OVER THE HILL
ON DARTMOOR AND IN LAKELAND
I’ve enjoyed wandering the rugged and sublimely beautiful Lakeland fells for over 55 years and since moving to the South West 40 years ago have found the same solace and joy on remote tracts of wild and wonderful Dartmoor. Many writers have gone to great lengths intellectualising their relationship with mountains but, put simply, the attraction for me is that I’ve always felt “more alive” on the hills.
Over the years I’ve accumulated many walking memories. This blog delves into my mountain memory bank and also record some current ramblings. I aim to go beyond simply describing the walks as, unlike the doyen of Lakeland fell walkers, Alfred Wainwright, I actually quite like people (well, some of them), so I’ll also reflect on the folk I’ve met along the way and the places and sights I’ve seen. Talking of the miserable old curmudgeon, Wainwright could write a bit and I think he perfectly captured what many of us feel about the value of our mountain memories when he wrote;
“The precious moments of life are too rare, too valuable to be forgotten when they have passed; we should hoard them as a miser hoards his gold, and bring them to light and rejoice over them often. We should all of us have a treasury of happy memories to sustain us when life is unbearably cruel, to brighten the gloom a little, to be stars shining through the darkness.”
An account of my walk around the South West Coast Path can be found here.
FROM THE BLOG
The 10 latest blogs are shown below. All published posts can be found by clicking the “Blog” button at the top right of this page.
OVER THE HILL HIKES DARTMOOR #4
This walk starts from the tourist honey-pot of Dartmeet, on the East Dart River just upstream from its confluence with the West Dart. It’s a varied ramble providing some fine panoramic views and visiting rivers, leats, and a host of antiquities and relics of the moor’s more recent industrial past.
LET IT B & B
A few stories set in and around a Lakeland guest house .
OVER THE HILL HIKES LAKELAND #6
A horseshoe walk through Cumbria’s industrial past, with some world class mountain views.
IT TAKES ALL SORTS
A spotters guide to fellgoing folk.
ALL CHANGE AT KESWICK
I explore the town: introducing its many delights and reflecting on what’s changed.
OVER THE HILL HIKES DARTMOOR #3
A Dartmoor Over The Hill Hike that didn’t quite go according to plan.
OVER THE HILL HIKES LAKELAND #5
WATENDLATH AND BORROWDALE
Breathtaking views on the climb to a picture-postcard tarn, a delightful valley and just watching the river flow into Derwentwater.
OVER THE HILL HIKES LAKELAND #4
BOREDALE AND ULLSWATER
Worshipping the fells at a ruined chapel, descending a big valley and strolling by a lake along Wainwright’s “most beautiful and rewarding walk”.
OVER THE HILL HIKES LAKELAND #3
LATRIGG & THE RIVER GRETA
A minor Wainwright, a major view and a scenic riverside trail.
THE THREE SUMMITEERS
A story of three mates growing apart, negligible navigation and a magical discovery.
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ABOUT ME
I’m a Devon-based Lancastrian exile fond of mountains, music, reading and beer. I’ve indulged these passions in many of the world’s high places (not at the same time, that would be dangerous), but am never happier than in the Lakes or on Dartmoor.
Over the hill - on Dartmoor & in Lakeland. I 