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.
When in Rome
.. do as the Romans do. So when on this New York Saturday, with no plans of my own, I did as my New York friend and hostess did. Breakfast came from the super size me fridge. Then a run in Central Park, ok, so I walked. Followed by the usual detritus of weekend chores. The dry cleaners and grocery store included. Hop on the subway from the Upper East Side to Mid Town for retail therapy. Wander around the streets people watching and enjoying the street art until hunger set in. Little Italy and wonderful...
read moreReasons going West
Leaving the hills behind for a few days and heading west to New York. My loft is full of my son’s ‘stuff’ – but I am doing the visiting.. Checked in, alarms set and contemplating the joys of a long haul flight in the cheap seats. Convincing myself there are joys: The end will be good for 8 hours No, one but no one can call me, text me or email me I can read for 8 hours without feeling guilty or write … watch films back to back think sleep dream May be long haul flights are not so bad after all. A few pictures from my...
read moreWalla Crag and Derwent
Walla Crag is the smallest Wainwright and and having done twelve miles of the Limestone Link the previous day, this easy walk up a hill, by a lake, was a soft option than tackling the snowy tops. From the car park at Great Wood, off the Borrowdale road, head south to that most photogenic of bridges, Ashness. Add your photo to the millions of others pasted on every thing from tablemats to websites. And now mine! For a shorter, steeper route turn left and north and head up Cat Gill, but your camera will appreciate the detour. Back...
read moreThe Limestone Link
I walk part of the Limestone Link on most days but I had, until Friday, never walked all of it. Farleton Knott and Hutton Roof Crags are regular stomping grounds, and anywhere between them and the western end to Arnside. Most of this part has featured in my blog. But not the start from Kirkby Lonsdale. So on a wet grey Saturday morning, after leaving one car in Arnside, the other was parked up at Devils Bridge. Conveniently near a bacon buttie van if you miss breakfast and the parking is free all day. There is no big dramatic sign, or...
read moreWinters Coldest Day – 13 March 2013
I didn’t manage to get out on Monday, but my friend Anne had a wonderful day in the snow! Account below! Thanks Anne. Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts from Longsleddale Our plan was to do a shortish walk and be back in good time for my friend’s badminton match but while preparing our hot chocolate we decided that this clear, cold, bright weather would be perfect for one of our old favourites, Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike from Longsleddale. We have walked this route countless times in all weathers, from cloudless blue skies...
read moreArthur and Bill Baggin
After a miserable drizzly Saturday, Sunday had to be the day to go up a hill or two. Early on snow clouds hung low in the sky, but by the time we reached our staring point, Maggie’s Bridge, Loweswater, blue sky had broken the grey. There is a small National Trust car park at Maggie’s Bridge, NY134210, a convenient start point for several tracks and trails around Loweswater and the surrounding fells. Our first hill of the day was to be Floutern Cop. Conveniently a bridle way, signposted High Nook Farm, climbed slowly up the hillside...
read moreDamp Day in Cumbria
Wet all day. Most people appear to have given up on outdoors and resigned to themselves to domesticity, if Twitter and Facebook are any measure. Just feel sorry for those that can’t get indoors. Anyone with a dog will have been out already. My short walk this morning was made more delightful by this wondrous sight. Clambering over an overgrown stile I was faced with a field of stubble spread with cow s….t! A dogs delight, but not mine. Then a little further was the badger set Terriers do tunnels big time even at the age of 13. Just...
read moreThe Helm
Having driven past this hill on numerous occasions, today, I stopped to walk the dog up it. It was rather a dull, grey sort of day but Morecambe Bay was visible, and my home hill of Farleton. Kendal sprawled in the valley and reminded me not so much of an ‘awld grey town, but a bunch of Lego Bricks. More white ones than grey. Looking north was rather hazy but I am sure on a clear day the Langdales and Kentmere would hover on the periphery. But for today, walls, fences and barbed wire posed for the camera. To find the Helme take the...
read moreAlpine Walking
Having just returned from Zermatt from a ski trip I never expected to be writing a walking blog this week. But I discovered ‘Wander Weg’ and Winter Walking trails. It transpires that Zermatt has over 70k of winter trails, none of them, if our experience was anything to go by, particularly arduous. So on Thursday we abandoned our skis, returned to our walking boots and took ourselves up the mountain on foot, with ski poles working perfectly well for walking. Like everything Swiss the trails are superbly marked and organised. Winter...
read moreMade it to the Matterhorn!
Zermatt. Eating cake, drinking tea. Is it wine o’clock yet? Swapped feet for skis this week.
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