The Cloud - Marilyn Number 1303

M2 and M1 concluded their eight days of 'Travelodge Bagging' with a visit to this pleasant spot overlooking the Cheshire plain.

After refreshing ourselves at Rushton Spencer's excellent Knot Inn, we parked just north of Timbersbrook for this easy final circuit, taking the Gritstone Trail path to the summit and returning via the escarpment trods.

The late afternoon views were excellent, if a little hazy - Jodrell Bank, just eight miles away, was only just visible.

Then it was back to Little Italy (in Timperley).

All in all an excellent trip during which we appear to have bagged 5 Travelodges, 27 Marilyns and 1 'sub Marilyn' or HuMP (hill with a HUndred Metre Prominence). I now need to look for a pencil to mark up, and update, Alan Dawson's book.

I'm sure there's more to follow when I've downloaded some photos and the data from my Garmin Gadget.

Bye for now...

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Gun - Marilyn Number 1227

After driving through Midlands rain we found the Staffordshire countryside delightfully bathed in sunshine.

There are plenty of parking spaces on the road around SJ 968 609, from where a ten minute stroll to the north leaves you in the vicinity of Gun's trig point, with fine views towards Shutlingsloe (pictured) and over the countryside of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire, which three counties meet at nearby Three Shire Heads.

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Mynydd Llangorse - Marilyn Number 954

Having parked at SO 160 283 to climb Mynydd Troed we felt unable to shun the opportunity of climbing this little hill as well.

A father and his young daughter romped down the hill towards us as we took a short break on some rocks by the cars. We thought perhaps they thought we were car thieves (such thefts are common in this area), but it turned out that the little girl was in a rush to get to a nearby indoor climbing wall as soon as it opened.

We saw nobody else on the hill as we rose past Harebells and Tormentil, and sadly over lovely turf that had suffered recent damage from trail bikes despite a 'No Bikes' sign at the foot of the hill. Such a shame for those who regularly try to appreciate this otherwise quiet and pretty countryside.

A trig point that we visited appeared to be lower than the pile of stones (pictured) that marks the summit area. As usual, we tramped around a bit to ensure that M2's Marilyn Bagger's 'tick' could be entered in his copy of Alan Dawson's book without any question or doubt.*

By then one of the layers of cloud had either risen or lowered to envelope us for the rest of this pleasant amble as we retraced our route back to the car, and another cuppa.

* I'm writing this having returned home and spotted some messages from another inveterate hill bagger, Mike Knipe, who has pointed out that the list of 'Marilyns', like the list of 'Munros' (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet high) is a dynamic thing, which changes as more accurate surveys are carried out. So Alan Dawson regularly updates his list. Consequently the 'original' numbers used in this series of postings are probably all now wrong, and Raw Head no longer meets the criteria for inclusion in the list. That doesn't of course stop it being a good walk though! Thanks Mike, and I hope you agree that whilst on one hand 'ticking' these lists of hills can become a little compulsive, they do without doubt provide a stimulus for us to visit different hills rather than deepen the grooves in just a few favourites. Certainly the variety afforded by this current trip has been remarkable.

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Mynydd Troed - Marilyn Number 759

There's a good parking space to the south of this hill at SO 160 283. By the time we arrived there the Monday morning rain had stopped and we were able to climb steeply between layers of cloud, one of which (as you can see) nudged the summit of the hill.

There's evidence of lots of pony trekking hereabouts, though we saw nobody engaged in that activity today. The hill was empty.

We made the walk into a pleasant circuit of around an hour by continuing down the hill's northern ramparts for a short while, before turning sharply to the WSW down a path that led to a good bridleway around the bottom of the hill and back to the car.

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Mynydd Carn-y-cefn - Marilyn Number 881

Put 'Nantyglo' in the SatNav and then follow signs to the 'Round Towers' to reach the start of this walk.

We concluded that signposts to Welsh antiquities must be compulsory, whereas there is no requirement for parking facilities or even access to such antiquities. Here, roadside boulders and 'No Vehicles' signs made the parking issue clear, whilst a snarling allocation made the access issue even more transparent.

After parking in a nearby bungalow road, we set off up an unsurfaced lane that soon wended its way through an empty golf course. Sticking obstinately to the lane, which eventually deteriorated into a steep trod up the hill, we continued relentlessly to the 550 metre summit. M2 sat dutifully on the rather uncomfortably eroded trig point, surrounded by views of Welsh valleys under high cloud that had rolled in to announce a change in the weather.

Continuing south east, we rejoined a vague path and descended steeply. The paths are marked better on the map than they are on the ground hereabouts (though they certainly exist), so the GPS came in handy. Thus we negotiated our way to a lane from which we could at least see the ancient Round Towers, but a close inspection proved impossible.

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Fan Gyhirych - Marilyn Number 537

From Fan Nedd's trig point a walk back towards the Cairn brings you to a path that leads down to Bwlch Duwynt. Alternatively you can take a north western short cut down grassy slopes to reach the path, like I did, or you could even employ M2's cross country western approach - but be prepared to keep any companion waiting if you do that!

We'd seen some vehicles on the Land Rover track below Fan Gyhirych and wondered what they were doing. The track itself presents an ugly scar across the pristine hillside, but I'm sure it wasn't built for the paragliding enthusiasts who were using it today, so good luck to them.

On reaching a cairn near Fan Gyhirych's summit, we enjoyed our lunch in the company of a local couple, whilst watching the paragliders trying to make the best of a windless day. A couple took off, and proceeded to plummet like stones to the valley below, under the watchful eyes of chatty crows and defecating red kites (there's a feeding station nearby).

After half an hour at this lovely spot with fine views towards, inter alia, Titterstone Clee Hill, we adjourned for our now traditional (has anyone noticed? probably not) summit photo. It was my turn. This summit had a moat that reminded me of the bad old days at Black Hill!

Luckily, M2's 'Rules for Marilyn Baggers' tome required him to touch the trig point, so his boots also got a dunking.

After that we headed back east taking the least line of resistance, part of which involved a boggy path beside a wall to the north of Fan Nedd. M2 fell behind again; 'he's getting tired' I thought. It turned out that despite not having had to cross a fence he had contrived to rip his hand on some barbed wire. "Have you got a plaster?" he whimpered from above a pool of blood as I sat on a bench enjoying the last dregs of my flask of tea in view of .... Titterstone Clee Hill? That made me feel guilty about telling the Welshman with a can of Carling, with whom I'd had an interesting "where's the pub" "I don't know" encounter a little way up the hill, that my 'lazy companion back there only speaks Gaelic'. Luckily, there were no repercussions, and M2's hand injury was easily repaired.

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Fan Nedd - Marilyn Number 670

Fan Nedd is easily ascended in half an hour or so from point 446, at the top of a hairpin on the minor road between Heol Sennl and Ystradfellte. Whilst the summit, and in particular the cairn to its north, sports fine views, it would be a shame not to extend this outing (as we did) by heading west, in the direction of the summit photo above, to complete a choice of worthy circuits or linear walks.

Those simply wishing for a short stroll should budget about an hour, there and back from SN 923 196.

Incidentally, today we could see far out to sea to our south, and far into Shropshire and mid Wales to our north. I couldn't identify many individual distant hills, but from her perch on Titterstone Clee Hill (and perhaps Brown Clee as well - has she taken up Marilyn bagging?) Sue tells me that today the distinctive shapes of both Pen y Fan and Cadair Idris were clearly visible.

Shouldn't she be at home doing the housework?!

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Fan Fawr - Marilyn Number 514

This hill is easily ascended from the Storey Arms Centre, via an initially boggy path, but enthusiasts could make a meal of it and start from the lay-by at SN 971 222.

Today spring was again in the air and you can even see a cloud inversion (well, slowly dissipating morning mist) behind me in the summit photo.

I expect you've been up here as well, Alan, and I'd be surprised if you haven't managed some of (yes, you will finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief) tomorrow's final instalment of this series of postings.

On our descent from the scenic summit, with its resident pond for 'reflection photos', we paused to admire fine views including Pen y Fan. M2 stopped for a chat with a couple of chaps who'd been to Mera and Island Peaks, and I chatted for a while with a runner who was training for the OMM (a tough mountain orienteering event) which is taking place in the Howgills in a few weeks' time.

After an hour and twenty minutes on the hill we were back at the Storey Arms car park just in time to enjoy Denise's first brew of the day (£1 for a cup or can of anything) together with some complimentary shortbread. She told us all about her 'Storey Arms Refreshments' kiosk, from which she's been making her living for the last 22 years. She's been up Pen y Fan once - "just to see what it was like, since so many people ask that question".

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Pen y Fan - Marilyn Number 260

Pen y Fan, which tops out at an impressive 886 metres, is the highest place in South Wales. It was highly populated today, with all manner of folk, from small children to ancient grannies and muscular army cadets on a training exercise. Cosmopolitan and friendly; it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves on such a glorious day.

We had made our way slowly along the ridge from Waun Rydd, pausing to watch a paraglider soaring past - he finally landed in Cwm Oergwm, from where he proceeded to walk back up the hill.

Frequent chats with other walkers also punctuated our progress.

The crowds thinned once we got onto the flatter but less popular Craig Gwaun Taf ridge, for a final high level stroll before the sharp descent to the lower of the Neuadd reservoirs, which were full today.

A pleasant stroll on good tracks then led back to the car park at SO 027 178, from which point The Red Cow Inn's Wye Valley bitter was mercifully nearby.

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Waun Rydd - Marilyn Number 452

The short drive to the free car park at SO 027 178, past hordes of mountain bikers on a challenge event, set us up for the steep climb past roaring waterfalls to the pleasant paths over Craig y Fan Ddu and Graig Fan Las.

There were lots of people about on this sunny summery day - perfect weather for walking.

On reaching the northern escarpment we headed north east to a small pile of stones that marks the summit of Waun Rydd, with fine views over the Brecon Beacons and in all other directions on this perfectly clear day once the early morning mist had dissipated. Those camping overnight up here must have enjoyed some fine inversions.

We trudged to and fro to a grassy area that looked higher but wasn't. You could easily return to the car park from here, probably taking less than two hours for the return trip. We chose to make a day of it by carrying on along the ridge.

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Bryn Bach Parkrun (not a Marilyn)

Parkruns are a great way of starting an otherwise lazy weekend.

They are not addictive....

Today's 5km Parkrun venue for M1 was planned with M2's Marilyn bagging addiction in mind, as it was en route to several such hills. However, M2's interest in the Parkrun concept lies several octaves below zero, and being unable to handle the idea of a half hour break in the journey whilst M1 parkran, he elected to forgo a walk in favour of a Saturday morning lie in!

He was only just about out of bed when M1 returned at 9.45!

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Rhiw Gwraidd - Marilyn Number 1122

There may be shorter ways up this hill, but after returning from Gwastedyn Hill we left the car in Nant-glas and strolled on to SO 006 654, where there's a perfectly good lay-by for those with a lazier disposition.

At SO 010 645 a signed path leads through the woods. But it doesn't. It takes the unwary Marilyn bagger on a unique jungle experience, almost within sight of a nearby forestry track. We eventually decided that the only way of reaching the security of this track was to retrace our steps to where we'd left it in the first place!

A bit further on we came to a hairpin bend from where we could access a field through undergrowth and over a barbed fence. We should have noted more carefully where we entered the field, as this seemingly minor lapse afforded us another jungle experience, featuring a new species - the Himalayan Bramble - on our return journey.

In the meantime we slogged up a steep field, past glissading sheep, to reach, over more rippingly vicious wire, the stunningly unspectacular summit that nevertheless enjoyed good views of the surrounding countryside.

As always in these circumstances, M2 trudged around the plateau collecting evidence as proof of his conquering of the true summit of this minor hill, before turning tail and glissading like a sheep to his next jungle experience.

Marilyn Bagging - it's not addictive. No!

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Gwastedyn Hill - Marilyn Number 1036

This hill towers above the pleasant town of Rhayader. We accessed it from Nant-glas, where the road through the village has plenty of room for parking.

It's a steep ascent, at this time of year through a towering jungle of spent Willowherb, Foxgloves and Bracken, with red kites poised to make off with unwary mammalian visitors.

To the north west of the main summit, overlooking Rhayader, is a large cairn commemorating the queen's jubilee, inscribed in English in 1977 and in Welsh for more recent landmarks. A large fire pot stands nearby, used as a beacon.

Returning down a narrow lane to Nant-glas, we met a car - containing the owners of a smart house above which our path had passed. "We need more walkers around here", they commented whilst chatting to us. They were English.

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Garreg-hir - Marilyn Number 1025

A narrow lane off the A470 leads to a Nature Reserve (Warchodfa Natur) by Llyn Mawr. A track between Llyn Mawr and Llyn Du took us gently to this pleasant summit.

We tried to make it into a circular walk, but the footpath to the north west of Llyn Mawr had been blocked with barbed wire, so it wasn't worth the hassle.

A pleasant excursion though, despite the nearby wind farm. (At least all the blades were turning - a rare sight indeed!)

En route, we'd enjoyed coffee and cake in the café at Llanbrynmair. Highly recommended, with toys supplied by www.timberkits.com, and a unique rabbit village.

Thanks, as ever, for your comments. They are much appreciated even though some may not be read until I get home as I allowed the minuscule Blackberry mailbox to briefly overflow.

Alan, I'm glad we found a hill you'd been up, even if it was foreign. Today's are true collectors items - you won't have been there!

Nick - M2 says you must have a good memory, and that 'faded' look pulls so many Louises that he's confused as to which is which (or should that be 'witch is who'?).

JJ - your knees are in no worse state than is average for your advanced yearage! We all have bad knees! And are you sure it wasn't a case of beer that you won, you surely wouldn't have run that far up a huge mountain for just a few bottles of wine?

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Holyhead Mountain - Marilyn Number 1487

At 2220 metres this would be quite a Mountain!

The nice man in the tea shop at Holyhead Country Park pointed us in an anticlockwise direction for what turned out to be a short stroll.
We headed along a good path above the north coast, past a strange artefact and on towards North Stack. From this north western point the mesmerising flashing light from South Stack's lighthouse held our attention for a while.

A left turn here took us neatly up to the fine viewpoint despite its modest stature. From the Isle of Man to much of Snowdonia. A choice of paths guaranteed an easy descent brought us quickly back to the Park.

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Mynydd Bodafon (formerly Yr Arwydd) - Marilyn Number 1525

A short way up the road from St Michael's Church in Brynrefail (worth a visit), a track to the right and a path to the left lead quickly to this modest 178 metre summit.

Modest it may be, but this is the highest point on the main island of Anglesey.

We left a lone radio enthusiast to caress his aerial, and headed back on a circular route under the watchful eyes of circling buzzards, past Red Campion, Herb Robert and fading Brambles.

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Moel Eilio - Marilyn Number 536

An easy 4km ridge leads from Moel Cynghorion to Moel Eilio. Today we met various folk who had come over Moel Eilio from Llanberis. First, two fell runners, 'training' for the coming winter's ski mountaineering - they were having a bit of a problem running uphill but put on a good show for us. Then a couple of lone but chatty walkers, and on the summit, a group of backpackers with a summitmountainguides.co.uk guide. They were enjoying their training and were happy to take the above photo for us in the spacious summit windbreak.

We enjoyed fine views down to Caernarfon and Anglesey from this lofty perch on the far western ramparts of the Snowdon massif. Snowdon was still in cloud, and we were the first visitors of the day to Moel Eilio to enjoy a clear view as the cloud lifted from the summit just before we arrived.

We retraced our steps for a while, past a disappointed Raven, keeping to a contouring path around the base of Foel Goch, before reaching three chatty mountain bikers at the 467 metre col that links Snowdon Ranger with Llanberis.

Everyone we met today was chatty. Perhaps the bright sun, clear air, and lack of wind made it that sort of day. That's great, even if it does result in a mountain guide nagging for a chance to guide us up Monte Viso!

The circuit, including the ascent of Moel Cynghorion, made for an excellent half day excursion from Snowdon Ranger, where cash is needed for the Pay and Display car park.

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Moel Cynghorion - Marilyn Number 644

The gentle ascent up the Snowdon Ranger path to the col above Llyn Ffynnon y-gwas was a pleasure on this sunny morning. Except perhaps for the blinding sunshine that was dispersing the remnants of low mist.

It was nearly a good day for Brocken spectres, but sadly none came our way.

With Snowdon cloaked in cloud it seemed more than reasonable to head steeply north west, up to the amorphous summit of Moel Cynghorion.

M2 tramped around the grassy plateau for some time to satisfy his conscience about knowing that he had gone to the true summit.

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Foel Fenlli - Marilyn Number 969

About half a kilometre to the south east of the Pay & Display car park at Bwlch Penbarras lies the hill fort of Foel Fenlli, site of a 2000 year old village. M2 romped up the direct route and was long gone by the time I arrived, some 15 minutes after we'd both set off. Hence the 'arms length' photo, in which the pile of stones that marks the summit can just be seen by my left shoulder.

Another sunny summit in the company of runners, walkers and curious bright white sheep!

Not the hardest of walks.

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Moel Famau - Marilyn Number 866

From Bwlch Penbarras it was an easy stroll along a wide track, past faded Gorse and Bell Heather, in the company of dog walkers, as well as hikers and runners, to Queen Victoria's Jubilee Tower that spreadeagles itself across Offa's Dyke on the summit of Moel Famau.

There were views far and wide, though dark grey clouds limited what might have been visible in Snowdonia, some 35 miles away.

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