The picture above shows the whole team at Scarth Gap. From left to right: in front; Honor (Ozzie granddaughter) with Tippi, Will (Keswick grandson), Edie (Ozzie granddaughter) and Emily (Keswick granddaughter).

In rear; Rupert. (Keswick son), Joe (Ozzie son), Gerald (brother), Jude (Ozzie daughter-in-law). Rachel (sister-in-law), Magali (Liam’s girl friend), Ann (Keswick daughter-in-law, Me, Anna (niece and owner of Tippi)

On Tuesday, the Bonington Tribe set out on their expedition from Gatesgarth Farm in Buttermere to Black Sail by Scarth Gap.

Black Sail YH must be the best situated and the nicest youth hotel in England, if not theUK or even the Word!  Gareth and Maria, in front of the door, were our hosts and superb chefs.  After a comfortable night’s sleep we set off up the slope bend the hostel to climb Haystacks.

It’s got a real climbing hut like atmosphere but excellent food, wine and beer are provided.

Rupert and Joe had run up Kirk Fell before breakfast.

Honor climbing Hay Stacks the Hard Way!

Yet another family group on the top of Haystacks.

And it was an exciting way back down to Scarth Gap

Two tired people having a well earned lift back home in Keswick after two great days.

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

We climbed a route named Diedre Bonington, first climbed by a Catalan friend, Isabel Notivoli who very kindly named it after me . It’s on the West side, on El Clot de La Monica and is graded V with 3 stars. It was a really nice route.

Later on in the week I drove up to Les Angles to join Mike on one of his guided snow shoe treks. They were a great bunch, it’s lovely country and a perfect day.

We had a light lunch washed down with wine at a refuge and then staggered back to our cars at the road side.

That night I stayed with Mike, his wife Jenny and daughter Rebecca plus Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Lilli.

He has two delightful self catering “gites” and conducts guided walks and snow shoe adventures both of which I can strongly recommend.

This is the view from their yard and the following day I went skiing – didn’t take any pictures – but it’s delightful open fairly easy skiing, with good lifts and no queues. You can learn more about the resort from:

http://www.lesangles.com

and about Mikes gites and guided walks from:

www.pyrenean-trails.com

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

The abseil was in aid of raising money for two worthy causes, the Outward Bound Trust which is supported by Berghaus and The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Here Chris gives his thoughts on the abseil:

“It was a fantastic experience.  The view from the top of the Shard is amazing – the whole of London is laid out before you, but everyone, including me was quite gripped up immediately before taking off down, but once started, it was brilliant and very easy.  I just had the top slot which was a 75m abseil down the glass of the Shard to where they had taken out one of the panes and you were pulled in.  It was very different from going down rock  or ice, particularly as we were using a caver’s rack, to diminish friction and heat.

It’s certainly something that I shall always remember and my respect goes out to my colleagues many of whom had never abseiled before – it was one hell of an abseil for a first one!!!! Even though  they did have a practice on a small tower.
We also raised a lot of money – over £1,000,000 for the two charities – Outward Bound and the Royal Marines Trust.  They both do terrific work.  To learn more go to www.descentoftheshard.com/the-descendants

You can also make a text donation by texting “DROP87 £3 (or what ever you want to give)” to 70070.  It’s in a really good cause, helping young people, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, gain confidence and fine themselves – and also to help our gallant marines who have been injured in combat rebuild their lives.”

The Shard is the largest building in Western Europe and is being abseiled to raise money for two worthy causes, the Outward Bound Trust which is supported by Berghaus and The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Taking place on Monday 3 September the abseil is being led by the Duke of York and you can donate to this very worthy cause here:

Donate now

You can also find out more about this unique event on their official website.

We stayed with my climbing mate Charlie Clarke at his home above the Menai Straits on Anglesey with that wonderful view of Snowdonia in the background

We went sailing on Charlie’s yacht “Whiskey Galore” – my grandson Will is at the helm.

We also visited Conway Castle and Will tried his hand at climbing, watched by Dad, Rupert.

The Keswick Bons had a ride on Charlie’s brother’s rib around Puffin Island

where they saw any number of seals and their pups really close up

while Wendy and I had a walk around the beautiful Hidden Garden at Plas Cadnant, just outside MenaI Bridge.

I even got in a climb with my nephew Liam when we went to Clogwyn y Grochan in the Llanberis Valley and climbed Nea, a classic VS pioneered by Menlove Edwards, one of the greatest rock climbers of the ’40s and Nea Morin.  It was one of the first climbs that I led back in 1952.  I was very glad of the modern gear we now have!!!

And as a lovely climax on the birthday that Emily and I share we took my Olympic torch back to the summit of Snowdon so the family could share in the wonderful experience I had when I took it to the top last month – no matter that it was in thick cloud.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Getting steep and into the cloud – level with Cautley Spout in the background.

Mike Clarke, our Men’s product manager believes in testing our products to the limit!!!!!

The summit of the Calf at 676 metres, highest point ofd the Howgills, was in thick cloud

But later on in the morning the cloud cleared as we dropped down over Nab to Crosdale Wood and Farm before walking round to Sedbergh. Killington Reservoir in the background and Morecambe Bay just in site on the horizon.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Our guide was the Queen’s Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson MBE.  He is the 25th guide to hold this appointment and has been doing it ever since 1963.  You can see the Estuary in the background and we started by following the coastal path.

Cedric set a cracking pace as we set out over the sands.  He called us all to order with a blast of the whistle he hung round his neck.

Cedric and his assistant go forward to reach a small channel for quick sands.  Grange, just above Cedric’s head looks deceptively close and I thought we’d be there in half an hour.

Not a bit of it – we walked for two hours in a south easterly direct away from Grange to almost level with Carnforth, before wading through a broad knee deep channel that enabled us to swing north west towards Humphrey Head and the safety of the Cumbrian shore.  It made me realise how important it is to have a guide.

It was a truly wonderful atmosphere of everyone, young and old,  having a really good time.

As we ended up walking along the railway embankment to Kents Bank Station to the south of Grange.  It had taken us five hours and what a fun way to raise a lot of money for four very worth while charities.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Rupert borrowed the Hostel Warden’s bike to meet us as we walked up and accompanied us for the last hundred yards before reaching this lovely little hostel, surely in the best setting of any on the UK.  Gable Crag on Great Gable is at the head of the valley.

The interior is fabulous – it’s homely, simple and best of all, you can get a superb cooked meal, in this case a great curry and as you can see, they sell wine, beer and soft drinks.

That evening, after supper, we walked up the valley towards Boat How and Boat How Craggs on the right of the picture.  Rupert got up at 5am the following morning to stride up to the top of Boat Howe Craggs, getting back for breakfast.

Our family, with our wonderful hosts, Hostel wardens Martin and Suzy, whose warmth, friendliness and superb cooking make the hostel the wonderful place that it is!!!

The Galloway cattle that have been encouraged in true wilding project because they are the closest one can get to the kind of cattle that would have been grazing in Ennerdale hundreds of years ago and because they are beneficial for the natural environment.

Rupert and Ann setting off to cross Gable and Green Gable on their way back to Honnister.

While the children came with us back down the track to Ennerdale Youth Hostel where we had left our car.   We took the track on the south side of the River Liza, which is wonderfully quiet andy has some great views and a really nice boulder an easy 4 mile walk.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

It seemed a bit of a cheat to go by train but I was told that it would have been logistically very difficult to do it on foot.  My police escort was also looking after the miner’s lamp carrying the Olympic flame which had been collected in Greece and carried back in these lamps.

It was great having my two nephews, Suilven and Liam with me, but I wish I had had my Keswick family, son Rupert, Ann & my grandchildren, Emily & Will there as well.

Quite a few runners were going up almost as fast as the train!!!

For me this was a sentimental journey – my climbing routes are around Snowdon – it was where I started too climb over 60 years ago, did some of my best routes and spent many months over the years amongst these lovely mountains.  Above is Clogwyn du’r Arddu, arguably the finest crag in the British Isles, where I did some of my best early climbing.

At the Station and visitor centre just below the top of Snowdon my torch was lit from the miners lamp.

and I ran out through a big friendly and enthusiastic crowd.

I’ve never seen so many people on the top of Snowdon.

It was good to see plenty of Welsh flags as I got to the top.  I did feel a bit concerned that I, an Englishman rather than a local Welsh climber, had this pleasure and honour, but I had spent much of younger climbing hearts in Wales, as indeed had so many of my climbing friends – especially Joe Brown, the greatest rock climber of us all. I hope they won’t mind me representing them.

I felt I had to climb up onto the trig point to be truly at the highest point but confess to having trouble getting my balance. The BBC helicopter is in the background.

It was a wonderful feeling standing there on top of Wales and England surrounded by so many warm friendly faces.

On the way down everyone want to touch or hold the torch.  It was a delight to share this with them.

Above is a group photo with the children from the local primary school back at Llanberis station – and practically all of them got an individual photo holding the torch.

The support team of the Olympic relay were fantastic – they work incredibly hard and are so enthusiastic and friendly.  They are doing a great job as they help the torch around the country before the games.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Started with the Lancaster York University Roses Athletics Competition at Lancaster University in early May.  As Chancellor I played croquet, teamed up with our President of Student’s Union against the Deputy Vice Chancellor of York University and their SU President.  I’m afraid we lost.

But Lancaster won over all and here’s Mark Hanley, Captain of Athletics with the trophy.

On 24 May, my daughter in law Ann organised a sponsored walk with the children from her primary school in Aspatria up Cat Bells and invited me along.  Here she is briefing everyone at the start.

It was a glorious day.  Here, Grandson Will, followed by my son Rupert, on the little scramble just short of the top.

The whole team near the top of Cat Bells.

On the 25th, Wendy and I celebrated our Golden Wedding with our family at Lyssick Hall Hotel just outside Keswick.  It was a lovely and very special night.

Next morning, with a slightly sore head, I joined the Lancaster University Mountaineering Club on one of their weekend meets to go climbing on Kern Knotts on Gable.

I joined Josh and Ben on Central Climb South Face, a lovely old classic graded Mild VS, first climbed in 1919.  When you think of the kind of gear they had then, it was an impressive lead.  Here, Ben took the lead, climbed it in style and I must confess I was glad of a tight rope on the crux.

Their LUMC just about filled the crag – just as well we had it to ourselves – and did a host of routes.

On Sunday, I joined the University hiking Club for a walk in the Howgill Fells.  I’d been with them two years ago when the cloud base was only just above the road, it was poring with rain and I didn’t see anything at all.  This time it was perfect – not a clouds in the sky and a refreshing breeze.  Cautley Spout is in the background which yields a great winter climb after a week of extreme cold.

Powering up the side of the Spout.

Our team on top of the Calf.  It makes a great walk with very few people around.  I really enjoy getting out with the students.

Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.