The northern part of the Lake District is a great place to go walking with fantastic scenery. All the walks start and finish in Keswick.  We will meet in front Moot Hall in the square at 9 am each morning. The walks are £30 each per person or £100 if you book all four days. Saturday 8th April 2017           Catbells, 451 m. A...

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Here's a post where I put all the nice things people have said about me. Thanks everyone! If you have any feedback you'd like to leave me, please get in touch in the usual ways. Just wanted to write a quick note after a great wild camping and navigating weekend. I learnt a lot and without doubt feel a lot more confident in...

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Nice weekend wild camping course. On Saturday we looked at navigating with good linear features like paths, walls and streams. We got the stoves out at lunch for a brew.  Then in the afternoon we practiced some micro navigation using compass bearings and pacing. We selected a spot to camp with a tremendous view Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle.  A heavy rain shower...

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Wainwright packs a lot into the last day of the walk. In doing so, we weave about a bit. When you look at a map you can see that if you flew, as the crow flies, due east from Grosmont, you'll hit Robin Hood's Bay in just under eight miles.  But we're walking 15. At least we start off east.  After watching the...

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One way of not getting lost would be to do a guided walk.  Then someone like me would look after you, lead the way, point out things of interest and you can just relax and enjoy your walk.  If you prefer to go it alone here's a few tips on guidebooks, maps and some spots to watch out. Guidebooks Wainwright's Guide Alfred Wainwright's...

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A great day with a group from the Northumberland Mountaineering Club. A lovely cold and clear October Saturday, but weather a bit too good to challenge our map and compass skills...We looked at a number of techniques and strategies for navigating our way in the hills. In the morning we mainly looked at ground features, timings and judging distances. In the afternoon we...

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A request, found written on a piece of wood in a peat bog at Vindolanda Roman Fort reads: "The comrades have no beer, which I ask that you order to be sent." The Romans arrived in Britain they found us drinking beer and soon got a taste for it themselves.  If there was a shortage there would be mutiny. It didn't have any hops...

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Wainwright was, I think we've established, a traditionalist. It's perhaps not surprising then that his great masterpiece of a walk is steeped in tradition. On day 12 you have the best one, Fat Betty, but don't miss:Dipping your boot in the sea.First thing at St Bees is to dip your boot in the sea. It should be one boot in the Irish Sea...

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For most of the way today, the Coast to Coast joins the path of the Cleveland way. Consequently the path is well maintained and the sign posting is good.  This is because the Cleveland Way is a national trail. This status comes with a pot of money to keep the thing in good order.  The Coast to Coast is not a national trail...

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"To walkers who like high places and rough terrain, this will seem like the dullest part of the whole walk," says AW ever the salesman of his own route. "Those who believe the earth is flat will be mightily encouraged by this section." It's a slog, fair enough, but there are reasons to be cheerful.  Reason 1: Danby Wyske AW disparages this twee...

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