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.