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.
Haverbrack and Hazelslack
For those travelling from the Midlands the train proves an easy alternative when they work! High speed links from Birmingham to Oxenholme provided an easy route up. The weather was not at its best yesterday so the result was a somewhat ‘drippy’ walk through Dallam Park, Haverbrack and Hazelslacks. A great way to find your way round this area of South Lakeland is to use the Cicerone Guide by Brian Evans, Walks in Silverdale and Arnside (think I need a links page and useful info added – note!). Though the view was somewhat marred by the low...
read moreLangdale Pikes
Sunday – how could it be better? After the ‘warm up’ of the day before and the continuing good weather The Langdales were an ideal destination to view more and provide some more challenging terrain. We met with another couple of experienced walkers, Katie and Tony, in Chapel Style prior to starting our walk from the National Trust car park close to the Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. We followed the Sickle Ghyll side branching off to a side track which took us up to Sickle Tarn. The tarn sits in front of Pavey Arc like a giant stage just waiting for...
read moreHelm Crag The Lion and the Lamb
Although it was a lovely day, not quite as good as last Sunday and the light was certainly not Chrystal clear. Still, after looking at MWIS, which said it would be pretty blustery on the top I decided to head up towards Helm Crag. Via Ambleside. I have had awful trouble with a cheap back pack and was on a mission to buy a better one. Having borrowed a Women’s fit Burghaus last weekend, this was my first choice with Osprey, through recommendation, being second. Burghaus fell at the first hurdle when their main supplier in...
read moreArnside Dog Walk
Arnside Dog Walk There are a myriad of Reasons to be here, ‘up North’, but today they were: clear skies, sunshine, a man fishing in a pink tutu and a robin which allowed me to watch his brunch from incredibly close quarters. This was a regular Arnside dog walk after chores in the village. Arnside features a lot in my life. The walks always change and there is the contrast of the sea and a hill, The Knot, which has views from Heysham Power Station in the south and over to the Northern peaks of Cumbria. It was totally beautiful...
read moreWeekend Walking with Experienced Walkers
Kathy and Greg are both busy executives and experienced walkers. They have walked frequently in Spain, France and Austria but never before in the Lake District. They wanted a weekend ‘away from it all’ and to see what the mountains closer to home had to offer. They drove from Shropshire on the Friday evening so as to make an early start on Saturday. After driving through a deluge and the usual trials of the M6 Saturday was unexpectedly pleasant as far as the weather was concerned, and MWIS predicted a high cloud base with increasing...
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July Tour of the North and Midlands for Guests from USA
My Clients: Dana, from Texas, and Karen from NYC. Both Dana and Karen had visit to the UK previously but had only ‘done London’ and the southern tourist trail. My brief was to show them some of the highlights of Lake District, but also to take in Stratford upon Avon and some Jane Austen country. They only had six days so it was going to be a ‘whirl wind’ of a tour. Day 1 Flew in to Liverpool, John Lennon Airport 10am. Straight to Lyme Park in Cheshire. Karen is a big Jane Austen fan and Lyme Park was used extensively in the famous Mr Darcy...
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