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.

A Walk to the Beach – Sandwood Bay!

Posted on August 1, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

The national UK forecast from London declared the 2013 July heatwave had arrived and the whole country would be bathed in glorious sunshine. Meanwhile back in the North West Highlands we had a serious storm force wind problem. After being … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Highlands & Skye | Tagged Am Buachaille, Ardvreck Castle, Kylesku, Overshoremore Beach, Quinag, Sandalwood Bay, Sandwood Bay, Sandwood Bay route map, Sandwood Bay route via Am Buachaille, Sandwood Bay walk, Sandwood House, walks near Ullapool | 17 Comments

Return to Sutherland, Blown Over By Cul Beag!

Posted on July 27, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Cul Beag is a 2,550ft Corbett in remote & beautiful Sutherland. The name in Gaelic means ‘Small Back’, a Corbett is a Scottish hill between 2500-3000 ft; and Sutherland is a long long way up north (the top left bit). … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Highlands & Skye | Tagged Assynt hills, Cul Beag, Cul Beag from Linneraineach, Cul Beag route, hiking, Sutherland Corbetts, walks near Ullapool | 7 Comments

Warm Western Wainwrights – Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor, Wandope, Whiteless Pike and Rannerdale Knotts

Posted on July 20, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Long ago when I was a lad, we just used to choose a few classic Lakeland peaks and walk up em. Nowadays these bloomin Wainwrights have been invented, so now we have to go back & pick off all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Grasmoor, Grasmoor route, hiking, Hopegill Head, Lake District, North Western Wainwrights route, Rannerdale Knotts, Social Hiking, Wandope, Whiteless Pike, Whiteside, Whiteside route, Whiteside to Rannerdale route | 2 Comments

Rubber Honey! A Superb Coastal Walk Around the Northern Point of Skye, Rubha Hunish

Posted on July 2, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Rubha Hunish (headland of Hunish) is the most northerly point on the Isle of Skye and provides a hugely recommended low walk crammed full of interest. If you can manage the short steep rocky section, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Highlands & Skye | Tagged best coastal walks, hiking, Isle of Skye, Plockton, Rubha Hunish, Rubha Hunish route, Skye, Skye coastal walks, Skye whales, Trotternish ridge | Leave a comment

Bad Back in the Lakes! – Base Brown to Great Gable from Seathwaite and back via Taylorgill Force

Posted on June 15, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Many of us of a certain age have a ‘bad back story’, mine was being blown over many years ago on Glencoe’s iconic Buachaille Etive Mor. Last week I managed to aggravate this by over exerting myself with long handled … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Base Brown, Base Brown view, Gable & Base Brown from Seathwaite route, Great Gable, Great Gable from Seathwaite route, Green Gable, Knee supports, Lake District, Napes view, Pacer Poles, Seathwaite, Seathwaite Farm, Seathwaite routes, Social Hiking, Sourmilk Gill, Sty Head, Styhead Tarn, Taylorgill Force, Westmorland Cairn, Westmorland Cairn view, Windy Gap Great Gable | 2 Comments

Cheviots Walk from Slymefoot in Upper Coquetdale – Barrowburn, Uswayford, Bloodybush Edge, Davidsons Linn, Windy Gyle and Loft Hill (13 miles)

Posted on June 6, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Quick Trip Report from Sunday’s 13 miler in Northumberland’s Cheviot hills. This is a variation on my previous couple of routes just to illustrate the choices available once you get to know the Upper Coquet area. I also tried the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheviot Hills | Tagged Barrowburn, Best Cheviots view, Bloodybush Edge, Cheviot Hills, Cheviots, Davidsons Linn, Loft Hill, Routes from Barrowburn, Rowhope, Slymefoot, Social Hiking, Trows, Trows Road End, Upper Coquet, Upper Coquetdale, Uswayford, Whitebridge, Windy Gyle, Windy Gyle route | 1 Comment

Classic Answer machine message from my elderly Mum & Dad!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Posted in Random Stuff | 3 Comments

Blencathra Wainwrights – a late afternoon circuit from Scales via Souther Fell, Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags and Mungrisdale Common

Posted on May 9, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Another chance of a Sunday Lakes trip and another poor Sunday forecast hinting at a possible late improvement. My mate Alan was working so I took the weather gamble & headed off Lakesbound alone planning to start around 1pm. Plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged Bannerdale Crags, Blencathra, Blencathra views, Blencathra Wainwrights, Blencathra Wainwrights route, Bowscale Fell, Lake District, Mill Inn Mungrisdale, Mungrisdale Common, Route from Scales, Scales, Social Hiking, Souther Fell | Leave a comment

Around a Coniston Round – Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Dow Crag, Coniston Old Man, Brim Fell, Swirl How & Wetherlam – from below the Three Shire Stone

Posted on May 4, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

An eagerly awaited 3 days in the Lakes went superbly to plan last weekend. This has now become an annual joint birthday treat for me & my mate Alan, based in Grasmere, staying at the Oak Bank Hotel with it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake District | Tagged 3 Shire Stone, Brim Fell, Coniston from 3 Shires route, coniston from three shires stone route, Coniston Old Man, Coniston Old Man View, Coniston Round, Dow Crag, Goats Hawse, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Grey Friar panorama, Lake District, Prison Band, Social Hiking, Swirl Hawse, Swirl How, Three Shire Stone, Wetherlam, Wrynose Pass Route | 2 Comments

In Praise of Hillwalking Companions – Mine’s an Alan!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by MART IN THE HILLS

Walking up hills can be a testing time for any friendship especially when things don’t go to plan. So having the right Hillwalking Companion can be vital to your enjoyment of this fine pastime. I first met my hill buddy … Continue reading →