Madeira, The Mountains

The Summit Of Pico Grande

Pico Grande at 1654 metres/5426 ft above sea level is not the highest peak on Madeira but I think it’s the one that gives the most panoramic view of the mountain ridges and best view of Curral das Freiras, the village nestled in the valley below. The summit is reached by pulling yourself up on a chain fixed to the sloping east side of the mountain top.

The link below is to a copyright photograph which cannot be reproduced but it’s a stunning view of the peak shown on the top left shrouded in cloud and the village below. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilumb/158323007/

Every year four friends and myself walk a long distance national trail or a part of one depending on the distance involved. Last year we did the northern half of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, in fact that’s not strictly true I ended up in hospital with AUR (acute urinary retention) so my walking was cancelled. In May this year we started at the village of Broad Haven near Little Haven and walked the 110 miles to Amroth, the end of the coastal path.

El Comino Del Ray – The King’s Little Pathway

I love mountain walking and the high views that come with it. I have climbed a lot of the high mountains in the UK, Southern Ireland and the Mediterranean.  This is one walk I would have had to give extreme consideration to in my peak days, and even then I doubt if I would have had the nerve to tackle it, I certainly wouldn’t attempt it now.

A Walk On The Wild Side

The Pennine Way was the inspiration, in 1935, of Tom Stephenson, the future secretary of the Ramblers Association. Despite many difficulties and objections Parliament finally approved the recommendation of the National Parks Commission and in 1965, 30 years later, Britains first National Trail was opened on the 24th April.

The Way, a distance of 270 miles, runs from Edale in Derbyshire, in the south, to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, in the north. It is one of the best known and popular long distance footpaths in Britain, with an estimated 160,000 people, many from overseas, attempting it every year. It is not known how many complete it, but it is thought that 70% give up after the first two days, the reasons will be mentioned later.

Every year for the past 10 years, 5 friends and myself have taken on a least one long distance walk or National Trail. In this time we have completed The Coast to Coast, The West Highland Way, The Southern Upland Way (Scotland’s Coast to Coast), The Rob Roy Way, Offa’s Dyke, The Arran Coastal Way and two thirds of the Pennine Way.

During the first week of the Southern Upland Way in 2004, we met up with Frank, a Canadian guy who is a retired teacher and although born in Scotland emigrated to Canada with his family at an early age. The following year he flew over and joined us on week two of the walk and has continued to join us every year since.

One of my favourite pastimes is mountain walking and long distance trail walking. Sometimes with friends or family, my wife and I have climbed most of the high mountains in the UK, Southern Ireland and some European countries such as Sardinia, La Gomera, La Palma, Majorca, Cyprus, Crete and Madeira. Even though she suffers from vertigo she still tackles them and then complains afterwards.