Climbing a mountain

[Scottieoutdoors]

Hey all,

Not really sure where to post this as nothing is or has happened yet, but I figured it'd be a place to mull over ideas and maybe hear from yourselves about experiences or aspirations.
So.... I want to climb a mountain... No not Everest, nor the other "you'll be lucky to survive" ones for a few reasons, I don't fancy joining the back of a ridiculously long queue of people, nor do I want to part with obscene amounts of money for the pleasure of going for a big walk (alright...not quite a walk).

Have I climbed one before? Not really... Climbed up Cairgorm mountain once but never quite made it to the top due to light and weather conditions but at 1245m, it's lower than the road I ambled along in Tenerife which was near 2000m... plus I never made it to the top so it's something thats irritating me to the point where I will return one day - and head across to Ben Macdui too.

So I think I need to start realistically with either one of the lesser ventured Scottish mountains (Macdui) or head up Nevis and work my way upwards. Maybe back to Tenerife and up Teide.

How about you guys, an interest of yours? something you've done? something you'd like to do?

 

[Toddy]

How about finding the ones with the best views ? make it worth while twice over kind of thing.
Ben A'an for instance. Tinto, Ben Donich, or maybe some of the ones in the Lake District ?

 

[Paul_B]

Some claim the UK doesn't have any mountains but a mountain is just a hill and we have them.

Black combe in Western lakes isn't high and not even a mountain by British standards but its hot great views.

Loads of mountains in the lakes. Just find somewhere to park up and head up the nearest hill. That'll be good enough in the lakes. Everyone's a goodun up there imho.

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

How about finding the ones with the best views ? make it worth while twice over kind of thing.
Ben A'an for instance. Tinto, Ben Donich, or maybe some of the ones in the Lake District ?

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm more than happy to consider all of the above, especially if I'm up in Bonnie Scotland again. I think specifically on the I want to climb a mountain front side of things, I'm after altitude...

I put it to a friend that Nevis you'd be unlucky to die, Everest you'd be lucky to survive - I'd like somewhere in the middle - it's a future maybe goal with ample training required and I'd have to test the waters with some more acceptable things.

 

[FerlasDave]

I’d say goat fell is probably one of the most underrated mountains in the entire UK. It’s my favourite, and very achievable too.

 

[SaraR]

Lots of lovely mountains in Wales and less hordes if you pick your day carefully.

 

[Broch]

I have never been into 'peak bagging' - climbing mountains to say you've done it, but I do acknowledge that there is something truly satisfying about getting up to the top of a mountain.

In Eryri (Snowdonia) I favour the Glyders and Tryfan over yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). From Glyder Fawr you can watch people walking up yr Wyddfa like ants with a pair of binos But, don't be fooled, people die on Tryfan every year! I have trekked and camped the Glyders in white out conditions and wouldn't recommend it unless you are pretty experienced; it's a very hostile place when it wants to be.

The thing about mountains is how far you have to climb, not how high the mountain is. With many mountains you're starting quite a long way up. With a lot of British mountains, you're starting low down. Scafell Pike for example, is only 980m but you start at only 75m or so; Beinn Nibheis (Ben Nevis) is only 1344m but you start at around 25m; Glyder Fawr is relatively easy, it's 1000m but you start at 200m or so

There's a nice little book called "The Welsh Three Thousand" that covers all 15 mountains over 3,000 feet in Eryri. There's another, "The Welsh Peaks" which includes 56 routes up mountain peaks in Wales including some in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons ranges that would be closer for you to start with

Start low, but enjoy the view

 

[Wander]

You know what, this is something that's been tinkering away at the back of my mind for some time.
I enjoy walking the hills around here. But it is only the North Downs, so not particularly high and certainly not steep (though some of the damned things can be long and never-ending). So I am aware it's given me a rather jaundiced view.
Like you, I'm not looking at doing an Everest, but do want to do what I like to think of as a 'proper' mountain (I'm sure you know what I mean).
As was mentioned above, I don't want to do it to brag or tick a list, just want to do it for myself as a sense of personal achievement.
It's an idea and a thought that I've kept to myself, but now you've mentioned it I'm willing to come out of the closet as well.

 

[bearbait]

You could take a look at the Nuttals: all the hills (mountains) in England and Wales over 2,000 feet. Two guide books available. There are a couple of them on Dartmoor - Yes Tor and High Willhays.

 

[Tengu]

Everyone has a mountain, just as everyone has an island.

The trick is finding yours.

If you want a view, in Scotland, An Tellach is a good one (all of the Hebrides) and so is Sulliven. (The British Buddhists mountain, I have heard).

But the best view of all is from Snaefell, on the Isle of Man.

You can see EVERYWHERE, the entire island laid at your feet, England, Scotland Wales and Ireland.

(Need a fine day though).

And there is an easy path or a railway with a cafe at the top.

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

I think @Wander probably has the same cogs working away. I totally agree with your statement @Broch, no interest in listing off my smug achievements with well known names, which in a way is more why I'm interested in the more averagely achievable places (I actually read to climb Everest you need something like $50k!). I think the altitude is what I somewhat crave. I remember in France I was once atop a mountain (chair lift...didn't count) and that altitude felt extraordinary. Having done a lot of hiking up hills and mountains* (*above 2000ft apparently) I've really enjoyed it, but I'm eager to try something "out of this world"... who knows, I might hate it and want to go and live in Holland afterwards, but I think it's that proximity with harsher nature that I quite like, but I have also set up my own restrictions for now in that I don't overly fancy rock climbing as part of this ridiculous potential adventure.

 

[Ozmundo]

I’ve always liked the Carneddau, all the atmosphere of Snowdonia and some cracking scrambles (some pretty exposed ones). I used to wonder around there with a copy of “No landing place”, quite a few aircraft wrecks. No winter camping was done…. Rhinoggs are a little different, some what “wilder” feeling but not big hills. The Tarrans down by Machynlleth are a bit more like the Downs. Lots of old mine workings, interesting very deep holes in the ground to watch out for.

​

 

[Laurentius]

Depends how you define "climbing" going up yr Wyddfa is a walk for the most part. I would personally say that climbing is something you do on all fours, an ascent that involves scrambling at the very least, but there is plenty to be found especially in Wales and right within sight of the popular honeypots there are almost virgin slopes where you never see anyone.

 

[Ozmundo]

Offas Dyke path. There are castles and mountains.

Everest and such, I always admired the budget gang doing the flip flops, bang and blanket approach. I think it’s rather more commercialised these days.

 

[Scottieoutdoors]

Depends how you define "climbing" going up yr Wyddfa is a walk for the most part. I would personally say that climbing is something you do on all fours, an ascent that involves scrambling at the very least, but there is plenty to be found especially in Wales and right within sight of the popular honeypots there are almost virgin slopes where you never see anyone.

Climbing as you define it, rather than rock climbing with ropes, chalk, anchors and clippy things...I can't spell carribeaner...karribiner...?!?!

Edit: Carabiner.... today I learned...

 

[Toddy]

So, you want a mountain, you don't want ropes and crampons, but you do want height.

Start a list of ones we know would fit that bill.

The two Bens I put forward would both suit it, though not high/high. Worth a climb though.

Ben A'an is 461m
Ben Donich is 846m
Ben Nevis is 1345m

 

[Tengu]

The Isle of Man is great fun; You can walk from the ferry terminal or travel by rail to Snaefells; Starting with the Horse drawn tram, then on the electric railway to Laxley, changing to the mountain railway.

There are other mountains and forests to explore, and a LDP round the island and another along the spine.

The island is known for its varied scenery. I believe they also do wild camping, though this is not publicised. (but its on the DofE website...)

Dont go during the TT!

Or the Grand prix!!

 

[mikehill]

My favourite is Blencathra in The Lakes. Look it up

 

[SaraR]

My favourites are probably Cader Idris, the Carneddau via Pen yr ole wen and Tryfan, although I've recently been up Aran Fawddwy and that was a gorgeous walk too. However, for a first mountain for someone who's new to it, I don't think any of them are great options. (Perhaps Cader from the south side on a cloudless day and if you have a GPS track to follow...) For a first mountain you want something that's easy to navigate, even if the weather moves in, a straight forward approach and a good path to follow.

 

[Kav]

I’ve been pursuing the Monty Python technical assault on roadside gutters. There were moments reaching for that hairline cement crack meant victory or inglorious descent.