So this was our first “proper” trip away post-lockdown. Whereas the Peaks had us staying in half a dozen different locations, at Sheringham we were back enjoying the hospitality of the YHA. There were still a few restrictions, so no self catering kitchen and masks in the corridors, but we were back in bunk beds and there were pubs just a short stroll away. Just like old times.
Saturday had us split into groups with Karl jogging to Cromer, well ahead of the walking group lead by Cressida. Their route was out along the coast to Cromer, returning inland via the Beeston Bump. The Bump has a bit of history going on, having been home to a WWII listening station - but now only the hexagonal foundation remains. The Bump is also said to be the home of the legendary Black Shuck – a hellish hound with blazing red eyes, a portent of death for any unfortunate witness. Apparently someone once told this tale to a certain Arthur Conan Doyle when he was staying at the nearby Links Hotel in West Runton,
At the same time Dave led a small band of cyclists on a 29 mile café crawl of Norfolk. Cake at Cley Marshes, then lunch on the beach before cycling into Holt for a fancy ice cream. This just about sustained us for the final ascent before free-wheeling back down the hill into Sheringham.
Sunday Ian led us on a walk through the Pretty Corner woods to Sheringham Park, with a chance for a bit of train spotting on our lunch break at Weybourne Station. This is the North Norfolk Railway, so it was no surprise to see George steaming past while we were eating our sarnis.
It was pretty much the perfect weekend: good pubs, good walks, good company, we even managed to dodge the showers that seemed to hit the rest of East Anglia.
Ali
A History of Peak Bagging
Just recently I pondered out loud about whether I would ever climb Snowdon again, now that the summit is so perpetually busy. I think I had just read about someone having to queue for twenty minutes just to touch the summit cairn. Yet lovely peaks nearby were quiet. What has caused this incredible rise to celebrity status?
I guess everyone in this group has something of an appreciation for summit achievements. It’s often the highlight of a walk, from a grassy bump to a craggy hill top. But do you feel the urge to bag?
Dave P is an impressive 202 fells through the 214 Wainwrights, but only started ticking them off about 11 years ago. Is that when ticking became a thing? It made me wonder when all this started.
It’s probably no surprise that the first list was drawn up by a man, and he was British. Sir Hugh Munro drew up the first list of Munros (Scottish peaks over 3000ft) in 1891, but famously never completed them all. The first Munroist was the Rev Robertson (another guy) in 1901.
This all fed into the golden age of Alpinism - as it became harder to find new things to conquer, people found ways of making new challenges. Perhaps it was inevitable that it would all catch on, but it definitely wasn’t a thing when Wainwright wrote his guides in the 50s and 60s.
Alan Dawson has a lot to answer for. He compiled the list of Marilyns (British hills with a 500 ft drop or more on all sides) as a play on the “Munros”. He then went on to list the Grahams (Scottish hills between 2000 and 2499ft) in 1992. If you have a mind to you could also start ticking Humps, Tumps, Simms, Dodds, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds, Deweys, Nuttals, Furths, Birketts or even county tops. It seems like it’s all snowballed since the 90s.
Dave is anxious to point out that it’s not just a guy thing. The Grahams are in fact named after Fiona Graham, who apparently started the list that Alan Dawson finished. Just the one girl then.
Ali