Martin McDowell's Blog

My recent trip to Slovenia gave me the repeat opportunity to do some skiing again which I was looking forward of doing on the ski resort of Krvavec. I am proud to report no falls or injuries whatsoever. The place was absolutely packed, probably due to the fact that it was in that weird time between Christmas [...]

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I returned to to Snowdonia in mid October 2011 to explore the northern third of the Snowdonia range, also known as the Carneddau. They are the most technically demanding part of the Snowdonia range in my opinion but you should not disregard them as there are some really stunning views seen on this range. When [...]

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OK. My three-peak challenge underway now. One (Snowdon) down, two more to go (Scafell Pike & Ben Nevis). Today’s climb on Snowdon was a challenge in itself as it was pissing (yes, not just pouring – PISSING) down with rain. Not one thing I was wearing is currently dry and I am using the car [...]

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This is about Lake Cerknica – the largest lake in Slovenia, when its there, of course, part of the Notranjska Regional Park. When its there its about 25 km2, but can reach up to 38 km2. It has a complicated system of communications with the underground reservoirs which means the lake can drain and thus [...]

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Here is an example of an area I remember visiting as a child and have only vague recollections of it. It is a stunning area in the karst region of Slovenia – the same region where the world famous Postojna caves and Škocjan caves are located, however the Rakov Škocjan park albeit less known to [...]

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This is a stunning castle with surrounding estate close to the northern Italian city of Trieste, close to border with Slovenia. The Miramare Castle is a stunning Carl Junker designed 19th century castle near the northeastern Italian city of Trieste and was built from 1856 to 1860 for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, [...]

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Oglej or Aquileia in Italian is a small village in north-eastern Italy close to the holiday town of Grado (Slovenian: Gradež). It is the home of the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia which houses the largest and stunning piece of mosaic I have ever seen. Restaurateurs have manufactured an elevated platform and glass walkway inside the [...]

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This is an old favourite of mine and apparently for many Brits as well as during my short visit there saw countless UK reg cars on the roads. The Savica waterfall is part of the Sava Bohinjka river which is joined by the Sava Dolinka near Radovljica to form the Sava river. That in turns [...]

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There were plenty of warnings about possible weather problems before I set off from Haverfordwest in the SW Wales to Stansted airport on December 18th. There was very little snow in Pembrokeshire and the airport was open. There were absolutely no problems up to the M4 exit for Slough. Then it all started to slow [...]

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Tuesday. Almost not worth mentioning as I was going to go back home to Haverfordwest. The train from Paddington was strikingly fast and it looked like we were in Bristol in no time. It feels like ages when driving. However I was supposed to change trains in Newport, Gwent and they have done some modifications [...]

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Monday. Did some more walking round London and did the touristy view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Fat Tyre bike tour guide told me that the view from the top of the cathedral was much more impressive than from the London eye. I surely was not disappointed. The tour was not that bad. The one [...]

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Sunday. Nothing much planned for this day. Did do some shopping but came to Oxford street to early – nobody told me they opened the shops at twelve so I spent some hard earned money at a well-know American coffee franchise called Stardollars or something. The best was left for last as I went to [...]

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This was a Saturday and the big part of the day was dedicated to the John Rutter‘s Christmas Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall. This was the second one I have attended and even though the last one I went to was last year it did not feel like a repeat from the previous year. [...]

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You know when you sleep in a strange bed and it takes a night or two before you get used to it. That was exactly what I was doing when at about 6am the first morning the hotel, where I was staying, had its fire alarms go off. When I got into the hall outside [...]

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The trip I did last year took quite a bit out of me as I took the car from the deepest and darkest parts of Wales right down the M4 to central London. Now this wouldn’t be otherwise to bad but for the whole visit being very active and at the end of it was [...]

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These photos were taken on a hike to Pentre Ifan this last weekend.

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This hike is worth talking about as it takes you round some spectacular views in the Brecon Beacons. When I did the hike round Cwm Gwesyn the guide books told us about waterfalls but you saw was actually very small – especially compared to the waterfalls seen on this hike between Ystradfellte and Pontneddfechan. One [...]

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Gospa Hamer, žena vrtnarja v majhni južno-valežanski vasici, naj bi ponoči sanjala o dečku, ki se je izgubil slab mesec poprej. Ko se je le opogumila in prepričala moža, da ji pomaga, se je 2. septembra leta 1900 skupaj z nekaj sorodniki odpravila na lastno iskalno akcijo. Ko je skupina z gospo Hamer na čelu [...]

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These were some of the photos from my latest trip to Slovenia. Ostrovica – Hochosterwitz Gospa Sveta – Maria Saal Blejski vintgar Kope in Huda luknja  

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My original plan for this days hike was Y-Garn but that soon changed once I reached the peak and gazed upon the inviting summits of Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach. As if that was not enough and after all the struggle of descending off Glyder Fach I made a silly move and ascended up Tryfan. [...]

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