Dawn Patrol

As the clocks jump forward this month, here’s a scenic mountaintop adventure to celebrate the spring in style.

- Hannah James

When the alarm blares at an early hour it’s often hard to picture yourself anywhere but in the cosy embrace of your bed. The thought of leaving that safe cocoon of blankets seems like the worst idea possible, but staying tucked up in the warm while adventure waits outside the door is not what life is about. Getting out there, exploring and creating memories is what makes the active bods among us tick.

The clocks swing forward on 26 March, giving us more daylight time into evening to stay out. Then, as summer beds in, the mornings gradually become lighter, so take that opportunity to get outside and start the day in the best possible way – at the top of a mountain. There’s really no excuse not to make the most of it.

If you’re struggling to see why you should use early mornings to climb a mountain top rather than stay curled up asleep, remember that there are two things you hear mountaineers talk about: firstly, there is the early start – setting out at 2 o’clock in the morning to reach the summit – but also the dawn that comes hand in hand with it. The raw energy and beauty of the sky that can only truly be appreciated if you get out there and see it for yourself.