few hours later, with stiffening legs, I was playing the bass guitar in an open-air concert! After the concert, I was busy packing equipment for next weeks Read more

After flying back (with great views above the west coast of France), from the Picos de Europa, I had a day to sort and wash my kit and get ready for the next expedition. I’ll admit to being totally shattered, so was quite glad to have a quite day by myself sorting out budgets, kit, Read more