Not the obvious ones!! These the best walks in the Dales (in my humble) opinion that avoid the worst of the crowds on a sunny Saturday. They are spread throughout the Dales are between 3 and 6 miles long with limited uphill walking. There are links at the foot of the page to the more…

I completed the Munros (the 282 mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet) nearly 15 years ago. It took up nearly 20 years of my life, regular visits/weekends from England to tick maybe 4 or 5 summits at a time. Sometimes I travelled alone, sometimes with my brothers and mate JP. It certainly became obsessive. The…

I was listening recently to an interview with an 82 year old Scotsman who had just completed the Munros. In the interview he was asked what he enjoyed most in the challenge and he wistfully replied that it was the ‘Solitude of the mountains, an intense, almost spiritual experience’. His words (not an exact quote),…

The ‘Dales 30’ are the mountains over 2,000 feet within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There are 30 of them. A growing number of people have now completed all 30 and are looking for an additional challenge. I have named another 10 excellent mountains in the area which completers should climb. The criteria for the…

The best summits are small lumps of rock or grass perched dramatically over steep slopes with wide ranging and spectacular views in all directions. The ones below are my own favourites, made all the better if you are the only one on it! I have listed 15 but bear in mind, they are my own…

The “Dales 30” are the thirty mountains in the Yorkshire Dales above 2,000 feet. I have loved climbing them and have done so from each conceivable direction and many differing weather conditions and seasons. I have also had a lot of feedback from those who have completed them or are presently doing so. I therefore…

“Access the Dales” is a registered charity with its main objective being to provide access (and remove barriers) for those through reasons of youth, age, infirmity or disability have been unable to enjoy the countryside. In particular, but not exclusively, is the introduction to hire of a fleet of All Terrain Wheelchairs for children and…

I have always been driven by Mountain Lists when walking in the UK. Starting with the Wainwrights I moved on to climb the Munros of Scotland in my 20s and 30s. It was obsessive. More recently the ‘Dales 30’, the ‘Peaks 75’ and ‘Marilyns’ in England and Wales have driven much of my walking. Different…

A recent walk up Sheffield Pike from Glenridding reminded me how exceptional the fells of the Lake District actually are. The 214 fells were the brainchild of a grouchy book keeper with an exceptional attention to detail. The 7 guide books are the best guide books ever written, the memories climbing them never forgotten. A…

The best way to enjoy the ‘Dales 30’ mountains is to organize a series of weekend breaks across the different areas of the Dales. Each village/town in the list below has its own distinctive character and, coupled with direct access to at least 2 days worth of hill climbing, will make for a lovely break.…

Most visitors to the main towns and villages of the Lake District gravitate to the most popular walks. It is natural and in most cases the walks are excellent..but crowded. However at times you may want to explore a little without the distraction of other walkers, maybe find some peace and quiet. There are some…

It would not seem usual for a beginner to attempt the highest mountain in their country, but it is possible in England. Highest Mountain in England Whilst Scafell Pike is quite a strenuous climb, it is also something a person of moderate fitness can do with a little preparation and the right approach. It’s a challenging…