Monday 12/2/2018 Darlington – Painted Cliffs
Maria Island National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
It is a short walk from the main settlement at Darlington to the impressive Painted Cliffs at the southern end of Hopground Beach. They are accessible on a low tide with small swell. Continue reading
Sunday 11/02/2018 Mount Amos – Wineglass Bay – Hazards Beach
Freycinet National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk provides photo opportunities to capture the iconic Wineglass Bay panorama from the top of Mount Amos. Key features of this fantastic day walk include the crescent shaped white sand of Wineglass Bay with the chance to swim in it’s crystal clear turquoise waters all surrounded by native forest and nearby rugged granite peaks. Continue reading
Saturday 11/8/2001 Mont Gros Morne
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, CANADA
Participants: Bethany Davies, Paul Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We awoke much later than planned to overcast conditions. Despite our best efforts we were still not on the trailhead until 11:40am. Boy, laden down again, a Lowe pack, Bronica medium format camera and three lenses, two Canon EOS cameras with two more lenses with the tripod and bumbags and 2L bottles full of water. It very hard going for the first 4km of gradual uphill climb, obviously too much wine last night. We stashed a 2L drink bottle at about the 4km mark. From here it was a very nice wander through the forest, and rapids lookout meandering uphill to the base of Mont Gros Morne. At it’s base the trails split near a couple of small tarns. The weather to this point has been cool but we were pretty warm owing to our exertions. Continue reading
14/07/2017 – 19/07/2017 Gran Paradiso
Gran Paradiso National Park, ITALY
Distance: 97km Total Ascent: 5,520m Total Descent: 4,800m
Time: 35 hours
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Hannah Brody, Mel Brody, Paul Brody, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (report), Erica Fantini (Guide), Karen Laverack, Simon Marlton
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s oldest national park. It includes numerous soaring peaks, massifs, glaciers, interconnected ridges and cols separated by deep tranquil valleys and rushing streams. Within the park the 4061m Gran Paradiso is the dominant peak but there are also sweeping panoramas beyond towards the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. Closer up one an observe alpine meadows and ice-smoothed rock faces. We observed chamois, ibex and alpine marmots and many wildflowers.
Throughout the area there are many different signposted walking trails. Here we participated in our first ever guided walk, as we had decided to join a group of friends to explore this area of Alpine Italy.
Thursday 29/06/2017 Skjaggedal – Trolltunga
Odda District, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk is accessed from the small town of Skjaggedal near Odda, south of Bergen. We reached this destination by hire car, driving from Tyssedal. A fee is payable at the private car park at the start of the walk.
Highlights of the walk include stunning lake views, the iconic “Troll’s Tongue” and high level mountain scenery. Continue reading
Monday 10/07/2017 Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi
Madonna Di-Campiglio, ITALY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
About 1km north of Madonna Di Campiglio, at Passo Campo Carlo, we caught the gondola up to Passo del Groste. This had the advantage of avoiding a lengthy slog up a fairly long and winding path up through the meadows below the mountains. From here we our aim was to walk and scramble the Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi. Continue reading
31/07/2017 – 5/8/2017 Hrafnfjordur – Furufjordur – Hesteyri – Smiojuvik – Latravik – Hafnarnes – Buoir – Hesteyri
Hornstrandir Peninsula, ICELAND
Distance: 91km Total Ascent: 4200m Total Descent: 4200m Time: 40 hours
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Andrew Burns, Sharon Burns, Stefano Cacioppo (Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Tony Fitzpatrick, Simon Marlton, Jenny Woods
This walk was is located in the Hornstandir Peninsula, an isolated area of north western Iceland. We were on a guided walk for this trip which made transportation to and from the end point much easier. The trails were mainly of a good standard but unmarked. Navigation would not present a problem with a map.
The walk took us through areas of dramatic volcanic coastal scenery in an area of Iceland that few tourists get the opportunity to see. We had close encounters with wildlife especially the inquisitive arctic fox, seals, meadows of wildflowers and a multitude of bird life. Continue reading
Saturday 1/07/2017 Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Stavanger, Rogaland County, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk is accessed from Stavanger, a large town in southern Norway. We reached this destination by ferry and then bus from Stavanger which took over an hour each way. It is possible to drive from Stavanger by taking a car ferry to Tau. A fee is payable at the car park at the start of the walk.
Highlights of the walk include stunning fjord views and according to the tourist brochure “the worlds most breathtaking viewing platform” – you just have to share it a multitude of other people. Continue reading
Sunday 25/6/2017 Homlong – Skagefla – Keipen – Geiranger
Geirangerfjord, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
For this walk we based ourselves at the small town of Geiranger at the end of the Geiranger Fjord. We reached this destination from the Hurtigruten coastal ferry. Next day we took a short scenic cruise around Geirangerfjord before being dropped off at Skagehola on the way back to Geiranger. This drop-off enables walkers to walk back to Geiranger as a one way trip.
Highlights of the walk include the stunning fjord with plentiful waterfall views, several historic farm buildings and some awesome high level mountain scenery. Continue reading
Monday 7/08/2017 Landmannalaugar Valley
Fjallabak Nature Reserve, ICELAND
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Greg Burke, Andrew Burns, Sharon Burns, Stefano Cacioppo (Guide), Enrico Chierici (Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Tony Fitzpatrick, Simon Marlton, Danilo Ortelli, Jenny Woods
The Landmannalaugar Valley is a popular area of Iceland for trekking. The most popular walk, a six day trek starts from the campground. This excellent day walk takes in many features of the area and you access three peaks for fabulous views of the dramatic volcanic landscape and painted hills. Continue reading
Monday 24/7/2017 Allt Airdeasaidh Waterfalls
Ross and Cromarty, SCOTLAND
Participants: Caroline Davies, Peter Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
This short scenic walk is located to the south of the main road from Ardessie on Little Loch Broom. This area is on Scotland’s north coast just west of Dundonnell and virtually underneath the 767m high Sail Mhor. Continue reading
Thursday 22/06/2017 Mount Ulriken – Mount Floyen
Bergen, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This popular day walk is easily accessible by bus and gondola from Bergen. It is best to hike from Mt Ulriken as it is considerably higher than Mt Floyen. Another gondola at Mt Floyen allows for a quick and scenic ride back into downtown Bergen. Continue reading