nr758123
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Silecroft station to Black Combe, down to Bootle station
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Mountain treks near train stations
- Thread starter kilosandlitres
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I like that expression: inexperienced mountaineer
There’s plenty out there, you see them all the time. Jeans, trainers, no map - or even any idea where they are or where they are going. But halfway up a big mountain.
I once climbed Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons by walking from Merthyr Tydfil. It doesn't meet the OP's criterion of being within a mile, though -- Merthyr to Pen y Fan and back would be a very long walk (I went down the other side into Brecon and got the bus back, which made for a shorter and more interesting walk). The Brecon Mountain Railway covers part of the distance, but the timings might not work for using it in both directions.
I don't think anyone has yet mentioned Dalegarth at the end of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway; there are some ascents which start not far from that.
I don't think anyone has yet mentioned Dalegarth at the end of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway; there are some ascents which start not far from that.
kilosandlitres
Member
Some fascinating options there. Thank you all.
I have never climbed a mountain, but am generally fit and do long walks.
I was certainly thinking a trek without climbing equipment and a well established path.
I have never climbed a mountain, but am generally fit and do long walks.
I was certainly thinking a trek without climbing equipment and a well established path.
As if to prove the point...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-50165720
“A 10-year-old boy climbed down a 328ft (100m) ravine to reach his mother who had fallen during a mountain climb.
The family, which also included two girls, aged five and nine, ended up on very steep ground after taking a wrong turn on Ben Cruachan in Oban.”
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
If you're willing to take a bus as well as a train there's plenty of stuff like that in the Lakes. Cat Bells near Keswick is a classic.
Or Skiddaw. The path up is like a motorway!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The Llanberis path up Snowdon is similar, but due to its height it's not really a great novice mountain (despite the cafe on top) because of the potential for poor weather as well as the rather deadly places you can end up if you go wrong.
I have been up Skiddaw three times, never seen a thing - totally clouded out all three times, and two of them were so windy it was hard to walk straight on the top!
It was extremely windy whe I went up, sufficient to blow me over once, but had a great view.
I hate it when that happens. Or vice versa - clear at the start and wet when you get there.
Snowdon was worse. Got to the top planning to have lunch in the cafe and get the train down only to find the cafe had packed up and got the last train down before they cancelled services!
Visibility on the ridge was in single figures and it was so windy I even gave up a crawl from the building to the cairn as i wasn’t sure where the drop was and it didn’t feel safe.
Visibility on the ridge was in single figures and it was so windy I even gave up a crawl from the building to the cairn as i wasn’t sure where the drop was and it didn’t feel safe.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
This is the risk of mountains for the inexperienced - the weather can turn, and if it does you can end up with zero visibility at the click of your fingers. At that point maps and compasses (and knowing how to use them) become very important.
Following a map along a Lake District ridge line we managed to do a 180 round the edge of a summit plateau in cloud. Didn’t feel like we had, and matched the map for fifty yards before an uneasiness lead to much confused staring at the compass! “Really? Eh! How?!”
Absolutely. Or a waterproof GPS guidance system, preferably with routes pre programmed. Plus waterproof outerwear, footwear etc.
Actually our worst one as inexperienced coast to coasters was on Greenup Edge between Borrowdale and Grasmere.
Running out of energy and light, in steady rain, we got clouded in on a featureless peatbog. It was pre GPS and the compasses didn’t work (did before and after, but up there they were clearly wrong and moving). We eventually gave up and got the tents out (peat bogs are very comfortable mattresses!). Can’t explain the compass situation but there were also some weird lights in the night that still give me the willies as a memory!
Running out of energy and light, in steady rain, we got clouded in on a featureless peatbog. It was pre GPS and the compasses didn’t work (did before and after, but up there they were clearly wrong and moving). We eventually gave up and got the tents out (peat bogs are very comfortable mattresses!). Can’t explain the compass situation but there were also some weird lights in the night that still give me the willies as a memory!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
And a map and compass. Tech fails at the most inconvenient time. Best of course is to have both - your map could blow away! (And it's way easier to use GPS in a whiteout than compass based micronav).
You always need to turn the map over in the case at the windiest, wettest, moment!
True. My map of Bridge of Orchy is absolutely wrecked!
Of course, waterproof versions are available.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I need to look at these options more thoroughly one day, I'm actually quite intrigued.
I also vote for the Malvern Hills, easy to get to from Great Malvern station and I had a brilliant time when I went up there. Indeed, there was a trip report too on my Wordpress page, and I really must go back some time. Nice town too, although be warned there is a fair bit of significant uphill walking to get to the town and the hills from the station!
I saw mention of Sugar Loaf somewhere too, not done it properly yet but been through the area many times and it is certainly nice.
I also vote for the Malvern Hills, easy to get to from Great Malvern station and I had a brilliant time when I went up there. Indeed, there was a trip report too on my Wordpress page, and I really must go back some time. Nice town too, although be warned there is a fair bit of significant uphill walking to get to the town and the hills from the station!
I saw mention of Sugar Loaf somewhere too, not done it properly yet but been through the area many times and it is certainly nice.
Ben More very accessible from Crianlarich station as is Stob Binnein, my personal favourite is The Glenfinnan Horseshoe, starting off from the station then passing underneath the famous viaduct.
You can also get to Ben Lomond if you get off at Arrochar and Tarbet and catch the water taxi over Loch Lomond to Rowardennan.
You can also get to Ben Lomond if you get off at Arrochar and Tarbet and catch the water taxi over Loch Lomond to Rowardennan.
You can do all 4 Munros in the Arrochar alps from Arrochar station. But not for the novice.
I was going to suggest that. Black Combe is a hill rather than mountain but the views from on top are superb. Dumfries and Galloway all the way out to Stranraer with the IOM poking its nose in. On a truly clear day the hills/mountains of North Wales can be seen and of course there is a Lake District panorama.
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Mountain Man
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Mcr Warrior
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Generally speaking, a mountain in the UK is defined as a landform (summit) more than 610 metres (2000 feet) above sea level.
That rules out much of Southern England.
Of the various suggestions, I would probably go for Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres / 2277 feet above sea level) from Horton-in-Ribblesdale (6 miles / 10 kms there and back) on the Settle and Carlisle line.
Also, how about Snaefell on the Isle of Man anyone?
That rules out much of Southern England.
Of the various suggestions, I would probably go for Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres / 2277 feet above sea level) from Horton-in-Ribblesdale (6 miles / 10 kms there and back) on the Settle and Carlisle line.
Also, how about Snaefell on the Isle of Man anyone?
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