#160: Vicars of the fells ...in which we pull up a pew at St Oswald’s Church, Grasmere, for a wide-ranging chat about faith in the hills, fell-running and the day-to-day life of the rural vicar. Illustrated the romantically sited St Bega's beside the shores of Bassenthwaite lake.
#158: Haystacks – How Wainwright changed our lives
...in which we embark on a memorial walk to Innominate Tarn on Haystacks to ask the question: How did fell-walker Alfred Wainwright impact on so many lives?
Episode #157 our Christmas Cracker night recording went live today... enjoy.
Countrystride's Cumbrian Christmas Cracker at the Theatre by the Lake, was indeed a cracker, two nights running. Dr Sue Allen, Alan Cleaver and foodie John Crouch, with musicans Carloyn Francis and Mike Willoughby performing traditional seasonal songs.
#155: The Lakeland Angler – On Derwent Water ...in which we spend a perfect autumn day 'gone fishing' on Derwent Water with angler-author Eric Hope.
Long may you stride those high ridges.
#153: Monasteries, mining and manhunts – A 10,000 year history of Seatoller... in which we congregate in autumnal Upper Borrowdale to explore the history of Seatoller. In the company of Steve Uglow – author of Seatoller: History of a Hamlet.
Simmerson Fell only a month ago!
Linescape for our upcoming Derwent Water fishing trip podcast.
Pleased to be back :-)
Out recording... Tales of a Lakeland Angler with the superb Eric Hope. Coming soon...!
Lovely to have @countrystride.bsky.social back! (From Eycott Hill, with eyebright & sneezewort) Soothing friends for lousy times.
#149: Hostelling in the Lakes
...in which we gather at YHA Borrowdale for a wide-ranging chat about hostelling in the Lake District. In the company of Aaron Jones, manager at YHA Borrowdale; Christine Thomas, co-owner of Elterwater Hostel; and Elterwater team member Charlie Spiller
We've just featured in the latest @countrystride.bsky.social podcast!
You can listen to it here → www.eskdalemill.co.uk/eskdale-mill...
#eskdalemill #eskdale #cumbria #lakedistrict #waterpower #watermill #heritage
Post-umus reminder of times past.
#147: Last of its kind – Eskdale Mill
...in which we venture west to the Eskdale village of Boot to visit the last remaining water cornmill in the Lake District, guided by Mill manager Kate Hughes,
#145: The Westmorland Dales – A century of farming memories
...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a long-view picture of the ever-changing farmed landscape of the Westmorland Dales.
The first Hefted newsletter of 2025 featuring the News Gather;
@fellranger.bsky.social remembers his old friend AW on a Coast to Coast wander; @postalpathsguy.bsky.social finds Jesus in Eskdale; and the Woodland Trust choose their five favourite Cumbrian woods.
hefted.substack.com/p/hefted-new...
You might find my own Cicerone 'Patterdale' guide a useful backup to AW's. Am looking forward to giving talk and demonstration on AW's pen drawing technique on July 21st at the Armitt Museum... best book early 👍 Have fun visiting all those wonderful fells, they'll bring you great reward.
Ditto in Geltsdale, yet Winter is acoming.
#142: Review of 2024
...in which we unwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Jamie Normington and Low Sizergh Barn co-owner Alison Park.
#141: A Cumbrian Christmas Cracker
...in which we congregate at the Armitt, Ambleside for a night of readings, dialect poems and music that celebrate a distinctly Cumbrian Christmas. In the company of Alan Cleaver, Lesley Park, Sue Allan and – on harp and guitar – the Cumbrian Duo.
For Christmas - a suitably seasonal image of what is arguably England’s finest example of a glaciated valley - High Cup under a good covering of snow. A highlight of the #NorthPennines National Landscape in #Cumbria #landscapephotography
Paul you need to come up this way. Try Shap for a first port of call and trace the lost avenue.
OMG "so this is Christmas" the reality of Christmastide. Get well soon by coddling yourself.
The handsome peak of Grasmoor End looks about as far removed from a grassy moor from this perspective as could be imagined.
#140: The owls of Grasmere, with Polly Atkin
...in which Dave takes a midwinter stroll with author Polly Atkin to discuss The Company of Owls, Polly's new book about her tawny owl neighbours in Grasmere.
What a lovely setting.
