Each summer I get together with a few school mates for a reunion. We all have a common bond in walking but our careers have spread us out across the north of England so we don't see each other too often. We usually meet up for a weekend at a pub in one of the quieter parts of the Lakes. This year we headed instead for Wales.

We had grand plans for Grib Goch and Snowdon but the weather was pretty much the same as the rest of the country and no one fancied anything too difficult in the wet. Instead we headed for Beddgelert and set off down the Aberglaslyn pass which after the recent rains was quite spectacular.



I had never actually walked the pass before. I used to go through the old railway tunnel but as this is now in the process of being restored is closed to casual walkers.

We then made tracks for Cnicht, a mountain we had all climbed in our youth and being of a lesser stature, probably more achiveble. Our plan was to take the most direct route which involved crossing two smaller ridges en route. The first was easy and we stopped for lunch in a small wooded valley. At this point the group split, three returning to Beddgelert and the remainder of us attacking the steep slopes of Yr Arrdu. This involved following an indistinct path through lush bracken that was at time six or more feet high. The bracken gave way to heather slopes and the path disappeared. We toiled upwards and after negotiating several wet slabby sections finally came out on top of Yr Arrdu.

I think I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever stood on top of a summit (there was a small cairn) and seen absolutely no sign of a path in any direction. Cnicht was now just across the valley. We descended, far more easily, crossed the valley bottom wetly and headed for the ridge and a much better path. However at this point, thoroughly wet, the concensus was that there was no insufficient time and we headed back to Beddgelert and some excellent ice creams.

Despite the weather and the lack of a notable summit we had had a truly interesting walk. You don't always need to actually get somewhere to have a satisfying day in the hills.

The waste management situation in Cumbria is a complete shambles. Arguably the Lake District and therefore Cumbria is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. There are a high proportion of people living in and around the lakes that have a very positive attitude to recycling and would want to keep it that way.

No so our elected representatives it would seem. Read More...

I've recently returned from a couple of weeks in Greece, where the weather was considerably better than it has been in the UK. Whilst there I climbed Mount Olympus which was well worth the two days effort required. Details will be posted soon, in the meantime there are some pictures here