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.
Well Trodden Path
It is a few weeks since I have walked on my own,usually I enjoy company,but sometimes commitments and ‘stuff’ mean that just doesn’t happen and there is a lot to be said for walking alone. I often spend so much time chatting I don’t always remember to ‘stand and stare’. Loughrigg is a well trodden track and in summer can be ‘heaving’ with foot traffic and mountain bikes. On the last Sunday of the summer holidays though, at 9am, there were few others around, and those few were mountain bikers not walkers. I suspect the serious hikers...
read moreKirkstone to Glenridding
The day started with exquisite blue sky and clarity. Driving over Kirkstone to Glenridding green hills were sharply etched against a brilliant sky. Troutbeck Tongue lounged in the bottom of the valley and Red Screes had the stripes redolent of its name. Sods law my camera was in the boot of the car! As I meandered down from The Kirkstone Pass Inn there were two ‘youf’ hitch-hiking. In this age of media hype when we are warned against even saying hello to a stranger it is difficult to make any kindly gesture, but these two just looked…...
read moreNot Quite Striding Edge
I have stood on the top of Helvellyn and looked down on the ‘face’ of Red Tarn, several times, but had never been to the tarn until this walk. Nor had I approached Helvellyn from Grisedale before. Doing some post walk research I discovered that Wainwright considered this to be the best way up, to quote; “It is unfortunate that the ascent is usually made by well-trodden paths up the western slopes from the main road along its base, this plan, although benign and free from hazard, being dull and relatively uninteresting. Approached from the...
read moreWide Eyed Walking
Today I walked over a bridge Through a gate…. Into a wood…. The sun shone …. Through the leaves…… The sky turned black….. and then turned blue again………. another gate to close……….. landscapes to view…………. and trees to admire…. another picket fence…… ………. and some reeds and the big finale… ………………… what a lot to see – and my lens is so much smaller……………. More on this walk here, buy the book here, and leave a comment...
read morePerfect Parting
This week I said a temporary good bye to my 22 year old son. He has gone off to NYC to study for three years. A very different life from mine here in the Lakes. As a parting present I took him on a walk! A good friend of mine accompanied us, along with her nephew, currently living in France, whom she had been given the auspicious task of re-anglicising for a couple of weeks. What better than a hike in the hills, as opposed to the Alps, where he usually resides. A steamer ride is so typically Lake District that an Ullswater walk was an...
read moreWetherlam by the Edge
Fed up of waiting for the ‘hottest day of the year’ to materialise, we left home in drizzle with hope! By the time we had parked at Tilberthwaite, NY305 011 the rain had stopped though it was hardly scorching. Our route map is here. The path up to the East of Blake Rigg, is a steep, not so used alternative to the route up Tilberthwaite Gill. Once it flattens out cut east and North of Hawk Rigg to join the main trial up to Wetherlam. If you decided to take this path the point to turn left up the hill is just by a gate on the right,...
read moreOpen Access Over Torver
Following from the challenge of my last post, the second day of easy walking was planned with the aid of my faithful Cicerone book, and another lakeside walk. This time Coniston. The walk begins over open access land of Torver Back Common. There is more information on open access here. I don’t know how much impact the CROW Act has had on farming or wildlife, but even this short walk demonstrated how confident you have to be if there are not clear paths to follow. Even with good visibility the little trod common was not that easy to...
read moreChallenges
Like many, I have been glued to the Olympics when ever I could be for the previous two weeks. For one who really ‘wasn’t boffered’ before the show started I have been a total convert. Celebrating the highs and shedding tears and the wonderful life stories we have heard from those who have achieved and some who have not reached their goals. I have to admit that having my son working at Greenwhich park has made the vicarious pleasure even more special. So, back to my own challenges! This weekend I have had some wonderful friends to stay...
read moreStep in to History
I made a discovery or two this weekend. Did you know that you don’t need to pay for a Guided Walk by a Lake District warden? Until yesterday I did not even know you could go on such a walk. Last week was, apparently, National Parks Week. I found out from the Ordnance Survey Facebook page and discovered the Events and Guided Walks page from the Lake District National Park site. How I had missed it before I don’t know. So, yesterday I met Graham, a volunteer warden from Durham and a number of others for a guided walk to Greenside and...
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