Category Archives: Running

Blue Pie Thinking on Fremington Edge

THERE???S a village in the hills above Reeth that is an absolute pleasure to visit because the only people who go there are the postman, the coalman, and the villagers themselves. Forgive me for sounding sexist. I know there are … Continue reading

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Posted in Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Fray Bentos, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Ruins, Running, Vikings, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 30 Comments

A Pennine Trek, Part 1 ??? Moorland and Mustard Gas

The first stage of a three-day walk from Bowes to Hexham . . . Continue reading

Posted in Allotments, Camping, Charles Dickens, Climbing, Drove roads, Environment, Explosives, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Mountains, Northern Echo, Pennine Way, Running, Second World War, Walking, Writing | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

Lakeland-by-the-Sea: A Walk With a Border Collie

WORDSWORTH penned 34 sonnets either celebrating or related to the River Duddon ??? according to the contents pages of my Wordsworth???s Poetical Works Volume V. I had intended to include a few verses here to introduce this piece, but having … Continue reading

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Running, Walking, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Dances With Pigeons

Wide blue skies above blue remembered ridges ??? that’s the Pennines at Easter . . . Oh, and pigeons. Continue reading

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Hiking, Hunting, Life, Mountains, Pigeons, Running, Walking | Tagged | 4 Comments

Running Over Figs (Lujar: The Second Attempt)

CRUNCHING up an old mine track in the cool evening air of a deep ravine. Young ibex scuttle about in the undergrowth; a flight of partridge rises in clamour; and wild figs hang abundantly in the many trees. Down in … Continue reading

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A Pennine morning ??? red flags and guns

RED flags flying along the B6276 between Brough and Middleton-in-Teesdale. Heavy rattle of gunfire from somewhere behind Helbeck Fell. And it???s not the pop-pop of a shooting party. It???s proper gunfire. Machine-guns. Heavy machine-guns

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The Optimistic Man from North of la Mancha

Running across the felltops in the wind and rain ??? while dreaming of the sun-warmed mountains of Spain . . . Continue reading

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The Haunted Man and the Field of Jewels

THE Haunted Man dreams he is running into the sunset, his golden shoes dancing on waves and salt spray glistening on his face. His dream takes him into the west and the sun???s embers, where oceans spill over

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The Thwarted Man and the Little House in the Wood

THE Thwarted Man had a dream. He dreamt that if he opened his wardrobe door he would find a pair of golden shoes that would allow him to run for ever. So when he awoke he opened his wardrobe door, … Continue reading

Posted in Hiking, Life, Running, Walking | Tagged , , | 4 Comments