Car Free Walks Blog

December 2015

A fine-looking mountain in Lochaber

It's a pointy, steep-sided Munro that retains a cap of snow long into spring most years

And its location halfway along the Lairig Leacach means it has another attribute that every fine mountain needs: a fantastic walk in. Heading out from Spean Bridge station, on the West Highland Line, I trudged along the road by the River Spean, gurgling impressively in nearly full spate.
September 2015

The wild paradise of Knoydart

I remember vividly the first time I saw Knoydart. Eight years ago, having scrambled to the summit of Streap from Glen Finnan, I gazed north towards the twin peaks of Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr Mhurlagain

These two mountains, which guard the easterly edge of the peninsular, offer a tantalising glimpse of what lies beyond. During the intervening years I have probably added in a few wisps of cloud to the image, and deepened the hue of the colours. But the sensation was clear: I knew I had to return and explore the land beyond those hills.
June 2015

Carrying a compass: what's the point?

The first bit of proper outdoor kit I ever owned was a Silva compass. I paid for it from my paper round earnings, picked it up in Millets and treasured it greatly

I carried it on all my fledgling cycling adventures over the Sussex Downs and I seem to recall taking it on a family holiday to Cornwall "just in case". I didn't sleep with it under my pillow, but I did consider it part of my family's essential survival cache should Armageddon hit the South Coast unexpectedly.
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