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.
Zadar via Pula
Thinking maybe I had left the unseasonable weather behind was a misconception. As well as our plane, there was a thunderstorm circling in Zadar air space. The pilot cheerfully announced we had plenty of fuel so we could sit there for 20 mins or so. After 20 minutes he announced the storm and not left and so we would now be landing in 15 minutes in Pula. Somewhat North of Zadar. So began the usual rant of disgruntled travellers. Exacerbated by total lack of communication by Ryan Air. Well, I...
read moreTechnological Rescue
The mist sat on the hills, just for a change. We went for a walk anyway. Sargent Man and High Raise, a couple of hills up behind Stickle Tarn in Langdale, were destinations of the day. The scramble up Stickle Ghyll was clear, but an eerie silence and stillness spread over the tarn. Someone had removed Pavey Arc. Our navigation skills were seriously challenged. Every thing changes place in the mist. I was almost convinced by Silva compass had stopped working at one stage. My friend did tell me I was being a bit...
read moreIngleborough from Clapham
I live very close to junction 36 or the M6. This is not a very salubrious address, but put another way, I live in South Lakeland, on the edge of the Kent Estuary, between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Look one way from the village and you can Kentmere and even the Langdales, on a good day. The other way and the flat top of Ingleborough waits for a walk. Which, at last, is where this preamble is taking me. Rather than heading to the Lakes, I went east, through Kirkby Lonsdale and out to the Dales. From the main car park in...
read moreNew Life on Arnside Knott
Arnside is one of my favourite ‘local’ places and where I invariably end up when a longer walk for the dog and I is not possible. Last weekend was no exception and as I have hundreds of photos of the view already I just concentrated on the new plants emerging in our late spring. Plus I have ‘done the map’. A short walk starting from Arnside Prom, where you can park your car. Good walk for kids with lots of muddy places to play. Maybe wouldn’t get a push chair to the top. The route is just over 3 miles and you can find more...
read moreBleaberry Fell
Sometimes there has to be a ‘plan B’ but thankfully, it does not always need to be used. With the possibility of low cloud, I had a couple of routes planned from Armboth car park on the west side of Thirlmere. We set off westwards up the side of Cockrigg Crags on the footpath to Watendlath. It is pretty steep way up from the shore to above 400m. Thirlmere was quickly left behind as we walked up the unusual scattering of large boulders which had detached themselves from the Crags. An indication, which we did not pick up, of what...
read moreThe Limestone Fringe
Away from Lakeland’s central, more well known peaks, away from Birketts and Wainwrights lie the softer folds of limestone. The escarpments of Farleton Knot, Arnside Knot and the three Scars, Cunswick, Whitbarrow and Scout are not so challenging as many more documented hills, but are often empty of other walkers and can still provide that ‘on top of the world’ sensation. All are on my ‘favourite walks’ list. For a quick, steep ascent of Whitbarrow, take the ‘scar’ sides of Witherslack and Cartmel. A good heart work out. Escarpments...
read moreBank Holiday Monday
What a lovely day. The sun shone, yes, even here, in Cumbria, where I often think my blogs are nothing but a belated weather report. I became a tourist for an afternoon and, with mum and dad, went on the National Trust steam yacht gondola on Coniston. For once I was looking up at the hills from the water, not down on the water from a hill. On my last walk up Loughrigg I was delighted to name most of the hills I could see and it was good today to name the Coniston Range. Especially so as it brought back memories for mum from when she...
read moreEscape the Crowds
A day out with out seeing any other walkers on the hills was quite remarkable and very surprising. Though when I listened to the traffic reports of the M6 car park on my return home, I guess that is where everyone was. I was walking with family due to return to Australia the next day, and not used to walking our hills. This coupled with the uncertain weather situation, made me plan a walk with a low and a high option. Route to be decided by the height of the clouds and the state of antipodean legs. So, the walk. We set off from the...
read moreLow Level Cumbria
Cumbria is far more versatile for walking than most people imagine, and yet again I found myself over on the east side of the Lakes, in the Eden Valley, just before the landscape rises up again to the Pennines. The clouds were hanging low in the sky and driving over Shap from the south, windscreen wipers were on full, wind was pulling us about and the temperature pinged down to 4°. On the 28th April! But at least, my friend assured me, there were absolutely no ridges to fall off on this walk. In fact it must be one of the flattest 9...
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