I’m spending this week in Mallorca with a group of students on a trekking expedition following a section of the ‘Grand Route’ GR221 long distance trail. It’s been a while since I worked using my International Mountain Leader qualification overseas, and it’s felt good to be back! Final packing and an evening flight got Read more

Expedition preparations in full flow at The Cottage, but there was still time for some birthday celebrations! A swim in the river was nippy but refreshing and helped to clear the head. Once all was packed and sorted, we had a super evening of pizza making and fun at The Cottage with friends to celebrate Read more

How lucky we are to be able to grab a few hours out of an otherwise rather busy day, to nip to the coast and climb in the sun, in solitude by the sea. Even the walk along the clifftop was full of colour. After scrambling down to the sea level, we ‘warmed up’ on Read more

Although it’s been a bit chilly, I was keen to get up into the mountains for a ‘not too strenuous’ bit of climbing. John and I met at 10 and were soon setting off up Idwal Slabs and the continuation walls.  I was still a bit zonked from yesterday, and as John had done a Read more

After the chaos and noise of hiking on Snowdon, it was a nice antidote to be camped with two nice teams of students down by the Ogwen River. After a few wrong turns, but with some good lessons learnt about stopping, thinking and re-planning, my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group made good time as they Read more

I don’t normally venture up Snowdon in the summer, especially not on a sunny Saturday, but for various reason, I got to experience the madness first hand today! I managed to take a few photos of the views without the hoards of people which make it look all rather tranquil, but the photos don’t give Read more