I returned to the Fells after a 14-year absence!

Helvellyn is what started my love of the lakeland fells.  From a night at Glenridding YHA up Catstye Cam (890m), along Swirral Edge to Helvellyn (950m) then traverse Striding Edge then Birkhouse Moor (718m) finishing at Patterdale YHA.  In jeans and trainers.  Rain started while I was ascending Catsye Cam.  At Helvellyn summit the clouds parted and I saw the Red Tarn below and Ullswater in the distance - beautiful moment until the clouds returned. and for the rest of the day I was shrouded in mist and rain.

That was in the late 80’s after completing my A Levels (History, Politics, and Economics if you are interested!). And my fell walking continued, along with climbing in the Langdales and sailing in Coniston.

Having said that from an early age I was lucky to be in the outdoors, growing up in a Pendleside village surrounded by beautiful countryside. I made use of that, regularly walking in and around Pendle Hill. My parents have a boat, and I spent many holidays on the canals and rivers of England, enjoying the outdoors.

This site documents my return to the fells in 2021 after a 14-year absence.

After I joined the Army I continued my love of the outdoors, qualifying as a rock climbing instructor and mountain leader. I logged hundreds of quality mountain days and climbs, and was the second in a number of first ascents for a few climbs in Cyprus. Being in the Army allowed me to climb and walk in work’s time, which I made the most of. And I gained a few mountaineering qualifications on the way: Alpine Crag leader (ACL), Top Rope & Abseil (TR&A), Mountain Leader Training Course (MLT), and Joint Services Mountain Expedition Leader (JSMEL). Oh, I was also a qualified map reading instructor. Unfortunately my only civilian adventurous qualification is the Mountain Leader Training course!

But in 2007 I sort of drifted away from the fells after an ascent of Pendle Hill (557m) on New Years Day, and other things in my life took precedent at weekends.

Having reached what many consider an important age milestone I have decided that 14 years of getting fatter and unfitter has to end. The gym didn’t quite do it for me so I decided on a whim when hotels re-opened in July 2021 to book a room in a beautiful Lake District hotel and get back fell walking.

Brought up in a wonderful Pendleside village, I returned to the area after retiring from the Army before moving to a new house in Manchester only 3 km from the Peak District. So much of my walking will be in and around the Peak District. But my aim is to return to the Lake District and Pendle fells as often as possible.

I am an Environmental Health Officer by profession and my day job is as Head of Health and Safety at one of the UK’s largest residential care organisations. Any views expressed on this site are my own. Some links may be affiliate links that may earn me a commission.

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