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.

Wild Boar Fell in winter

Winter, potentailly, offers the best walking conditions of all. But in recent years, our changing climate means that the days are more often than not characterised by dull, windy, grey and damp weather, rather than the ideal of crisp, cold, clear and bright days with snow covered tops.

After several weeks of damp and windy weather, we have recently been blessed with very cold, crisp and bright days. The visibility has been superb.

Last Monday I decided to walk across Wild Boar Fell that rises up as a wall of jagged crags high above the Mallerstang Valley in the western Yorkshire Dales. This is a summit I have been meaning to reach for a number of years but, because it's Open Access Land all the way, I have been waiting for the right conditions and good visibility before tackling it.

I was not disappointed for this is, in my opinion, the finest fell-top in the whole of the Yorkshire Dales (and I've walked up almost all of them!) with one of the finest views in the North of England from its broad summit plateau. Walk to the eastern edge of the plateau and you come rather suddenly to a line of cairns along the crest of High White Scar and a spectacular view across the Eden Valley. Across the valley are the scars of Mallerstang Edge with Great Shunner Fell rising up in the distance, whilst to the south-east are the hills of Upper Wensleydale. Sweeping south, the Yorkshire Three Peaks rise up above their neighbours then further west are the Howgill Fells with the Lakeland peaks on the horizon. The Nab juts out from the plateau’s northern tip and offers another unrivalled viewpoint. If you want to ‘bag’ the summit, the Trig Point lies some distance to the west in the middle of the broad plateau. Wild Boar Fell was where, according to legend, the last wild boar was killed in England.

Yorkshire Water Way is finally nearing completion.

The finished walk will chart a 7-day route from Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales to Langsett in the Peak District. The walk takes in the summit of Great Whernside, the reservoirs of Upper Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley. The walk then follows a meandering course down through the South Pennines taking in Ilkley Moor and Saltaire World Heritage Site, Haworth, Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge, Stoodley Pike Monument, Cragg Vale, Great Manshead, the M62, Marsden, Wessenden Valley, Holme, Woodhead Tunnels and, finally, Langsett.

This is a walk of contrasts, from the wild moors of the Dales, Pennines and Peak to intimate cobbled lanes of former mill towns and villages.

Publication looks set for Easter...

Valentines Day is fast approaching and many people will be heading to the countryside to stay in a nice pub for a romantic weekend away, and perhaps do some walking as well (I can recommend some excellent books called 'Walking Weekends'!)

I have recently been reading about the many health benefits of walking and it got me thinking. In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, regular exercise (like hill-walking) also has many social, spiritual and psychological benefits

Regular walking may help depression, anxiety and stress as well as improve self esteem and confidence. It makes you feel good. This is because exercise, especially 'green exercise' in the coutryside, releases endorphins into your bloodstream which gives you that 'happy buzz'. Walking in the Great Outdoors also gives you an unrivalled sense of space and freedom, it allows time for you to appraise your place in the natural world and it is also a very sociable activity.

Is walking a new type of aphrodisiac?

There's only one way to find out... Book yourself into a lovely pub in the Dales for a weekend away and then set out on Saturday morning to do a great walk, and leave the rest to the endorphins!

As 2007 comes to a close, it's time to reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the new year.

Highlights for me were seeing my little boy grow up (he's now 2 years & 6 months), gaining my Walking Group Leader qualification, publishing The Inn Way...to the Peak District (and it becoming the Mail on Sunday's travel book of the week), setting up teamwalking.co.uk (and getting several clients) and going on dozens of memorable walks. The best walks were undoubtedly in the Peak District with Lathkill Dale in late May a particular highlight. However, I also walked and researched the route for my Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2, which charts a route through the South Pennines from Ilkley to Langsett via Manshead End (pictured above).

Objectives for 2008? First and foremost is my family. Then, I will be bringing out two books - Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2 (spring 2008) and Walking Weekends Lake District (Dec 08). I will also be developing my website, pushing my teamwalking.co.uk and promoting The Inn Way walks (as always!).

I hope that 2008 brings you health and happiness, and I hope to bump into you perhaps in the Lake District during the summer whilst researching my Walking Weekends book.

Cheers

Mark Reid

The best walk in the Dales?
Probably the inter-valley walk between Upper Wharfedale and Littondale via Kettlewell, Starbotton, Old Cotes Moor and Arncliffe. Great views, wonderful villages, superb pubs and contrasting terrain. The Falcon at Arncliffe is one of the finest pubs in the Dales and certainly the most authentic. Did this walk last Sunday in crisp, cold and frosty conditions with a soft, misty sky and not another soul to be seen all day.

The best pub in the Dales? Well, there's plenty to choose from and depends what you're looking for. I prefer the traditional Dales inn ... stone flagged floors, open fires, low beams and good local ale. Falcon at Arncliffe is probably top of the list, with the Red Lion at Langthwaite, White Lion at Cray, Sportsman at Cowgill, George at Hubberholme, Queens Arms at Litton, Farmers Arms at Muker, Green Dragon at Hardraw... the list goes on.

What are your favourites?

It's been a while since my last blog - over 6 months in fact! Back in May I was just putting the finishing touches to my Peak District book, which was launched at the beginning of July. What had promised to be a great summer for walking and the outdoors with warm, dry and sunny weather in April and May did not materialise during July and August. Floods and disease (Foot & Mouth) did not help things and so my new book launch (which had taken me 2 years to write) was something of a wash-out. Never mind. It was still named the Mail on Sunday travel book of the week.

Since then, I've been working on Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2, which now looks likely to be published in spring 2008 as this has taken me much longer than anticipated to research, partly because of the poor summer weather but also because the walk goes through places I've never been to before so much of the research is from scratch. This all means that my 'Walking Weekends Lake District' will now be published in December 2008.

Cheers

Mark

The Inn Way... to the Peak District is finally complete!

I've walked over 650 miles of paths and visited over 100 pubs over two years... the result: an 84-mile circular walk divided into 6 day stages and passing 51 pubs along the way.

There's about 2 weeks work left to do proof-reading, editing, maps etc and then it will be published during late June (it takes about 4 weeks to print and bind it).

I've been re-walking the entire route over the last week or so and I stayed at the Little John at Hathersage on Tuesday- what a great pub! The food portions were enormous, the beer was great and it was full of walkers/climbers. The walk from Baslow to Youlgrave was particularly memorable as it was a hot, sunny day and there was hardly anyone about. I had Nine Ladies stone circle, Robin Hood's Stride and Rowtor Rocks all to myself; the solitude only added to their mystical appeal. I then sat outside the Red Lion at Birchover for about an hour in the sunshine - another great pub with a traditional tap room and a friendly chef who brought my dog two bowls of water and some biscuits.

Here's the cover:

The route is almost walked, with only Stage 1 (17.5 miles) left to do, which I intend to walk this Wednesday (Hayfield to Hathersage). It is quite sad, in a sort of nostalgic way, that this journey through the Peak District is coming to an end. My first trip to the area was in April 2005, since when I've walked almost half of all of the footpaths. What was once unknown has become an old friend, with many memorable walks in all weathers and some very memorable evenings in some local pubs whilst researching the area. I particularly remember an evening at the Old Royal Oak at Wetton when I had two days of walking during some of the hottest days of the year, exploring the Manifold Valley, Thor's Cave and Dove Dale. Then there was Hayfield when I stayed at the Kinder Lodge and walked, again in warm weather, across Kinder Scout and Lantern Pike. Some of the best walks I have done over the last 2 years include the limestone dales, in particular Lathkill Dale and Monk's Dale, and also my first walk across Kinder Scout with its incredibly deep peat hags and groughs and plunging escarpment. Then there was Chrome Hill, Froggatt Edge, Bretton Clough, Win Hill, Derwent Edge, Stanton Moor, Flash, Pilsbury Castle...

It's almost time to move on to a new area, although I've also got to write Yorkshire Water Way Vol 2 and Walking Weekends: Lake District this year. Here are some highlights from Stages 2 - 6 of my new walking route "The Inn Way... to the Peak District".

Stanage Edge (above), along Stage 2 (Hathersage to Baslow)

The Peacock at Rowsley along Stage 3 (Baslow to Youlgrave)

Stage 4 (Youlgrave to Tideswell) Magpie Mine

Stage 5 (Tideswell to Castleton) Cressbrook Dale

Stage 6 (Castleton to Hayfield ) The Great Ridge

Cheers

Mark Reid

I walked the first of the six stages for my new book (The Inn Way... to the Peak District) over the weekend, from Youlgrave to Tideswell. The weather was perfect - cold, crisp and bright - and the views were spectacular. Lathkill Dale was, as always, stunning with a sharp frost lingering in the shadows, fish jumping from the still waters and mist gently rising from the river catching the morning light. The Bull's Head at Monyash was warm and welcoming, as was the Cock and Pullet at Sheldon. The views from Monsal Head were incredible, with a finale up through Monsal Dale and Tideswell Dale.

I'm looking forward to walking the next Stage from Tideswell to Castleton next week!

Cheers

Mark Reid

The proposed route of "The Inn Way to the Peak District" is at last starting to take shape. After 2 years of research, I've now decided upon an 83-mile circular walk over 6 days via 53 pubs (give or take a couple!). The route is planned, I'm ready to walk it... I just need the days to start getting a bit longer so there's enough daylight to walk 16 miles! Actually, I badly sprained my ankle playing football at the beginning of December and it has taken 6 weeks to even start to heal, so I'm limited to about 6 miles of walking at the moment. It's getting better every day, so hopefully I'll be striding out across the Peak District by early February.

To give you a taster of the route, it will take in Kinder Scout, Hathersage, the Eastern Edges, Stanton Moor, Youlgrave, Millers Dale, Tideswell, Eyam, Castleton and Edale. Here's an inspiring photo of Kinder Scout...

Anyway, the book is going to be published in April (hopefully!), so keep checking www.innway.co.uk for updates

Cheers

Mark Reid

2006 is drawing to a close and now is the time to reflect on the year that has passed. I rarely hear people talking about the highlights of their year being things that they have bought or money they've earnt; often it's experiences that money can't buy (such a cliche, I know!).

When I look back over the last year, memories flood back of time spent with my son, friends and family; places I've visited, new things I've discovered and memorable walks I've been on.

Here are my four favourite walks from 2006 (out of a total of almost 1,000 miles of walking this year!):

Winter 2006 - A walk from the Strines Inn across foggy Derwent Moor above the Derwent Reservoir and Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District. Visibility was poor along Derwent Edge but there was a Hoar Frost that had coated everything with the most wonderful icy patterns. And I didn't meet another soul all day...


Spring 2006 - March and April I spent researching, walking and writing my new Yorkshire Water Way book, and had three memorable days walking from Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales to Ilkley. The fell-tops were dusted with snow, the days were bright and crisp and the views were superb. The area around Scar House and Angram reservoirs in Upper Nidderdale makes for fantastic walking country with a sense of wilderness, whilst the reservoirs add interest. From the Summit of Great Whernside, I followed an old packhorse route down across the moors skirting Angram and Scar House (pictured) to reach Middlesmoor.

Summer 2006 - I spent most of the summer walking in the Peak District researching routes for my Walking Weekends Peak District book. I had many memroable times staying away in villages, most notably Hayfield, Eyam, Hartington, Longnor and Castleton. The most memorable time was during the long, hot summer days of July when I stayed at Wetton for 2 days and walked through the Manifold Valley and Dovedale. The pub at Wetton is superb, and the walking excellent...



Autumn 2006 - Some of the best walking can be found in the North York Moors. There are vast swathes of heather moorland, deep green valleys, lovely villages and cosy pubs. It is much quieter than other National Parks, all of which makes for some great walking. One of the best walks I did was on an unseasonally warm October day through Baysdale to the scant remains of Baysdale Abbey (actually a nunnery). The light was perfect with long shadows and an autumnal glow across the dying flowers of the heather.


Hopefully, 2007 will bring just as many experiences.

Cheers

Mark Reid

MAIL ORDER CHRISTMAS DELIVERY

Just a reminder... If you are ordering some of our books via our website or Mail Order for Christmas presents, then the last posting date to guarantee Christmas delivery (according to Royal Mail's website) is Saturday 16th December.

After this date, we will still continue to send out books the same day as we receive the order, which should arrive before Christmas as long as the order is placed before the 19th December (although Christmas delivery is not guaranteed).

To order online visit www.innway.co.uk

For Mail Order call 01423 871750 (9am - 6pm)

Cheers,

Mark Reid

Don't forget to buy this weekend's Sunday Times! I'm slightly nervous at the prospect of my new book ('Walking Weekends Peak District') being featured in The Sunday Times...

Let me know your thoughts and comments about the article by posting a comment below.

Anyway, after a year's worth of planning and procrastinating my new secure online shop is up and running... and the orders are trickling in! www.innway.co.uk/order01.htm

Cheers, Mark Reid

Launched my new book "Walking Weekends: Peak District" today at the Devonshire Arms at Beeley (on the Chatsworth Estate). Marketing, publicity and promotion is the biggest challenge for any publisher as you are competing with thousands of other titles and also with big publishers with large marketing budgets. My marketing budget stretches to a pint of beer in a Peakland pub! anyway, fingers crossed and hopefully this launch will produce some good coverage over the next few weeks.

By the way, the headline of my press release read... "LEAVE MUDDY BOOTPRINTS INSTEAD OF CARBON FOOTPRINTS. Spend a weekend walking through the Peak District and help save the planet." Not only does this book promote sustainable tourism by encouraging people to spend a weekend walking, eating, drinking and staying locally but for every copy sold I donate a % of the profits to the Peak District National Park Authority to be used for conservation projects within the National Park. No there's a good reason to buy my book!

Cheers, Mark Reid

I'm off up to the White Lion at Cray (the highest pub in Wharfedale) tonight for a weekend of walking and drinking with 9 other blokes! Should be fun... We head off twice a year (spring and autumn) for our walking weekends, staying at great country pubs and then doing a full day's walk on the Saturday and an easier stroll on the Sunday.

This is what life's all about... two days spent walking through some of England's finest landscapes in the company of friends and then a convivial evening at a traditional Dales pub with its stone-flagged bar, oak beams and roaring fire. Not to mention the local ale... it's Copper Dragon and Moorhouse's at the White Lion.

On Saturday, we're going to climb up to the summit of Buckden Pike (703 metres) then walk along the ridge down to Kettlewell for lunch. The afternoon section is back up through Upper Wharfedale to Cray via Starbotton (Fox & Hounds) and Buckden (Buck Inn).

cheers, Mark

Crafts for Christmas Fair at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate: 9th - 12th November

If you're near Harrogate this weekend, pop into the Crafts for Christmas Fair and say hello - I've got a stand selling my books as well as my new "Walking Weekends: Peak District" which is due back from the binders on Friday, so it will be literally hot off the press!

Cheers

"Walking Weekends: Peak District" finally finished today, after 18 months of research, 0ver 400 miles of walking and visiting over 60 pubs! The book is being printed at the moment and will arrive back from the binders next Friday. If you want to know more about this book then visit www.innway.co.uk

Anyway, had an great time in the Peak District with The Sunday Times journalists last weekend. We stayed at the newly-refurbished Devonshire Arms at Beeley (great food, stylish bedrooms, good service but rather too bright decor especially the flourescent pink plastic bar stools!) and the George at Castleton (traditional village pub with flagstone floors, open fires and generous portions of lamb shank!). The walks we did were from Beeley to Bakewell then back via Edensor. Also, from Castleton we walk up onto Win Hill then down to the Yorkshire Bridge before skirting around Ladybower Reservoir then back to Castleton via Hope Cross. The final walk we did was from Edale up onto Kinder Scout via the Woolpacks and Jacob's Ladder - see photo above. The article will hopefully appear in the travel section of the Sunday Times in late November. The best beer was a pint of Copper Dragon Pipkin at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn closely followed by Hartington Bitter at the Cheshire Cheese, Hope.

I finally did the walk around Baysdale last week on a wonderfully warm autumnal day. Elvis enjoyed himself as he loves running across heather moorland (see photo above).

Cheers

Mark