Walking, Mountaineering and Climbing in the UK and Worldwide

UK Mountains Blog 2025

Elan Success! 04/10/2025
On my way home, I reflected on the weeks walking, which by any standards was a success. Nine Marilyns and Severn Deweys, bring my 2025 totals to sixty and thirty respectively. A total of 77.5km walking and 3,756m of ascent during the week. No wonder today is a rest day!

Pegwn Mawr 03/10/2025
Storm Amy was the big news of the day. My plan was to leave early, get the walk done and be back before it hit. Well it didn’t quite work but I think I missed the worst of it.

I parked on a forest track, just wide enough to get my car in and still allow any vehicles to pass, however unlikely it was.

Pretty much the entire height gain was achieved in the first couple of kilometres as the track headed up very steeply right from the get go. At least it was a good track.

Once on the main ridge area and into the wind farm, my waterproof jacket came out. It wasn’t actually raining but the wind was blowing rain droplets across the hill and I figured I would get wet before I I noticed it.

Once in the wind farm, it was a short distance to the summit of Pegwn Mawr (586m), signified by a rather sad looking trig point. I didn’t linger, but set off for the second hill of the day, Crugyn Llwyd (571m). It was in sight across a wide open moorland. No paths of course so I made my own, including traversing a marshy area which, thankfully was fairly dry.

Pegwn Mawr(586m) 03/10/2025

Crugyn Llwyd 03/10/2025
By now, it was properly raining but I pressed on, keen to get the second summit of Crugyn Llwyd (571m) and head off. This one had no summit marker so I found the high point, checked the map and headed off down to pick up a good track. To get there I needed to cross a couple of fences which required Rosie to be lifted over but we got down and followed the track to join the Glyndwr Way for several kilometres including a very steep downhill that really tested the legs.

Eventually we parted company with Glyndwr and walked the last 500m or so back to the car.

A total of 11km, 570m of ascent in a shade over 2 1/2 hours, giving me 1 Marilyn (which was also a Dewey and 1 Dewey in its own right.

Crugyn Llwyd (571m) 03/10/2025

Cefn Cenarth 02/10/2025
After the excesses of yesterday, I decided on an easier day today, well, they all have to be done and some are going to be easier than others.

There is a small track leading off a small lane at the base of the Cefn Cenarth nature reserve. About 100m along it, there is a small car park, probably enough for five or six cars - mine was the only one. The track to the summit is quite a good one, slightly overgrown near the top but nothing to worry about. The nature reserve summit isn’t quite the actual summit so I had to climb a fence and cross a field to get to the actual summit of Cefn Cenarth (460m). A nice touch at the nature reserve top are some boards showing the location of other mountains. I had some fun recalling which ones I had done (mot of them).

The total distance today was just 2.5km with 135m of ascent in a shade over one hour.

Cefn Cenarth (460m) 02/10/2025

Droscol and Llechwedd 01/10/2025

Banc Llechwedd-Mawr 01/10/2025
I parked at the dam at the Southern end of the Nant-y-moch reservoir in a huge car park. I was the only car there!

My route followed the Eastern side of the reservoir along a tarmac road which eventually became a stony track and then to marsh land as I crossed to a footbridge.

From there it was directly and very steeply up Banc Llechwedd-Mawr (560m). The mist that had covered the summit had began to clear and as I set foot on the top, was gone altogether. There is no trig point, but a quartz rock has been placed there, carved into the shape of a trig point which was nice. It had taken one hour and twenty minutes.

Banc Llechwedd-mawr (560m) 01/10/2025

Drosgol 01/10/2025
I headed off in the direction of my second peak of the day, Drosgol (550m) which required a huge descent to a stream, crossed by a thoughtfully placed bridge, then with 200m of ascent I made my way to the summit. There are no paths, occasional sheep paths but nothing that would indicate the passing of humans, so I did my best, finding my own route and eventually arrived, somewhat breathless at the summit. It had taken one hour from the previous summit. I decided a rest would be in order, so took advantage of the stone shelter for a drink and some food.

Drosgol (550m) 01/10/2025

Disgwylfa Fawr 01/10/2025
From here, it was another long descent, no paths and lots of tufty grass to sap the leg strength. Finally I got down to another footbridge, crossed that and climbed up to the road. There was a long road walk around the Western side, but finally I came to a track leading off which I followed for a while. My ‘get off’ point was yet another footbridge, where I stopped for a while for lunch.

That done, it was 150m of ascent to the summit of Disgwylfa Fawr (507m). It wasn’t too bad, I could follow some sheep tracks that trended upwards, then break off for some steep ascent to the next track and so on up to the summit. Nothing at this one, except a pile of stones so I moved on almost immediately.

There was definitely a sting in the tail with a long descent over very tufty grass, sapping what final dregs of strength I had left. a final bridge and a final, or so I thought, climb to the road.

Great, all I needed to do was to follow it back to the car park- true, but it went up and down like a roller coaster and took me around 45 minutes to get back to the car.

I climbed three hills, all of which qualify as both Marilyns and Deweys so six boxes to tick. My total distance was 24km with just over 1,000m of ascent, all accomplished in five and a half hours.

Disgwylfa Fawr (507m) 01/10/2025

Bryn y Fan 30/09/2025
To make a decent walk I parked at the Bryntail Lead Mine at the foot of the Clywedog Dam and walked around the base of Bryn y Fan to the Bwlch y gle dam from where I made my ascent.

The track from dam to dam was a good one and the path to the summit, another good path so reaching the summit was probably the most straightforward of all the walks this week so far.

The summit views across the reservoirs was excellent but I could see rain approaching so didn’t hang about long before retracing my steps to the Bwlch dam where I found a picnic bench to have lunch. By now it was raining but only light drizzle. Luckily the.bench was under a tree so sheltered.

That done, I headed off to retrace my steps to the car park, at one point, picking up Glyndwr’s Way footpath which I followed back to the car.

1 Marilyn done, 11.5km walked with 500m of ascent in just under three hours.

Bryn y Fan (482m) 30/09/2025

Mist in the valley 29/09/2025

Rhiw Gwraidd 29/09/2025
A fairly easy day today, although it started off misty which didn’t bode well for the summit view.

Parking up at Bryn Canol in a good parking area, I headed off down the forest track, making good progress. Eventually it split into two, my route took the right fork and onto a much more grassy path, but still good. Some way along there, I took a left fork into the woodland on a thin very overgrown track which led me up to a gate and into a field. Steeply up to the far corner, another gate and into more woodland. The track was a good one and short lived before I emerged onto open ground and had the joy of now reaching the top of the mist layer. The sky was blue and everywhere around, the mist hung in the valley but here it was clear.

The field was a steep one and I gained almost 100 metres before reaching a final fence near to the TV mast. In the corner someone had removed the barbed wire which made for a convenient way across. I headed up on what I thought was the final section, but on reaching flatter ground, consulted my map to see that the actual summit of Rhiw Gwraidd(422m) was another 100m or so. It was only a matter of a couple of metres higher but a summit is a summit and it had to be done. Just 45 minutes after leaving the car I was stood on the summit of my 54th Marilyn this year and 267th overall.

I enjoyed the view for a short while, then made my way back down, retracing my steps all the way to the car.

1 Marilyn in the bag, 6km walked with 274m of ascent in one hour and twenty three minutes.

Rhiw Gwraidd(422m) 29/09/2025

Gwastedyn Hill 28/09/2025
It was supposed to be an easy day. The start of the walk was literally out of the front door, and so it was, unfortunately the 3km version was a non-starter due to being far too overgrown!

Plan B involved following the River Wye to Llanwrythwl then crossing the main A470 onto a farm track and up.

The walk along the river was very pleasant and nicely avoided walking alongside the main road.

The farm track led up to a farm, oddly enough, through that and via various fields and tracks, I came to the end of the tracks, the only way upwards was to negotiate a small quarry which I did. This bought me to a good path which led to a forest track. That wound its way up through the trees and finally onto a very thin track - marked with equal enthusiasm on the map, but very much thinner and considerably more overgrown. Copious gorse bushes needed to be negotiated. At one point I had to carry Rosie as it was just too thick.

This took us upwards to the edge of the forest where a couple of barbed wire fences temporarily blocked progress. I soon hopped over, as did Rosie and we made our way up the final slopes to the summit of Gwastedyn Hill (477m), a Marilyn.

A brief stop for refreshment and we started back down, electing to follow our upward route as it seemed safer than trying to final an alternative.

Soon back on the A470, we crossed it and enjoyed a final stroll back to the cottage along the river. Rosie took the opportunity of taking a bath, which given that she’d rolled in something pongy, was well overdue.

1 Marilyn in the bag, 12.5km walked and 377m of ascent in a shade over three hours.

Gwastedyn Hill (477m) 28/09/2025

Garreg Lwyd 27/09/2025
I parked at the Gilfach nature reserve. Boots on.
Garreg Lwyd (499m), my first Marilyn of the trip was exactly opposite rearing up. Most of the climbing is done in the first kilometre which is both good and bad. As the ground eased off, I could see the summit ahead but elected to follow a path that initially headed at 90 degrees to the direction I needed to go in. Eventually I broke off the path and headed in the right direction over tough tufty grass, finally reaching an open meadow and onto the final slope.

The summit is not marked, well there were a few stones I made into a cairn.

Garreg Lwyd (499m) 27/09/2025

Moelfryn 27/09/2025
From Garreg Lwyd, down past the wind farm and onto a good track that led down to the main A470 which I crossed and followed a narrow lane which picked up the Wye Valley Walk. This lasted a kilometre or so before I turned onto open ground and followed the good track upwards.

After gaining a couple of hundred metres, I turned off and up the very steep slope that led up to Moelfryn (522m), a Dewey. Again nothing to mark the summit so I found the high point, claimed it and headed off.

Moelfryn (522m) 27/09/2025

Penrhiw Wen 27/09/2025
Shortly I stopped for lunch and to review my ongoing plan. I decided the final peak would be an up and back, then pick up the good path that led down to the valley. This I did and soon arrived at the summit of Penrhiw Wen (520m), another Dewey and quite unremarkable.

Retracing, almost, I joined the path which took me down to the valley and I again joined the Wye Valley walk, crossed the small footbridge over the Wye and within a couple of minutes back to the car.

1 Marilyn and 2 Dewey’s in the bag, 16.5km walked with 900m ascent. One hour of rain in a four hour day, not bad for the first day.

Penrhiw Wen (520m) 27/09/2025

Shropshire Way Stage 1 13/09/2025
In no particular order I am walking the stages of the Shropshire Way. Today I tackled the remaining 15km of Stage 1. I'd already done the bit from Shrewsbury to Lyth Hill, so picked it up there.

Excellent morning walking through the countryside on lanes, field paths and tracks. Around lunchtime, the predicted rain showers started and continued for the rest of the day.

My route took me to Bridges, a hamlet literally in the middle of nowhere. From there I had another 10km over the Long Mynd. 4km steadily uphill, a bit of flat, then 4km downhill! Very tiring at the end of the day, but done.

Shropshire Way 13/09/2025

Pen y Garn-goch (487m) 10/09/2025
The main goal today was an ascent of Pen y Garn-goch (487m). It was short drive from the hotel so I was soon parking in Llanwrtyd Wells.

Heading off, once again, it started off quite steeply as I made my way through farm fields and open land, eventually onto a forest track that would take me more or less to the summit. Steadily upwards I made good progress. Unfortunately it had been raining more or less since I got out of the car and getting worse.

Eventually the track led into a forest and I began to look for the small path marked on the map that would take me through the trees and out into the clearing that held the trig point. Of course, no such path existed so I followed the main track around the summit area, hoping for a break in the trees. As I walked, I noticed the trees were fairly well aligned so I figured I could find the nearest point to the trig point and head through.

Figuring I was at about the right point, I found a gap and headed through and upwards on a reasonably good line. There was one final set of tree branches that I forced through and emerged into the clearing, the trig point right in front of me! Happy with the navigation I ascended the final 10m or so to claim the peak.

The rain was coming down heavily now so one quick photo and I was off back down the way I came. Due to a couple of lapses in concentration I missed a couple of turnings but soon retraced, eventually emerging back into Llanwrtyd Wells and a short walk to the car, job done.

First Marilyn of the day, 15.5km walked with 522m of ascent.

Pen y Garn Goch 10/09/2025

Mynydd Epynt (478m) 10/09/2025
The plan was to drive over to Mynydd Epynt, a very short walk, but on an MoD firing range! As I drove up, I noticed the red flags flying which meant firing may be in progress. I parked within about 400m of the summit and unable to resist, I jumped out of the car and headed up a tarmac track to the summit.

One quick photo and I was back down in under 15 minutes. I didn't bother to record my time or ascent as it was trivial, but I claimed the peak with the argument that it's swings and roundabouts and after a hard few days, I deserved an easy one.

Mynydd Epynt 10/09/2025

Pen-crug-melyn (326m) 09/09/2025
I’d originally planned to park just off the road and make a quick ascent up the farm track. It had taken me about 40 minutes to drive so I decided to park a little further away to make it a slightly longer walk.

There was a forest track with a wide entrance so I parked there and headed in. My hope was that I could follow it for a while, then take one of the fire break tracks over to a field, then onto the summit. Of course, there was no fire break - are there ever? Rather than walk all the way back I spied a small track through the woods so followed it. Within a few minutes I was out the other side and via two fences, came to the footpath I would have followed. The trig point was very close, but the way barred by a barbed wire fence. I threw (lifted) the dog over and followed.

There’s nothing at the summit so we headed off, looking for a better way out and soon spotted a gate! Through that and back I decided I would take the road way back rather than climbing more fences.

First Marilyn of the day and just 3km walked with 46m of ascent.

Pen Crug Melyn 09/09/2025

Mynydd Cynros (329m) 09/09/2025
Near to Tally Abbey there are a number of small parking spaces. I found one right on the start of the walk. We headed up on a good forest track. My plan was to walk through the forest, pop out at the top for the short walk to the summit. It worked well until we encountered some fallen trees. No problem, I hopped over them. More followed, and more after that, some even requiring me to remove my rucsac to crawl under. Finally we emerged onto open countryside and I headed up the final steep field to the trig point at the top.

Coming back down, I took a different track to avoid the forest and we were quickly back at the car.

There is an old ruined abbey nearby so we took a quick look before heading back to the car for lunch and off to the third of the day.

Second Marilyn with 3.5km walked and 225m of ascent.

Mynydd Cynros 09/09/2025

Crugiau Merched (462m) 09/09/2025
This was the big walk of the day. We parked in a car park belonging to the local church. For such a remote church, the car park was big, it would have easily taken a dozen cars.

There’s a short road section before heading out over farm land and onto open ground. The summit is visible from some distance and seems too far but in fact was just over a mile away. The going was mixed, with some paths and some moorland type walking,never arduous and not much height gain - most of the height is gained in the first 2.5km.

It had already started raining and I was already wearing full waterproofs but out on the tops with no shelter and some wind, it felt like it was raining probably more than it was.

Finally I came to the summit, touched the trig point, then headed over to the stone shelter for a break. As I got up to go, I discovered just how good the shelter was! The wind and rain hit me hard and I battled back across the moorland. My new waterproof jacket earning its keep, it kept me dry all the way.

Once we reached the end of the moors, of course, the rain stopped and we headed down in ever improving conditions. It took me an hour and ten minutes up and an hour down.

Third Marilyn of the day with 10km walked and 379m of ascent.

Totals for the day: 16.5km walked, 650m of ascent

Crugiau Merched 09/09/2025

Cefnfford (600m) 08/09/2025
As I approached the car park I had a real deja vue feeling. Pulling in I’d definitely parked at the same place. I checked my website logbook, no date against the hill I was about to climb. Maybe there’s somewhere else very similar.

I set off, I was certain I’d done it, predicting in my head where the path went. I stopped to recheck and eventually, via my blog and map checking discovered I’d done the hill, but logged it under a different name (Craig y Llyn). Oh well, as I’m here…

Up and down on good paths, I was back at the car in just over an hour. Another Dewey for the collection, even though, technically, I've already done it.

Cefnfford 08/09/2025

Rhiw ddu (530m) 08/09/2025
The A4069 has lots of small parking spaces. Unfortunately the one I wanted was completely taken over by a film crew. No matter, a few minutes down the road was another.

I set off very steeply upwards until the slope relented slightly but then went up steeply again. This was going to be a tough climb for sure!

All of the altitude was gained in the first 15 minutes, after which it eased considerably as I headed to what I perceived as being the high point. My watch concurred. A couple of quick photos and I was away, I could see some rain clouds approaching.

The descent route was somewhat longer than the ascent as it would have been far too steep. At one point I stopped to put on waterproofs and only just beat the rain. I was wearing my brand new waterproof jacket which coped admirably with the rain.

Back at the car, I decided to wait it out as the rain was blowing over, sure enough, it soon passed, so Rosie and I enjoyed my chicken lunch.

Second peak and second Dewey of the day.

Rhiw Ddu 08/09/2025

Trichrug (415m) 08/09/2025
I’d planned a nice looped walk, parking at the Carn Goch car park, I initially headed away from the hill, then via fields and farmyards, swung around and began to gain height.

Eventually we came to open land and it was a simple case of picking a good line up to the summit. I spied a line avoiding ferns and made my way steeply up to the summit ridge and over to the trig point. Wouldn’t you know it, on the wrong side of a barbed wire fence but so close, it wasn't worth the effort of trying to climb it, so took a photo, sat down and scoffed a goodie bar and a drink.

The route down initially retraced my steps for a while before turning to the obvious way point of Carn Goch, an ancient settlement site.

I soon arrived and walked through, looking for something interesting. Apart from a pile of stones that looked like a hut, but turning out to be an actual pile of stones, there was nothing much of interest so I continued and was soon back at the car.

Hill three done and the day also done, this time a Marilyn.

Totals for the day: 15km walked, 622m climbed

Trichrug 08/09/2025

Win Green 21/08/2025

Win Green 21/08/2025
It felt a bit like cheating, starting a walk to climb a nine hundred foot hill from eight hundred feet! In my defence, I did have to cycle a three miles round trip and I have had harder days, so swings and roundabouts!

The Matterhorn 01/08/2025

Italian Haute Route 01/08/2025
I'd wanted to do the Haute Route for some years and so was looking forward to it immensely. It starts and ends in Zermatt, a better place it would be hard to imagine. Rather than repeat it all here, there's a full report available from the Previous Expeditions or the Mountains link below.

The Chalk Man 28/07/2025

Wilmington Hill (214m) 28/07/2025
The climb started some 5km from my starting point at Berwick Railway Station but it was soon covered on my trusty Brompton bicycle.

I parked the bike in a small car park in Wilmington village, swapped saddlebag for rucsac and headed off up the obvious hill in front of me.

No sooner had I left the car park than I was greeted by the sight of a huge chalk man drawn on the hillside by some early settlers. The path up was obvious and very steep eventually relenting onto the summit ridge. It was just a few minutes up to the trig point at 214m, which was on the right of the fence heading up. It is important to go through one of the two gates, otherwise a barbed wire fence needs to be negotiated.

I spent just a few minutes there as I didn’t want to miss my return train, since the next one was another hour later.

Descent was fast and I was back at the bike just 40 minutes after leaving to cover the 4km up and down. Another 15 minutes and another 5km and I was back at the station with time to spare.

Wilmington Hill (214m) 28/07/2025

Ditchling Beacon (248m) 28/07/2025
From Berwick Station, I traveled to, firstly, Lewes, then onto Plumpton. From Plumpton, it was a 9km ride, which included the majority of the ascent of the Beacon, right up to the NT car park. From there, it was just five minutes to the summit! I figured I could happily claim the bag though because of the bike ride, which was far from being over.

Once back, I took advantage of the ice cream seller and enjoyed the view for a while. Off again, this time mostly downhill all the way into Brighton and the railway station, arriving with just 10 minutes to spare for my final train ride of the day.

I'd taken 5 trains, covered 32km cycling and 4km walking up two Marilyn Hills. As I've said may times, the Marilyns are no pushovers, and these two certainly aren't, but it was great to do them and brings my yearly total to 44.

Ditchling Beacon 28/07/2025

Good bag of hills 19/07/2025
A good weeks walking and a healthy bag of hills to add to the collection with four Deweys and six Marilyns plus a couple of mountain repeats. The weather was as good as I could have expected with only one day of mist to spoil the views.

Cheeky climb 18/07/2025
It was always a cheeky climb on the way home from North Wales. My original target of Esgair Ddu failed before it started as the parking spot I had identified, wasn't in fact a parking space at all. Luckily my back up route of an ascent of Craig Goch (468m) and a Marilyn had a much better parking spot, part way down a tiny lane at a big lay by not far from Dinas Mawdwy.

Parked up, I headed off up a steep lane. Unfortunately, it was a road so Rosie was on the lead most of the way up. Eventually a path led off and Rosie could run free for a while. Up until now it had been uphill all the way, but there was a section of relatively flat ground until the final pull up which was at least 75 degrees! The heather was wet and slippy and the rough ground covered with small stones, so equally slippy. Finally I crested but it wasn't over and I had a few more ups and downs, reminding me of a hill fort. Finally I reached the trig point. Excellent views all around, I took a few photos and headed off, retracing my steps back down to the car. The up and down times were within a few minutes of each other as always.

8km in 1:45 with 409m of climbing was a great end to a good weeks walking.

Craig Goch 18/07/2025

Long day, no views 17/07/2025
We parked in Clynnog Fawr and headed up a narrow lane which soon became a track. The path we were supposed to take was so overgrown that we quickly gave up and headed up a track instead to pick up the path higher up. This worked reasonably well, although the gates were not designed to be opened! Barbed wire on one and the other roped closed.

Finally we emerged onto open ground, our first summit, Bwlch Mawr (590m), rated as a Dewey, more or less directly up. We weaved around the gorse bushes and after climbing a big stone wall, finally a small boulder field to eventually arrive at the summit trig point.

Bwlch Mawr 17/07/2025

Gyrn Ddu 17/07/2025
From there it was about 3km directly over to the second peak, Gyrn Ddu (522m), a Marilyn via a couple of big walls, but there was no path so it was harder going, not as bad as some I've done, but hard nonetheless. Close to the second summit we hit the boulder field which took an age to get through to the summit, then another age to escape it again.

I'd elected to drop down to a wall and follow that for a while but even that was hard going with more boulders. The original plan was to climb Gyrn Goch but it looked like it was going to be as hard as the previous one so I decided to navigate to the Sout side of it and head directly to the woodland where I hoped to pick up a path through, thereby avoiding yet more hillside walking.

As we got close, there was a small stream in the way that required crossing, I found a good place and we climbed the other side up to a gate which led into the forest. There was indeed a path but the quality varied enormously from totally indistinct to quite good until we got lower down when it improved dramatically and opened up onto a track that led down to the main road and the short walk back to the car.

A total of 13km with 780m of ascent made for a good day out. The cloud cover meant no views which was a shame, but hey ho.

Gyrn Ddu 17/07/2025

Moelwyns revisited 16/07/2025
A day of no new peaks but an excellent day out nonetheless. Today was an ascent of Cnicht (689m) and Moelwyn Mawr (770m) from Croesor with my old mate Ken and Rosie.

My previous ascent of these peaks was in reverse but I think I enjoyed this way more with Cnicht being a good climb rather than a cautious descent.

Cnicht and Moelwyn Mawr 16/07/2025

Cnicht to Mawr 16/07/2025
To cross from one to the other involved walking down and through the slate quarry which in itself was interesting.

Moelwyn Mawr was a big climb but as this week is training for Switzerland I pushed hard right to the summit.

By some incredible chance, it was lunchtime and we sat and enjoyed the view whilst scoffing our lunch.

The quarry 16/07/2025

Descending from Mawr 16/07/2025
After Mawr we retraced our steps back to the quarry then enjoyed a pleasant t walk down the quarry road and back to the car park.

15km with 950m of ascent in just over 5 hours made for a great day.

Rosie having fun 16/07/2025

One of the lowest 14/07/2025
Great Orme (207m)

It’s a real 207m of climbing as it starts from sea level. Our walk began close to the pier and headed up through a pleasant park and onto a well marked footpath.

After the initial climb, the gradient eased off for a while as the path took us to the Halfway station of the tram. Random paths headed up to converge at the trig point which itself was on the steepest part of the walk.

The view was pretty spectacular all round but the wind was savage so we soon headed off.

From there, past the top station, it was a minute or two to the café and a well earned coffee and sausage roll.

Descent was pretty much the reverse of the way up.

5km round trip. 40 minutes up and 45 minutes down.

Climbing the unpronouncable 12/07/2025
Mynydd y Cwm (305m)

For the first walk, I parked in Dyserth at a free car park. There was a short road section before I headed into countryside via a very overgrown path.

Further up I picked up Offas Dyke path for a while so it was well waymarked but after crossing a couple of roads we parted company and I made my way up via various forest trails. It started to look a bit like it was going to be a fight through undergrowth to the summit but magically a path appeared which took me right to the summit.

The summit was excellent, being very shady in the 30+ degree heat so I made the most of it for a good rest.

Eventually I headed back down, retracing my steps for a while before heading down through very thin path that popped out on a small road.

I followed that down, then through a woodland to pop out onto the track I’d come up. Instead of following that back I continued along which made a very pleasant walk, including a nice stream that Rosie took full advantage of for a cooling dip. We soon came onto the main road and it was a few minutes until we came to the car.

Just under 10k walked with 360m of ascent. Another Marilyn for the collection.

Mynydd y Cwm 12/07/2025

Horrid from start to finish 12/07/2025
Thirty minutes driving and I was parked up for the second walk of the day; Mwdwl-eithin (532m) both a Marilyn and a Dewey so two for one.

This was a tough one! It was blisteringly hot, well over 30 degrees but we headed off. The very thin path soon disappeared so it was 3km of cross country walking, through Heather and soft undergrowth making for a long a difficult ascent. Eventually we came to the final pull onto the summit which, if anything, was harder still but finally I pulled onto the top. We found a nice spot for lunch, Rosie in the shade, me on a comfortable stone.

Checking the map, there wasn’t much in the way of alternative routes down but I found a path that took a longer, but on the face of it, easier way down. I took it, initially across soft ferns but soon onto a good track. This worked well for a while but eventually vanished into ferns but after a few minutes I located the path again and followed it right down.

Through a farm yard and along a track, we found a stream that both of us took full advantage of to cool off.

From there we had to follow the main road for a kilometre or so back to the car.

Job done, just over 8km with 340m of climbing.

Mwdwl-eithin 12/07/2025

Mid Wales bags 11/07/2025
Beacon Hill (547m) Marilyn

I parked in a very thin verge just enough to get the car off the road. I then followed Glyndwrs Way East for a while before breaking off Northwards to the summit trig point of Beacon Hill (547m) and my 250th Marilyn.

On the summit there were a couple of girls, one of whom lived locally and gave me a very interesting geography lesson. To the North was Snowdonia, North East was the Long Mynd, to the South were the Brecon Beacons and further round, the Elan Valley.

It was a baking hot day (30 degrees) but luckily there was a pool close by the summit so Rosie took a dip to cool off whilst we ate lunch.

Beacon Hill 11/07/2025

Pool Hill 11/07/2025
Pool Hill (516m) Dewey

From there, good paths led to Pool Hill, an unmarked summit but the high point was easy to find.

More good paths and I rejoined the Glyndwrs Way back to the car.

9km in under two hours so happy with that.

Pool Hill 11/07/2025

Rhialgwm (540m) 02/06/2025
I found a good parking space just inside the forest not far from Abertridwr. I changed quickly and was off on a good forest track for about 30 minutes.

At the end of the track, I’d planned to follow a path upwards. Of course it was non-existent! Backup plan was a steep climb up a field. The snag was the entire field was chest deep in ferns so hard going but it only lasted about 15 minutes before I reached a fence. How the ferns knew to stop growing at the fence remains a mystery! Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the difficulties. A bit of easy contouring and I was on to the final ascent but that was deep heather so soft and tough going. Finally I saw the trig point and headed over to it, job done. One hour total walking time.

I looked at the map, hoping a better route would pop out, previously hidden. Nothing. There was no choice but to retrace my steps back again which actually wasn’t as bad as I thought and 55 minutes later I was back at the bike.

Nice walk apart from the ferns but hey ho. Another Marilyn completed and as a nice bonus, it was also a Dewey so a two-fer.

Rhialgwm 02/06/2025

Brandy Hill (206m) 01/06/2025
I found a good place to park on a road about a mile South of the hill. There was a good track that led up, through a farm yard and out to the main road. All I had to do was to turn left, walk up a short way and the summit would be in the field. Unfortunately and yet again, a radio mast fence surrounded the trig point so there was no access. I did try the adjacent field but a huge hedge prevented progress. My altimeter showed the same height as the map (205m) so I claimed it and retraced my steps to the bike.

Brandy Hill 01/06/2025

Cwmcerwyn (536m) 01/06/2025
This time there was a car park. It was incredibly windy so I changed into my walking gear as quickly as possible and set off. Route finding was straight forward, follow the line of the woodland to the end, turn right and head up to the summit. It was a double-bagger, being both a Marilyn and a Dewey and probably the best summit so far, being a good climb and no real difficulties. Return was a reverse of the climb and I got back to the bike 1 1/4 hours after setting off so was pleased with that.

Being rather tired of continually changing, I took the executive decision to stay in my walking boots and waterproof trousers, just putting on my riding jacket. This made the transition much faster, although it was a risk not having biking trousers, it was one I was prepared to take as the next walk was about 10 minutes ride time.

Cwmcerwyn 01/06/2025

Mynydd Carningli (346m) 01/06/2025
There was a decent car park at the bottom of the hill and basically it was a case of heading directly up. The path was good and obvious and 20 minutes later I was stood on the top. It’s a steep ascent no doubt about it, but very rewarding. Popular too, I saw more people on the summit than I’d seen all day and all day yesterday!

Back down was 15 minutes and I rewarded myself with lunch.

Mynydd Carningli 01/06/2025

Frenni Fawr (395m) 01/06/2025
A tiny parking space allowed me to park right at the footpath. It headed steeply upwards initially, then contoured around on a ‘permissive path’, the original being closed for reasons I know not.

Eventually of course, the contouring ended and a right turn headed up, gaining all of the height in quite a short distance, so steep but short lived. The trig point soon came into view and the short distance soon covered.

Return was a reverse of the way up. Twenty minutes to the top, fifteen back down.

Frenni Fawr 01/06/2025

Ros Ymryson 01/06/2025
This was an easy up and down on a good track with one slight problem: the actual summit is fenced off (again). I argued that I had done it as the actual summit is clearly man-made so doesn’t count and where I got to was the real summit. Convinced I was right, I headed back down, the entire walk taking just over 20 minutes.

Ros Ymryson (327m) 01/06/2025

Hafod Ithel (361m) 01/06/2025
It had been a long day of walking and riding so I nearly didn’t bother with this one, but the prospect of having to return just to do it was too much to contemplate so with double determination I navigated the tiny Welsh roads, which were, in my opinion, harder work than the hills, to eventually arrive at a small parking area. Parked up, I decided that given the small number of cars I’d seen that I would just leave my biking gear rather than faffing around packing it away. The ascent was easy, just 8 minutes, but the view was remarkably good and well worth it. Another 7 minutes back down and I was done, just the 10 miles to my hotel.

Haof Ithel 01/06/2025

Mynydd Uchaf (357m) 31/05/2025
I very quickly realized that climbing multiple Marilyns and using a motorbike to get between them was not ideal.

The rain started on the way down and by the time I was parking up in Cwngors, it had become annoying. Oh well, get on with it. A quick change into walking gear, stow my bike gear away and I was off on the first ascent. Needless to say, the rain got worse and I got wetter. The summit was easy enough and I was soon on the way back. By now, I was wet and the rain was getting worse.

A quick change and off to hill number two.

Mynydd Uchaf 31/05/2025

Mynydd Betws (373m) 31/05/2025
It took a while to get there in ever worsening conditions. This one would be an easy bag. I parked very close to the summit and didn’t bother to get changed, just walked over to the high point, took a photo of nothing in particular and headed back to the bike.

Mynydd Betws 31/05/2025

Mynydd Sylen (284m) 31/05/2025
This was going to be the big walk of the day, I parked on a very busy A476 in Llannon and changed as quickly as I could. Initially the walk went well, a nice track, but then it deteriorated rapidly into a downhill path that seemed to be nothing more than a stream bed. It got worse! At the bottom, it was overgrown so something of a fight to get through, but then a bit of lane walking until the next path over a field.

The field was easy enough but at the top of the field, nothing. I managed to squeeze under a hedge and over a fence and continued up, following the line of the footpath marked on the map. I came to a halt at a huge hedge. It looked like there was a path through, but it was impossibly overgrown so I sought out an alternative - none to be found. Give up!

As I walked down the field,I realized the path was the far side of the fence,but it was so overgrown,it would have been impossible to follow.

All the way back to the bike, I changed, checked the map and rode around to the lane that would have been crossed to the final ascent. I parked up, again not bothering to change, and made the short final ascent to the summit. To rub salt in the wound, the trig point was on the other side of the barbed wire fence, but as it was no higher, I claimed the bag and headed back down to the bike.

Mynydd Sylen 31/05/2025

Mynydd Llangyndern (263m) 31/05/2025
Even though there were another two on my list, I decided that this would be the final climb of the day. I parked in Bryngwyddil on the roadside.

Again, it started very well on a good track, but came to an abrupt halt with a thick fence. I searched for a way through and eventually found one which put me on a track which would take a long circular route around to the summit ridge, but at least it was a good track and one I could follow.
After longer than planned, I eventually came onto the summit and enjoyed the view for a short while before heading off and back down a different way - I couldn’t face returning the same way!

As it turned out, it was quite a pleasant walk so I was annoyed that I’d not picked that one, but the one I did pick had looked good on the map.

Back at the bike, I changed for the final time and rode off the short distance into Camarthen, my overnight stop.

Mynydd Llangyndeyrn 31/05/2025

Firle Beacon Summit 23/05/2025

South Downs Epic 23/05/2025
The plan was a good one, fly and train to Berwick in Sussex, cycle up to the South Downs Way and follow it to Firle Beacon, then Wilmington Hill and back to the station. Due to train delays I was late starting. Firle Hill went well, but a puncture on the way to Wilmington Hill meant I would not have enough time. A leisurely ride back to the station where I was greeted by the news that the train was cancelled! A frantic 12 mile ride over to Newhaven to catch a train meant I only just made it back to the airport in time!

Firle Beacon 23/05/2025

Coety Mountain (Gwastad) 22/05/2025
It was my second visit to this mountain, not because I wanted to climb it again, but because there were two Deweys that I didn't do last time, not because I didn't think about them, but because the day would have been too long.

I parked in Blaenavon and headed quickly into open countryside so that Rosie could run free.

It was a mixture of good paths and tracks followed by mossy heathery off-path bashing close to the summits. It was a relief to summit Gwastad (551m) so that I could get back onto the good path that would take directly to the next summit.

Gwastad 22/05/2025
Gwastad

Coety Mountain (Cefn Coch) 22/05/2025
After getting on the good track, I followed it for about 3 1/2 kilometers before turning off onto a thin track that took me in the direction of the summit. There was, of course, a short section of deep heather to negotiate before standing on the unmarked Cefn Coch (571m) summit.

A quick photo and I was off heading back down to the good track. I decided it was lunchtime so stopped for a while.

The rest of the walk back was pretty straightforward on good tracks and I soon found myself on the final descent to the car.

The weather had been superb all day and I couldn't help reflecting on the last time I was on this mountain in thick mist. What a difference.

Cefn Coch 22/05/2025

Mynydd Twyn-glas 22/05/2025
Unlike the previous two hills which were 500m Deweys, this one was a Marilyn standing at 472m. I parked on a small car park and headed up. It was pretty straightforward, head over the fields, then once the masts come in sight, head directly for them and the summit is just behind.

Thirty minutes after leaving the car I was standing, or rather sitting on the summit as some enterprising person had placed a bench there.

The return was a reverse and another thirty minutes saw me back at the car, Marilyn in the bag.

Mynydd Twyn-glas 22/05/2025

Cheeky 500 15/05/2025
On the way back from a concert in Buxton, the weather was glorious so I couldn't resist stopping on the way to bag a new peak. It was an easy up and down to Oliver Hill (513m) just above the village of "Flash", taking less than half an hour but it's one more done.

Oliver Hill 15/05/2025

Walking

From single day to several weeks, I have walked many of Britains long distance footpaths. Below are some of the more well-known routes.

Route	Distance	Description
Isbourne Way (August 2024)	15 miles	From Cleeve Hill to Evesham.
Shropshire Way (August 2023 onwards)	200 miles	Figure of eight centred on Shrewsbury.
Hadrians Wall (April 2023)	90 miles	From Bowness to Newcastle.
Wysis Way (April 2022)	55 miles	From the Wye to the source of the Thames.
St Kenelms Way (March 2022)	52 miles	Clent Hills to Winchcombe.
The Ridgeway (September 2019)	87 miles	Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon.
Three Choirs Way (March 2019)	100 miles	Gloucester to Hereford to Worcester to Gloucester.
Gloucestershire Way (December 2018)	100 miles	From Chepstow to Tewkesbury.
Severn Way (August 2018)	210 miles	Following the River Severn.
Winchcombe Way (May 2013)	42 miles	Around the Cotswolds.
Limestone Way (December 2012)	60 miles	Rocester to Castleton in Derbyshire.
Welsh 3000s (July 2000)	28 miles	All 3,000' mountains in Wales.
Worcestershire Way (July 1992, Aug 1992, Aug 2004)	38 miles	Wyre Forest to Malverns.
Pennine Way (August 1977)	270 miles	Edale to Kirk Yetholm (Scotland).
Cotswold Way (August 1991)	96 miles	Bath to Chipping Campden.
Coast to Coast Way (August 1990)	192 miles	Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire to St Bees in Cumbria.
6 Shropshire Peaks (July 1990, April 1992)	40 miles	East to West Shropshire.
Lyke Wake Walk (July 1983)	40 miles	Yorkshire Moors.
Offas Dyke (July 1980)	180 miles	Length of the Welsh Border.

Rock Climbing

Some years ago, I qualified as an SPA Instructor, and whilst it has probably lapsed due to inactivity, I have fond memories of rock climbing in many areas of the UK & abroad, particularly at Symonds Yat, North Wales, the Peak District, Mid-Wales, Cornwall & Scotland. I have many hundreds of logged climbs in my log book and during my time, have climbed many more than I have recorded.

Mountaineering

There are many beautiful mountain ranges in the world, many within easy reach of the UK. I am fortunate to have been to a large number of them. Below are the best.

Mountain (Range)	Description
Italian Haute Route (August 2025)	Tour of the Monte Rosa from Zermatt
Mount Toubkal (February 2025)	The Highest Mountain in North Africa 4,167m.
Mount Ararat (September 2023)	The Highest Mountain in Turkey 5,137m.
Elbrus (August 2019)	The Highest Mountain in Europe 5,642m.
Nepal (October 2018)	Trekking in the Himalaya to a maximum of 5,643m.
Kilimanjaro (September 2017)	Trekking in the Himalaya to a maximum of 5,643m.
Teide, Tenerife (April 2015)	Highest Mountain in Spain (Tenerife) at 3,718m.
Alesch Glacier (August 2001)	Including the Hexenstein in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland.
Aconcagua (January 2001)	Highest Mountain in South America at 6,960m.
Dolomites (August 2000)	Northern Italys' most famous range.
Matterhorn (August 1997)	Most famous Mountain in Switzerland at 4,405m.
Mont Blanc (September 1995)	Highest Mountain in Western Europe at 4,807m.