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.
Mellbreak
So while the rest of the country is white, in Cumbria we remain somewhat green. A mere millimetre or two of snow to delay a timely departure for work. And it was much the same on Sunday. The further north we drove, the greener the grass. Keswick was positively … green…. I had been reading the description of the route up Mellbreak in the car, and looking on the map. B Birkett was alluding to scree, which caused slight trepidation, then the contours looked awfully close together. Finally there was the hill itself. Admit. It looks a bit...
read moreThe Pennines in Cumbria
It now seems an age ago – Christmas – but I am rather behind on blogs and walks and so must remember. A couple of posts back I commented on all the long distance walks going through Cumbria. One being the Pennine way which hugs the eastern periphery. From either railway or road the mass of the Pennines defines transport links ancient and new, but far from being a solid mass I was surprised by how small peaks, or ‘pikes’ are littered along the edges as if carelessly broken off the main massif. So East Cumbria has opened up the delights of...
read moreScafell Pike from Wasdale
Wasdale at dawn, was soft with hazy light. The boulder strewn valley appearing vast as the sides merged into the undefined skyline. It was 8am, but the tardy start of the sun in January meant we arrived before sunrise hit the valley. There were only two other cars in the car park at Wasdale Head so it was a very peaceful, promising, start to the day. The sky was clear, with not a cloud in sight as we set off up the valley towards Sty head with Kirk Fell and Gable towering to the left. Our route was to head up to Sty Head, take the...
read moreLatterbarrow
High pressure and no wind hit South Lakes on Friday, and so did the fog and mist. So why not walk up one of small hills with outstanding views, so everyone says. Looking at others whom have walked up Latterbarrow on another day it will afford you the majestic panoramas expected by a hike to the top of a hill. My experience was somewhat different, though no less enjoyable. The grey tone was set on the ferry journey over Windermere. Sky and lake merging together, separated only by the darker washed trees and coloured...
read moreTwelve Trips From 2012
Thought I may be able to pick out my twelve favourite places or photos from 2012, impossible task. So instead, photos from 12 of my favourite travels and walks. Started my year in Devon, but enjoyed a walking weekend in Shropshire. February brought some reasonable snow walking weather and a hike up the Crinkles. March I hike up Kentmere and Fairfield Horseshoes, but rather like this picture of snow blowers in France. April I wandered off to Yorkshire and enjoyed a day at Fountains Abbey, but closer to home, the Duddon Estuary is just...
read moreHigh Street on New Years Day
High Street on New Years Day, and not a shop in sight! A couple of weeks ago we set off to walk over Mardale and were thwarted by road works en-route to the car park. Not to be deterred we had a pretty good walk at the other end of the valley over Bampton Fell. The first day of 2013 was the first fine day, with some sunshine, for what seams like an age, so it just had to be taken advantage of and there were a few other like minded bodies radiating out on the various trails from the end of the valley. Concerned that the cloud would drop I...
read moreWeather Warning
There is a section of the MWIS weather report ‘ Effect of the wind on you?’. For tomorrow, Jan 1st 2013, it is predicting that ‘Walking often difficult on higher areas, and occasionally lower down near showers. Significant wind chill.’ Fairly succinct. But what does it really mean? Take a look at my dog! Her ears should be neatly pointing forwards. Now look at the grass in the foreground, Only 10cms, but almost horizontal. As for me, well, I was using walking poles and when I lifted them free of the ground they swung from...
read moreKirkby Stephen Walk
A wild and windy railway walk. The two warm and cosy pubs, The Black Swan and the Kings Head, in the middle at Ravenstonedale, could be seen either as a blessing or an hindrance. Having tramped over Smardale Fell with what felt like a force ten gale blowing, they were certainly positive aspects. But then one of the down sides of circular walks from stations is the railway itinerary. On a Sunday this was rather limited. With my previous recent experiences of running for the train from Pen y Ghent, then making the platform as the train...
read moreLong Distance Walks
I have had a whole week off work! Seven days of leisure and pleasure. Why then has there been no time to tick things off that long list of ‘things to do on wet winter days’? There have been plenty of those for sure. But today is the first I have managed to sit down for any length and write. Admittedly, on three of the seven I have managed to put my boots on and head up a hill. Wondering which of these three walks to write about first, wondering if there was a connection. Could I write one blog on three walks? One was in...
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