Tag: Walking

Penkenjoch

First lesson of this day was don’t waste time trying to drive to the top of a lift to save on some cable car money (my idea). The result was a VERY narrow hairpin mountain road with very few barriers and very steep drops (why is it that holding on to the door inside the car in these situations somehow helps the nerves?!). Halfway up this nerve racking road we then got to a barrier that you clearly only get a pass for if you live this high up the mountain. So back down we went, and after some deliberation about options, we boarded the Finkenbergen Almbahnen cable car to its middle station.

Up up and away leaving Finkenberg way down in the distance.

Getting out at the middle station, we set off on path 22b.

The path had intermittent interesting educational boards about the wildlife and the area. There were even a couple of experiments set up to do en-route.

There were also the obligatory cows with bells, which is the perfect finishing touch to any alpine walk!

We then turned uphill and followed path 57, where a spot of lunch and some Evie wiggle time were required

Onwards, we nearly had to leave Tim behind as he was too big for the gateways!

A steep up for a while but then we arrived at the top of the lift on the Penken. What better way to arrive on a hill top than through an amazing adventure playground (as exciting for the big kids as the younger ones!)

Once this amazing course was scaled, we went and enjoyed a drink at the brand new beautiful mountain restaurant, the Granatalm, before having to also have a play on the little kids playground (Evie gave us a pass!). Meet Pepi Bear!

And yes, I did go inside the bear, crawled through the adventure park inside the bear (crawled as it was designed for smaller people) and down the slide. The slide was so fast I shot out the end and was removing wood chips out of my top for the next hour! I expect smaller people would have stopped at the base of the slide…..

Talk about a full in great set up at the top of a lift. Something for everyone.

Before heading down we stopped off at the new chapel, the Granatkapelle at 2,087m. Intriguing from the outside, beautifully simple inside, it is a sight to behold.

It was time to head down the 22a path, as the lifts stopped at 4.45, but we could continue to enjoy these views every step of the way.

We even managed time for one final drink on the balcony of the Almstuberl restaurant to sit an absorb the mountain views after our final walk in the big mountains for this holiday. What a beautiful day it was.

The Hintertux

Woke up to clear blue skies so decided today was the day for the Hintertux walk, one of Tims favourites. The Hintertux is a 19km drive up the road. From there you can either walk up, or do what we did and get a cable car up and walk back down.

Even in early September there are skiers going up for some all year round glacial skiing. There are also some beautiful natural ice caves on / in the glacier which you can tour around (we did this a previous year).

In the past few years we have noticed the glacier is retreating, yet they are still developing their ski stations up here.

It is a downwards only walk when done like this. A mix of small rocky footpaths and wider tracks, but always stunning surroundings.

Oh how I wish I could swim in this! But you are not allowed.

Just before the middle lift station is a nice area with some information boards places to sit and enjoy the view.

A stop for a bite at the amazing ski restaurant at the middle station, with another good play area for kids.

Then descent part two, from the stunning to the pretty. And tricky underfoot.

Evie makes friends with the cows

And you find yourself in a valley with this stunning waterfall

A bit of wriggle time out for Evie, and enjoying the view for us, before the steep and rocky descent down to the bottom.

An easy day from Mayrhofen

A relaxed morning in an about Mayrhofen, meant that we were ready for a short post lunch walk. We decided to walk from the door and crossed over the river and up to the Zimmereben hut, which was closed.

However, it has fabulous views over Mayrhofen on its balcony.

The hut sits at the top of a family friendly Via Ferrata route, although Evie is a little small for Via Ferrata yet!

So without a drink, we headed back down and instead had a naughty treat at the Cafe Kostner in town

Evie very much enjoyed the apple from inside he Apfel Strudel and the banana from inside the split!

She proudly displayed her sitting balance on the cafes dragon, part of a great little playground it had.

From there to Mayrhofen’s mini golf. Three holes in one between us!

Evie was very amused just playing with a putter and keeping score for us!

This meant we all had a great time and could enjoy the cafe afterwards!

Stilluptal – a beautiful valley

If the weather isn’t the best but you still want stunning, this valley is gorgeous and is great for all.

The way up the valley is a toll road, which winds it’s way up from the middle of Mayrhofen to the Stilluptal reservoir. This costs €8, but it would be a very long way up without a car. It’s a pretty drive, but totally stunning when you get there. Glacial waters and steep sided valleys with waterfalls pouring down from the tops.

This view is from the top of the Penken, on the other side of the Mayrhofen valley. It does show its extent and why it feels so amazing when in the Stilluptal valley

This walk is tarmac the whole way and a 2-3 hr round trip depending on the speed you walk. A downside of the tarmac is that if like me you prefer to be off road, it’s not. But it does make it totally accessible to anyone with a buggy/pushchair who still want views and a decent walk.

One of the joys of the mountains for me is hearing the cows with bells. Even better when they are friendly on their stroll down the road, and enjoy a stroke!

In her typical sleepy way Evie misses most of the walk up

We decided to trial her on the back in the sling, as she is getting heavy for front carrying over distance. She seems happy… and falls back to sleep.

The the rain comes, but all is well. Waterproofs for us, BundleBean for her and the rain is unimportant.

We arrive at the Grune-Wand-Hutte, very ready for late lunch.

Evie checks the menu to decide on food

She settles for her first go at baby food – Spaghetti Bolognese – and loved it

The food here was really good, as Austrian hut food generally is. Evie’s own meal doesn’t stop her interest in our food and her joy in routing her hands around in my salad!

Lunch over, time to return back down the hill.

Past more friendly cows

A bit of wriggle time for Evie (and naughty hot chocolate for us) at the next hut down

And then some gorgeous reflections to finish the walk

And then the rain came, luckily almost back at the car…..

Holiday in Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is where Tim used to come for holidays as a child, and where we came on our honeymoon, so it seemed important to bring Evie, almost 5 months old now, here for our first family holiday.

After two weeks of not seeing daddy, Evie was very keen to show him her ability to sit almost independently and her rolling!

She even moved up into the big kids supermarket trolley section

Unfortunately the weather is not so great on day one, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing to do. The clouds were down making it pointless going up high as there would be no views.

There is a nice valley ‘Easy walk’ path that takes you along the river on one side and back through the woods on the other. It meant we stopped at this small church where we have never been before

And saw a sculpture that represented our new family nicely

I spotted a sign that clearly means no old cars or flapping motorbikes allowed

Evie found a big bear to jump in a hitch a lift back into Mayrhofen with!

And then the other thing Mayrhofen has is a nice pool. In the past staying in certain hotels gets you into the outdoor pool for free. But we are in an apartment this time…. and the pool was €10 each! Thankfully Evie really really enjoyed floating around with us, and we enjoyed the crazy slides and bubbles.

And then at the end she fell into one of the deepest sleeps I have ever seen!

Rambling around Regensburg – a UNESCO world heritage site

Our hotel, Hotel Lux, is full of antiquities, including the breakfast bar.

Evie goes European with cucumber to munch on for breakfast this morning

Its a hot day here so back to the room and sunscreen for all before heading out. Grandma also pulls out a present for Evie Bean, a baby rucksack. Still a little small for it yet and not easily combined with the sling, but I think she likes it and it will no doubt go on many adventures with her.

a now familiar walk over the bridge but nice reflections in the river.

After working out our travel plans to get to Passau tomorrow, we went up the old tower for a view of the rooftops.

We continued on into Regensburg old town to walk the streets and enjoy a sit in a cafe where Evie decides the onwards route.

She wants to visit Regensburg cathedral! I never failed to be impressed by cathedrals and this is one magnificent both outside, with its intricate carvings, and inside with its high vaulted ceilings. For a hot day with a baby, it’s also cool within.

From Regensburg cathedral to the banks of the river for a picnic lunch and…. a swim!! Brief but refreshing, this was much enjoyed.

We had booked a boat tour for 3pm. I now wished it had been 4pm so we could have enjoyed the river for longer. But onto the boat it was, with now one very tired and upset Evie, who promptly fell to sleep!

We did a 50 min boat tour, so really just saw the river banks. If I had another day here I think I would have done a longer one as the pictures of the gorge look beautiful, and there is only so long that I can ramble around a town on my feet, even less so on a hot day with Evie on my front. Still, Evie woke in a good mood and was then mesmerised by the ripples on the water from the wake of the boat. This kept her happy for the duration of the journey, as well as making friends with a little German girl, who wasn’t quite sure about the strength of Evie’s grip!

Back into Regensburg for another wonder, we went into the Rathaus (town hall), which had the most amazing acoustics. As I sung a few notes Evie was entranced!

A little more wandering and we came across another church that although a plain building was magnificent on the inside. Apparently there used to be a church for every day of the year here in Regensburg. There certainly are a lot! And then a little bit of Rome.

Back to the hotel where I did a bit of work whilst Grandma took Evie on an adventure across the road to another cafe.

The day wouldn’t end without dinner, which we had in a restaurant just across the road from the hotel, and very scrumptious food it had to (Meier – Ein Lokal). But then (this is a blog about a baby remember), I smelt it before I felt it, but she had already dealt it. Thankfully now just across the road, I left mum to pay and went to clear up the mess. Let’s just say it was a bath for two, and all of both our clothes needed hand washing. Let’s hope they are dry by the morning!

Walla Crag – 27/05/18

One of our favourites and a special place to. We parked in the Keswick streets as always, but because it had taken so long to get out the house, and breakfast seemed a long time in the past, we didn’t get beyond the cafe at the bottom of Walla Crag without first justifying an ice-cream before starting the up!!

The up we went, steady away with the climb. Gorgeous view on yet another gorgeous day.

We headed back down Cat Gill, which as a bit of a rocky scramble path, is no mean feat with a baby strapped to your front in a sling! It’s amazing how much we must look at our feet without realising, which meant being super careful.

A respite from the sun walking back through Great Wood and down to the shores of Derwent Water. Or as it was on this day ‘Costa del Derwent’. Having carried my cossie with us, I enjoyed brief swim to cool off.

Refreshed we headed into Keswick to get me an early birthday present. I needed a bigger rucksack to continue with the Wainwrights!

An evening mooch around Munich

Having flown in earlier day and then that epic walk with our bags to the hotel, we had a little chill before heading out to see the sights of old-town Munich.

We headed to the main centre of Marienplatz, with the Rathaus centred in amongst impressive Cathedral domes and other splendid buildings. Very lovely old centre and worth a visit.

We built up a good appetite so finished the evening with an ever so not German dinner of halal kebab!! But wow was it scrumptious. Called ‘Simbads’ at the end of Schwanthalerstrasse…. just incase you ever want to try it.

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell round – 22/05/18

An early 10am meet (that was still super early for us with Evie still only 7 weeks old) with some of my mums walking group,

the Bampton Amblers, for a walk up Helm Crag…. and a few more if we fancied it.

I was getting better at carrying Bean and a bag, but it was still super hard work doing that initial ascent up to the Bracken Hause saddle. There was a decision to be made. Continue right to do the round, or deviate left to bag Helm Crag.

Left it was, and worth it…. and no I did not climb to the actual rocky summit with a tiny sleeping baby.

Then back down and up onto Gibson Knott and Calf Crag, and we stopped somewhere here for a spot of lunch.

Some gorgeous views and a tiny tarn deserving of a swim (but not this time).

Then for our final ascent up onto Steel Fell. The walk was starting to feel very long, but the views were still fabby.

So that left the long descent back down….. our biggest day out to date, the body knew about it. Evie slept most of the day!

Souther Fell and Bannerdale Crags 19/05/18

On a roll and a bit too cocky.

On a map, not looking too closely, this looked a nice achievable loop. So off we set.

Souther Fell = easy tick

Look at the map more closely once on top of Souter Fell and I realised that there was no direct link footpath. I could see one which looked a lovely steady climb going up to Bannerdale Crags on the other side of the valley, and the ground down the edge of Souter Fell didn’t look too bad, it was dry and a beautiful day….. So I went for it.

As I started walking down it turned out that it really was as steep as all the close contours on the map suggested. Knees were sore so I thought, well why not slide down on my bum (don’t fret, Evie was secure in the sling on the front). And asleep.

Well that’s what we did, bum-sliding interspersed with walking when the terrain was more rocky. And it brought us out into the valley floor, amazingly without Evie waking up. However then another obstacle….. a wide region of heathery grassy lumpy ground to actually get to the path!

Finally to the path, I started tromping up, by this time quite hungry. Evie woke up half way up the ascent so we stopped for a double feed with a view.

It was at this point I realised I’d lost my banana in the bum-sliding descent so had less food than anticipated to fill my now energy depleted body. At least I had refilled my water bottle at the stream as that would otherwise have run out to.

Eating all I had and having fed Evie, I continued onwards and upwards to the summit of Bannerdale Crags. A new one for me; Evie was asleep again!!

Then for the final descent, which was on a path this time but almost as steep and very tough on the knees.

A glorious but tough hill day, with my sore legs I was pleased for once to get back to the car.