It is estimated that nearly 100,000 walkers came to the Yorkshire Dales to climb the 3 Peaks (24 miles, 5,500 feet of climbing).  The difficulty and distance make a completion a cause for great satisfaction. Sadly most will never return. As a guide on the 3 Peaks I would estimate 65 to 75% of walkers…

The Lake District is renowned for its lakes, its in the name! Combined with the surrounding fells they characterize the landscape. However it is not always straightforward to find the best ones. This is particularly so when much of the shoreline is privately owned and not accessible (shame!) to the public. These are my 10…

The “Dales 30” are the mountains in the Yorkshire and Cumbrian Dales over 2,000 feet high. They are usually climbed on day trips. However to appreciate the mountains to the full why not combine 2 days in a series of weekend breaks. 2 days hiking, 2 nights in a country pub in a pretty Yorkshire…

The Yorkshire Dales has a rich and wonderful history. Complete these 10 walks and educate yourself on the history and ever changing nature of the area. Getting on the ground will give you a much better idea of what makes the Dales special than any TV show or tik tok video. Enjoy these Walks through…

Visiting the Lake District for many is all about big days on the fells. The area is fortunately blessed with some wonderful and world famous circuits. All the hikes offer long and satisfying days on the high mountains. These are my favourite 10, in no particular order. 1. Pillar and the Mosedale Horseshoe 8.5 miles,…

The Peak District is an area of outstanding beauty with some excellent walking. However what is not common knowledge is that there are also many hills that are worth climbing. In fact across the entire Peak District there are 75 of them (the Peak 75), a surprise to many, even those who know the area…

I received a letter the other day complaining about the difficulty of a climb up Blencathra. He said it was too dangerous and finished his letter with the phrase “the Outdoors is not a Playground, it is a dangerous place”. I nearly fell off my bar stool. Of course it is a play ground. I…

Old fashioned, out of touch and technically incompetent are some of the phrases I have heard about those who use paper maps. Nonsense. There are many, very, good reasons to use a paper map, both practical and pleasurable which increase the enjoyment of any walk. They just need to be used a little differently. In…

Having walked Britain as much as most I can safely say the Dales are completely unique. No visit to another area of England, Wales and Scotland can compare to a visit (or living in) the area. It is partly the physical landscape. However there is also a sense of nostalgia and open space not found…

Close to 100,000 people hike the Yorkshire 3 Peaks each year. It is immensely popular, maybe the most popular challenge walk in Britain. The satisfaction of completing the full circuit is immense and for anyone living nearby it is surely a rite of passage. However the Yorkshire 3 Peaks is just one of a number…

With very few lakes or mountain tarns in the area, the rivers of the Yorkshire Dales provides the watery backdrop which is often so important to a good walk. Each of the main dales in the Yorkshire Dales has its own river. More often than not the dale is named after the river. The rivers…

For many years myself and JP had discussed climbing Tower Ridge on the north face of Ben Nevis. Rightly deemed a classic it fell between proper rock climbing and a good hard scramble (or so we were told) and therefore we were capable of doing it. We were joined by JP’s wife Ella and Barry,…