Walking Forum
Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: gunwharfman on 17:54:31, 04/10/19
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I know that lots of hikers have walked the same route more than once but is there one or two hikes in particular that really stands out for you?
In my case its the Pennine Way, for the physical and mental demands it made on me and the one I did earlier this year from Keswick to Edinburgh, that one was really special and for me the most unusual. I had good sunny weather for two weeks, no rain and hardly any condensation on or in my tent on any day.
My hiking year didn't really go to plan this year and I'm thinking that next year I might try to walk from Edinburgh, following the Scottish National Trail route to Kirk Yetholme and then on the Pennine Way to Edale. Or possibly just walk to Keld and then turn west into the Lakes, or go east to the end of the Coast to Coast route? Food for thought!
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A walk I've done only once but would love to do again is the South West Coast Path between Porthcurno and St Ives. I loved the fabulous views, the wild rugged cliffs, the beautiful bays and the industrial archeology of the old mines.
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Another vote for the PW. I did it first in 2012, and decided to do it every 5 years. In 2017 I did it S-N again but in 2022 I'm going to start in KY O0
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A walk I've done only once but would love to do again is the South West Coast Path between Porthcurno and St Ives. I loved the fabulous views, the wild rugged cliffs, the beautiful bays and the industrial archeology of the old mines.
I walked it t'other way setting off from Zennor and ending up at Kennack Sands - echo your comments, it was wonderful walking and the weather was perfect. Would certainly enjoy another stroll that way. Close run thing though, as the Pennine Way was a memorable walk and one I could fancy again.
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There's a couple of climbs I'd love to do again, the Diamond couloir on Mount Kenya now sadly no more and the Arete De Peuteray integral. I doubt I'd be fit enough for the latter now.
Maybe going back to South America and walking more instead of going for the peaks all the time would be fun.
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This one. https://randopyrenees.blogspot.com/2017/07/pic-de-sauvegarde-2738m-en-boucle.html (https://randopyrenees.blogspot.com/2017/07/pic-de-sauvegarde-2738m-en-boucle.html)
One of the few walks I have done more than once and would happily do again. IMHO a classic.
(https://i.postimg.cc/xd8BhRWn/2019-10-04-2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
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Another vote for the Pennine Way, a walk that I wanted to do from my days in the scouts but it took until my retirement to suggest that I disappear for a couple of weeks (and I have already walked it again). The South West Coast Path is another that was truly magic, reliving my childhood days of ice cream and sandcastles, I think that at age 72 it may take me a bit longer now! If I can be allowed to add a third and one that was totally different from any other LDPs that I have walked is the one this year - the Camino Frances, not a difficult walk but for both enjoyment and the comradeship of all the different nationalities that I met along "The way".
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The Anglesey Coastal path is my favourite .
Beautiful Magical Mysterious Isle .
I did It a as a Charity walk .
And
It was a privilege and an Adventure of a Lifetime
Will go back and walk It clockwise next time.
The Sandstone Trail In Cheshire is an other favourite underrated but so much variety to see.
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That's an excellent question, but I was stuck for ideas at first. I couldn't think of anything better than repeating some hill/mountain walks that promised amazing views, but all we actually saw were clouds and rain and the ground beneath our feet.
Then I remembered our almost successful walk to the centre of Rarotonga ten years ago. That's something I'd love to try again, but probably won't get the chance.
My wife and I had no idea what we were going to do that day. We wandered inland for about a quarter of a mile and came across this sign...
(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/Rarotonga_walk_map.jpg)
...and we said: "Let's go to the top of the island!". We were completely unprepared, wearing sandals and carrying just one bottle of water. It was incredibly hot and humid, and my wife wasn't feeling well either. And, being unbelievably stupid, we didn't tell anyone where we were going (and of course we didn't have mobile phones). :-[
(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/Rarotonga_walk.jpg)
The path was fairly easy to follow but tree roots made the going quite tough at times. We filled our bottle from the many streams we passed. We were almost at the top when my wife said she couldn't go any further. I carried on a bit further hoping to get above the trees, but turned back before we lost contact with each other and headed back the way we came.
The walk took nearly five hours and we didn't see anyone else all day. We were elated by what we'd done, but disappointed we hadn't succeeded. So that walk is definitely one we'd love to do again - but we'd be properly prepared next time and get to the top!
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Gunwharfman, is the details of Keswick to Edinburgh on board anywhere, can't seem to see it. Thx
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If it's walks that you want to do again because they didn't work out right the first time then mine would be the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in NZ. Flew all the way across the world just to walk and climb in horizontal driving drizzle and didn't see much of the volcano at all, just smelt it.
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The details of my walk to Edinburgh -
I actually started this hike at Keswick and followed the Cumbria Way to Carlisle, then hiked east along Hadrians Wall to where the Pennine Way crosses over (just before Housesteads) and then hiked north to Kirk Yetholm. Once there I followed the Scottish National Trail (St Cuthberts Way forms part of the route) to Melrose, onto Peebles, onto West Dean and then down into Edinburgh. The Scottish National Trail web page has very clear OS maps, descriptions, and mileage about the trail route in Scotland.
Or of course, the other option would be to start in Edinburgh and walk south. At the time my son lived in Edinburgh (he has now moved South) so it made sense for me to walk to him and then catch the train home to Portsmouth. I could have flown to Southampton but I couldn't get a reasonable cost fare.
If I was to hike the route again I would start in Edinburgh and walk south, for me it would be like walking towards home. Hopefully, then I might get a cheapish flight up and would try to finish at the southern end of the Cumbria Way. I must admit I really liked the walk, each named hike section had its own charm, demand, and interest. The only boring bit is that section from Carlisle to Dalston but its soon over with. With me, as always, the most physically demanding bit, especially in bad weather, is from Kirk Yetholm to Byrness.
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Either the Cwm Caseg route to the summit of Carnedd llewelyn, or the traverse of Bera Bach and Yr Aryg, leading to Llewelyn or Foel Grach.
I will never tire of either of these routes, but any route in the Northern Carneddau is heavenly walking country.
Unlike Snowdon and the Glyders, the Northern Carneddau are always quiet, litter free, and the perfect area to thank the Lord for our continued good health, to be able to traverse such stunning countryside.
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Much to my regret, I've never been to North Wales to hike. It's easier for me to drive or train it to The Lakes. The nearest for me was Offas Dyke and later one trip to Abergavenny.
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Probably the SW Coast Path between St Ives to Coverack or the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Both absolutely magical
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Sorry but I made a mistake in my description of the route I took from Keswick to Edinburgh. I mentioned a village called 'West Dean,' I should have typed WEST LINTON.
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Much to my regret, I've never been to North Wales to hike. It's easier for me to drive or train it to The Lakes. The nearest for me was Offas Dyke and later one trip to Abergavenny.
From Portsmouth, the drive to Snowdonia is no worse than that to the Lakes. I used to do both from Southampton when I lived in England.
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I'd like to do Blencathra again, but by a different route.
Does that count?
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If it's walks that you want to do again because they didn't work out right the first time then mine would be the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in NZ. Flew all the way across the world just to walk and climb in horizontal driving drizzle and didn't see much of the volcano at all, just smelt it.
Our son did that one,with his girl freind a few weeks back. They loved it, especially sliding down the snow covered slopes, mount Doom in the back ground.
I'm sure you will get back there.
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For me, the notoriously wet boggy stretch, from Bleaberry Fell to Armboth Fell in the central Lake District, where walkers have lost legs in the mud, okay maybe just boots ::)
I did this walk during the long drought last year, it was dry as a bone, hardly got my boots dirty, but it was also thick cloud, couldn’t see a thing and I was plagued by flying ants, ate a couple that got in the way of a bite on a sandwich.
But feel I cheated a bit, not earned my rite of passage when I complete the Wainwright’s and would love to see that view too :)
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Our son did that one,with his girl freind a few weeks back. They loved it, especially sliding down the snow covered slopes, mount Doom in the back ground.
I'm sure you will get back there.
Heading back to Rotorua shortly. No plans for Mount Doom this time. There is baby cooing to be done. Oh and a circuit of Taranaki, the family are talking part in a race round it.
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I would like to have another that the Welsh 3000s. Injuries have stopped me walking any significant distance and haven’t helped my fitness or weight.
There are many places I would go back to and walk again, including:
Dauphine region in France
Morne Blanc on Mahe
Bird Island circuit
Julian Alps in Slovenia
Lake Bled circuit
And many more
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When I think of Europe number one has to be the Tour du Mont Blanc, followed by the Stevenson Way and hiking through the Dordogne.
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A beautiful coastal walk on Mull (the 'fossil tree' area), on a freezing cold day in early spring, snow on the higher ground but it was a rare sunny day with stunning blue skies, and the colour of the sea and the quality of the light were just incredible. I'd love to do that again in similar conditions.
Or Kinder Scout the day after New Year's, via a very icy Grindsbrook Clough, one of those bright and sparkly winter days, and so cold that the bog was all frozen hard and a delight to walk over.
Maybe time to think about planning some winter walks!
I'd like to have another go at Gran Paradiso, attempted it nearly 20 years ago but had to turn back before the final climb to the summit as I was feeling so ill (possibly altitude-related, though everyone else in the group was fine; I remember spending a very miserable day and night curled up in my bunk, shivering under a scratchy blanket with the worst headache ever, clutching a plastic bag in case I didn't make it out of the bunk in time to throw up again... hmm, maybe not an experience I want to repeat after all...)
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Heading back to Rotorua shortly. No plans for Mount Doom this time. There is baby cooing to be done. Oh and a circuit of Taranaki, the family are talking part in a race round it.
Have commented in the NZ thread.
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One walk I hope to do again is Ben Nevis. Hopefully with my son this time on a crisp Winters day. Knowing me I will take a different route though. Up number three gully and down over CMD via the arette.
Does that count.
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Another vote for the PW. I did it first in 2012, and decided to do it every 5 years. In 2017 I did it S-N again but in 2022 I'm going to start in KY O0
I did the PW for the third time, finishing last week. I also decided to do it every 5 years, though the jury is still out on 2024. This time I did it from N-S and much enjoyed it.. I found it hard work but I think it was more to do with my age than with direction of travel!
https://pyreneeshrp.blogspot.com/2019/09/pennine-way-preparation.html
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Some great pics, thanks, enjoyed reading your blog and looking at some of the shortcuts you mention to avoid the drop into Dufton and Horton in 2022 O0
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Probably the SW Coast Path between St Ives to Coverack or the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Both absolutely magical
I'd go for this too, but probably extend it to Falmouth. Wonderful memories of crossing Gillian Creek and the Helford River on a rainy but very still day.
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I'd like to have another go at Gran Paradiso, attempted it nearly 20 years ago but had to turn back before the final climb to the summit as I was feeling so ill (possibly altitude-related, though everyone else in the group was fine; I remember spending a very miserable day and night curled up in my bunk, shivering under a scratchy blanket with the worst headache ever, clutching a plastic bag in case I didn't make it out of the bunk in time to throw up again... hmm, maybe not an experience I want to repeat after all...)
By a strange coincidence, I have also had to turn back on Gran Paradiso due to illness.
I also chickened out of nearby Herbetet due to avalanche risk, a much more aesthetically appealing peak, and this is the Valsavarenche route that I would really love to repeat - but no realistic possibility of me ever doing this.
Best walk of the fortnight was on my last day - traversing southwards along a network of paths just below the snow line on the western side of the valley - I walked over 20 miles and didn't get back to the campsite until after dark. A truly magnificent day.
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Back to the opening question - not sure I can answer that - I'm always hungry to explore new ground.
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Another vote for Pennine Way. I’ve done it 3 times. I’m lucky enough to be able to dip in as I live in Rochdale and always feel envious when I meet someone walking the whole thing!
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One walk in the UK that I haven't done for years is the Rhinog Traverse, Starting by hiding a bike in the woods near Barmouth. Then going up to the campsite in Talsarnau for the night (if it's still there). The first day is up the road to Bryn Hwbach farm, from there climb Moel Ysgyfarnogod and over Clip, Craig Wion, Rhinog Fawr and Fach before camping by Llyn Hywel. The second day is essentially one long ridge walk which takes you right down to Barmouth. Pick up the bike for a gentle ride back to Talsarnau to pick up the car.
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Hello,
I haven't walked any of the multi day walking routes in GB. Any multi day walks in Scotland that I have walked were 'made up' with the itinerary set to allow for the higher tops to be visited.
The first multi day walk in Europe, tent rucksack, wee guidebook and all the rest, was in Corsica when we retired.
A rough and ready trail with rough and ready facilities during most of the fifteen days duration. However the mixture of sun, with much interesting terrain and vegetation, staying above 900 metres for the entire journey once 'the getting over the first couple of days from sea level' was got through.
I went back a few years later and walked the length of the GR20 in the opposite direction with a few variations on some of the stages. It was still a magical part of the world.
Definitely a place that I hope to get back to again.
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I always wanted to hike the GR20, I bought the book but I've never actually made it.
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path O0
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I'm sure coastal walks are great for many, many people but not for me. I live near the beach and see the sea most days of my life so the idea of walking for days always seeing the water to one side of me is not my idea of fun. Saying that though, I'm fine walking around the edges of lakes. I walked around Bewl Water, just south of Tunbridge Wells a couple of months ago and really enjoyed the experience.
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I have a few walks that I tend to repeat.
In the lake district Helvellyn over Swirral and Striding Edges, very busy in summer. I have walked it in the winter (when ice axe and crampons are needed), but never seen Red Tarn frozen, which I would like to see.
In the peak district, Mam Tor & Hollins Cross then along Cave dale, and on to Limestone Way, though it can be very busy at weekends.
In North Yorshire it would have to be Malham and Malham Tarn, again this can be very busy. Though I haven't been there for a while.
Locally in the Yorkshire Wolds, Welton Dale & Elloughton Wold a great little woodland walk.
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Locally in the Yorkshire Wolds, Welton Dale & Elloughton Wold a great little woodland walk.
I know it well! It is indeed a lovely area to walk, particularly in spring and early summer :)
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Looking through my walk logs - there are certainly some I wouldn't do again and there are now a few I couldn't do again. :)
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One I keep dreaming about is to hike the GR10, France again, but this time from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay. I'm sure I never will though.
I've been thinking of hiking the St Cuthberts route from end to end, from Melrose to Holy Island. I enjoyed the section that I did last year from Kirk Yetholme to Melrose, it's on my list to do this year. Not sure yet if I will, or just stick to a 'down South' path?
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One I keep dreaming about is to hike the GR10, France again, but this time from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay. I'm sure I never will though.
I've been thinking of hiking the St Cuthberts route from end to end, from Melrose to Holy Island. I enjoyed the section that I did last year from Kirk Yetholme to Melrose, it's on my list to do this year. Not sure yet if I will, or just stick to a 'down South' path?
Hi GWM link up the Cuthbert walk with the St Oswalds and you can see the best of the county and end fairly close to Hexham transport hub or you could walk into Tyneside on that section of the Hadrians Wall Walk.
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Pennine way... Again, again, again.
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Alternate Haiku Stairs route, Oahu, Hawaii. Would loved to have done the 'Stairway to Heaven' (Haiku Stairs) Route but risking a $1000 dollar fine for doing so seemed madness so we went the alternate route to the top instead, still, would love to do it again someday.
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Pennine Way....already done x 6.5
Pennine Journey.... already done x 3
Cleveland Way...already done x 3
Backpacked every time.
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I liked the Pennine Journey, except when I camped on Hexham race course, cold, bleak, windy place!
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If it's walks that you want to do again because they didn't work out right the first time then mine would be the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in NZ. Flew all the way across the world just to walk and climb in horizontal driving drizzle and didn't see much of the volcano at all, just smelt it.
Next time climb Ruapehu up to the lake. It's a powerful sight knowing the thing is active and has simply emptied into the sky in recent history. Having said that next time we visit the crossing is on the to do list,
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I've been thinking of hiking the St Cuthberts route from end to end, from Melrose to Holy Island. I enjoyed the section that I did last year from Kirk Yetholme to Melrose, it's on my list to do this year. Not sure yet if I will, or just stick to a 'down South' path?
St Cuthbert's Way is a great walk and I would heartily recommend it. There were a few sections with a little too much tarmac for my liking, but they were largely on very quiet country roads.
The Scottish section from Melrose to Kirk Yetholm is slightly better than the English side of the border (in my opinion, anyway), but the final walk across the pilgrim's path to Lindisfarne is something you'll never forget.
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I would love to the GR10 again, but then I would also like to try the Spanish GR11, the GR5 and possibly the HRP. In the UK I've never done the Pennine Way - maybe I should, having seen many on their way in my two summers as assistant warden at Crowden YH, back in my youth,
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Come to think about it, i was pretty impressed with my circumnavigation around the entire island of Barra, in the Outer Hebrides.
There was a road running around its entire circumference, a distance of just a little over thirteen miles, which i followed from start to finish.
The inhabitants were extremely friendly, and even though the island has a very small population, and beaches to rival any in the Mediterranean, it had a fairly hilly topography, ideal for a weeks adventure.
The thing i really liked about the island, was its back to the 1960s atmosphere, nobody was in a hurry, and a very peaceful existence.