I’M looking forward to heading down to my favourite English town later this week for the Keswick Mountain Festival. I’m giving a talk on Friday (and there are still tickets left) and leading a walk to Skiddaw on Saturday morning (fully booked I’m afraid) and in between I’m sure there will be a good bit of socialising going on.

I always enjoy these events. It’s a great time to meet old friends and make new ones, catch up on the outdoor scene in general and enjoy that feeling of tribalism, that we belong to a large bunch of enthusiasts from around the country, indeed, around the globe, who can get together every so often and share experiences, fun and laughter. And a few beers to boot.

And Keswick is the ideal place for this kind of event. Never mind what they say in other places Keswick is the adventure capital of the UK - it’s always full of hill goers and climbers, no matter the time of year, and it’s a friendly town with some great pubs and restaurants.

I’m not yet sure what the weather forecast holds for the weekend but if it looks good then there’s plenty going on out of doors on the fells around Keswick. If the weather is shitty then there’s still plenty to of with a wide array of talks and films to enjoy. Chris Bonington, Mick Fowler, Pauline Sanderson, Monty Halls and Helen Skelton are the speakers this year, and me of course, and there’s a bunch of stuff happening about mountain biking too. So, if you have nothing else in your diary you could do worse then come along to Keswick, a lot worse. For anyone who’d like to come to my talk on Friday night at 6pm then you can book here: www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk/programme/speaker-programme/cameron-mcneish/

See you there?

HAD an excellent meeting during the week with Scottish Natural Heritage about the Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail we’ll be launching later in the year.

I would emphasise that this is not a new trail we are developing but a route that uses existing trails and paths as much as possible between Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders and Cape Wrath in the far North-West highlands. Inevitably there will be areas where there are currently no recognised paths so SNH have been really helpful in offering advice, plus details for all the trail managers and local authority contacts.

We’ve already started filming the project for two television programmes to be broadcast over Christmas and New Year later this year and I’ll shortly being going into purdah to try and write the book. Could be a long summer…

For anyone interested I’ve written out the route below but I should say that it is not cast in stone just yet. There are one or two other options war are looking at and some of the points have to be checked out with landowners, local authorities and the various trail managers but this route will give you a rough idea of the line we are taking.

Gore-Tex Scottish National Trail

Section 1

The South Scotland section: 81 miles

Kirk Yetholm – Morebattle – Newton St Boswells – Melrose (via The Eildons) – Galashiels – Yair – Three Brethren – The Minchmoor – Traquair – Cardona – Peebles – Stewarton – Cloich – Noblehouse – West Linton – Carlops – Bore Stane – Listonshiels – Marchbank – Balerno – Water of Leith Walkway – Edinburgh Toon.

Section 2

The Canals section: 51 miles

Water of Leith walk – Slateford – Union Canal – Ratho – Broxburn – Linlithgow – Forth and Clyde canal – Polmont – Falkirk Wheel – Kilsyth – Kirkintilloch – Bishopbriggs – Bearsden – Milngavie

Section 3

Central Scotland section: 125 miles

Milngavie – Mugdock – Carbeth – Strathblane – Drymen – Garadhban Forest – Drymen Road Cottage – Clashmore – Kirkton – Aberfoyle – Menteith Hills – East Lodge – Callander – Callander Craigs – Braeleny – Arivurichardich – Glenartney Lodge – Comrie – Glen Lednock – Invergeldie – Glen Almond – Dalreich – Achnafree – Glen Lochan – Loch Freuchie – Garrow – A’Chois – Urlar Burn – Urlar – Birks of Aberfeldy – Aberfeldy – Weem – Boltachan – Brae of Cluny – Loch Derdulich – Beinn Eagagach – Netherton – River Tummel – Bonskeid House – Glen Fincastle – Tomanraid – Blair Atholl – Glen Tilt – White Bridge – Lairig Ghru – Rothiemurchus – Aviemore – Loch an Eilean – Inshriach – Glen Feshie – Drumguish – Kingussie – Newtonmore

Section 4

North of Scotland section: 118 miles

Newtonmore - Laggan – Corrieyarack – Fort Augustus – Glengarry – Tomdoun – Mam na Seilg – Glen Loyne – Cluanie Lodge – Cluanie Inn – An Caorann Mor – Alltbeithe – Gleann Gniomhaidh – Loch a’ Bhealaidh – Bealach an Sgairne – Gleann Choinneachain – Bealach na Sroine – Falls of Glomach – Gleann Leitreach – Iron Lodge – Loch na Maorie Buidhe – Maol-bhuidhe – Loch Calavie – Bendronaig Lodge – BearneasBothy – Baobh-bhacan Dubha – Lair – Achnashellach Station – Drochaid Coire lair – Easan Dorcha – Coulin – Loch Clair – Cromasaig – Kinlochewe – Incheril – Heights of Kinlochewe – Gleann na Muice – Bealach na Croise – Loch an Nid – Corrie Hallie – Loch an Tiompain – Croftown – Inverlael – Glensquaib – Glen Douchary – Strath Mulzie – Duag Bridge – Oykel Bridge – Salachy – Glen Oykel – Loch Ailsh – Benmore Lodge – River Oykel – Breabeg Tarsuinn – Gleann Dubh – Inchnadamph – Loch Fleodach Coiree – Eas a Chual Aluinn – Bealach a’ Bhuirich – Loch na Gainmhich – Unapool – Kylesku Bridge – Bealach nam Fiann – Achfary – Loch Stack – Loch Stack Lodge – Loch Airigh a’ Bhaird – Loch a’ Garbh-bhaid Mor – Rhiconich River – Rhiconich – Achriesgill – Badcall – Kinlochbervie – Oldshoremore – Sandwood Bay – Cape Wrath

WE woke this morning to wind and rain. Would you believe it? Fortunately by the time we had breakfast the front had moved through and the sun dried everything up in no time at all. I was more than a little concerned because we had planned to film an ascent of a Via Feratta today, the steepest and most sustained “iron way” in the area, and the last thing I would have wanted to do was climb the thing in the rain. Limestone becomes very slippery when it’s wet and I guess the metal rungs would have been pretty slippery too.

By the time we drove round to the base of the crag the weather had improved dramatically and we were joined by Jose’s long standing pal, Jamie. Jamie finished in 14 th place in a recent Tour of Mont Blanc fell running race and is a keen and talented outdoors guy. As is Jose. I should say a word or two about Jose before I tell you about the Via Feratta.

I first met Jose away back in 1999 when I came over here with a group of journalists to see what his company, Terra Ferma, was getting up to in the Sierra Aitana area. I came back with Gina a couple of years later and we had a fantastic week in the nearby Marina Alta, just along the coast. Since then Jose has started a new company called Aitana Adventures and he does a lot of work with trekking companies like Exodus, as well as being part of a cooperative farm here in Sella. He’s a cracking lad and a first class guide and I had no hesitation in agreeing to climb this Via Feratta with him.

The route in question is 250m in length and is pretty vertical for almost all the way. It was established 6 years ago by a couple of local climbers and it was paid for by the local town hall. It doesn’t cost anything to use, which surprised me a bit, and there is no ‘policing’ of it in the sense that anyone can do it if they have the proper equipment and experience. There are warning signs at the foot of the crag pointing out the dangers to those who perhaps are not experienced enough.

I loved it. Via Feratta take hill walkers like me into climbers territory and this one in particular takes you into the world of the vertical. It begins steeply, climbs over a prominent bulge, then stays steep and sustained all the way. There were only really two points where it was feasible for Simon to stop and film us; one was a little niche in the rock where he could just squeeze past us and the other, higher up, was a little section of narrow ridge connecting two very steep noses. It was exciting stuff with amazing views out to sea and towards the skyscraper skyline of nearby Benidorm.

I must admit I rather enjoyed the via Feratta but I’m still not convinced about them from an ethical/environmental point of view. I think I can state categorically I wouldn’t like to see them developed in Scotland. I don’t think we have the size of crag or the scope of terrain that would allow for any decent route and I rather think it could be the thin end of the wedge to taming the likes of the Cuillin ridge or the Aonach Eagach. Having said that, I did enjoy this one and via ferattas appear to be accepted here as part of outdoor tourism. Have a look at the programme when it comes out, probably sometime in June, and see what you think. The Adventure Show, BBC Scotland.

For details of Jose’s operation check out: viajes@aitanaaventures.com

I suppose you could call it Sod’s Law or tempting fate or the climate change gods revenge for flying to Spain but we woke to a day of threatening rain. Would you believe it? At least it was mild.

Jose Miguel drove us round the mountain to Benifato where we parked the car and climbed up through lovely almond terraces to the mixed scrubs and screes just below the long ridge of the Sierra Aitana. From there we climbed up to the ridge with a little bit of scrambling thrown in for good measure before squeezing through a gap that the English guidebook describes appropriately as Fat Man’s Agony. I was delighted not to suffer so maybe I have slimmed down a little on the recent End to End bike ride.

Just as we reached the summit it began raining so we had to film our summit shots pretty rapidly before heading down. Needless to say the rain went off as we descended.

It was a good walk nevertheless and on the way back Jose pointed out the route of our via feratta for tomorrow. Looks pretty steep and sustained, real rock climbing territory. I know Simonnis a little concerned about how best to film it but I guess without any abseil ropes to dangle from he’ll just have to climb below us, or shoot us from above. I’m sure we’ll work it out.

Back at Sella things were in full swing with the annual Paella Festival well underway. Various families and groups from the village cook paella and compete with each other for the best. I didn’t realise it but paella is a local Valencian speciality and there is a great pride in being vote the best. Needless to say we tried some, washed down with some local,wine and beer, and filmed the whole shebang. It was great fun, lots of music and enthusiasm and by the time we got back to our digs at Casaroc we were knackered.

During the festival I met up with a couple of old friends, th writer and poet Terry Gifford and his partner Gill Round. They told me I must visit them but I spent about 40 minutes looking for their house only to discover it was only a couple of doors down from Casaroc. And they weren’t in, probably still enjoying the paella festivities…

We’ve had about an hour just showering and relaxing and now we’re heading for the bar for a meal and a beer or two. Filming the via feratta tomorrow could be a long day, and we really need to be fresh for it.

For details of Jose’s operation check out: viajes@aitanaaventures.com

IT was raining in Glasgow this morning and the weather forecast is suggesting cold and snow for the May Bank Holiday weekend. At the moment I’m sitting in a balcony in the Spanish village of Sella overlooking a fabulous mountain called the Puig Campana and at 7 at night it’s still warm and balmy.

I’m with Simon Willis and we’re working on a piece for BBC Scotland’s Adventure Show. The idea is that you can leave Scotland on a Friday, have an adventure filled weekend in the Costa Blanca and be back in Scotland on Monday. Most folk associate the Costa Blanca with sun sand and sangria and we had a quick visit to Benidorm to film some of that but the contrast with the mountains behind the town is amazing, as is the contrast in the weather between Scotland and Spain. It’s a different world…

We’ve met up with my old friend Jose Miguel who runs walking and climbing holidays in this part of Spain. We’ll be doing a bit of hiking in the Sierra de Aitana and having a go at a new Via Ferrata that’s been created here but there’s also a paella making competition going on this weekend and I’ll be keen to visit that. But what has been really interesting today is looking over an organic finca, or farm,that Jose operates with 14 others. It’s run on a cooperative basis and they provide enough eggs and veggies to do them all year round. What’s more the cooperative operate on a barter system where someone might supply wood for log stoves in exchange for eggs while someone else might do a day’s painting in return for a day’s babysitting. With a 25% unemployment rate in Spain, yes, 1 in 4 out of work, this cooperative system could be seen as something of a green revolution.

If anything good can come out of the current economic situation then surely it has to be a quiet revolution like this. It’s also a kick back against consumerism, globalisation and the corporate greed that sees large supermarket chains decimating small retailers throughout the country.

We filmed with Jose in his farm, had a fabulous lunch of some of the organic produce and we’re just about to hit the bar for some beer and tapas. Is it organic tapas? I’m afraid I have absolutely no idea. I’m only going for the beer.

For details of Jose’s operation check out: viajes@aitanaaventures.com