Jonathan’s Blog

Walking in the Autumn months in the Lake District is as good as it gets. On a crisp clear day the low light and autumnal colours give a special days walking even when the higher fells are covered in cloud. I have listed my 10 favourite Lakeside walks for such an occasion! Not all stick rigidly to the shoreline and some are tougher than others but all make for the best walks that take in one of...

The Lake District may be the queen of lakeside walks well but nowhere does pleasant strolls alongside a river better than the Dales . There are very few standing areas of water in the Dales but plenty of fast and slow flowing rivers. The rivers in the main Dales are all very different and display their own character. Encouraged by an excellent day on the Ure last week these are my Top...

The phrase may be a little bit corny  but for many learning how to use a map and compass provides a gateway to the higher fells of Britain. If not the higher fells, having the confidence to read and interpret a map (and use a compass when the cloud comes down)  will give anyone the confidence to venture a little further and enjoy our wonderful landscape. I run a number of Navigation...

The 'Dales 30' are the 30 mountains in the Yorkshire and Cumbrian Dales that top 2,000 foot. I have written and produced this book for a number of reasons. Primarily I like the mountains themselves. They are full of interest, each one has its own personality and they offer an interesting challenge to climb. "How to buy the book, see the full listing and more information. CLICK...

2 years ago I wrote a blog describing my favourite 10 short walks in the Lakes, Dales and North York Moors. 10 is not really sufficient so here are another selection of my favourite short, but very satisfying walks. The original 10 'Best Short Walks' can be found by clicking here   1. Waterfalls above Askrigg (Dales)  A pretty tumbling beck falls through woodland towards the...

Often the best walks are the least popular. I have counted down 15 of my favourites across Yorkshire and the Lake District till I reach my no 1.. You may not see a soul all day on these walks and if you do they will be few and far between. However one thing you will know about anyone you see...they have taste. Normally I would list only a Top 10 but there are so many I enjoy it has to go...

Most people who want to walk on holiday stay in the same place for the week or weekend. They then strike out from a base (usually by car) and then do a series of day walks that they have researched via the web or guide book. However increasing numbers of walkers are looking for something different. Leave the car at base, walk to different parts of the area, stay in different places, move...

"BOOK REVIEW" a Lifetime of Hill Walking is a high quality book which describes Barry's 50 years of climbing mountains in Britain & Ireland. The challenge is to climb the highest 500 mountains in Britain & Ireland which have a 500 foot drop on all sides. The 340 page, "How to buy the book, see the full listing and more information. CLICK HERE" hard back book is professionally put...

A cracking morning at sunrise in my home village of Long Preston. On the short half hour walk the light was fantastic and I took some photos with my Samsung phone. The result was quite pleasing so I thought I would share them. The  photos have not been touched/doctored at all, it was just one of those days when the natural light and landscape could not be improved. Pendle Hill in the...

I have walked all my life, not just a stroll round the streets, but proper walking. From when I can first remember I walked. Whether along the beaches of Northumberland, the steep climb up to the Haven at St Abbs or in the Lakes when my Dad's first thoughts were not what walk his offspring could do but simply which fell we would climb. Oddly enough I was slow learning to walk; my mother claimed...