New Year Walking Resolutions

The New year has got off to a mixed start. My intention to join the annual hike from Marsden to Edale failed miserably as it proved exorbitant to go by train and the logistics of going by car proved too difficult. However, I did manage to get some climbing in on a indoor wall and compensate myself with some new climbing gear. While the train companies lost out the independent Outdoor Shop in Stony Stratford benefited from the diversion of funds.

Next weeks trip to the Lake District is looking good with some promising weather and transport all sorted. Hopefully the trip to North Wales at the end of the month will prove equally successful but the organiser doesn't seem totally on top of things so time will tell.

Looking ahead I'm planning out my assault on Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk. I have just got the second edition which has been updated by Chris Jesty and I'm working out how best to approach it. I have used his updated books for various walks in the Lake District and find the picking out of the paths in red very helpful and the various amendments compliment Wainwright's style.

Whether I can get a two week period free is another matter so I am currently considering breaking it into two sections. The first being St Bees Head to Kirkby Stephen which is five days through the Lake District, and then a second week to complete the trip to Robins Hood Bay. The reason for breaking the walk at Kirkby Stephen is that it has a railway station on the picturesque Carlisle to Settle line and booking in advance can give some fantastic deals. So watch this space.

Lots of other weekends and the odd week walking are planned so I hope to get up a lot of hills this year and if time permits even the odd Munro or Corbett.