About Me
Born in Leeds in 1954, left school in 1972 and have worked in banking (since joining as a school leaver) for 43 years and I have now retired.
In 1970 (aged 15) I organised the first of many trips to the Lake District. I and my school mates Steve, Nick and Alan caught the bus in Leeds and ended up at the old Queens Hotel (YHA) in Ambleside. I celebrated my 16th birthday in Hellvelyn YHA.
Walking took a back seat for most of the 80's and 90's but then over the last 15 years there has been a resurgence.
I and my children have walked the Dales Way, Cleveland Way, Wolds Way, Lyke Wake (3 times), Coast to Coast (twice) and the Yorkshire Three Peaks (more times than I care to mention). A long time ago I did the National 3 Peaks.
On moving from York to Clitheroe in 2008 the opportunity to combine work with visits to the Lakes (aka Wainwright style) prompted me to look at the old grouches 214 peaks. Thinking that I must of done most then realised that youthful walking with packs meant that passes were more preferable to tops
After a rather unplanned approach to ticking the peaks off I decided to start again with the challenge of entering the peaks name and grid reference in my Garmin 60c only when on the top and no matter what the weather conditions. I have therefore over the last few years (mostly in the evenings and alone , when it is quieter) walked the Wainwrights major and outer fells. Once I had done them I decided to add the Hewitts to my 'tick' list. Most of the English Hewitts (some of the boggiest walks I have ever done) I did on my days off. My daughters and my son have joined me some occasions and even (but rarer) my partner and our daughter.
After that it was the Birketts which were completed in June 2022 (on Pillar Rock - which will not be attempted again). I also took the opportunity to do all the Wainwrights (again) and the Fellrangers. The English Hewitts were completed on a boggy Mickle Fell in July 2024 followed by trip to Norway with eldest daughter to do Besseggen Ridge
Decided after much deliberation to do a farewell tour of the Wainwrights (currently up to No 7) hopefully in good weather and at a more easy pace as old age catches up.
In 1970 (aged 15) I organised the first of many trips to the Lake District. I and my school mates Steve, Nick and Alan caught the bus in Leeds and ended up at the old Queens Hotel (YHA) in Ambleside. I celebrated my 16th birthday in Hellvelyn YHA.
Walking took a back seat for most of the 80's and 90's but then over the last 15 years there has been a resurgence.
I and my children have walked the Dales Way, Cleveland Way, Wolds Way, Lyke Wake (3 times), Coast to Coast (twice) and the Yorkshire Three Peaks (more times than I care to mention). A long time ago I did the National 3 Peaks.
On moving from York to Clitheroe in 2008 the opportunity to combine work with visits to the Lakes (aka Wainwright style) prompted me to look at the old grouches 214 peaks. Thinking that I must of done most then realised that youthful walking with packs meant that passes were more preferable to tops
After a rather unplanned approach to ticking the peaks off I decided to start again with the challenge of entering the peaks name and grid reference in my Garmin 60c only when on the top and no matter what the weather conditions. I have therefore over the last few years (mostly in the evenings and alone , when it is quieter) walked the Wainwrights major and outer fells. Once I had done them I decided to add the Hewitts to my 'tick' list. Most of the English Hewitts (some of the boggiest walks I have ever done) I did on my days off. My daughters and my son have joined me some occasions and even (but rarer) my partner and our daughter.
After that it was the Birketts which were completed in June 2022 (on Pillar Rock - which will not be attempted again). I also took the opportunity to do all the Wainwrights (again) and the Fellrangers. The English Hewitts were completed on a boggy Mickle Fell in July 2024 followed by trip to Norway with eldest daughter to do Besseggen Ridge
Decided after much deliberation to do a farewell tour of the Wainwrights (currently up to No 7) hopefully in good weather and at a more easy pace as old age catches up.
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