Worm Gill

Monks Bridge, River Calder

Murky cloud on the high fells so we hiked from Cold Fell to the River Calder and up Worm Gill, the name maybe because of the way the river's bed worms its way in to the fells.
Lovely to hear the calls of the Skylarks aloft almost continuously and their counterpart, the burble of the becks. Terrain reminding me of hikes, compass navigation and bivouacs on Dartmoor: long wide hills covered with marshy grass, reeds with occasional piles of stones; fast-running rivers fed by numerous becks. And the view forward to Samuel, leading, reminded me of a famous photo from the Falklands War. Elsewhere, a sign prominently warned that off-road motorbikes are not welcome on this route.
We walked up and out of this open country, passing a small herd of gorgeous Highland cattle just in time to catch the rat-race of the shift-change out of Sellafield on the moorland road over Cold Fell.

More photos: Cold Fell, Worm Gill & Upper Calder Valley - Lake District National Park

View of the Riviera from Plan de Lion (716 m.)

A satisfying and major linear hike parallel to the France-Italy border between Menton and Vengtimiglia. A long, steep climb up from the beach at Menton-Garavan to the frontier pass at 772 m. altitude on Mont Carpano.

More photos: Mont Carpano, Pointe de Nicioret (772 m.): GR 51-52

Summit elation after a hard hike and scramble up from the River Esk, initially following Spothow Gill uphill. Harter Fell trig point is on an outcrop at 649 m., the true summit is a higher outcrop at 653 m. altitude, which is reached after a tricky scramble.
Great views of Eskdale, Hardknott Pass, its Roman Fort and the central peaks in the spring sunshine but a bitter wind chill.

More photos: Harter Fell summits, Eskdale (653 m.) - Lake District National Park

 Col de Morgiou (198 m.) - Col des Escourtines (183 m.) - Col des Baumettes (210 m.) - Col de Sormiou (181 m.)

Crisp hike in the stunning limestone of the Calanques, the cliffs and inlets that border the Mediterranean outside Marseille. Hiking from bus 23 terminus up a richly forested valley to reach the GR51-GR98 ridge path. Varied hiking on this sharp rock,  partly footpath through the maquis (undergrowth of rosemary and low shrubs), partly gravel track but also sections of three-point scramble on the sharp limestone that’s been bleached and hardened by the sun and rain. Brisk and blustery Mistral wind keeping the air clear for plenty of sun and UV exposure. There was an unusually clear view back over urban Marseille to the snow on Mt. Ventoux (1910 m.), about 105 km to the north-north-west.

More photos: GR51-GR98 : Cols de Morgiou, des Baumettes et de Sormiou - Parc national des Calanques