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----------High Level Winter/Spring
From now to Spring Bank Holiday
| Or see: High
Level - Summer 2008 High Level - Autumn 2008 |
Fuller detail Click buttons for more Grade, Accommodation & Guide details: Swinside Inn: Ensuite single rooms & 1 ensuite twin (Single suppl. £10 a night) Swinside Farmhouse: Ensuite single rooms & 1 ensuite twin (Single suppl. £10 a night). Includes: breakfasts shared with other women where you are staying, packed lunches, + guided walks. (Evening meals are not included - from £12).
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This new venue in the
Newlands valley near Keswick gives exciting weekend access to the Derwent and
Grasmoor fells of the northern Lakes. We could tackle the superb Grisedale
Horseshoe from Bassenthwaite - a strenuous but hugely rewarding Lake District
circuit. On Sunday, we might head up from Little Town onto the Robinson/Dale
Head ridge for its stunning views over Buttermere and the Central Fells. We
could then descend over Hindscarth or even along the High Spy if there is time.
For this weekend we will be staying at 17th century Swinside Inn and Swinside
Farmhouse immediately across the road - all eating together at the inn in the
evening for its friendly atmosphere, lovely old bar, and good pub food.
(Evening meals not included - from £12).
Fuller detail See photos & feedback from a previous year's holiday? Click buttons for more Grade, Accommodation & Guide details:
Small hostel dormitories or basic bothy shared with other members of the group Includes: breakfasts, packed lunches, evening meals, bothy + guided walks. (Bring sleeping bag, sleeping mat, lightweight camping knife, fork, spoon, large bowl or plate & cup). Not included: Ferry to Rum (£8 approx each way)
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Rum is a diamond shaped jewel
of a place - an island of the Inner Hebrides of spectacular wildness and
beauty. Its glaciated 'cullins' (high rocks), Askival, Hellival, Trollaval, and
Orval, started life near the equator, and are the shattered remnants of a once
huge volcano. Apart from its incredible scenery, the other attraction of Rum is
that it has been a nature reserve for over 40 years. We may be lucky enough to
see otters fishing along the shores of Loch Scresort, or red deer and wild
goats in the heather as we walk. Golden eagles often soar above the Cullins,
while Shearwaters nest on their slopes and skim the sea in significant numbers.
Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and other species of sea birds breed on
Rum's sea cliffs. And we may even spy the white-tailed sea eagle - Britain's
largest bird of prey - which was once hunted almost to extinction. There are
many fabulous walks to choose from here, often off-path through the heather -
along high cliffs overlooking the sea, onto peaks with stunning views to the
glens below, or looking north to the Skye Cullin ridge from beautiful Kilmory
Sands. To access the best parts of this island, we will stay for 2 nights in a
bothy, walking there low level with 3 days' food and gear,
living in very simple bothy conditions with water from
a nearby stream and sleeping mats on the floor - a real Scottish walking
experience! For the rest of the time our base will be the hostel in
extraordinary Kinloch Castle near Loch Scresort. Trains run to Malaig on the
mainland from Glasgow, and from Malaig you catch the regular Rum ferry which
runs twice a day and is a magical journey in itself.
Fuller detail We will arrange an afternoon minibus pickup from Perth station to make it easy to come by train from most parts of the UK. (e.g 7.5 hours from London, costs approx £75). Click buttons for more Grade, Accommodation & Guide details:
Sharing bunk bedded rooms with 1-2 other women (Ensuite suppl. £5 a night). Includes: breakfasts, packed lunches, evening meals, transfer from Perth station if needed; all transport to walks, + a choice of guided walks each day.
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This new Scottish holiday
with Jo Cound, Sue M, and Fran offers a choice of Gentle Photography,
Intermediate, or Slow High walks each day, set in the heart of scenic
Perthshire on the edge of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Here
we will be staying at Comrie Croft - a hostel with a difference, located 2
miles from the picturesque village of Comrie with opportunities to walk into
stunning landscapes at all levels of difficulty. Wildlife abounds here - osprey
and kites nest locally, deer and mountain hare are found on the hills, and at
all times of the year there is a rich diversity of flora and fauna thanks to
ancient woodlands. There are many gentle walks with wonderful photo
opportunities in the nearby glens, beside rivers, to waterfalls, and up onto
gentle viewpoints. For Intermediate walkers there are the many exciting
Corbetts of the area - the mid range hills and mountains over 2500ft (760m),
and for Slow High we will have a choice of more challenging Monroes - mountains
over 3000ft (914m). You can choose the walks that suit you best, and swap to a
different grade if need be to take it easy or stretch yourself as you warm up.
At Comrie Croft we have taken the whole Lodge so that we have room to spread
out, sharing with 1-2 other women in comfortable bunk rooms which can usually
sleep a greater number. What's more, half of the rooms have ensuite facilities!
Comrie Croft has good facilities including a cosy lounge and a dining room with
mountain views. | Or see: High
Level - Summer 2008 High Level - Autumn 2008 |
High Level grades explained...
There are now 3 high level grades: Slow High, High Level, and Alpine High. You can see the differences between them below:
Slow High - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
We introduced the Slow High grade last year
after talking to women who come on the holidays, and it has proved a huge
success! Many women love high level walks - and may always have loved them -
but now find they want to take them at a slower pace. For other women, 'high
level' is the next step up, but it's still an unknown quantity and they worry
about slowing others down. If these concerns have stopped you from choosing our
High Level grade - even though you feel, or know, you have the stamina to cope
with long 'ups' and 'downs' and long walking days, then this new grade is for
you! Slow High walks will be similar to High Level walks in all other respects
- see below - but will be taken at a slower pace with more stops along the way.
The walking day may be a little longer than usual, and as a result we arrange
them in Spring and Summer. (Intermediate walks are also offered at the same
time so that you can vary your walks or swap to Intermediate if you find you
prefer it).
High level - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
High Level walks are 'mountain' walks, offering the
most exciting and dramatic views - wild crags where buzzards and ravens fly,
expansive views, deserted high level lakes, and wonderful long ridges with
views to the valleys below. The walks will be from 8-12 miles in length, and
have an ascent and descent of up to 1000m (3300ft). The secret of getting up
there is to take the 'ups' at a steady pace without so many stops that you keep
losing your second wind. The gradients will vary over the day, but will
generally include longer steep sections
than the intermediate grades,
with 1.5-2 hours of ascent overall. In general, the higher you go, the rockier
the paths get, and in places you may use your hands; some high level walks can
be unnerving for vertigo sufferers.
If you have reasonable balance for walking on rocky uneven ground and know you have the leg, heart, and lung fitness to cope with sustained exertion - either from recent hill walking or in some other sport - these wonderful walks could be for you! (See alsoIntermediate, High Intermediate, & Slow High above).
High Alpine -
8-14 miles, 850-1400m up & down
The high level
holidays that are graded 'High Alpine' have some of the most stunning walks we
offer - soaring views of snow-clad peaks, glaciers, ice-covered mountain lakes,
and alpine flowers all around. However, on certain days, there will be more
length or ascent than normal High Level walks - up to 14 miles a day and 1400m
(4600ft) ascent/descent. On some holidays you may experience some altitude
effects - e.g. headaches or shortness of breath.
As a result, these wonderful
mountains may require you to pace yourself, e.g. by swapping to an intermediate
walk in Gran Paradiso and Bulgaria. On the Langtang Trek in Nepal we build in
acclimatising days to diminish the effects of altitude, and you may need to
take it easy then.
If you're a hill walker with good knees and stamina, who wants more of a challenge and incredible views, these wonderful walks could be for you! If you are not already a hill walker, Gran Paradiso or Bulgaria offer a choice of grades each day and are the safest High Alpine holidays to try first.
ATOL Protection
The flight-included holidays
shown on this web page are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority since
we hold an Air Travel Organisers Licence granted by the Civil Aviation
Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 6497. ATOL Protection extends primarily to
customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. click on the ATOL logo if you
want to know more.
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Autoroute.
The photos are and curtesy of whoever they are attributed to. The rest of the
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