Reasons for Reasons
I was ‘raised’ – to use a phrase from our American friends – in south Lakeland and it has always remained home. Even though I left to study when I was 18 and didn’t return untill September 2010. A lot of years.
During those interim years I have had a great life, travelled and met some wonderful people and also have a managed to bring up my son fairly successfully. So, it although it was sort of ‘on the plan’, my move back North was not without trepidation.
As part of my ‘self affirmation’ that I had made the right decision I started a Facebook album ‘Reasons To Move North’. This has had wonderful comments from my friends but I never had the courage to make it public. Then recently I went on a Travel Writing Course with Zoe ,and much to my delight and surprise received more affirmation from positive comments on my travel writing. Something else which has always remained strictly within closed leaves.
A mindful review of my first year here followed and I realised that I had had an amazing twelve months. Yes, I have travelled away, but I have also done more here in the North West than I would have previously thought possible. And I have had so many visitors! People like it here! I have become a guide for friends and acquaintances who then spread the word about how wonderful the Lake District is. This led to my providing itineraries for weekends or longer visits. Some I accompanied, others I simply provided a ‘bespoke’ itinerary, with or with accommodation booked.
So, now it’s time to go Global!
And now I have built my own blog I have used my technical, from a previous life in IT, to build one for the Howgill Harriers. If you would like one put together then please contact me for a quote.
Walking Wheels
I love the wheel topography of Cumbria. Such a small place but so many different ways to get to the hub. Even if you tick off all your Wainwrights, Birketts or whatever list you follow, there will inevitably be another side to arrive. Causey Pike had led me to Coledale Hause at the end of last year, returning by Crag Hill and Outerside. This time I went up from Crummock Water, parking at Lanthwaite Green. There are a couple of routes up to Whiteside from here. Take the one up Whin Ben if you want to walk. We thought that a...
read moreCoast to Coast Count Down
Planning for ages, but suddenly here. In less than three weeks I will be facing 12 days of successive walking on the wall worn Coast to Coast . I have enjoyed reading Wainwright’s book. I just hope I have as much satisfaction from the walk. Last night I was ‘shopping’ on line. Three days of walking preceded this meltdown. I tested a GPS app on my new fangled phone. Liked it, but decided I needed the ‘full blown’ GPS to have total satisfaction. Then there was the extra set of maps. Going with a friend, sorry purists but we are having...
read moreSteel Fell Colour
The weather was on the move, literally. Clouds, light white, some dark and heavy swept across the sky. Yet the air was clear so when the sun broke through it washed the hillside with vivid green. Would we make it to the top of Steel Fell and back before the bubble burst? Helm Crag flanked the route and from time to time a small figure balanced on the iconic rock. Footpath lines drew shapes with geometric regularity. A line between blue and grey clearly divided the sky Hills changed into ridge lines as our height reached...
read moreArnside Knott
If you have not been to Arnside– If you are obsessed with Wainwrights, take time out on a still summer, or even stormy winter day, to walk round the lowlands. You will see the hills painted across the horizon in deep, dark Technicolor. There are even labels…. Deep greens, dark blue, laconic white clouds Wander through gates and stiles down lanes to a reflective shoreline. of contemplative calm
read moreGowbarrow Fell
Aira Force had been fed by recent heavy storms. Dry paths of recent days were partially changed back to squelch. White water hurled itself over the rocks and drops with great drama. Reaching the end of the falls trail and out to the fell and the noise of voices and water fell rapidly away. You won’t lose your way. The National Trust own Gowbarrow park and at paths are currently getting a face lift from Fix the Fells. Ahead, moorland unfolds, turn back to see Ullswater beyond the trees and hidden falls. The...
read moreFrom an Urban Landscape
In twelve short months my son has become an urbanite. He is not a native Cumbrian, brought up in the flatlands of Warwickshire, but over the years he became accustomed to being dragged, coaxed, pressganged into hiking up the odd hill until I think, he began to enjoy it just a little. Now he lives in New York and has not seen a field, let alone a hill, for twelve months, so a choice of Catbells, with its relative crowds, to make him feel at home Our wonderful weather often interrupts things, but this time it was the lack of water, not the...
read moreRoyal Hike
The current ‘Prince Fever’ across our green and pleasant land reminded me of a rather unusual Helvellyn family hike in July 2009. Things started as normal with the usual rummaging about in car boots, trying to find things to fit those more used to Antipodean Cairns than the stone variety. The way up was ‘changeable’, nothing new there! But beautiful as ever. But what was that huddle of walkers all wearing red? Surely not a mass exercise of Mountain Rescue? There were rather a lot of them. Still there was a view to...
read moreCheats Way Up
Driving over the Lakeland passes of Wrynose and Hardknott is a way for those who do not want to exert themselves or put on boots, to become‘up close and personal’ with the drama of the hills. It is also a bit of a cheats way to walk quickly to the tops which otherwise have to be hiked up from Langdale. Purists may not agree, but if you are in a bit of a hurry and need quick fix for a day then parking at the Three Shires stone to take in Pike of Blisco and Cold Pike was a very satisfying way to start the weekend. The days started with...
read moreEvening Stroll over Sleddale Fell
The evening was far too lovely to ignore. Long Sleddale Fell may not look so remote on the map but in reality it has one of the longest, and loveliest, single track roads in Cumbria. The home, I hope you remember, of Postman Pat and Jess the cat. Pat had finished his rounds but we did have a slow drive back behind a flock of resident sheep. Winding walls protect the lanes, quickly turning into grassy byways, then into a laconic beck which had recently been a torrent. but was now only inhabited by malicious...
read moreKirk Fell
Before we set off on this hike I was cheerfully told we were going up the quick way. Straight up the front from Wasdale. . You can just about see the path on the photo. Steep but relatively quick. But it took us an awful long time. The recent blue skies just mean that it was impossible to rush. With two of us rather fanatically recording the unfolding views, just in case they never appeared again, there were just too many stops. The route may have been half as long as my hike over Glaramara, but it took at least as long. But what a day. Very...
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