I reviewed the first edition of this guide book back in 2010 and I wasn’t especially complimentary about it, but that’s the risk you take when you send review copies out to people. I was quite surprised then to receive a request from the publisher to review their revised edition...
A couple of weeks ago I finished writing my latest guide book; The Eden Way. This is the third and final book in a series of three guides, following the rivers that rise on the ridge above the Mallerstang valley on the border of Cumbria and North Yorkshire. The other two...
Another early night resulted in another early rise, I was conscious by about 5am and snoozed until 7am. A quick look out the bedroom window revealed grey skies but I could see all the hills and it looked like it should be a perfect walking day. As usual the first...
It was thundering and lightning further down the valley when I arrived at the Moorcock Inn last night. I’d had an easy drive up from home through moderate Friday evening traffic and stopped for sausage and chips at the Haddock Paddock in Sedbergh on the way. Unfortunately it’s Appleby Horse...
I set out on my second long-distance path of the year next Saturday. All my walking plans for this year are based around guide books; either new books or new editions of my existing books. Next week’s walk is to allow a complete re-write of the Tributaries Walk; a 93-mile,...
Breakfast at the Jolly Farmer’s was a rowdy affair. I’d asked for 8am and wished I’d asked for 7.30 – there were 12 other people in the dining room by 8.10 and they all seemed to know each other, which did at least mean they weren’t talking to me, so...
Today I walked from Appleby station to Kirkby Stephen. It rained all day, snowed for a while in the middle and I was buffeted by wind for the whole route. I wasn’t at all grumpy, except when I got my hood stuck in a thorn bush and ripped it. I...
A quick update from last night. I had an excellent Steak and Ale pie for tea, with lovely, rich gravy and some excellent hand cut chips. It was almost as good as the double steak burger I’d had the night before in the F&P, that came with some super sized...
Breakfast was a bit disorganised, with a young chef running around like a headless chicken, but it was tasty enough. I was joined by a couple of American ladies who were walking the Carlisle to Settle path. I say walking, they were getting the train today as one of them...
I patched the biggest and most painful blister with one of my 2 Compeed and left the others to their own devices – it would have to do. I limped my way down to breakfast at 7.30 only to be told that they didn’t start serving until 8am. I did...
I slept well and never had recourse to use the ear plugs. The Cartref (odd name eh?) is a proper business B&B, it must have about 10 rooms over 2 upper floors, which is sometimes better than the places where you’re sleeping in Johnny’s room now that he’s gone off...
My wife dropped me off at the train station just in time to pop into the first class lounge and pick up a banana and a couple of flapjacks for lunch. The train was almost completely empty when I joined it at Crewe, and only a couple more people joined...
