Hiking

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Ginger plant in flower

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
The terminator - shadow of the sun - is creeping down the opposite side of the Salazie crater

Arduous hike out from the village of Hell-Bourg in the Cirque de Salazie (volcano crater). Hard going, both the sun and thirty degree heat but mainly the steep tracks. The “reward” is hiking through tropical farming, flowers and forest, glimpses of highly-coloured song birds and hearing them calling and singing. Though there’s drought everywhere in this crater, so a lot of dust. GR R1 means Grande Randonné 1 de la Réunion, it’s the long distance route equivalent to the UK Pennine Way.

More photos: Tropical jungle hike: Le Grand Sable, GR R1 - Parc Naturel de la Réunion

Snow hike from Keswick, Cumbria

Snow hike from Keswick, Cumbria

Hike from Keswick, up Spooneygreen Lane to Lattrig Saddle and onwards to the gate in to Glenderaterra Valley, which has Lonscale Fell and Skiddaw one side with Blencathra the other. A familiar route made magical by the snow. Frosty on Latrigg but soon getting to be heavy going traversing Lonscale Fell because of drifted snow up to knee height. The clouds were closing in over the fells beyond Ullswater as I took my picnic. The path past the rocky shoulder was even more heavily drifted so it was time to come down.

More photos: Glenderaterra Valley gate in the snow - Lake District National Park

Blackdown Common, Devon

Blackdown Common, Devon

Family hike in the Blackdown Hills around Culmstock Beacon (250 m.) and Blackdown Common. Frosty start after the storm had blown itself out overnight. Enjoying the magnificent Devon countryside plus sharing that peculiar pleasure of stomping through iced puddles.

More photos: Blackdown Common and Culmstock Beacon (250 m.)

Wast Water from Irton Fell

Ravenglass from Irton Fell

Low level hike in the calm between storms. Up a steep path through the trees to Irton Pike (230 m.). Grand view from Irton Fell over Wast Water to the central fells and out to Ravenscraig in the opposite direction. Dry but the cloud level pretty low. Early picnic over the ridge to Miterdale then the descent through Miterdale Forest to get home before the next storm rattles the roofs.

More photos: Irton Fell & Miterdale Forest - Lake District National Park

Keswick - Lake District National Park

Keswick - Lake District National Park
Skiddaw (931 m.), view from Crosthwaite Road roundabout

Really fantastic walk in three parts: flat valley among the drumlins between Keswick and Underscar. Upwards though mixed woods to Latrigg Saddle, then breaking out of the tree line to open fell.
I took my picnic of the first mince pies of the season just up from the gate to Lonscale Fell, with a view of all the tops clear through the haze. Reluctantly descending through Brundholme Wood as the sun was setting fast.
I hiked slowly, enjoying the colours and views (the fells equivalent of “smelling the roses”) as this has been the best day’s hiking in Cumbria all summer. Yes, this is now November, what a year!
Plus, chatting with others out there also enjoying the sunshine, looking around and doing the “One life, live it!” thing.
Shower at home in Keswick, then the long journey back to London.
But... I enjoyed the sunset at the Three Bears bus stop for rather longer than expected as the buses were stuck in Keswick’s gridlock; many thanks to Mike who baled me out with a lift to Penrith so I didn’t miss the big train sauth.

More photos: Lonscale Fell Gate - Lake District National Park

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