Loving it in all weathers

As great as mountain areas are, there is one considerable drawback - the weather can often be changeable at best, downright rotten at worst. In previous years I have been very lucky - only occasional grey days have punctuated otherwise wall-to-wall sunshine. This year, however, has been different: while I have had two or three largely sunny days, so far the weather has been very erratic, and there have been times - such as the day of writing - where I could not get out for hours due to the weather. But, as always, an intrepid explorer must make the best of it.

Today, we reversed the Chapelles D'Artiguelongue walk, taking our two-hour chance to get a walk in. However, the views were still well worth the walk: the misty clouds' mingling among the crags and contours of the mountains above gave an eery, ethereal nature to the area which one does not experience in brilliant blue daylight. And I guess that's the crux of it - places of beauty can be enjoyed in all weathers, not just sunshine. Whether it is sun, snow, mist, rain, wind or thunderstorms, there is always something to recommend about being in a place like this.

Weather for ducks.