British Wanderings

1993-1995

Travels on foot

The 14 Peaks of Snowdonia

My first hike with the LMC hiking club was the 14 Peaks of Wales. I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

There is considerable interest in peak bagging 3,000 foot mountains in the UK (The Scottish Munros and the Welch 14 or 15 Peaks). In Britain, peaks over 2,000 feet (600m) are considered mountains.

We started at 4:45 am, hiked/scrambled 26 horizontal miles (plus another 4 approach miles), 4,000 vertical metres, scampered on the sharp ridge of Crib Goch, reached Snowden summit and descended to finish by 10:00pm. I hadn't hiked much that summer and at the end, I was knackered.

The Dorset Coast

With Simon & Andy, who I had originally met on a PIA flight from London to Kathmandu

We started from Simon's parents' house in Dorchester

At first, I thought I was going on an agricultural tour

Cattle gave way to sheep

Always look at the bright side of life.

"it's definitely clearing" was the mantra of the walk

There is nothing like a pub stop to bring cheer

Then it really did clear

The route ahead

Wild camping on the Dorset coast

The expression "It makes you proud to be British" originated here

The presence of beach-goers meant that we were getting closer to towns and the end of our hike.

Breacon Beacons, South Wales

On this early December trip, many of the LMC members ducked out and returned to London

Breacon Beacons

British walkers are often very competent with map & compass, for good reason.

More Wales

Somewhat more relaxing club trips to Wales

Pembrokeshire coast (North Wales)

These Pembrokeshire cattle crowded to see the Canadian walker

Lake District

New Year club trip. We took a train to Penrith and a bus to Keswick where the club had booked a coach house. We had a "fancy dress" (costume) New Year party.