UKC

I have a friend visiting from overseas in a month. I will be taking him winter climbing, but I also want to take him on several classic winter mountain walks. I don't know the UK very well as I haven't lived here long, so can everyone please recommend some classics in Scotland, the Lakes and Wales? Good long days but no harder than grade I - ideally less.

He is here for a month, so the more the better.

Thanks

In reply to iamaclimber:

Gawds, where to start?

I guess some obvious classics would be:

Snowdon Horseshow
Southern Carnedds traverse
Helvellyn via the edges
Ben Nevis via the CMD arete
Ring of Steall
Carn Toul - Braeriach Traverse (inc a night at Corrour Bothy)
Beinn Alligin incl the Horns
Beinn Eighe generally
Buachaille Etive Mor

In reply to iamaclimber:
I'm not sure of the difference between a classic mountain walk and a classic winter mountain walk - if it's good in summer it'll be good in winter too. That said of course, scrambles tend to become winter climbs so if you're wanting to tread carefully there then some notes on how routes can vary with the seasons would be useful. Unfortunately most guidebooks don't do this.

A good place to start would be the UKHillwalking Route Cards, which do mention winter-specific info where relevant. See main page here: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/find.php

Off the top of my head and in no particular order here are some specific recommendations for great long days no harder than I (many are easier)...

Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, Helvellyn, Lakes: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=71

Scafell range via Coridoor Route, Lakes: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=78

Tarmachan ridge, southern highlands: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=81

Bidean nam Bian, glen coe: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=100

Ben Nevis via CMD Arete: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=47

Beinn Alligin traverse, Torridon: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=591

Ben Macdui from Linn of Dee, Cairngorms: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=88

Snowdon Horseshoe, Wales: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=70

Southern Carneddau, Wales: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=137

Enjoy...

In reply to Ramblin dave:

Good set of suggestions but the traverse of Stob Coire an Lochain (maybe via the zig zags) - Bidean nam Bian - Stob Coire nam Beith wd be a better day than the tourist route up the Buchaille.

And how about Stob Garbh - Meall na Buiridh traverse & back down the military road.
And the full Cruachan horseshoe (or even horseshow)

The Saddle and Sgurr na Forcan. Or anyhting else within 10km of the Cluanie Inn.

Suilven!

So many hill days, so little time....

In reply to iamaclimber:

How much are you able/willing/planning on moving about? Public transport? Car? Camper van? Camping? Hostels? Depending on your options, it's difficult to suggest things in case they're not possible in terms of your ability to move around easily, certainly more so the further north you go...

Given transport and willingness to travel though:

Glencoe - Traverse of Buachaille Etive Mor, and a day in Lost Valley and Bidian nam Bian are both great outings.
Multiple options for great days out in the Grey Corries and Mamores ranges.
Base yourself in Glen Shiel for a few days, loads of great walks up that way.
North Skye and the Trotternish hills (less likely to get winter conditions mind you)
Applecross peninsula with walks on Beinn Bhan and the Glenc arron hills.
Torridon (Beinn Damph, Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin)

Make plans, look at maps, keep an eye on the SAIS site, keep an eye on here for what's happening in the hills, but above all, wait until nearer the time, see what conditions are doing, check the forecast (again) and only then make a decision!!!

Also, check out www.walkhighlands.co.uk for some ideas and inspiration

Good luck, a month of adventures sounds like good times on their way.

Cheers,
Gordon

In reply to iamaclimber:

If winter ever makes a show down south then pen y Fan in the brecon beacons can be stunning on a clear winters day, though only short unless you extend your walk to take in more summits along the range.

One that nobody else has mentioned in N.Wales is Tryfan, definately not to be missed in any conditions, Up the north ridge i think gets I/II, but to be honest you can make it as easy or as dificult as you like by choice of line, and there isnt anywhere where a compotent scrambler would want a rope. continue up Briskly ridge onto the glyders for an even fuller day out.

everything the other posters have mentioned are worthwhile of course

In reply to iamaclimber:

Sharp Edge, Halls Fell Traverse on Blencathra shouldn't be missed in winter either gets I/II but fairly easy and quick but a fantastic setting.

My favourite winter walks in the Lakes apart from the ones mentioned above and also were you probably won't see many other people either and all less than grade I are:

Casgate Gill Round (Whiteside round to Grasmoor from the top end of Crummock Water)
Coledale Beck Round (Causey Pike round to Grisedale pike from Braithwaite)

Oh Bowfell via the Climbers Traverse and Pillar via the Shamrock Traverse are also fantastic in winter and not quite grade I.

Plenty to go at.

In reply to iamaclimber:

Some great ideas there, thanks all

In reply to Wesley Orvis:




Do either of these go past Force Crag mine?

In reply to mockerkin:

Yes you can get to Force Crag Mine easily from either, both routes pass over Coledale Hause and you just need to drop down a few hundred metres to the east towards Braithwaite.

In reply to iamaclimber:

Pretty much anything on os map number 25

In reply to Wesley Orvis:




Typo there, Wes?

Gasgale Gill. Worth a look for it's own sake. Unique in the Lakes, i would say, and a good way to get onto/off those hills (from Coledale Hause).