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.
Yet another wet walk!
Thirty minutes from Windermere, 30 mins from Ingleton. What a perfect location! May be I should open a B&B? That aside it does give a really good variety of places to walk. I am sure I am not selling things too well to anyone who is a sun worshiper, as the rain recently has been pretty relentless. But if you love mountains, well it pretty much goes with the territory , this far from the equator at least. So on Sunday it was a case of can’t stop the rain, so where will be as good in the rain, as not. Waterfalls – obvious. Ingleton...
read moreTwelve New Things to do in 2012
New Year often brings reflection and contemplation of what the year ahead may bring. I realised how many great things I had done in the past 12 months, including moving house twice! Now I am planning what to do and what adventures I might have in 2012, I thought perhaps some of you may be inspired to try something new if I listed a few. I can recommend: 1 Learn to use a Compass This is not such a stupid statement as it sounds. Am I not taking coals to Newcastle here? I am sure lots of you know how to use one, but there are plenty of ‘walkers’...
read moreWet and windy Devon
For New Year I simply swapped a wet and windy North West for a wet and windy South West! I spent a few days in Hope Cove celebrating the changing of years and, yes, walking! Sadly the sky was not blue and the weather not quite as balmy as it has been on previous Devon holidays. It rained rather a lot. But the coast is still beautiful and the ups and downs of the coves and headlands gradually reveal foliage and forest tracks which are worth seeing in the wettest weather. We managed two walks, one from Kingston, and the other from Hope Cove....
read moreElterwater and Little Langdale
A few photos to remind us of spring! Little Langdale VIEW SLIDE SHOW
read moreDevils Bridge to Whittington
I had anticipated the days between Christmas and New Year being clear, crisp frosty days, totally conducive to walking. They aren’t, so far at least. But having a dog means going out just the same. Some walking has been in areas I have already mentioned and photographed, though slightly different routes, Arnside and Farleton Knot. Today I ventured further. I was given an AA book 1001 walks in Britain, note the theme of walking in my presents. Which reminds me, I can recommend The Way, strongly. The mist hung around like dirty cotton wool and...
read moreHappy Christmas
By now many of you will have eaten to fill all your extremities, drunk a glass or three, may be even been out for a walk. I admit to all three and am now going to settle down with a film I was kindly given; The Way, staring Martin Sheen. It’s about a walk, no surprise there 🙂 I will give you a full review. I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for supporting my new blog, especially if you have signed up to have my ramblings emailed. If you would like to comment, give me ideas, send me photos or even suggest a walk. Please...
read moreBrigsteer Woods
The weather was pretty dismal and the forecast was for rain in the west, and I could not be more west, so I anticipated getting wet and thought a woodland walk could at least provide some shelter. Brigsteer woods are a little north of Levens and south of Kendal. I followed the route described on walk 53, Cicerone, South Lakes. Parking is easy just out of Levens village, which is perched on the edge of Lyth Valley, part of which is known locally as Lord’s Plain. The valley is the inland end of the Kent Estuary, though the Kent does not flow...
read moreForgot to send a Christmas card?
Send an ethical e-card from Oxfam. Save a tree, do some good and keep your friends!.
read moreWansfell Whiteout
One of our national obsessions may be the weather; I think one of mine must be watching the snow. Perhaps from being able to see it on the mountain tops for six months of the year as a child and it hardly ever falling down as low as the Kent Estuary where I lived. Friday was the first time this year the canal close to my house froze. The swans and other waterfowl always look bemused at the ice; though I am sure they must remember previous winters. Farleton Knott looks less stark when the limestone has a sugar frosting coat, even with the mist...
read moreMountain Navigation
Back a few weeks on my Where to Walk blog, I mentioned that I went on a mountain navigation course. The course was run by Stewart MacKenzie. Details can be found on his website mountainplus.co.uk . I went on the two day Beginner’s Course. It was well worth the money and great fun as well. Stewart is very knowledgeable, with a great deal of anecdotal experience to add to the ‘technical’ stuff! Before the course I had not so much been lost, as not been where I intended. Now I am much happier and safer, with my OS maps. As promised, there were...
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