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.
Lingmoor Fell
“An awful lot of view for very little effort.” Quote of the day from a group of fellow walkers, whom I shared a lunch spot with, when I hiked up Lingmoor Fell yesterday. They were absolutely right! It is not the highest of peaks, but dividing the Langdale Valley into Great Langdale and Little Langdale, the surrounding panorama encompasses the distinctive crags of Wetherlam, Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes, to name but a few. If your luck is in and the sky is clear then turn around and Windermere Lake precedes a direct line...
read moreYorkshire Stroll
Saturday I returned from a brief visit to Pateley Bridge, with dog, who required a walk. My route passes by Grimwith Reservoir. A fairly flat easy walk of around 4.5 miles, but given the hike we had done the day before, then this would do both Rosie and I. Grimwith Reservoir does not sound the most appealing place for a walk, and I have been there in grim winter squalls, but on Saturday the air was clear and grey stone walks etched through yellow moorland into a perfect blue sky. Clear cut lines of Herriot land. Spring had arrived...
read moreSecond Time Around
Last May was beautiful, as much of the spring of ‘12 was, and one exceptionally sunny day I attempted to walk over Coniston Old Man to Dow Crag, only to be defeated by the wind blowing me off my feet twice. Friday was forecast as another exceptional walking day. A big yellow sun was plonked on the map over most of Cumbria, with little wind and no precipitation. So this had to be a perfect day for wandering along the elusive crag! All started wonderfully with the air being so clear that whatever God you believe in had surely painted the...
read moreWalk on the Wet Side
I haven’t been to Wales very much, at least socially. In the late 1980s I worked there on and off, but bar that I visited a well known holiday camp when I was about four or five and then a couple of years ago I hiked up Snowdon. When it rained. And rained. And rained! Not deterred, this weekend I accepted an invitation to join a friend at South Wales Caving Club in the Brecon Beacons. On the understanding that I would only have to go underground if it was truly torrential and there was little point in staying above ground. As it...
read moreDog and Wainwrights
The hike up Catstye Cam had been so wonderful, and eager to take advantage of the weekend Rosie and I found ourselves inexplicably drawn back to Glenridding. We could not spend so much time out and so set ourselves the goal of Sheffield Pike. After a quick glance of the map it was easy to see how Glenridding Dodd and Heron Pike could be added in, so we decided to take the short, sharp, shock , steeply up the side of the Dodd. Pretty quickly we were afforded good views over Ullswater, there were some good flat places to pause, take photos...
read moreMountain Play Park
When in New York I was watching the UK weather as the snow came down. I had only just made it out of Manchester with delays due to iced up wings and snow following me all the way down the motor way. But this weekend has just been the best for heading for the hills. High pressure, blue sky and snow. What a mix! How often can we shed our coats, slap on the sunscreen and enjoy the snow in Cumbria, positively Alpine. From Glenridding, deceptively green, we set off up the same route I had taken in August, via Lanty’s tarn and Grisdale...
read moreIn Search of Trees
The very north of Manhattan Island isn’t exactly a hotspot for tourists. At least not the international variety. As far uptown as you can get before you hit The Bronx is an eclectic collection of artefacts, many European, held by the Metropolitan Museum. I arrived by convenient bus, right to the door of ‘The Cloisters’. Sat on top of a hill surrounded by herb gardens and trees, it would be more at home in southern Europe than Manhattan. Much of the collection is architectural and has been built in to the ‘castle’. The European and...
read moreAnother Walk Around the City
From Union Square in East Village to the High Line sky line park. Mobile graffiti Street Show Cheese sale Shoe sale? Food High Line, a park made from an old railway track. Over look the Hudson Loved the seats made from sleepers, rolled along the tracks Look over the street, reflect on the glass.. End of the line.
read moreBreakfast in Brooklyn
Manhattan is a small island and getting about on foot is not that difficult. I took the subway out to Brooklyn but decided foot power was the best way back. Just a few of the things to see along the way. The Savings Bank Tower, complete with market and breakfast. Flatbush Avenue Did this dog just wander off without its owner? Every child deserves…. Fish Not the most salubrious place for a winter wedding… but then it should be spring. And they can lock up their love and throw away the key. This, apparently is something...
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