HIGH IN THE DOLOMITES

The Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten; Friulian: Dolomitis) are a section of the Alps. They are located for the most part in the province of Belluno, the rest in the provinces of Bolzano-Bozen and Trento (all in north-eastern Italy). Conventionally they extend from the Adige river in the west to the Piave valley (Pieve di Cadore) in the east.

The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley (Val Sugana). But the Dolomites spread also over the Piave river (Dolomiti d'Oltrepiave) to the east; and far away over the Adige river to the west is the Brenta Group (Western Dolomites); there is also another smaller group called Piccole Dolomiti (Small Dolomites) located between the Provinces of Trento and Vicenza .

During the First World War, the line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces ran through the Dolomites. There are now open-air war museums at Cinque Torri (Five Towers) and Mount Lagazuoi. Many people visit the Dolomites to climb the Vie ferrate, protected paths created during the First World War. A number of long distance footpaths run across the Dolomites, which are called "Alte via" (i.e., high paths).

Such long trails, which are numbered and are served by numerous "Rifugi" (huts). The most renowned are the Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2

Alta Via 1 s a 150 km long high level path which runs through the eastern Dolomites in Italy. Alta Via 2 is 185 km long high level path which runs through the western side. They known as the Dolomite High Routes and passes through some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites.

About 10-15 days are required to complete the full routes. A typical day on the route might involve about seven hours walking, with ascents and descents of about 1,000 metres and can be attempted during the period July to September, when the route should be largely free of snow.

SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA

Snowdonia (Welsh: Eryri) is a region in north Wales and a national park of 838 square miles (2,170 km2) in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.
Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft). In Welsh, the area is named Eryri.
Snowdonia may be divided into four areas:
The northernmost area is the most popular with tourists, and includes (from west to east) Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge; the Snowdon Massif; the Glyderau; and the Carneddau. These last three groups are the highest mountains in Wales, and include all Wales' 3000-foot mountains.
The second area includes peaks such as Moel Siabod, Cnicht, the Moelwynion, and the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The third area includes the Rhinogydd in the west as well as the Arenig and the Migneint (this last being an area of bog), and Rhobell Fawr. This area is not as popular with tourists as the other areas, due to its remoteness.
The southernmost area includes Cadair Idris, the Tarren range, and the Aran group, including Aran Fawddwy, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom south of Snowdon
The other high mountains with their boulder-strewn summits—as well as Tryfan, one of the few mountains in the UK south of Scotland whose ascent needs hands as well as feet. Other favourites are Y Garn , the ridge to Elidir Fawr; Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (west of Snowdon) along the Nantlle Ridge to Mynydd Drws-y-Coed; Moelwyn Mawr (west of Blaenau Ffestiniog); and Pen Llithrig y Wrach north of Capel Curig. Further south are Y Llethr in the Rhinogydd, and Cadair Idris near Dolgellau.
The Park has 1,479 miles (2,380 km) of public footpaths, 164 miles (264 km) of public bridleways, and 46 miles (74 km) of other public rights of way. A large part of the Park is also covered by Right to Roam laws.

ARRAN IN SPRING-TIME (May 2009)

The Isle of Arran (Scots Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, with an area of 167 square miles (433 km2). It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire. In the 2001 census it had a resident population of 5,058.

The island lies in the Firth of Clyde between Ayr and Kintyre. The profile of the north Arran hills as seen from the Ayrshire coast is a well-known sight referred to as the "Sleeping Warrior" due to its resemblance to a resting human figure. The highest of these hills is Goat Fell at 874m (2,866 ft). There are three other Corbetts all in the north east; Caisteal Abhail, Cìr Mhòr and Beinn Tarsuinn. Bheinn Bharrain is the highest peak in the north west at 721 metres (2,370 ft).

The largest valley on the island is Glen Iorsa to the west, whilst narrow Glen Sannox (Gaelic: Gleann Shannaig) and Glen Rosa (Gaelic: Gleann Ròsa) surround Goat Fell, which is to the east of these Glens. The terrain to the south is less mountaineous, although a considerable portion of the interior lies above 350 metres (1,100 ft) and the summit of A' Chruach reaches 512 metres (1,680 ft). There are two other Marilyns in the south, Tighvein and Beinn Bhreac.

The island is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in Miniature"

HOWGILL FELLS (April 2009)

The Howgill Fells are a small group of mountains in Cumbria in northern England, bounded approximately by a triangle drawn between Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Tebay.

The southern half of the Howgill Fells is in the northwest corner of the Yorkshire Dales national park although the northern Howgills are outside the park.

They are separated from the Lake District to the west by the River Lune and in the east by the Dent fault, and are formed from Ordovician and Silurian rocks, rather than the Carboniferous limestone elsewhere in the Yorkshire Dales.

The southern Howgill Fells are a part of the national park outside the county of North Yorkshire, being just over the Cumbrian border.

Due to their position, the Howgill Fells give fine views of both the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Cautley Spout, a waterfall in the south of the area, is considered to be England's highest waterfall, with a drop of about 180 m.

The Howgill Fells include two Marilyns: The Calf (676 m) and Yarlside (639 m), and a number of smaller peaks, including five Hewitts.

MOUNTAINS OF LA PALMA (February 2009)

Isla de La Palma, Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off of the west coast of Africa. The name "Isla de La Palma" means "The Island of Palms," or "Palm Island."

La Palma's geography is a result of the volcanic formation of the island. The highest peaks reach over 2400 m above sea level, the base of the island is located almost 4000 m below sea level.

La Palma is dominated by the Caldera de Taburiente, width of 9 km and a depth of 1.5 km.

From the Caldera de Taburiente to the south runs the ridge Cumbre Nueva. The southern part of La Palma is dominated by the Cumbre Vieja, a volcanic ridge formed by numerous volcanic cones built of lava and scoria.

The Cumbre Vieja is active. But dormant, with the last eruption occurring in 1971 at the Teneguia vent which is located at the southern end of the Cumbre Vieja - Punta de Fuencaliente, (The Point of the Hot Fountain).