Wednesday 30 December 2015

12 Months, 12 Pics

Each year I write a review of the year and each year I waffle on far too much - so this year I'm keeping it simple: 12 months, 12 pics.  As I write this storm Frank is battering Cumbria again and we're looking forward to a drier new year when we can hopefully help to do something to repair the damage Frank and his friends have done to Cumbria's image - but, for now - a quick photographic review of 2012.

January

Book writing meant lots of research and many days spent in libraries - but we also got out and about a bit too.  We revisited Smardale Gill, one of my favourite spots and one of the chapters in our book.  Coincidence? You decide.

View from bench next to Smardale Gill viaduct

February

I loved this walk even though it didn't turn out quite as planned.  Our aim had been to walk up The Band and then on to Crinkle Crags, but towards the top of The Band the most almighty wind hit so we beat a retreat back down and we took a nice long soupy break on this nice, and rather sheltered, bench.

Langdale Pikes from The Band
March

I found myself with an entire day on my hands so decided to take myself off up Black Combe.  Absolutely love this fell and the weather was perfect.  I ditched the car too and took the train around the coast to Silecroft - perfect.


Black Combe

April

There were so many fab places we went in April and so many pics to choose from, but this is definitely my favourite.  Most of the snow had gone but there were a few small patches on the top of Stoney Cove Pike so we walked past them like the mature adults we are...


Incoming!
May

May half term and our nephews came to visit.  There are many fantastic tourist attractions in Cumbria that are perfect for kids, but there's not much that can beat 2 hours on the shores of Coniston Water skimming stones.


June

June was one of the busiest months I've ever had and in amongst it all we took part in the inaugural ride of the Morecambe Bay Cycleway - 4 days kicking off at Sandy Gap on Walney Island and ending at Glasson Dock.  The weather was perfect and so were all of the views.


July

Much as we adore Cumbria we also like to explore further afield.  Throughout most of July and August we were in Scotland.  We began by hiking up Ben Nevis which is definitely further than it looks...


Ben Nevis
August

We drove the north coast of Scotland in our camper van from Skye to Inverness and had an absolute ball.  Sometimes the views that stay with you aren't necessarily the most stunning but the ones that somehow connect with you.  We saw some spectacular sights, but this was definitely my favourite camping spot - the beautiful Tarbat Ness where we had our very own lighthouse keeping us company.


September

Back home and time for a fabulous late summer stroll up one of our nearest fells.  Whitbarrow Scar sits alongside the main A590 but even on the sunniest days of summer you generally have the place to yourself.  It punches well above its weight when it comes to views too - Morecambe Bay sweeping away to the south and rows of fells lining up to the north.  Be sure to pack a picnic!


October

In October my mum came to visit and we were offered the opportunity to try out some off roading mobility scooters.  At 80 my mum may not be so good on her legs any more, but her sense of adventure is clearly undiminished.  So that's where I get it from...


November

After a minor delay our very first book was released on 1st Nov.  It is a whole new adventure for us and it's been thrilling watching it sell.  At the moment we're out of stock, as are our distributors which is, I suppose, good news and bad news all at the same time.  We're hugely indebted to the local press and radio stations for all of their support.


December

I spent a lot of time in December blogging about the #LakeDistrictBid - but when I wasn't doing that I was busy making reindeer at Spooniversity.  Odd sounding but we meet once a month in Brown Robin Nature reserve to learn about woodland management, wildlife and traditional woodworking techniques. 



And that, as they say, is that.  2015 kept us plenty busy and 2016 is looking to be even busier, but before then a couple of restful days with the family and maybe the odd drink or 2...

We both wish you all a peaceful and Happy New Year!


Thursday 24 December 2015

#LakeDistrictAdvent Calendar Day 24 - Because...


You know, I know it and it's time the entire world knew it.

To learn more about the Lake District's bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site Status please click here - where you can also register your support for the bid with a couple of clicks of your mouse (or prods of your screen).

And if you've only just found this blog click here to go back to day 1 and catch up with all the other great reasons.


THANK YOU for reading this series of blogs - we both hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year. x

Wednesday 23 December 2015

#LakeDistrictBid Advent Calendar Day 23 - Because of The Force...

We all know The Force is strong with the Lake District.  There's something about it that pulls at your soul and keeps you coming back.  It gets inside your brain and entices you up snowy fells, lures you out on soggy wet days and convinces you to live here (well it did that to us anyway).

UNESCO World Heritage Site Status could offer A New Hope for the Lake District, and whilst the bid doesn't specifically mention The Force (though it probably should), it was strong enough to draw the makers of Star Wars here and put the dramatic fells around Derwentwater on the world stage (well, screen).  As I understand it JJ Abrams was originally headed for a remote hillside somewhere in Wales before he encountered an elderly gentleman in a cream tunic and a hooded brown coat who waved his hand and convinced him that "these are not the hills you're looking for".

You want more proof of The Force in the Lake District?

Jedi swan
Immense landscapes
Master Snowda
Children cannot resist The Force...
It watches you from the rocks...
Great Gable - centre of The Force & possible inspiration for
Darth Vader's helmet
Blea Tarn - gently forceful
The Force Awakens your inner child.
The Force is especially strong around Blencathra
Darth Horse
Ewok in Endmoor
It's everywhere...even the ponds have eyes...
C3P0 rock face
Snow only adds to the strength of The Force
Ready for Stormtroopers
Views of the Lake District from The Dark Side (Yorkshire) ;-)
Dagobah 
Scale (the) Force

Don't fight The Force - please click here to learn more about the Lake District's bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site Status. You can also register your support for the bid with a couple of clicks of your mouse (or prods of your screen).

And if The Force has only just bought you to this blog click here to take a Luke at day 1 and catch up with all the other great reasons.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

#LakeDistrictBid Advent Calendar Day 22 - Because of the folklore...

Yesterday it was all about the history so today it's the arch enemy of history - folklore.  When we were researching the book one of the biggest headaches was figuring out where the truth ended and the folklore began.  If you take a story, any story, and only hand down verbal versions of it, pretty soon it's going to get embroidered with things that didn't happen while the things that did happen get lost in the mists of time.  To be fair writing a story down doesn't always do much to preserve it or ensure its accuracy, just take a look at most of the daily newspapers...

As there are, in most cases, small nuggets of truth hiding behind these stories, it's essential that we preserve them and the regions they relate to.

Let's start small with coin logs...  So far as I've been able to work out these are wishing posts - you push your coin in and make a wish.  Other versions suggest that they're for improving bad luck or curing ailments - if you push a coin in it will alleviate whatever has befallen you and, if you were to try stealing a coin, you will be struck down with whatever misfortune affected the person who originally put it there.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

Coin log & friend at Aira Force
Then there's Hugh's Cave in Riggindale where supposedly the first king of Mardale sheltered after fleeing from Kind John.

Riggindale valley - there are worse places to hide...

How about Buttermere and Rannerdale where a fearsome Norseman lead a battle against the Normans with the Rannerdale Bluebells springing from their spilled blood.

"Bloody" lovely.
And perhaps the most famous piece of folklore in the Lake District - Dunmail Raise - where stories abound about vast battles and King Dunmail casting his crown into Grisedale Tarn before his body was buried beneath the pile of stones that mark the summit of Dunmail Raise.  Took a lot of digging to get close to the truth on that one and, if you want to know what we found out you'll just have to buy the book. :-)

Looking along Thirlmere toward Dunmail Raise
To learn more about the Lake District's bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site Status please click here - where you can also register your support for the bid with a couple of clicks of your mouse (or prods of your screen).

And if you've only just found this click here to go back to day 1 and catch up with all the other great reasons.

Monday 21 December 2015

#LakeDistrictBid Advent Calendar Day 21 - Because of the history.

Of course I have to mention the history - we wrote a whole book about the history - we could have written more (and we will!) - and I don't want to  give away everything in the book, but here are a few highlights of Lake District (and Cumbrian) history which deserve the recognition of UNESCO.

Castlerigg Stone Circle (Neolithic)
Hampsfell Hospice (Victorian)
Viking dug out boat - dug out of Kentmere tarn and now in Kendal Museum

The history behind St Bees

Old stone way markers
Fishstones - Cartmel (old market site)
Cartmel Priory
The ancient tradition of gurning!
Wray Castle (Victorian)
Shap Abbey (12th - 15th Century)
Site of Roman settlement Kentmere
Wrengill quarry - Longsleddale
Wainwright
To learn more about the #LakeDistrictBid  please click here - where you can also register your support for the bid with a couple of clicks of your mouse (or prods of your screen).

You can grab a mince pie and a glass of sherry and catch up on all the reasons starting from day 1 - just click here or scroll the column on the right to see what you've been missing.  :-)