Today we are in the Zermatt region of the Alps and a bit frustrated as there is not the spectacular view of the big fella. But it is a beautiful spot – almost 2000 m travel up on a railway built in 1898! So the top is 3135m and on this day we had to acclimatise. Enjoy the views and atmosphere.
Today is a special walk, it’s a from ‘home’ walk, it’s lockdown and it’s Easter.
We have always appreciated a park at the top of the road; taking babies in pushchairs; toddlers to swings; sledging in snow. Just a place to stretch or sit or meet and to watch the seasons pass through those grand horse chestnuts and gardens. Enjoying blossom, kicking over leaves, being blown about or frosted.
Get the gloves on! We ride up from Saas Fee at 1309m to Millelallalin at 3456m. Come out on snow and sit underneath Allalinhorn. This just explores the area around the  cable car station. There is a scary walk around the edges and across the glacier to be saved for a later trip. You’ll need to acclimatise and also get used to walking on snow. Oh and not forgetting all the summer skiers tramping down having gone up about 5 am and finished midday as the sun disrupts the surfaces.
This is a place to amble and observe and enjoy a Swiss hot chocolate. We have walked up towards the peak in glorious sunshine and after half an hour a complete white out came as a bit of a scare.
Lots of Nottingham folk will have walked or cycled at Clumber. We have done both, and recall taking the girls there when they were fairly little to learn to ride their bicycles, with mixed success.
Recent times we’ve also enjoyed visiting the gardens and greenhouse….and having a cup of tea.
In the long hot summer of 2019 there were some great photos from the air showing the outline of the old house thanks to fairly scorched ground.
This walk has a climb about 500m starting and finishing at Blea Tarn. Â We find this very quiet spot just between the Great Langdale valley and the Little Langdale valley. On the descent we get to the three shires stone where the historic boundary of Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire met. More importantly the local pub in little Langdale ( the Three shires) is definitely a Dexter favourite.
There are two similar photos at the end, and you’ll agree that’s because its’ a view to just absorb. Had it not been such a cold autumnal day we might have swum.
Today is a long walk in fact 5-7 days staying in BandB overnights. We start in Melrose in the Scottish Borders and move into England and Northumberland. It’s 100km. I did this walk as a retreat on my own after finishing at Trinity.
Not always nice weather a few April showers to cope with. We finish in Lindisfarne and see the place Cuthbert lived 634 AD to 687. He is one of those fascinating Celtic saints – I wonder what he would have made of our situation today.
Anyway brace yourselves for the weather but whilst this is a v quiet walk w few people those you meet will be very special and both were a deep joy.
Wrap up warm today, after a short bus ride we go from the small village of Saas Grund at 1559m up to Hohsaas at 3101m and trek in the snow. Get proper boots on and a decent coat, maybe your walking poles. To appreciate the scale, look out for the little marks on the photos which are ….people, proper serious climbers. we just walked the peaks. Views are marked by posts with rocks on and a description of the mountain in view, Dom , Mischabel etc and you might be interested a Biblical quote. You’ll be Ok in a sheltered spot to sit in shorts and a t-shirt for a picnic though.
This is one of my most favourite Alpine walks and I will bring you here again to enjoy different views and colours another day. its a place that deserves a second or third trip to enjoy.
This afternoon’s amble is to Malham Cove in North Yorkshire, near Skipton. This was a very bright late Spring day surrounded by Hawthorne blossom. after the walk down the valley there is a bit of a climb up but the path resembles the M1 for traffic and there is a proper staircase. There were people in trainers and ….oh you know. It’s hard getting the balance of not ‘meddling’ in nature but the need for protection, and allowing people to visit and thus strengthening  or managing pathways to avoid the damage from millions of boots…..like mine.
This is the last walk  near Grindelwald  (1034m) for a while. After taking the cable cars up to the tourist activity centre at First (2166m), we take a steady 6km walk to Buchalpsee. This is one of the more iconic views in the area. Whilst only about a 100m climb, the route is almost like a motorway with tourists, however the  fauna and flora are quite amazing….as are the views. It’s a walk where the Swiss signposts say 1.5hr but it takes us about 2.5hr as you just have to keep  stopping for views and to examine the endless variety of rockeries of flowers and spot a marmot. Oh and I added a photo of me to show we were really there.
Shame I said just 10 photos but there we are.
This walk needs the steamer from Glenridding down to Howtown. There is a decent amble back along the lakeside but still has its ups and downs. This autumnal day Mrs D took me up and over the top to Place Fell. But it was a bit late on the top for any decent photos.
Prepare a decent lunch and a couple of flasks for todays walk.
Mr John Dexter blogs about school 