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WINTER OFFER - 2009

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Upper Nidderdale, Yorkshire Dales, winter walk

Upper Nidderdale

2 inches of snow overnight on Saturday transformed Upper Nidderdale in the Yorkshire Dales into a winter wonderland. At Pateley Bridge, just down the valley, the fields and hills were green, but beyond Lofthouse the snow gradually increased in depth to several inches on the high moors. It was a clear, cold day with great visibility and no-one else around.

We set off from the Yorkshire Water road near Lofthouse and climbed up to an old track at Thwaite House Farm, then followed this up through the valley, passing several old farms, to reach Scar House Reservoir dam. The water level was high and water was pouring across the overflow straight down the front of the dam wall - very impressive. That said, the riverbed was dry near Lofthouse, as the river almost always sinks at Manchester Hole and Goyden Pot unless there has been particularly heavy rain.

After crossing the dam wall, we followed the track up onto the moors before a gradual descent to Middlesmoor, with superb views down the valley towards Gouthwaite Reservoir. Got to the Crown at Middlesmoor at 3:10pm expecting it to be closed, but it was full of locals, the fire was roaring and the beer tasted great. Just a 30-min walk left in fading light back to the car.

Elvis, my German Shorthaired Pointer

Elvis is now 4.5 years old, and has been on every walk with me over the last 3 years, covering some 2,500 miles of footpaths. Elvis must walk twice as far as I do, and never gets tired!

He particularly likes steep grassy hillsides that he can run up and down, as well as sandy tracks across heather moorland.

Glenridding, Grizedale, Dollywagon Pike, Helvellyn, Keppell Cove

Helvellyn Walk - 22 November 2008

11-mile walk that took me 6 hours, taking in Glenridding, Grizedale, Dollywagon Pike, Helvellyn, Lower Man, Raise, Keppel Cove zig-zags and Greenside. A beautiful clear day, but incredibly cold. In fact, it was so cold that when I stopped for a drink on the summit of Helvellyn my Sigg water bottle was completely frozen!

The views were incredible with Scotland and North Wales visible, and there was a slight dusting of snow on the tops.

Rounded off the walk with a pint at the Travellers Rest, Glenridding - a great walkers' pub.

Barbon, Calf Top, Dent & Great Coum

Walking Weekend, Barbon Inn - 7th to 9th November 2008

Twice a year (May and November) a group of us go away for a weekend of walking, drinking and catching up. We've been doing this for 5 years, and this weekend we went to the Barbon Inn (in the village of Barbon) on the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales. I highly recommend this pub - cosy bar with cast-iron range, comfortable rooms and great food. http://www.barbon-inn.co.uk/

On Saturday we did a great walk - 16 miles and over 1,000 metres of ascent. The route started from Barbon and took in Calf Top (609 m), Dent village (lunch at the Sun Inn), Flinter Gill, Great Coum (687 m), Crag Hill, Bullpot Farm and back to Barbon. It took us 9.5 hours and was quite a challenge with strong winds, driving rain and steep slopes. The last 2 hours of the walk was done in the dark, which added to the experience. And we didn't meet another person all day... the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.

Three walks in the Lake District

Three Walks in the Lake District - late October 2008

Three days walking in the Lake District, staying at the Sun Inn at Coniston. Lovely old pub, great beer, roaring fire in cast-iron range but the food was very poor. I had a steak and ale pie, which was microwaved steak in gravy that tasted too salty and overcooked, with a 'puff pastry' lid that was cold and stale. The chips had been re-fryed and the veg portions were minimal. Very disappointing after my 6 hour walk up the Old Man of Coniston. Still, the beer was good... The next night I ate at the New Dungeon Ghyll (after my walk up Bowfell). The food was better - fresh and tasty - but was not outstanding. The problem with a many of these pubs is that their menus are just too extensive. How can 20 or 30 dishes be prepared freshly? Anyway, enough of my moan. The best beer in Coniston? A pint of Old Man at the Black Bull (where they brew the stuff).

WALK ONE

Coniston, Tourist Route, Low Water, Old Man summit, Brim Fell, Levers Hawse, Swirl How, Prison Band, Levers Water and Coppermines Valley. This is a classic walk, with spectacular views. The wind was so strong on the summit ridge that it blew me off my feet twice!

WALK TWO

Great Langdale, Mickleden, Rossett Gill, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Bowfell, Three Tarns and The Band. Spectacular mountain walk, with steep climb up Rossett Gill and long, steady climb up onto Bowfell. Caught in a brief snowstorm on the summit. Very cold, but the wind had dropped.

WALK THREE

Leisurely walk - Coniston, Tarn Hows, Yew Tree Farm. Great tea and homemade scones at this farmhouse (which featured in the film 'Miss Potter').

The Inn Way... to the Yorkshire Dales - 4th Edition

The Inn Way... to the Yorkshire Dales is being updated.

New text, new cover, new photos - but the fantastic walking route (and pubs) will remain the same. Available late October 2008. Order yours today! http://www.innway.co.uk/

The Howgill Fells, Cautley Spout and The Calf

Sedbergh, Cautley Spout, The Calf (676 m) and Calders.

What a walk! The first half of the walk through the Rawthey Valley to the Cross Keys at Cautley was beautiful. Old tracks, wooded slopes, farmyards and a sweeping valley. Then the excitement began. A steep climb up along a pitched-stone path beside the tumbling waters of Cautley Spout brought us to Red Gill Beck - this climb took us up 150 m in the space of 300 m !Then, a steady ascent via Force Gill to the summit of The Calf, in mist. Occassionally the mist cleared to leave pockets of clear sky with the green valleys over 2,000-ft far below. One of the best walks I've done.

ITV Yorkshire walk - Flamborough Head

'BREATH OF FRESH AIR' monthly walks series for ITV Yorkshire.

Watch ITV1 Yorkshire 'Calendar' tonight (Friday 29th August) between 6pm and 6:30pm as Mark Reid joins Jon Mitchell, ITV weatherman, on their fourth walk from their monthly TV walk series 'A Breath of Fresh Air'.

You can also view the TV clip on their website http://info.itvlocal.com/walks.shtml

Yorkshire Three Peaks

YORKSHIRE THREE PEAKS MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE - 05/07/08

PHOTO: Pen-y-ghent - an hour into the walk

What a walk! 26 miles, three peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough) and some of the worse summer weather I have ever experienced! The five of us completed the walk in 10.5 hours. In all, over 500 people took part in this event to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The five of us raised over £1,200, whilst the whole event raised an amazing total of £125,000!

Walking up and across Whenside was the biggest challenge - horizontal rain, gale force winds and a significant wind chill. We were all pretty drained as we reached the summit as we'd walked around 15 miles but also had to tackle the horrendous weather. So we took shelter for 30-minutes in my emergency group shelter, ate lunch and refuelled our energy reserves.

The ascent of Ingleborough was also a bit nerve-racking as forked lightning streaked across the sky. Luckily the storm was a few miles away, but that didn't stop a tropical downpour soaking us on the final mile or so of the walk. All in all, a memorable and enjoyable walk that tested our stamina and resilience to the full. What is happening to our weather patterns...? (the effects of a warming planet, of course - it will only get worse).

Mark Reid

PHOTO: Ingleborough - 8 hours into the walk

ITV Yorkshire walks

ITV Yorkshire monthly walks series - "A breath of fresh air"

This Friday (4th July) will see the 3rd walk in our monthly walks series for ITV Yorkshire. This month we head up to Swaledale and walk from Muker to Keld and back across Kisdon Hill. The highlight are the traditional haymeadows, which are some of the best in the world.

Swaledale is my favourite area to go walking, and has many fond memories for me for it was the place that first grabbed my attention and inspired me to go hill-walking, write guidebooks and generally spend all of my spare time (and now my working time) exploring the outdoors.

Visit the ITV website to see this walk

http://info.itvlocal.com/walks.shtml

Yorkshire Three Peaks

YORKSHIRE THREE PEAKS

This weekend (5th July) myself and two friends are tackling the Three Peak of Yorkshire in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. This 26-mile walk involves climbing three peaks in the Yorkshire Dales - Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Last year, we completed it in 10 hours, including an hour at the Hill Inn at the foot of Ingleborough. So this year, we're aiming for 9.5 hours.

The weather forecast is poor - heavy rain and windy - which should add to the challenge. The worst part of the walk is the long stretch from Ingleborough back to Horton in Ribblesdale at the end of the walk. The best plan of action is to keep walking because if you stop for a rest then your muscles start to instantly seize up - it's more painful to stop than to keep on walking.

If you want to sponsor me then visit http://www.justgiving.com/markreid1

The photo was taken from the summit of Whernside during last year's walk.

Angle Tarn, High Street - wild camp

2-day walk / 14 miles / wild camp - Patterdale, Angle Tarn, The Knott, High Street, Thornthwaite Beacon, Thresthwaite Mouth, Hartsop.

Wild camped at Angle Tarn. Great location, hidden away with superb views of Fairfield and Helvellyn. Got permission to camp first from Side Farm at Patterdale (always leave your camping pitch as you found it and carry out all of your waste). This is a superb mountain walk with a great variety of landscapes, views and summits that make it full of interest all the way round. The final stretch along an old track between Hartsop and Patterdale contrasts superbly with the mountainous ridge of High Street. The highlights were: waking up at 6am at Angle Tarn and not being able to see across the tarn because of the mist; red deer on the flanks of The Knott, the views from the Straits of Riggindale; view of Blea Water from High Street's eastern edge; Thornthwaite Beacon and the steep descent ot Thresthwaite Mouth; the long descent through the valley of Pasture Beck.

ITV Yorkshire walk 'Breath of Fresh Air'

Mark Reid, author of The Inn Way guidebooks, and Jon Mitchell, ITV's weatherman, have embarked on a new monthly television series of walks for ITV Yorkshire, entitled 'Breath of Fresh Air'.

The first walk, around Hathersage and Stanage Edge, was aired on Friday 25th April.

To see the TV broadcast, view full details of the walk or download a route description and map to follow yourself then click on this link http://info.itvlocal.com/walks.shtml

Easedale - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Greenup Edge

17th April 2008.
Bright, clear but exceptionally cold, especially above 700 metres with patches of snow and significant windchill. Still, that didn't stop one bloke who I passed on High Raise who was happily fell-walking in these winter conditions wearing trainers, jeans, a lightweight coat but wasn't carrying a rucksack. And he was on his own. Adventurous, naive or just plain daft?

The hordes were left behind at Easedale Tarn, after which I only saw another 9 people (including the bloke in trainers) all the way round via Sergeant Man, High Raise and Greenup Edge back down to Grasmere. The route I took was Grasmere, Easedale Tarn, Coldale Tarn, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Greenup Edge, Far Easedale, which took me 5 hours to complete. A superb mountain day, and the hidden Coldale Tarn was a particular highlight, as was the views from Sergeant Man.


ITV YORKSHIRE WALKS

Went out yesterday (Monday) with Jon Mitchell, ITV Yorkshire's weatherman, to film the first of (hopefully) a series of 'Walks of the Month' to be shown on ITV Yorkshire's Calendar. The first walk we did was around Hathersage, North Lees, Stanage Edge and Higger Tor, finishing at the Scotsman's Pack. This should be screened at the end of April.

classic Northern pubs

I'm often asked to name my favourite pubs, but there are so many to choose from and it all depends what you're looking for.

Personally, my favourite walkers' pubs are:

Yorkshire Dales - Falcon at Arncliffe. Classic, timeless, unspoilt Dales country inn where beer is served straight from the barrel.

Lake District - Sun Inn, Coniston. At the foot of the fells, with a roaring fire in asuperb cast-iron range and some great local ales on tap.

North York Moors - Birch Hall Inn, Beck Hole. One of England's classic country pubs. Full of character with two small bars and a tiny shop sandwiched in between.

Peak District - Old Nag's Head at Edale. Classic walkers' pub at the foot of Kidner Scout.

Buckden, Starbotton, Dales Way - Upper Wharfedale walk

April Fool's Day and a walk in Upper Wharfedale. The weather is certainly having a laugh at the moment. This time last year we were basking in unseasonably warm spring sunshine; 1st April 2008 I got blown off my feet by 50mph winds on the flanks of Buckden Pike. And there's snow on the way this weekend. But to be honest, I often prefer walking in adverse weather conditions rather than dry, sunny days as the weather provides a challenge. In fact, it was quite exhilerating walking across the flanks of Buckden Pike being buffeted by gale force winds and horizontal freezing rain. My new Berghaus 4-seasons Trek pro-shell coat withstood the elements and kept out the wind and rain. I sheltered from the wind behind a drystone wall. This wall was probably 200 years old and was perfectly intact, so skilfully built that no wind could get through it. The perfect spot for a flask and mars bar.

Fairfield Horseshoe - 19th March 2008

Bright, cold March day with light winds and excellent visibility. Perfect weather for a walk around the Fairfield Horseshoe. We (me and Nick) opted to walk it in a clockwise direction so we would get the steep climb up Nab Scar out of the way at the start and then enjoy the long descent from Dove Crag back to Ambleside. Above 700m there were patches of snow, the summit was cold but only a light breeze. The views across towards Helvellyn and down into the plunging cliffs and coves of Deepdale were superb. A straight-forward walk along good paths with only a couple of steep sections along the way. The summit of Fairfield (873 metres) is a broad plateau of grass and loose rock, with sheer cliffs on its north and east face - in good visibility the route off is fairly clear to follow and well cairned BUT in mist the summit is confusing and potentially dangerous so a map, compass and a bearing is essential to avoid problems. This walk took us just over 6 hours (around 12 miles).