Bàrr a’Chuirn

Nothing wrong with mentioning the tribulations and difficulties those who go out and record some of these sites… the non easy ones. We deserve credit for our efforts. The difficulty of access needs also to be mentioned to prevent the less able attempting to visit and getting into trouble or having to turn back. Trouble is some of the best sites are the hardest to reach. Gladman’’s faraway Welsh tops for example. As for TSC who I think does everything by public transport. …Rounds of applause are due. Common denominator for everyone who uploads stuff: we care.

Mrs Doyle comes to mind: "Maybe I like the misery?

And the cups of tea. But.. we went out into the wilds today up Ewden Beck trying to get to Washfold Flat north west of Sheffield and both feel lucky to be back in one piece. I’d wanted to investigate a mound I’d last seen but not approached fourteen years ago - whoosh - and both of us got legs stuck in hudden potential leg breaking voids.. After a three hour trek we headed back to the car, destination tantalising close but unreached. Not going back, however much LIDAR tempts. Luck has been pushed far enough in this instance.

I made the journey three times when fieldwalking back then but didn’t approach this potential site due to the lateness of the hour each time but at 70 I think it’s beyond me now.. not as agile. Just glad to be back home this evening chilling tbh. One for the young uns or those with less regard for personal safety. It’s unforgiving ‘out there’ and I admire your efforts.

And yes, in this instance, drrrrrink. Effing needed it.

Yeah. Rule is: Push as hard as you can while you can. But don't be stupid about it. What can look as an easy mile on the map can be a tortuous battle through dense trees or knee deep bog.....

Needs to be drummed into people… and stressed in fieldnotes. Six hours in that stuff and I was sooo glad to get back to the car. All fluids exhausted and we had lots. I have to accept that I’m different to fifteen years ago. I was going to do something similar on the remotest part of NW Colonsay a fortnight ago where the basic trudge in is over an hour and a half and the goodies indicated on Google Earth are a good distance beyond. Perhaps glad we didn’t. “A man’s got to know his limitations”.

Forestry is my least favourite terrain, I'd rather cross a peat bog. If I'm going to fall over on a walk, it's usually while trying to get through forestry, especially when I'm tired after descending from the hills. I really need to get back out more regularly than I have been, I'm seizing up!

My least favourite is full height heather when you can’t see where your feet are going. A leg went into a void when fieldwalking the Sheffield moors a few years back, hurt but dodged one. I realised that I would’ve been completely hidden if I’d had a leg break and there was no phone reception, put me off solo stuff in that sort of terrain. I’m so glad that I now have someone who’s prepared to come along.. having seen and been impressed by stuff I find she’s even up for a bit of shearing the bracken and brambles. Truly blessed. A lot to report to officialdom and upload here of late. Soon.. I need to get on top of my day job