Exhausted...

But in a good way.
Went to the Malverns (a ridge of hills in the UK).
Climbed some peaks.
Earnt a couple of these...

These boots are made for walking...

After a couple of impatient weeks waiting for them to arrive I finally got to collect my new walking boots today. They're Meindl leather-lined Borneos.

I'm a very lucky girl as these beauties were a birthday pressie. Early so that I have time to break them in before the big adventure (temporary loss of sanity!) That happens next month.

THANK YOU XXX

So what's happening next month?!? Well, saving that titbit for another post as the trip is still being planned. All I'll say is that it's not in the UK and we have a date with a big mountain.

Bossington to Selworthy

Back in July the Intrepid Explorer and I took a trip over to Exmoor to stretch the legs. Been meaning to write a quick post so that I don't forget the route: Bossington to Selworthy. It had stunning moorland views, sea cliffs, chocolate box villages and quiet sylvan glades all in one compact 5 mile (8 km) walk.

[Source: South West Coastal Path.]

Every now and again I remembered to take some photos!

 Looking down to Bossington Beach from Hurlstone Point.

The old Coastguard Station at Hurlstone Point.

Selworthy Beacon, the highest point on this walk at 308m (1000 feet).


The trig point on the Selworthy Beacon marker.

Views across the valley to Dunkery Beacon and the High Willies. A recently discovered piece of trivia is that Dunkery and Selworthy are both Marilyns. There's also a whole host of Marilyns across England patiently waiting to be bagged by those of us with nothing better to do than climb hills. (It's a great displacement activity for all those DIY jobs that need doing, but you'd far rather be out enjoying the lush weather.)

Dropping down into Selworthy Woods.

No idea!

The remains of World War II pill boxes on Bossington Beach.

We reached the beach and decided to carry on to Porlock. Essentially tacking another short (4 miles /6 km) walk on the end.

[Source: South West Coastal Path.]

This final circuit took us along the Porlock Marshes, through the village (where we unsuccessfully scouted for beer), back to Bossington, the car and ultimately chips in Minehead while en route to our respective homes.

Bagging the beacons

A friend and I spent a long day Saturday in the Brecon Beacons (South Wales, UK) walking the full horseshoe of peaks. I think we basically did this walk mapped out here and here.

Started at the car park in Blaen-y-Glyn waterfall car park near the Talybont reservoir and made our way straight up onto Craig y Fan Ddu, along the Beacons Way and Craig Cwmoergwm to the hilariously named Fan y Big (719m), onto Cribyn (795m) then the steep push up to Pen y Fan (886 m / 2907 ft). From there we carried onto Corn Ddu (873m) and down to the the filter house at Lower Neuadd Reservoir. Then along through the Taf Fechan Forest and back to the start.

My soul feasted on the most amazing views all day long! These photos were obviously taken more diligently than mine below and, though the route differed from ours, the flavour is the same.

Walking along the ridge from Craig y Fan Ddu, looking out along the escarpment,towards Craig Cwmoergwm and the peaks on our route.

Each of the peaks spreads a finger-like ridge out into the valleys below. With a bit of imagination the whole place looks like some hairy giant hand resting, palm down and fingers spread, on the landscape. No, I didn't have a hip-flask with me! That's just how my head works even when sober.

The "diving board" on the summit of Fan y Big! Us Brits find this name hilarious in a smutty, mucky sort of way. It's up there with fanny packs for us which is why we call them bum bags. Our route lies ahead, down to the cross-roads at Craig Cwm Cynwyn then on and upwards to Cribyn.

Looking across to Cribyn, the gap road, and the twin peaks of Pen y Fan and Corn Du in the distance.

Looking back up the path to Fan y Big while en route to Cribyn and our lunch stop. (By the gods I was hungry!)

Looking south to reservoir valley with the path down from the mountains to the two Neuadd Reservoirs in the distance.

The view from Pen y Fan looking back on our route down from Cribyn and Craig Cwm Sere.

Hurrah! We reached our high point... it was all downhill from there ;)

Lower Neuadd Reservoir with our earlier route across the Brecons in the background.

 

The Taf Fechan Forest in the distance.

I could have taken way more photos, but to be honest I was way to busy admiring the scenery and gassing at the start of the walk. All in all the walk took us 7 hours, so by the time we dropped down into the valley again we were somewhat focused on the last leg of the walk through the forest and getting back to the car.

Fab day, fab walk, fab (well earned) fish and chips at the end of it!