Author Archives: MART IN THE HILLS

About MART IN THE HILLS

Hillwalker with dodgy knees and dodgier sense of humour. Lover of the outdoors, Lakes, Highlands, Cheviots, nature, good food, real ale and leaf tea.

Walking the Chorley 3 Peaks – White Coppice, Great Hill, Winter Hill, Two Lads and Rivington Pike – from Lower House Car Park (12 miles)

Posted on September 11, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

A return to Lancashire’s West Pennine Moors during a Bank Holiday weekend with more time for a longer walk. Had heard of the ‘Chorley 4 Peaks’ via Twitter but this started from the town whilst I preferred keeping to the countryside. I … Continue reading →

A Summer Walk on Winter Hill and Rivington Pike via Two Lads – from Lower House

Posted on August 28, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Whilst on parent visiting duties in south Manchester I needed a quick local walk to maintain some hill fitness. Previous attempts round Dunham Park had been too flat, so a cunning plan emerged for something higher. Winter Hill is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lancashire & Cheshire | Tagged Bolton walks, Chorley walks, hiking, Lever Park, Pigeon Tower, Rivington Pike, Social Hiking, travel, Two Lads, walks near Manchester, West Pennine Moors, Winter Hill & Rivington Pike views, Winter Hill route from Lower House, Winter Hill route via Two Lads, Winter Hill walk | 20 Comments

A Wander Round the Watendlath Wainwrights – Grange Fell, High Tove, Armboth Fell, High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and Walla Crag from Grange

Posted on August 21, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Interesting walk over 6 north central Wainwrights on the high ground between Derwent Water & Thirlmere. We parked at Keswick, taking the no 78 bus down the B5289 to Grange. From here it’s an L shape linear route back to Keswick with a refreshing … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Armboth Fell, Bleaberry Fell, Brund Fell, Grange to Keswick, High Seat, High Tove, hiking, Kings How, Lake District, North Central Wainwrights from Grange, Social Hiking, Wainwrights, walks from Grange, Walla Crag, Watendlath | 1 Comment

Six Nights in Plockton with Sixty Photos – North West Highlands Trip July 2014 (more than just mountains)

Posted on August 11, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

To misquote Charles Dickens;- “It is a far, far better thing I do now than I have ever done; it is to a far, far better place that I go than I have ever known.” Yes time for a trip to the majestic north west … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Highlands & Skye | Tagged Baoshbheinn, Calums Seal trip, Drumbuie, Duirinish, Eilean Donan, Gairloch, Glamaing, hiking, hills, mountains, Plockton, Plockton Brewery, Plockton Shores, Port-an-Eorna, Red Cuillin Horseshoe, Rubha Hunish, Sandaig Islands, Sheenas Tea Hut, Sligachan, travel | 13 Comments

Returning to the Highlands – it’s Plockton Time!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Last October I wrote a post here called I Miss the Hills. Whilst whale watching in remote northern Skye I got a call from my dad who had just managed to hit his face on a cupboard door knocking him unconscious … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District, Random Stuff, Scottish Highlands & Skye | Tagged Highlands, hiking, hills, I miss the hills, Lakes, mountains, Plockton, travel | 2 Comments

Training for the Highlands – Wandering Around Cheshire’s Dunham Massey Deer Park

Posted on July 7, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

It’s been difficult getting regular walks in this year as I’m making fortnightly trips down to my parents in Manchester. Ages ago I booked a week in the Highlands and that week draws near, so I managed to nip across to Dunham Park … Continue reading →

Posted in Lancashire & Cheshire, Random Stuff | Tagged Dunham Massey Deer Park, Dunham Park, Good places to walk around fast to get some exercise, hiking, Social Hiking, Walks in south Manchester | 4 Comments

Steel Fell via Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Cream Scones – from Grasmere Village

Posted on July 4, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Helm Crag is probably my favourite small hill in the Lakes and the best way to scale it is straight up from Grasmere. On any other approach it’s just an outlying fell yet from Grasmere it becomes a mini Matterhorn. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Calf Crag, Gibson Knott, Grasmere, Helm Crag, Helm Crag from Grasmere, hiking, Lake District, Social Hiking, Steel Fell, Steel Fell route, Wainwrights, walks from Grasmere | 2 Comments

A Fine Fairfield Round from Grasmere – guest starring Rydal Water, High Pike, Hart Crag, Dove Crag, Fairfield and introducing Stone Arthur!

Posted on June 26, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Here’s an even more interesting version of the classic Fairfield round via a scenic approach walk along the lakeside paths of Grasmere & Rydal Water. Seven Wainwrights in total including hopefully 3 new ones for us, Low & High Pikes on the central ridge plus Stone Arthur on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Fairfield, Fairfield round, Grasmere, Grasmere lakeside path, hiking, Lake District, Rydal Water, Social Hiking, Stone Arthur, Wainwrights, walks from Grasmere | Leave a comment

Cheviots Coquet Valley Walk from Wedder Leap, Barrowburn – The Street, Mozie Law, Windy Gyle, Clennell St, The Middle, Fairhaugh, Kyloe Shin and Shillhope Law (13 miles)

Posted on June 15, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

Nowadays I rarely have a definite route in mind when heading for the Coquet Valley, it tends to manifest itself during the drive up. This time I fancied something familiar but slightly different, so a clockwise circuit of Windy Gyle … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheviot Hills, Northumberland | Tagged Barrowburn, Cheviot Hills, Cheviots routes, Clennell Street, Fairhaugh, Forest of Death, hiking, Kyloe Shin, Mozie Law, routes from wedder Leap, Shillhope Law, Social Hiking, Upper Coquet, Upper Coquetdale, wedder Leap, Windy Gyle route | 2 Comments

A Blog From The Blue Tit Box – Week Three – Have They Gone Yet?

Posted on June 14, 2014 by MART IN THE HILLS

And now the concluding part of the Blue Tit nest box adventure 2014! Unlike last years tragedy everything seems to be going extremely well. Nine eggs (2 more than last yr) were laid from 27th April to 6th May which had all hatched out by Sunday 18th … Continue reading →