Ben

A lumpy MTB route starting in Hayfield, with plenty of challenging climbs, fun downhills, and a short section along a canal with several locks to have a play on along the way.

Great little family loop in Hathersage. Up through woodland and over Hood brook, before descending down past the resting place of Little John, with plenty of breakfast opportunities when back in Hathersage.

…of Tryfan and Glyder Fach 😅 Waited for a clear sunny day to come around for this one, the Bochlwyd Horseshoe, is a really picturesque scramble route in the Glyders. Firstly up the imposingly steep north face of Tryfan, the cannon was easy to locate and fun to stand on, more great scrambling to the summit via a gully, then a quick leap across the Adam and Eve stones. Stunning views from the top before a caper down the southern face, across the col to locate Bristly ridge, and my way up, sinister gully. Steep, varied and fun all the way up, pop to the summit then another caper back down y gribin to the start. Awesome route 👍🏼

A circular hike along the Peak District’s Great ridge, starting and ending at the foot of mam tor. Fantastic 360 degree views all the way along, with the dark peak on one side towards Edale and Kinder, and on the other, Castleton and the white peak. Loads to see and enjoy, including what must be all the Frogs in Castleton in one pond outside Odin’s mine 😅

Short hike around couple of the Peak District’s scenic edges, the terrain having plenty of drainage making for an ideal walk after all the rain we’ve been having. With no rain in sight for once, but the sunshine playing hard to get, it was down to the wildlife to brighten up the morning with lots of songbirds and Deer.

An abandoned attempt at a loop of the Carnedds. Starting from Ogwen on a dull but pleasant day we headed off up to the right of the lake towards Pen Yr Ole Wen, a great walk up with a few little bits of scrambling available, passing into the cloud, where the weather rapidly changed. High winds and heavy sleet/rain soon made a mockery of our expensive layered clothing and the decision to turn around was in the end an easy one. Tracing back to the occasionally tricky but spectacular descent (usually an ascent due it’s steep gradient) at Pen yr ole wen. Once down it was back to Betws-y- coed for an early shower and a few extra pints 🍻

An underground adventure in the old cwmorthin slate mine, beneath the mountains in Blaenau. An organised trip with multiple absails, zip lines, traverses and bridges, ending with a free fall jump into an inky black cavern. The guides were reassuring, really knowledgeable about the history of the mine and good company. A fantastic day out

A dark, misty and rainy start to the walk at Bleaklow, leaving lots of the path ankle deep in water as we headed for Higher shelf stones and the B-29 crash site. We then headed south through Alport Dale following the narrow path through the valley, watching the river grow along the way. A quick and careful climb to the top of the tower before heading back north, over the snake and following the river all the way back to Bleaklow.

A fun winter kinder hike from Edale, going up Jacob’s ladder, over past the frozen outfall then back down Grindsbrook clough. Navigating from memory was made pretty tricky by the snow ⛄️😅

Loop from Matlock, over Oaker Hill, through Darley Bridge and back along the silver sliver of the winter Derwent, accompanied the whole way by redwings and fieldfare