Moors to Mountains - Guided Adventures

26/03/2025

Here is a selection of guided walks taking place this summer in the Lake District. All these dates feature summits from the "Lakeland Three Thousanders" and so are not beginner level walks and generally suited to more experienced walkers with a good level of fitness, and a head for heights in the case of the Helvellyn Horseshoe.

I have received lots and lots of enquiries about other less difficult routes and will be filling up dates for the rest of the season from August until November very soon. Thank you for all the interest, I do appreciate it.

Please visit www.moorstomountains.co.uk and click "GUIDED WALKS" to browse or book yourself on to any of my professionally guided activities.

26/03/2025

How did it get to Wednesday again already? Well, tonight I will of course be heading out with my friends in the Bolton walking group on an easy and flat walk around Pennington Flash nature reserve in Leigh. This route has been a collaborative effort between one of or regular volunteers and another participant and I'm quite looking forward to this one personally as I haven't been since I was a little kid.

I have volunteered my time and experience with BWOAS now for almost fourteen years. It's been really great to be a part of this every growing community collective and see first hand the positive differences that the regular walks make to people's lives. If you are in the areas and would like to learn more, please visit Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society for more details.

If you are in attendance tonight, I'll look forward to seeing you there!

Robin Hood, Pennington

25/03/2025

Click on to www.moorstomountains.co.uk/merchandise to order from my range of quality headwear products and of course the ADVENTURE GIFT TOKENS.

If your mum loves the outdoors and you're stuck for a last minute gift idea, maybe she would appreciate a M2M hat? Or the gift vouchers make for a unique and thoughtful present that can enable somebody to take part in one of my professionally guided outdoor experiences.

FREE LOCAL COLLECTION (Bolton area) is available on all items ordered before weekend. Or, I can post anything first class, and there are still a few days left in time for delivery.

24/03/2025

If you'd like to come along for an exciting mountain experience walking up England's fourth highest summit with five additional peaks, please click onto https://www.moorstomountains.co.uk/skiddaw-via-nw-ridge to read more or book your space/s.

This is a fairly tough route with steep climbs and loose terrain. Previous hill walking experience and a GOOD level of fitness is essential for anybody wanting to take part.

I announced the walk to my mailing list last week and spaces are already getting booked up so get in there early to avoid disappointment.

24/03/2025

SATURDAY 22nd and SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025 - The Three Reservoirs and Turton Tower.

⛰️ No summits, high point 225m.

🥾 17.5km, or 11 miles, with 280m ascent.

⏱️ SATURDAY 5 hours 20 minutes. SUNDAY 5 hours 30 minutes.

Thank you so much to everybody who booked on the Three Reservoirs guided walk this weekend. Although a couple of people were unfortunately unable to make both days, I was able to readvertise the spaces and being such a popular route, had two full groups of eight people on both Saturday and Sunday.

And, as always, the walk did not disappoint. In the West Pennine Moors, this is one of my activities that receives the highest level of interest by far. Most of the terrain is quite accessible with minimal hill climbs and hazards. And being a local lad, I get to share my knowledge and enthusiasm about the variety of interesting sites or natural features that can be found throughout the day. The walk is also broken up nicely with a rest at Turton Tower Woodland Cafe.

And I was lucky enough to be able to spend both days with some wonderful people. Mainly new clients, who it was very nice to meet, and one or two familiar faces, who it was great to see once again. I'd really like to sincerely thank everybody who did book a place and was able to attend either day, it was my absolute pleasure to lead you around the route and I hope you had a fantastic experience! And extra thanks to anybody who sent photos for me to include in this post :-) .

I would also like to than David and his mother at Turton Tower Woodland Cafe and all the staff at The Strawbury Duck for friendly service and hospitality over the course of the weekend.

I am currently booked up until mid August but I will be operating the Three Reservoirs and Turton Tower guided walk again in Autumn. Please stay posted to www.moorstomountains.co.uk for updates.

24/03/2025

If you're out and about around walking in the Turton, Chapeltown and Edgworth wider area, make sure you visit the Turton Tower Woodland Cafe. I always love to stop by with my clients when on the popular Three Reservoirs walk so we can relax for a short break in the beautiful grounds of Turton Tower itself with a brew and sample from the selection of awesome cakes, pies and other snacks.

24/03/2025

Hey everybody! Both "Session #1" classes of the navigation workshop taking place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April are now fully booked.

However, you can still book onto further sessions on Saturday 26th April in the West Pennine Moors, Saturday 31st May in the Lake District and Saturday 7th June in the Peak District. Please visit www.moorstomountains.co.uk/navigation-workshop to read more or book your place/s.

It's fine to book on any of the later sessions without having joined the first class - I'll make sure everybody is up to speed and provide additional support documents to help along the way.

Thanks to all who have already signed up, I am really looking forward to sharing my skills and experience with you all and helping to improve confidence and accuracy when navigating up on the moors.

22/03/2025

Train to Entwistle sat in the station nice and early... when does that ever happen? Off to meet my first group of clients this weekend for a day out around the Three Reservoirs and Turton Tower in Lancashire. See you guys shortly.

21/03/2025

MONDAY 17th MARCH 2025 - The Bower House in Eskdale to Ravenglass.

⛰ No summits, high point 160m.

🥾 9km, or just over 5 miles, with 200m ascent.

⏱ 1 hour 50 minutes.

After a very peaceful and relaxing stay at the Bower House Inn Eskdale on Monday, I needed to do one last walk to cap the weekend off in order to catch my train home from Ravenglass.

It wasn't a particularly difficult route at all but a fine morning for it! Spring was definitely in the air with lots of greenery all around the valley as I left Eskdale behind and followed an easy bridleway to the south east of Muncaster Fell.

The views out to the coast as I descended into Ravenglass were also very enjoyable with warming sunshine beaming down all the way. A really nice way to end my weekend away in the Lakes.

21/03/2025

My latest shipment of M2M hats arrived today just in time for clients who have ordered items to wear on my guided activities this weekend and next. I'll get the hats to you all ASAP. If you are a postal customer, those will go first class on Monday.

I have also restocked on all popular colours of the standard beanies. Please head to www.moorstomountains.co.uk/merchandise to browse or order from my range of quality products.

I just want to personally thank everybody who has made a purchase. Each sale goes towards helping me to deliver the best possible service and I do really appreciate all the support.

21/03/2025

WEDNESDAY 19th MARCH 2025 - Little Wayoh and Entwistle reservoirs from The Strawbury Duck.

⛰ No summits, high point 225m

🥾7km, or just over 4 miles, with 80m ascent.

⏱ 1 hours 50 minutes.

Another awesome Wednesday evening spent with the lovely people from Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society. The route around Little Wayoh and Entwistle reservoirs was quite easy but very enjoyable with lots of really interesting conversations and the usual level of jovial banter.

As I often mention, I have been volunteering my time and experience with BWOAS for almost fourteen years. There's a really friendly and cool bunch or regular participants and volunteers who attend every week and new faces are always very welcome.

20/03/2025

SUNDAY 16th MARCH 2025 - Black Sail Hut to the Bower House in Eskdale.

⛰ No summits. High point Black Sail Pass (550m).

🥾 21km, or 12.5 miles, with 750m ascent.

⏱ 6 hours.

Another day of trekking from the Black Sail Hut. Unfortunately, Sunday was time to leave. The rest of the gang from Rammy Running Club made their way west back along the Ennerdale valley but I instead had to face a climb back over the Black Sail Pass to Wasdale. From here, a few easy paths with a gradual incline were followed to Burnmoor Tarn and out towards Eskdale.

The objective of this walk was to reccy a site known as Burnmoor Stone Circles, which is in preparation for a guided walk I am leading in August as part of a Yoga and Wellness retreat organised by Happy Chakras. I know Eskdale and the surrounding fells very well but hadn't actually been to visit this ancient monument before. It was pretty straight forward to navigate to and is a very nice spot.

From the stone circles, I made my way down to Eskdale following in reverse the ascent route I had plotted out for August. This was useful as I made a few revisions. Eskdale is lovely valley and a stark contrast to both Ennerdale and Wasdale, so this was a day of varied terrain and views. I was happy to see the Bower House Inn and settle in for a night relaxing by the fire with some fine fare, reflecting back an an amazing and wholesome weekend.

19/03/2025

Mothers' Day is just around the corner and lots of people I speak to are scratching their heads wondering what to pick up as a gift. Click onto www.moorstomountains.co.uk/merchandise to order one of my stylish Adventure Gift Tokens, all ready to be despatched FIRST CLASS in time for Sunday 30th March.

The vouchers are available to purchase in various denominations and make for a unique and thoughtful gift for anybody who enjoys the great outdoors and may be interested in joining one of my informative guided walks. Each is neatly mounted in a nice presentation wallet and hand sealed in a custom envelope depicting a forest and mountain scene, before being sealed with the M2M emblem.

Vouchers are available for immediate despatch or FREE LOCAL COLLECTION in the Bolton area.

19/03/2025

Wow! It's Wednesday again already. The days are flying by but this evening we can look forward to our regular mid-week breather out and about with the Bolton walking group.

Tonight's route is one that is very popular among the regulars and takes in the "Little Wayoh" and Entwistle reservoirs in Turton, Lancashire. Participants can expect some easy sections but also a challenging climb through Armsgrove Clough, plenty of mud and other obstacles. While this is quite unusual for BWOAS outings, there are still spaces left and you can book yourself onto the walk via https://buytickets.at/boltonwalkingandoutdoorsappreciationsociety/1618520.

I have been volunteering my time, energy and knowledge to BWOAS for almost fourteen years. It's a really cool group of people from all backgrounds and new members are always very welcome. Check out Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society for more information about how to get involved.

Cheers for reading and if you're name is down on the list, I'll look forward to seeing you tonight. COLIN.

19/03/2025

SATURDAY 15th MARCH 2025 - Black Sail Hut to the Wasdale In via the two Gables, and back over Black Sail Pass.

⛰ Green Gable (801m), Great Gable (899m).

🥾 14.6km, or 9 miles, with 1,310m ascent.

⏱ 5 hours 45 mins of walking. Couple of hours on top eating.

As part of the Black Sail Hut trip, the group had decided to head over to Wasdale for dinner on the Saturday. While a bit of a trek, staying in a remote cabin requires carrying all food and other provisions in along the valley and so having one less meal to worry about is a bonus where weight and pack volume is concerned. The walk is also very enjoyable.

We left at 09:00 sharp and on the way up "Tongue", which I would prefer to call "THE Tongue" personally, some of the guys decided that Green Gable would be included as an extra summit and a new Wainwright for many. The views were incredible with a clear panorama all around the northern lakes. The sun was beating down with a nice warmth in contrast to the chilly air lingering at lower altitudes and nice, crunchy snow underfoot on higher ground.

Crossing Windy Gap, there was a hasty and enjoyable scramble up to the summit of Great Gable. Again, the views were unreal and we took some time to enjoy the scenery and consume a few snacks.

A descent to Wasdale Head was made by the east leading path direct to the stretcher box at Sty Head before taking Sty Head Pass directly to the Inn. Following a reasonable length stop to fill up on as much hearty grub as possible, a return to the hut was made via Black Sail Pass. The route finding is very easy but there is a steep climb up to about 550m, which is somewhat exacerbated by full bellies.

Overall, a truly awesome day out in the western Lake District. The weather genuinely couldn't have been any better, which lent itself to positive camaraderie throughout the group and lots of photo opportunities.

18/03/2025

There is still time to sign up to one or more classes as part of the Moors to Mountains Introductory navigation workshop that is taking place throughout April, May and June. Please visit www.moorstomountains.co.uk/navigation-workshop for more information or to book.

Thank you to everybody who has so far got their name down for any of the sessions. There are a range of dates and locations to give as much opportunity to learn, practice and develop skills as possible.

While it is advisory to attend the first class before booking on later dates, I am happy for people to book and come along where they are available. I have produced tons of additional resources and intend to provide as much remote support to participants as possible.

Group sizes are intentionally small so I can offer the best possible teaching environment and an individually tailored experience for everybody, set to your own ability and experience level. So, nobody is going to be thrown in at the deep end having not attended any previous sessions.

If you have any further questions, please email me any time via [email protected] and I'll be happy to help.

18/03/2025

Here's a bit of information from Bolton News about Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society regular Bryan's "WHITE WALK" taking place on Saturday 14th June in aid of Bolton Hospice. I am very proud to be involved in helping out with the event itself and promotion. More details to follow in due course.

A man from Bolton and more than 20 other people will be trekking from one hospice to another in memory of a good friend - and to shine a light on…

18/03/2025

FRIDAY 14th MARCH 2025 - Blencathra via Doddick Fell and Halls Fell.

⛰ Halls Fell Top (868m).

🥾7km, or just over 4 miles, with 750m ascent.

⏱ 3 hours.

A great start to the weekend! Having stayed near Mungrisdale on Thursday night, I made my way to meet the other guys on the semi-annual Black Sail Hut trip, who are all members of Ramsbottom Running Club, at Threlkeld. It had been decided to have a quick jaunt up Blencathra before heading down to Ennerdale.

It was a beautiful morning with bright sunshine and clear skies. There was a chill in the air and on both the ascent and descent, snow flurries could be observed in the northern Pennines. We wasted no time in powering up to Halls Fell Top, pausing for a few snaps and then making a scrambly descent down Halls Fell Ridge.

More content to follow from the rest of the weekend.