BIMBLING ABOUT 1998

Three Peaks 98
We decided to do this back in May 1998 but instead of the boring old way (i.e. trying to do it in 20-24 hours etc.) we thought it would be much more fun to do it as slowly as possible and sample a few alehouses along the way. Mmmm? We planned the trip. I took my camera. We got some dull people to come along. We drank beer. Oh and climbed a few mountains. Great way to spend a weekend! Below is an account of our planning (if you can call it that).

Firstly, we arranged accommodation at or as near as possible to the mountains. You need to decide when you are going and book in somewhere before anything else. Once you've paid you have to go! Also a hot shower after a nice walk is essential. We stayed at the following hostels but I wouldn't recommend any of them! Our advice is look for some pubs.

Hostels & Comments:
Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, Fort William, Inverness, DH33 6ST
Tel: 01397 702336 Fax: 01286 704670

Arrived at 10.30am after an overnight drive and they said they couldn't allow us into our rooms as they weren't ready yet? When I asked what time I was told 1.30pm! Hostel was average, the dorms were crowded but the showers were excellent (and not crowded either), breakfast was a waste of time (stopped serving 9.00am) check-out was 9.30am (which seemed strange seeing as we weren't allowed in until 1.30pm?) Cost was £11.75 plus £1 for daily membership of SYHA. Only good point was that it was a good place to start the walk. Advice - find a nice pub to stay and drive to the hostel to start the climb.

Eskdale Youth Hostel, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria, CA19 1TH
Tel: Don't bother 'cos there's no-one to answer the phone!

"Gulag 17" was nice and comfy with a good drying room, good setting, although miles from Wasdale Head but it closed from 10.00am to 5.00pm meaning we couldn't have a shower after climbing! The dorm we had was clean and comfortable but the doors shut and were locked at 11.00pm! Not a problem in the middle of nowhere but the pub down the road was open all night!!! Cost £9.15 but breakfast was £3.10 on top. Breakfast was quite good but the fact the hostel shut ruined any good points. We thought of climbing through an open window via a shimmied drainpipe but Sue told us not to. Advice - book a pub instead, there's quite a few nearer to Scarfell Pike, Stanton Bridge has a pub and campsite, Wasdale Head has the same. Ambleside looked very nice but we didn't manage it this time round.

We'd all recommend "The Woolpack Inn" at Boot which has bunkhouse accommodation and great food with friendly staff. Tel: 019467 23230

Llanberis Youth Hostel, Llwyn Celyn, Llanberis, Caernarfon, LL55 4SR

North Wales, always traditionally hospitable to us southerners was as we expected, poor lad had been up all day and night and didn't really want to check us in. 11.30pm and surprise surprise we were locked in again! Price £9.15. Bottles of bud in hand we had only a plague of gnats and some overworked spiders for company as we retired for the soberest night since records began. Breakfast wasn't included so we rose early and just left. We had a lovely big greasy Joe's in town - the full works plus chips for £3.90, tea with disinfectant to wash it down. Can't remember the name of the cafe but again service with a snarl, as we'd come to expect when travelling round UK. (The Woolpack Inn excluded) Advice - find a nice pub. 

Secondly, when to go and what to take?

We decided on the Whitsun bank holiday w/e because last year we did a bike ride over Easter and it snowed for 3 days out of 4 and when it wasn't snowing it was raining. The weather is important both for enjoyment of the scenery and also so as not to freeze your nads off! We didn't see the point of worrying too much though because once you decide to go... you just go anyway. If we did it again I think we'd go in mid summer to try and get some good photos, otherwise go in mid winter when it's snowing.

We took as little as possible because 4 of us were stuffed into Sian's untaxed VW Golf. We found that water bottles full of "Isotar" for the walk really helped with dehydration (especially after a beer or 6 the night before). The most important items after your clothing is to have OS maps and a compass. We all had cameras, small rucksack, waterproofs and fleecies, usual stuff really.

Boots are a good idea, if only 'cos 999 and the BBC would say you weren't properly equipped if they had to rescue you and you'd be embarrassed on national TV. There were 5 boys doing the walk and we had 2 girls (shopping, drinking and driving - not in that order) who were our support. It's a good idea to have someone in the pub, I mean on the ground, just in case you are late, lost etc. Ben Nevis is a big mountain and so is Scotland, which if you get lost you'll have months to wander round, so don't be silly. Read up and take advice before you go, and always have at least 3 of you. Never walk alone... (don't worry there's no audio link to Liverpool).

Thirdly, as for driving, use "Auto route" and a road atlas and you should be fine. 

Petrol is a consideration because the distances covered are quite big. It took us 11 hours to drive to Fort William from S. Wales. We drove up overnight to avoid traffic or road works, only problem is you're tired before you start but so what. We were lucky 'cos Sian had a brand new (well P reg) VW Golf, 1.9TDi, Purple! delivered that day so we gave it a test drive. A change of drivers is essential and so check you are all insured to drive the vehicle you take. Check oil and water of course, but also remember tyres and air pressure 'cos you'll be loaded up with kit and bodies. It's also a good idea to get your hair cut before you go at J'S Hair Salon... what? 

All expedition members had "Hair by J'S" 
(Probably not a great advertisement judging by the mess on most of us!)

Contact Sian at J'S salon, Ystrad Mynach, Tel: 01443 812493

Other useful addresses include:

Pen-Y-Pass Youth Hostel, Nant Gwynant, LL55 4NY. Tel: 01286 870428
Country Walking magazine, June 1999
Rough Guide - Britain / Wales 2000? Lots of good B+B addresses although they do seem to favour gay pubs?

Walking
Some idiot had the silly idea of doing the 3 Peaks, but it's much more fun done the alternative way with a few beers and a scenic route or two.

It's amazing how physical exercise can interfere with your drinking patterns. We drove up to Scotland from Wales on Thursday night and after half hour's doze began our first walk about 2.00pm Fri afternoon.

Ben Nevis lies within Glen Nevis, just two miles or so up the road from Fort William. The path we took was the normal "tourist route" from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, where we stayed. This is classed as the most practical short route, and involves a steep climb from the Youth Hostel, rather than the longer but shallower starting point from the path that starts behind the distillery on the A82 by Achintree. The path is very straight and safe if somewhat boring. Ben Nevis is 1344m (4409ft) high, and involves 1325m (4347ft) of climbing from the Hostel which is 30m above sea level. The route difficulty is regarded as intermediate to strenuous and the distance from the start to the summit is approximately 4.75 miles (7.6km).

Snow remains on the top of Ben Nevis well into the summer making it particularly hazardous. In low visibility conditions it is wise to use a map and compass. I would suggest that you do so because you will need them if the weather closes in as it did with us. Near the summit we found two paths, one covered in snow and therefore had to take a bearing which then lead us up to the top. The walk was OK, a bit steep to begin, but the main problem we had was that visibility was down to a few metres and so we lacked "a target to aim for" (thanks Alun) and also photo opportunities were nil! Sorry visitors to the sight looking for good pictures of Ben Nevis.

Scarfell Pike involves only 913m (2995ft) of climbing, and is the smallest of the three mountains on the challenge at 977m (3206ft). Past experience from other walkers suggests that the best route to choose is the one starting from the National Trust Camp site at Wasdale Head. We all felt starting out at Wasdale Head was best because there was a nice pint of "Scarfell Pike" real ale 3.6% vol. waiting for us on the way down. I've heard that it's not very touristy but there were lots of people there when we went. Scarfell Pike was lovely until we came to the steep gully near the ridge. The boulders near the top and the rocky path are a real pain in the arse. The hostel at Boot is quite a way from Wasdale Head and so not at all suitable, however the pub makes up for it.

Snowdon is definitely the best mountain (perhaps because it's Welsh?) Warren and Andy had climbed it several times before and so decided on the traverse over Crib Goch that starts from Pen-Y-Pass. Of the other 2 routes, the Llanberis Path is the flattest but the longest, while the Miners' path is relatively flat until the later, short, sharp, steeper sections are reached. The total ascent from the Pen-Y-Pass starting point is 725m (2381ft) with the summit standing at 1085m (3560ft). The terrain consists of a rocky path and craggy corries with a very steep "climb" if you take the path we did. Crib Goch is a sharp arête, known to many as the knife-edge, and can be a bit dangerous especially for those with a fear of heights. We managed "the Crib" alright but our fears were probably helped by the fact that the mist came down and obscured our views down the mountain. The distance to the summit from Pen-Y-Pass is approximately 4 miles (6.4km). We returned down the railway track, and cheated I suppose by jumping on "Ifor the Engine", but after our little adventure we were happy to get back to the relative safety of the pub.

Beers
It all began Thursday night with a short drive to Scotland...

Friday afternoon, while the boys were battling with the elements, the girls found time to indulge in their favourite pastimes. They started with an orgy of shopping and chocolate, followed by an all-day binge on Scottish and Newcastle, Sue being partial to a wee dram or 12 also decided to drink her way through as many vats of malt as she could. Thanks to Tobermory (whoever he was?) she wasn't too well on Saturday.

"Big Ben" over, the taxi driver (Alba Radio Taxis Tel: 01397 701112) gave us a quick rainy tour of Fort William's pubs and clubs before dropping us to meet the now "impossible to talk to" girls who were our support team and drivers! "The Munro" pub or "Fort William" pub, (can't remember) proved very popular with the younger crowd but was very friendly with excellent jukebox... Stereophonics, Manics, Catatonia and other famous Scottish bands... eh?

A swift half dozen got us nice and happy until we discovered the curry-house was shut at 10.30pm, but seeing as the pubs were open until 1.00am there was no contest really. Liquid supper all round.

Went downstairs to the Marleybone? pub but only got a couple in before stop tap. Then the taxi driver took us to his very special friend who owns a garage filled with tuna rolls, pies, pasties and assorted condiments - heaven. Especially for the taxi driver as he didn't have curry and vomit stains to clean up the next day. Bed.

After a quick look around Fort William again (in the rain) we decided to drive to Oban. Still don't know why?

A "slight" detour to say the least, but a lovely place. After finding there were shops here the 2 girls got withdrawal symptoms and had to go looking for shoes and things... women eh!

We all met up by accident in the The Oban Inn which proves great minds think alike. We had a couple of pints of 70 shillings to wash down the fish and chips and then felt totally refreshed after our "Big Ben" ordeal yesterday and ready for another session. 

"What about the other two!" Dave cried. "I haven't drunk this one yet" moaned Jim. "Not the Guinness, the mountains, remember?" I reminded the boys why we came away. 

Lovely pub. So nice it would have been great to have stayed in Oban and had a couple. There's certainly no shortage of pubs here - that's one thing for sure.

A long drive later we were in Cumbria. We checked into the YH and "Hitler" told us the bad news. "You must be in your bed by 11.00pm or you will be shot!" Not his fault I suppose. Down to The Woolpack Inn for a swift pint of Theakstons and the only food they had left - fish and chips! I swam to the bar and got a round of cod in for everyone and Warren bought the beers. After much soul searching by Andy he finally let us let him buy lots of bottles to take back to the cell; a rather comfy dorm by the way, so we didn't have to use the drainpipe entrance. Talked crap and told stories until 1.00am...

Climbed Scarfell Pike via Wasdale Head, Sue decided to climb as well and did very well, reaching the top well before Jim, whose money bags must have weighed him down I guess? Had a pint of "Scarfell ale" in the pub at Wasdale Head, next to the outdoor gear shop, then back to the "Woolpack" for lovely sausage + chips. Decided to drive to N. Wales even though the beer was very friendly in Cumbria. We all climbed Snowdon on Sunday and had a celebratory meal of curry, chilli, pie, chips, mexican things that I couldn't pronounce and beer in the hotel at the bottom of Pen-Y-Pass. Lovely.

In 1998, over the Easter holidays I decided to cycle the length of Wales for charity. After planning a route, booking the lovely old Youth Hostel at Llangollen, having Sue contact the Rhondda Leader to arrange a photo shoot with Sue's cousin Jane (who happens to be a volunteer with Rhondda Animal Aid) and one of the doggies, making sure my bike was OK, buying food for the trip and booking a night in a nice little B+B in Prestatyn I then phoned Mark to ask if he was coming too. "Yes", he said "Can I bring a friend?" We drove to N. Wales and had a couple of beers in town, followed by a dodgy kebab and burger. Next morning, after a lovely breakfast we set out. Bloody freezing it was! Me with my woolies, waterproofs and helmet, and Mark with his running shorts and threadbare t-shirt!

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