Archive

2017

LD Staff Head for Secret Test Location

Last weekend pretty much the whole staff team from LD headed into the depths of the beautiful Northumberland landscape for some gear testing and “team bonding”! Not a bad spot for the night Many thanks here, to all at Whitley Bay Explorer Scouts, who have maintained the fantastic location above for many years and who agreed to let us use it and also the folks at Prendwick Farm whose land it is on That’s most of the climb done! Loaded up and probably carrying too much Northumberland at its best!... Read More

Rum At Last!

Fine Weather over Rum as we head back to the mainland With two planned trips to Rum abandoned for various reasons over the last couple of years we decided that despite the forecast for strong winds, snow and lightening, to throw caution to the wind and head to the Isle of Rum anyway, accepting the fact that our plans to walk the main ridge might have to be modified. So Sunday afternoon we headed off after work to spend a night at the Independent Hostel in Glencoe before continuing to... Read More

Cheviot and Hedgehope

Wim and Peter dodge the bad weather on Chevoit   The Cheviots are a funny place. ​ Amidst the bogs and the long-backed, muscular undulations that the range compromise, Cheviot looms henge-like and wise. Whilst Hedgehope angularity perches to its flanks, seemingly shifty and distrustful. The geographical equivalent of Dumbledore and Snape. ​ Much like their literary counterparts, Cheviot often promises so much, only to have its esteemed reputation needlessly and maliciously cut short, whilst its true significance is posthumously renovated with retrospective grandeur and wisdom. In this scenario, think... Read More

Nigel Cook’s 50th Year Challenge

Nigel Cook, friend of one of our directors Roddy, has set himself a 50th Year challenge to raise money for the very worthy cause of Willow Burn Hospice in Co. Durham. Here’s how he is getting on. Hills, Hills, Hills and More Bloody Hills The last couple of weeks have had a lot of ups and downs, all in the name of this 2017 challenge. When many people had a relaxing time over Easter, myself and Victoria booked a cottage in Ambleside and set about climbing as many Wainwright peaks... Read More

The Vallée Blanche (What can you get for 62€?)

John (one of our Ski Techs) and 3 friends headed out to the French Alps for a mixed week of touring and piste skiing, as you will see a perfect day skiing The Vallée Blanche was very much their highlight. Classic shot of the Midi and the ridge that gets onto the Col du Midi With friends still confined to school holidays and having been unable to find common time at Easter for our usual hut to hut ski tour, Feb half term was the only option for the four... Read More

A Scandinavian Saga (Part 3 of the Trilogy)

Lillehammer More than a place to hide from the mob… Jon from our web team rounds off our Scandi Saga Trilogy with his end of season snowboard trip to Lillehammer in Norway. Jon’s love of Scandinavia and in particular Norway stems from his youth when he spent many school and family ski holidays in the lovely Norwegian ski resort of Voss. Now a fully converted snowboarder, although he still skis pretty well, and having travelled the world and lived in New Zealand for some years he has re-established his connection... Read More

A Scandinavian Saga (Part 2 of the Trilogy)

Part 2 of our Scandinavian Saga has John and Val heading off for their third trip to Beitostølen in Norway. Three years ago now, in search of a different experience and the possibility of some gentle uncrowded slopes for my wife Val, who by her own admission is a competent but cautious skier we stumbled upon the Norwegian resort of Beitostølen, tucked away on the edge of the Jotunheimen National Park. Beitostølen’s unique appeal and wonderfully laid-back atmosphere stem largely from the fact that it remains very much a family run resort.... Read More

A Scandinavian Saga (Part 1 of the Trilogy)

We’ve all gone a bit Scandi mad at LD Mountain Centre this winter with three of our staff heading off to different parts of Scandinavia for their winter adventures. In part one of this trilogy we hear from Sophie who with her fella set off in mid January set off on  a 6000 mile road trip visiting six countries over three weeks. Sophie in Lofoten Our mammoth road trip started with an overnight DFDS ferry ride to Ijmuiden from North Sheilds harbour. The first day was a grueling 600 mile... Read More

Jon’s Squash and Mushroom Cous Cous Risotto

  If you read our previous blog post regarding the upcoming article in The Great Outdoors magazine about LD Mountain Centre you will remember that Jon treated David Lintern and myself to a great lunch at Haughtongreen Bothy during our walk along the Roman Wall and Wark Forest. So here’s Jon’s recipe. Ingredients 350g Shiitakes ( brown cap will do) 2 small red onions A bunch of thyme 400g of diced squash 200g giant cous cous 4 cloves of garlic 150g blue cheese 1.5 litre veg stock Salt & Pepper... Read More