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).

Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2 - available to pre-order

The Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2 is now available to pre-order (follow the link above). This book charts a new walk from Ilkley to Langsett, covering 62 miles over 4 days.

The Inn Way beermats

The Inn Way beermats. I've had 50,000 of these printed and distributed around the 200 pubs that feature on my five 'Inn Way' long distance walking routes. Keep your eyes peeled when you're out and about the Dales, Lakes, Moors, Peak or Northumberland this spring and summer. Cheers!

Borrowdale and High Spy

Stayed at the Royal Oak at Rosthwaite last Wednesday evening and took in two great days walking in Borrowdale for my Walking Weekends: Lake District book which is due to be published later this year. The Royal Oak is a wonderful place to stay; an old-fashioned family run hotel with comfortable beds, loads of hot water and great food. In fact, they ring a gong at 7pm to call you for dinner - there's no choice, only tasty, wholesome home-made food. We had tomato soup, followed by home-roast ham, jacket potatoes and veg, then spotted dick and cream and finally cheese and biscuits. Just the ticket after walking 13 miles across the fells. This was then washed down with a couple of pints of Copper Dragon at the Riverside Bar (Scafell Hotel) next door. Oh yes, the walks. We headed steeply up through Rigghead Quarries to Rigg Head and then to the summit of High Spy. The wind was so strong it blew me off my feet. Then a magnificent walk along the broad ridge across Narrow Moor, Maiden Moor and Catbells down to Hawes End, with superb views across the Newlands Valley and Derwentwater towards Skiddaw. We returned through Borrowdale along the lakeshore of Derwentwater to Grange and then through woodland skirting Castle Crag back to Rosthwaite. A wonderful walk with such contrast from the mountainous environs of Rigg Head with Dale Head dominating to the tranquil and serene woodland path around Derwentwater.