GR52: St Dalmas Valdeblore to Le Boréon

Annoyed that I can’t get Garmin to talk to Strava, so can’t show my usual screenshot of map and stats. The stats for today were 13.7 miles, 5300 feet of ascent and 7 hours of moving time. Not bad - first-day legs must have helped. Louise had a lovely time reading, sampling the mountain air, quizzing the locals about buses and eventually hitchhiking.

Sumptuous brekkie

There were some crystal-clear streams, including this one

At the topmost point - a relief!

Alpine flowers - the place was riddled with them 

in many colours of the rainbow

A drink and cards while eagerly awaiting dinner

We feared it would be very hot but actually there was a lovely cool breeze all day, and a lot of it was forested. I was carrying nearly 3 litres of water (2 of it in a bladder) and it felt like I was drinking loads but when we arrived I realised I’d barely drunk half of it. Which was probably why I started getting foot and leg cramps four hours in. A banana (kindly donated by Esther) seemed to sort it out.

Yorkshire Dales: circular from Arncliffe

 

Eleven of our 16-strong Ibex group took the Arncliffe option today. An early start and a fairly slow pace, which meant it took seven hours in total. Huge, open landscape and lots of tiny wild orchids. The weather was great, the light was beautiful. Just waiting now while dinner is cooked. Putting my legs up the wall. 

Yorkshire Dales: Pen-y-Ghent

Today we lolled round in the women’s centre as it was raining. Got up late and didn’t venture out till about lunchtime. We took the path that runs past the centre up to Pen-y-Ghent, a local landmark. It was a wide and easy limestone path flanked by drywall. A few muddy patches and puddles spanning the path, but nothing that wasn’t navigable for me with Eva’s help - she was in wellies! It was really windy going up, but fortunately the blast was at our backs. We turns around when we got to the cloud line. Everyone we met who were coming back down said it was ridiculously windy at the top. An hour up and an hour back, then a late lunch and reading/conking out (me) by the fire. All very satisfactory. 

Yorkshire Dales: Ilkley Moor

Eva and I have come up to the Yorkshire Dales National Park for a few days. Drove about 4 hours up to Ilkley yesterday, had a look around and a scrumptious cream tea in Betty’s. Then vegged out in the Airbnb and watched Dance Moms and Something Very Bad is Going to Happen.

Today we had a little toddle around Ilkley Moor from the cow and calf rocks before driving to Settle. Lovely little town with some nice shops. We had a very welcome lunch there before driving up the road to the Horton place we are staying at. 

 

Brecon Beacons

On an Ibex walking weekend with Elizabeth, Gusta, Rod and seven others. Had some tripadation about sharing a room with five people but it was OK last night. We arrived yesterday at about lunchtime and did a couple of hours’ walk up to the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall - in thundering form as it’s rained every day here this year. Well worthy rhe walk. We went behind it and got soaked in quite a thrilling way. All very Byronesque. 

We were up and out by 9.45 this morning for a day of jumping around in bogs and mud, interspersed with some decent paths. It had snowed a bit in the night and was crunchy underfoot in places. When we got towards Pen-y-Fan there were crowds of people, all out to make the most of the fist sunny day in ages, and milling around the top. There was even a long queue to be photographed with the Pen-y-Fan National Trust sign. Lots of people with dogs. Then quite a long walk down and back to the hostel.

We saw some amazing ice formations made of ice and hoar frost. 

Ridgeway: Princes Risborough to Tring

 

My final bit of the Ridgeway today, since I’ve already walked the eastern end of it (to Ivinghoe beacon) loads of times.

To be honest, it was quite boring! Saved, to some extent, by the vibrancy of the autumn colours. Also a lot of it was hard underfoot - some road walking (not much) but mainly because the hard-packed chalk paths don’t have much give. 

Thought it would be 10 miles today. Got that a bit wrong!

Elan Valley: Pen y Garreg

  

We knew it would be raining from about 10 o’clock this morning but we walked anyway. Everything was soaked by the end, and I managed to leave without my shoes 🙄 

The dam

Glad we went, as we really got the most out of travelling all the way there - two half days and one very long day of walking. Will be good to be back in my own bed tonight, I think I have some sleep to catch up on. 

Elan Valley: Drygarn Fawr

Today was long and tough, even though only ten miles and not much ascent - the terrain was awful for large stretches. We weren’t on a path and we had to make our way through bogs, trying to leap from tussock to tussock and never quite sure of our footing as our legs disappeared into the long grasses. Lucky to emerge with intact knees and ankles! My feet got wet as I was wearing my trail runners, but fortunately they stayed warm enough regardless. We also had very strong and chilling wind at around lunchtime. All in all it was a challenging but rewarding day. When we got back we had tea and then a drink, then a three-course dinner prepared by various members of the group, then a jolly chat around the table. Convivial. All nice people.

Stunning scenery today - great autumn colours!