News and Views

After extensive, if somewhat belated consultation with their membership the BMC have announced that they will not be rebranding as Climb Britain. As a hillwalking member I feel this is the right decision and am happy to see democracy in action!

Mountain Rescue teams in the North East had their busiest ever month in August. Stay safe and hire a qualified Mountain Leader 😉

Sport climbing has been accepted for the 2020 Olympics, will this lead to an increased interest in outdoor climbing and hiking?

I will be on expedition in Peru from 1-29th of July and am likely to have little or no access to my e-mails during this time.

Kate Ashworth, secretary of the Open Spaces Society has warned that national parks risk being “Disneyfied” through commercial partnerships with private businesses. Not something I feel overly comfortable about.

Exciting news, we’ve just had the itinerary through for our Peru trip, just a couple of weeks to go!

Congratulations to Leo Houlding who has just completed an awesome 1000 mile Snowkiting trip across Greenland! Wow!

The BMC’s Mend the Mountains campaign has been extended for another week so there is still time to make a donation to this very worthwhile cause

The long awaited path for walkers and cyclists over Dunmail Raise is now open, just the road to wait for now!!

Happy Birthday to the Trig Point!! It was 80 years since the first one was constructed at the weekend! Many walks wouldn’t be the same without them!

Fell running legend, Joss Naylor, is set to run a 30 mile fundraising run on his 80th birthday retracing the move his father made from Caldbeck to Wasdale 90 years earlier.

With the recent snow falls the Fell Top Assessors have had their run extended so don’t forget to check out their site if you are heading out to the Lakes

I will be on expedition in Sri Lanka from 15th-25th of March and am unlikely to have access to my e-mail

Storm damage has caused the closure of the Camasunary Bothy on the Isle of Skye, so take a tent if you’re headed that way!

We would like to express our continued admiration for the amazing work of the mountain rescue teams especially with the tragic events that have taken place in Scotland over the last few weeks. Thanks guys and gals.

I will be on expedition in Borneo with Camps International from the 8-18th of February and am unlikely to have access to e-mail

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! So, it’s that time of year when everyone is full of good intentions and plans for the year ahead (and that includes us here at Come walk with me). Walking is one of the best ways to increase physical and mental health and exploring the beautiful British countryside is a far more pleasant way of shifting the Christmas pounds and the blues than sweating away in a stuffy, smelly gym so why not drop us a line and plan some new adventures for 2016. Also, if your New Year resolutions include supporting excellent causes and raising money for charity then why not contact us, we have worked on many charity events over the last couple of years and specialise in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. We can also tailor something specific to your needs and maybe a little more off the beaten track…..hope to hear from you soon and see you on the hill!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !! Hope to see you on the hills in 2016

Our thoughts go out to everyone in the Lake District and Cumbria affected by the terrible floods

With the snow in Scotland and heavy rain everywhere else, Winter seems to have arrived. Please make sure you are well prepared and properly kitted out before you start exploring!

In spite of the inclement weather I was glad to see a good turnout at the Great Gable Remembrance service this weekend. “We shall remember them”

Volunteers have taken over half a ton of rubbish off Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis on the annual 3 Peaks clean up…a disgusting amount of litter but a great job!

Painted route markers on Snowdon rocks for a huge event this weekend……can that ever be acceptable?

Film maker Terry Abraham will be the speaker at the annual Friends of the Lake District lecture. Terry makes great films and has strong opinions so should be worth a listen.

From July 17th until August 14th I am going to be in Uganda on expedition with Kennett School and Camps International. I am unlikely to be able to reply to any enquiries or e-mails and whilst I will do my best to check them it is likely I will not be able to deal with any correspondence until my return. Thanks for understanding.

Sad news from the Brecon Beacons with two people being killed by a lightning strike. Take care out there folks and if in doubt, get off the hill…

Congratulations to Jim Mann and Jasmin Paris for their triumphs in the Dragon’s back race, truly remarkable achievements!

Good work from the BMC who have helped to fund a new website for the Three Peaks Partnership. The partnership is designed to encourage good practice amongst providers and participants for this most popular of challenges.

The Mountain Bothies Association has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Anyone who has used one of their bothies will, I am sure, agree it is a well deserved honour!

Congratulations to Chris Baker who has completed 60 years of service with Upper Wharfdale Fell Rescue Association. Truly outstanding service!

I will be in Wales from Monday til Friday and will have limited access to my communications so please bear with me and I will be in touch as soon as possible on my return or when I find some wifi!

A recent report has suggested that technology is making the skill of map reading a dying art….here at Come walk with me we love maps so hope this isn’t true!

Another two 5* reviews on Tripadvisor for us this week! Summer is booking up fast. Life is good

Our thoughts are with all affected by the Nepal earthquakes, whether locals, trekkers, guides or porters. Very sad news.

The 24th of April might be one of the most important historical dates in the walking calendar being both the anniversary of the Kinder trespass and the completion of the final stage of The Pennine Way.

Well, we may be a day late, but we still think it’s worth saying Happy Birthday to John Muir, born April 21st 1838 !!

The well respected conservation charity, The John Muir Trust, have added to the calls for Lynx to be reintroduced to the wild lands of the UK. What do you think?

RAF Valley Sea King carried out the flights 10,000 rescue in Snowdonia over the weekend. Truly tremendous commitment, we are very lucky to have these guys out there!

Oscar Santillan, an Ecuadorian artist, has chipped a piece of rock off the summit of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain. He has put it an installation claiming it modifies an entire Nation’s height…..Art, vandalism or pretentious nonsense?

Only 2 of the 8 pieces of land in the Lake District that were controversially put up for sale have actually been sold. The move was extremely controversial and negotiations over Stickle Tarn are still ongoing.

We are currently experiencing a little technical fault with our webmail, so until we fix it please contact us via our contact form or drop us a line on our Facebook page. Thanks.

Britain’s oldest long distance footpath, The Pennine Way turns 50 this year and we are planning some walks to showcase the very best of it. Drop us a line for more details!

The Met Office have said that if the rest of February remains sunny then this Winter may be the sunniest ever recorded! might not always have felt like it mind you…..

Great few days here in the office. Some private guiding in both the Lakes and the Peaks booked in for April, some D of E in the Brecon Beacons with Aim High expeditions organised, Uganda with Camps International booked for the Summer…..diary is filling up quickly, so if you want to get out and about with us this Summer drop us a line whilst we still have vacancies….

The government have announced plans to turn Ordnance Survey into a government owned company. Sources say that the company will remain publically owned but that the status is changing in order to allow it to keep up with the fast changing digital world.

Two deaths on Helvellyn this past week. Take care in the Winter conditions folks, remember to check the forecast, equip yourself appropriately and turn back if necessary…..Stay safe.

9pm tonight on BBC 4 Scafell-Life of a mountain, essential watching for anyone interested in the great outdoors in this country

New Year, New You? If your resolutions include losing weight, improving your mental and physical health, seeing new places and meeting new people, what better way to do it than with Come walk with me? No sweating over a treadmill or dodging over-muscled gym bunnies, no ridiculous diets or fads, just putting one foot in front of the other with an expert guide, getting to see the beautiful British countryside in the process, achieving goals and challenges and, maybe, experiencing a little of the great British weather. Contact Ian for further details of our events for 2015 or for a personal consultation. Happy New Year!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM COME WALK WITH ME UK!! SEE YOU ON THE HILL IN 2015!

Julian Woolford of the Campaign for National Parks has announced some success in the campaign to get power lines buried where they go through the Parks, instead of using pylons. Areas listed for consideration include the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia.

Here at Come walk with me UK we would like to add to the universal relief on being notified that Jasper, the missing collie, has been reunited with his owner and everyone lived happily ever after.

Rob Woodall, a very determined walker from Peterborough has become the first man to complete a round of all 1556 Marilyns!He completed the amazing feat by climbing two sea stacks in the Outer Hebridies.

Tragic news from Nepal. Our thoughts go out to all the local and international trekkers affected.

Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority are considering extending the ban on wild camping in the area due to a rise in anti-social behaviour. It’s a tragedy that the irresponsible behaviour of small numbers can impact on the responsible backpackers and campers who love this spectacular area.

Outdoor brand Rohan are teaming up with the Yorkshire Dales National Park to raise money to help maintain paths in the popular Three peaks area. The brand which was founded locally will help to preserve the paths used by over 100,000 people a year. Good on them we at CWWMUK say!

A recent conference at the Royal Geographical Society has held up the Welsh coastal path as a resounding success creating real economic value for communities close to the route. In addition to bringing in money and visitors the positive effect on the health and wellbeing of locals was highlighted.

A group of walkers led by mountaineer Andy Cave have led a walk celebrating the 10th anniversary of the CROW act that doubled the size of access land in the Peak District. It’s well worth remembering just how restricted we were only a decade ago.

Great news that the Pen-Y-Pass YHA has finally reopened. The hostel has received a much needed £1.3 million refit and was officially opened by legendary mountaineer, Alan Hinkes. I shall definitely be heading that way

A Swiss app called Uepaa can be used in areas where mobile phone coverage is patchy or does not exist. Users download the free app and personal details and form a “web” that allows people in trouble to use other linked phones with signal to call for help. Sounds like a promising development.

The coalition government have announced a completion date for the English coastal path. The full 3000 miles of coastal path should be fully open to the public by 2020.

A study in The Daily Telegraph today suggests that due to the influences of Smart Phones an GPS devices only 1 in 3 men can now read a map (it doesn’t give a figure for women). Worrying stats given the number of Mountain Rescue callouts to walkers whose phones have died.

The proposed Glenmorie wind farm that was to be sited near Bonar Bridge has been refused planning consent. The refusal was on the grounds that it would have had an unacceptable visual impact on an area of natural beauty….makes sense to me….although the whole issue is of renewable power is a tricky one…

Good on climbing legend Sir Chris Bonnington who celebrated his 80th birthday with an a ascent of the Old Man of Hoy, inspirational stuff!

Just back from the fantastic Green Man Festival near Crickhowell and in the heart of Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain country. It’s a great part of the world and we’d love to help you explore it so why not drop us a line and get a quote for a guided walk…

The recent tail end of Hurricane Bertha and the awful weather associated with it have had an effect on walkers everywhere but particularly in Scotland. The Lairig Hgru route is impassable after a bridge was washed away and rockslides in the Cairngorms have left other routes unsafe. Please check for details before planning any trips.

A new long distance footpath devised by David and Heather Pitt, and based on pre-war work by Lake District legend, Alfred Wainwright, is to appear on updated OS maps of the Yorkshire Dales. The whole route is 247 miles and has already been waymarked by volunteers.

Exciting news! I have just had my first column published in the South Manchester Advertiser and the Stockport Express. I will be writing a fortnightly column all about the fantastic walks we do here at Come walk with me UK and hoping to inspire the good folks of Manchester to join us out in the hills!

Tent manufacturers Terra Nova are celebrating their 10th anniversary by bringing out an ultra lightweight tent reckoned to be the lightest two person tent in the world.

Great news, that after a long campaign Red Squirrels have been seen in the Troutbeck Valley again after an absence of many years!

Yesterday Stuart Kettell began an attempt to push a sprout up Snowdon with his nose in order to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. He is expected to take four days!

Great news to see that Black Sail Youth Hostel has re-opened after being closed for a refurbishment. Situated in an old Shepherd’s Bothy, it is only accessible by foot and is one of the most iconic hostels in the UK!

How awesome is this? From 11th of August 2016 Japan will have a designated public holiday called “Mountain Day” after lobbying from the Japanese Alpinist Club. The group aims to promote “opportunities to get familiar with the mountains and appreciate blessings from the mountains”. That sounds like a fantastic mission statement and one that seems to have borne fruit.