MAKE THIS YEAR COUNT
We were born to roam. This year, dig out those boots and test yourself on a multi-day walking adventure, suggests long-distance walking expert Chris Townsend.
The weekend: a circuit of Langdale from Chapel Stile via Lingmoor Fell, Pike o'Blisco, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Rossett Pike and the Langdale Pikes with either a high camp or drop down to the NT campsite or a hotel.
Three days: Snowdonia’s fourteen 3,000-foot summits. Runners may do this in ridiculously short times but for walkers it's an ideal three-day trip. As a walk, I'd do it the other way from the runners, starting in the north and crossing the Carneddau from Abergwyngregyn and fi nishing with the descent from Crib Goch to Pen y Pass.
A week: Fort William to Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands via Ben Nevis, the Grey Corries, Ben Alder, Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm. This links the nine highest summits in Britain and includes many other fi ne peaks.
A fortnight: the Pennine Way: Britain's fi rst long -distance trail up the spine of England, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the border in Scotland. Crossing summits in the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northern Pennines and Cheviots this is a high-level challenging walk and not to be underestimated.
A month: the Cape Wrath Trail through the glorious North- West Highlands from Fort William to Cape Wrath, taking in a few summits along the way, such as Sgurr na Ciche, Slioch, An Teallach, Ben More Assynt and Foinaven.
Chris Townsend is an outdoor writer and photographer, long-distance walker and the BMC's fi rst hill-walking ambassador.
www.christownsend
outdoors.com
P Wild camping on the Band, Langdale.
Head to a cosy British hut
Bored of battling with B&B owners? BMC huts man Dan Middleton reveals how you can access a network of UK huts. Yorkshire
Whillans Memorial Hut, Roaches SK 007622
Iconic BMC-owned bunkhouse. So close to the crag that you could belay
from bed. 12 bunks in two rooms, kitchen and hot
showers. Book the whole hut at weekends or individual places mid-week.
www.donwhillanshut.co.uk
Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut, Glencoe NN 044612
Midway between Glencoe and Ben Nevis, this
16-bed hut is ideally placed for year-round mountain activities. Individual bookings possible and each BMC member can bring one guest.
www.mcofs.org.uk
Glen Brittle Memorial Hut, Skye NG 412216
Built as a memorial
to mountaineers after WW2, this 18-bed hut is
tucked below the splendour of the Black Cuillin. Open April 1
to October 31 and other times by arrangement.
www.gbmh.co.uk
Mynydd Climbing Club Hut, Crafnant SH 738603
Hidden away from the bustle of nearby Betws y Coed, the mysterious Crafnant Valley is one of North Wales’s best- kept secrets. This 24-bed hut has a well-equipped kitchen and a large living room with log fi re.
www.mynydd.org.uk Find out more at
www.thebmc.co.uk/map#huts
Mountaineering Club Hut, Coniston SD 292984 Flanked by the Old Man of Coniston, this 20-bed hut is perfect for exploring the nearby fells. Individual rooms or the entire hut can be booked out.
www.theymc.org.uk
28 | 70TH ANNIVERSARY | FOR BRITISH CLIMBING AND WALKING SINCE 1944
PHOTO: TERRY ABRAHAM. Get out – and stay out
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