In Autumn 2009 I took a ten-week class at OUDCE on “Modern Movements in Architecture: the Case of Oxford”. As part of this I had to write an assessment of a modern building of my choice. What follows in an extract from my full assignment. Some pictures are after the text.
Continue reading →The Ultimate Munro I can still fix the year exactly without going back to my log-book because it was the year I had my fiftieth birthday. I’d been wanting to do the Skye Munros but I’d decided that some of … Continue reading →
One dinner-time in a mountain hut The common room was full and every available seat occupied. Twelve or thirteen tables which can each comfortably seat six people had nine or ten squeezed in. Despite the crush I was feeling isolated: … Continue reading →
Alcohol and Alpine mountaineering The refuge is run by guardian Gérard. “He’s evil,” averred my guide Rob on our way up to the refuge. We’d been talking about this and that, and our conversation had touched on the topic of … Continue reading →
A French couple on a mountain path There is a certain type of French couple for whom there ought to be a generic name. This French couple — let’s call them Bernard and Eveline — are not necessarily an old … Continue reading →
In the north-east corner of France, the round tree-covered hills of the Vosges are the territory of the Club Vosgien. Founded in 1872, 75 years before the CNSGR/FFRP, and recognised as utilité publique in 1879, the Club operates a unique … Continue reading →
Waymarks on the French GRs and GRPs If you have ever used the French footpath network you will almost certainly have come across the red and white flashes of paint (balises) that mark the long-distance footpaths, the Sentiers de Grande … Continue reading →