Being Buttons

Hiking the Three Peaks (Snowdon/ Yr Wyddfa, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike)

Hiking the Three Peaks (Snowdon/ Yr Wyddfa, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike)
The National Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales back to back, often within 24 hours. It is designed to be a challenge, and it’s not one I’ve done or have any intention of doing. However, I decided when I was in New Zealand, probably motivated by several months of hiking, that I did want to hike each of the ‘three peaks’ at my own leisure. I recently completed that aim, and this post shares a little bit about my experience, but also some thoughts on the National Three Peaks Challenge. View Post

Glamping in a Tipi at Wasdale National Trust Campsite

Glamping in a Tipi at Wasdale National Trust Campsite
As much as I love being in the outdoors, camping has never really appealed to me. I think it’s partly because I didn’t do it as a child (when most people get their fond memories) but also because of the various camping disaster stories I’ve heard. Needing a loo in the night and having to traipse across a muddy field to get there didn’t appeal. Getting wet and having to put up and down a wet tent, plus the risk of it leaking, sounds like a weekend nightmare to me. And that’s without even thinking about things like mice, the challenges of cooking on a camping stove and much more. Whilst I love being outdoors, I also like being warm, dry and having a proper night’s sleep. View Post

A few highlights from Summer 2021

A few highlights from Summer 2021
Happy 1 September! Call it a hangover from my days at school, or thanks to the fact that I still work in an education environment, but this time of year always makes me think of fresh beginnings. In some ways it feels more like a time for new year, new starts than the beginning of January and I think that’s partly helped by the fact it’s not dark by mid-afternoon. However, it’s also sad to be waving goodbye to the summer months and knowing that before too long it will be cold and dark again. The summer always goes by in a bit of a blur; partly because it’s the time of year when I can be most busy at work, but also because there tend to be a lot of plans. One minute it’s May and then the next it’s September. It doesn’t help that the seasons tend to… View Post

125 years of the National Trust

125 years of the National Trust

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the National Trust, so I’m sharing some of my favourite National Trust properties and landscapes in this post.

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New Year on the Isle of Bute

New Year on the Isle of Bute
I am very lucky to have a friend who has a cottage on the Isle of Bute. In fact, it’s the highest cottage on the island which means that when it’s clear you can see some fabulous views. My friends had been encouraging James and I to visit for a while and at New Year we decided it was the perfect time. The island that had cast my friends under its spell did the same to us, and I definitely think we’ll be back again some day. View Post