Untitled Document

January.	Fountains Fell from Stainforth..... This walk stands shoulders above my January conquests, navigating through Yorkshires best grey emulsion, through deep snow and thick mist on Fountains Fell, ending with wonderful views on the approach to Catrigg Force, easily the toughest walk of 2009, to do again in good weather.

February.	Low Rigg and High Rigg from Castlerigg Stone Circle..... An early start on a wonderful day in the company of my daughter Kirsten, the views and history didn't matter Kirsten's become a born again fell walker, one other thing, it was like walking to a pod-cast, the running commentary never stopped all day, apart from a headache it was one of the funniest days on the hill I can remember.

March.	Bow Fell and Esk Pike from Great Langdale..... Another walk through wonderful light, I ascended The Band to access Bow Fell, onwards via Ore Gap to Esk Pike before making my descent from Rossett Pike into Mickleden followed by the long walk back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

April.	Middle Fell, Cow and Sampson's Bratfull.... A day spent in the quiet hills above Wasdale, Middle Fell, Haycock and Cow Fell, navigating through thick fog, descending into the truly hidden valley of Stockdale, passing standing stones, burial cairns, passing through a trackless waist of tussock grass and peat bog, ending with a wander through pine forests to be gifted with wonderful views over the mouth of Wasdale and the Irish Sea coast.

May.	The High Stile Ridge including Hay Stacks.... Can't pass this one without a mention, one of the best ridge walks in the whole of Lakeland, no the best! A high level traverse above Buttermere and Ennerdale, stunning views in all directions and the Fish Inn at the end of the walk, perfect, even Sue likes this one.

June.	Pike Hill from Hawes.... A nice easy walk this one, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, it turned out to be a delightful ramble, the climax being Shaw Gill Wood (keep it to yourself) and the airy walk above the cliffs of Pike Hill with stunning views over Wensleydale.

July.	"S Airde Beinn and the Crater Lake.... July saw us on the Isle of Mull, we'd been told the views from"S Airde Beinn were special, the slightly intoxicated guy in the pub wasn't exaggerating, the Isle of Skye, the Sound of Mull just to name a few, if you're lucky enough to visit make sure you wander around the rim of the crater for the very best views.

August.	Hole Rake and Tilberthwaite Gill.... Something slightly different a wander through the pages of Coniston's mining heritage, from the Coppermines Valley I traversed Hole Rake to explore the slate and copper mines in Tilberthwaite Gill before following the Cumberland Way back to Coniston.

September.	The Cefn Bryn Ridge and Three Cliffs Bay.... September on the Gower, fantastic weather, spectacular easy walking, the high light, The Cefn Bryn Ridge and Three Cliffs Bay, a superb ridge walk through pre history, recent history through dune systems, ancient woodland and sandy beaches, everything the Gower has to offer.

October.	Uldale Fells.... This was easy on the knees walking, wonderful rolling grassy summits, nice soft descents on quiet hills, not a sole in sight, don't believe anyone who tells you in the pub the hills behind Skiddaw and Blencathra are boring, they obviously need to take their eyes off the toes of their boots and look around.

November.	Helvellyn in the Mist.... Why go up Helvellyn in the mist or any hill for that matter? When the mist lifts the views are always magical, I almost called it a day at Grisedale Tarn when a beam of sunlight cut across the grey waters, the views from the ascent of St Sunday Crag were quite special., I kept high as long as possible.

December.	The Classic Fairfield Horseshoe.... Always a spectacular walk, I think the best route of ascent is over Low and High Pikes first, you get good views all the way round if you're not too tired to enjoy them, it also reminds me I intend to do more large horseshoe walks in 2010.

January.

Fountains Fell from Stainforth..... This walk stands shoulders above my January conquests, navigating through Yorkshires best grey emulsion, through deep snow and thick mist on Fountains Fell, ending with wonderful views on the approach to Catrigg Force, easily the toughest walk of 2009, to do again in good weather.

February.

Low Rigg and High Rigg from Castlerigg Stone Circle..... An early start on a wonderful day in the company of my daughter Kirsten, the views and history didn't matter Kirsten's become a born again fell walker, one other thing, it was like walking to a pod-cast, the running commentary never stopped all day, apart from a headache it was one of the funniest days on the hill I can remember.

March.

Bow Fell and Esk Pike from Great Langdale..... Another walk through wonderful light, I ascended The Band to access Bow Fell, onwards via Ore Gap to Esk Pike before making my descent from Rossett Pike into Mickleden followed by the long walk back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

April.

Middle Fell, Cow and Sampson's Bratfull.... A day spent in the quiet hills above Wasdale, Middle Fell, Haycock and Cow Fell, navigating through thick fog, descending into the truly hidden valley of Stockdale, passing standing stones, burial cairns, passing through a trackless waist of tussock grass and peat bog, ending with a wander through pine forests to be gifted with wonderful views over the mouth of Wasdale and the Irish Sea coast.

May.

The High Stile Ridge including Hay Stacks.... Can't pass this one without a mention, one of the best ridge walks in the whole of Lakeland, no the best! A high level traverse above Buttermere and Ennerdale, stunning views in all directions and the Fish Inn at the end of the walk, perfect, even Sue likes this one.

June.

Pike Hill from Hawes.... A nice easy walk this one, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, it turned out to be a delightful ramble, the climax being Shaw Gill Wood (keep it to yourself) and the airy walk above the cliffs of Pike Hill with stunning views over Wensleydale.

July.

"S Airde Beinn and the Crater Lake.... July saw us on the Isle of Mull, we'd been told the views from"S Airde Beinn were special, the slightly intoxicated guy in the pub wasn't exaggerating, the Isle of Skye, the Sound of Mull just to name a few, if you're lucky enough to visit make sure you wander around the rim of the crater for the very best views.

August.

Hole Rake and Tilberthwaite Gill.... Something slightly different a wander through the pages of Coniston's mining heritage, from the Coppermines Valley I traversed Hole Rake to explore the slate and copper mines in Tilberthwaite Gill before following the Cumberland Way back to Coniston.

September.

The Cefn Bryn Ridge and Three Cliffs Bay.... September on the Gower, fantastic weather, spectacular easy walking, the high light, The Cefn Bryn Ridge and Three Cliffs Bay, a superb ridge walk through pre history, recent history through dune systems, ancient woodland and sandy beaches, everything the Gower has to offer.

October.

Uldale Fells.... This was easy on the knees walking, wonderful rolling grassy summits, nice soft descents on quiet hills, not a sole in sight, don't believe anyone who tells you in the pub the hills behind Skiddaw and Blencathra are boring, they obviously need to take their eyes off the toes of their boots and look around.

November.

Helvellyn in the Mist.... Why go up Helvellyn in the mist or any hill for that matter? When the mist lifts the views are always magical, I almost called it a day at Grisedale Tarn when a beam of sunlight cut across the grey waters, the views from the ascent of St Sunday Crag were quite special., I kept high as long as possible.

December.

The Classic Fairfield Horseshoe.... Always a spectacular walk, I think the best route of ascent is over Low and High Pikes first, you get good views all the way round if you're not too tired to enjoy them, it also reminds me I intend to do more large horseshoe walks in 2010.