Countrystride

Countrystride #99: PEAT, POWER & THE PUBLIC – Caring for Watendlath

...in which we explore the much-loved hanging valley of Watendlath and the High Tove ridge above in the company of veteran National Trust ranger Roy Henderson and Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Sean Prokopiw. Posing the question: 'How do we balance the management of such precious landscapes with increasing tourist demands?', we take a whistle-stop tour of projects that are building resilience into the fells, woodlands and communities around the isolated dale head. After a brief history of the valley – from glaciation through Norse settlement to the busy days of the pack-horse trains – we visit a remarkable pollarded ash tree. Heading downstream, we are introduced to one of three hydro schemes in Borrowdale, which collectively generate enough energy to power virtually the whole valley. Passing newly-planted hillsides on an age-old pitched way, we emerge at the Pewits, once a desolation of peat hags, now a thriving upland bog, to learn about the value of these remarkable upland habitats.

Countrystride #98: Askham – A vernacular celebration

...in which we take a wintry trip to Lowther country and the pristine village of Askham to celebrate the built heritage of Cumbria. In the company of historic buildings officer Alexandra Fairclough, we take a long view of the vernacular and its champions – from John Ruskin to Professor Ron Brunskill – before embarking on a whistlestop tour of a village that was neither formally designed, like Lowther, nor set upon a springline, like nearby Helton. As we wander, we consider the link between geology and buildings, we note the features of a typical Cumbrian farmhouse, we consider the concept of 'polite' architecture, and we ask whether Cumbrian's historic buildings are in safe hands.

 

• Alexandra can be found at https://linktr.ee/Alexatourguide

 

Countrystride #97: Townend – A Troutbeck farming dynasty

...in which we descend upon the cloistered valley of Troutbeck to celebrate the 75th birthday of the National Trust farm at Townend, home for 12 generations to the 'yeoman' Browne family. In the company of Collections & House Manager Emma Wright we uncover a trove of farmhouse treasures, including an expansive 'meat loft', the last George Browne's remarkable wood carvings and Elizabeth Birkett's 1699 'commonplace book' of recipes and unlikely ailment cures. Accessing the house's nationally-important library, we paint a picture of a leisured family in pursuit of wealth and influence, and Mark gets enthused by a copy of 'Gate's Shepherds Guide'. Rambling past the farm's expansive bank barn – one of the finest in Westmorland – we learn about the characteristic pattern of 'outgang' lanes that allowed stock to be driven onto the communal Wansfell 'hundreds' before turning our attention to Beatrix Potter and the last days of the Browne dynasty.

• You can find out more about Townend at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/townend

Countrystride #96: Eric Robson – Wasdale, Wainwright, and a champion of Cumbria

....in which we head west to Wasdale to talk with one of Cumbria's living greats; broadcaster, author, film-maker and former sheep farmer Eric Robson OBE. Sat by the stove in his isolated farmhouse study, we learn about Eric's long love affair with Wasdale, and the decision to donate his OBE to his beloved adopted Cumbria; we take the long view of a broadcasting career that has included Gardeners' Question Time, Remembrance Sundays and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; we talk about Eric's life as a fell farmer, and his passion for rare breeds; and we re-live the many frustrating, rewarding – and amusing – weeks spent in the company of Alfred Wainwright during the making of the TV films that made the great fellwanderer a reluctant star.

Countrystride #95: Catbells & Hugh Walpole

...in which we make the classic ascent of Catbells to celebrate the remarkable life of Sir Hugh Walpole, at one time one of the world's best-selling authors, now a figure largely forgotten outside of literary circles. In the company of Walpole enthusiast Simon Dunant, we learn about the author's traumatic start in life – of family upheaval and boarding school abuse – that would shape the mind of a lonely young man increasingly passionate about classic literature. We consider Walpole's remarkable rise to fame and his establishment among the partying London literati – even as he sought to hide a forbidden sexuality. Following more trauma – this time on the Eastern Front – we discuss Walpole's deepening love affair with the Lake District; of his great Lakeland-set Herries Chronicle; of discovering peace at Brackenburn, his 'little paradise on Catbells'; and of finding, at last, a 'perfect friend' in chauffeur Harold Cheevers.

• Simon runs 'The Walpole Chronicles' at https://hughwalpole.com
• You can also find him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hughwalpoleblog

Countrystride #94: Review of 2022

...in which we are joined by outdoors writer and editor John Manning for our annual delve into Countrystrides past, picking our best bits from 2022 as we chat about everything from dialect to dynamite; walls to wolves; and farming to fellrunning; before naming our favourite walks of the year. As we hear from, among others, Lee Schofield, Mark Hatton, Libby Robinson, Alison Park, Steve Birkinshaw, Jean Scott-Smith, Steve Dickinson and Donald Angus, we ponder the magic of long distance walking, reflect on the number of people who find solace in the north country, and celebrate the scruffy art of dressing down on the hill before Mark and John test their knowledge of the fells in our eagerly-anticipated new quiz, 'Wainwright or Wainwrong'. Wishing all of our listeners, subscribers and Patreon supporters a very Happy New Year. We look forward to joining you again in January :-) Mark & Dave

Countrystride #93: A Grasmere Gingerbread Christmas

...in which we take a Grasmere ramble under wintry skies with local lass Joanne Hunter, Partner at Grasmere Gingerbread, for a seasonal trip down memory lane. Embarking from diminutive Church Cottage – the one-time school house – we learn about the life, heartbreaks and invention of Sarah Nelson, the working class Victorian cook who landed upon a new recipe for the moreish confection in 1854. Arriving at St Oswald's church, we revel in recollections of rushbearings past – views of the fells; the smell of flowers. As Mark gets his teeth into biscuity-cakey-yumminess, we delve into the culinary history of Cumbria and its links with Whitehaven, once Britain's second port. Finally, we talk Christmas, and snow under the streetlights, towers of variety boxes, the village Father Christmas... and Nanny Hunter's whist drive.

• You can find Grasmere Gingerbread at grasmeregingerbread.co.uk

Countrystride #92: Dentdale and The Dales High Way

...in which stride out from Chapel-le-Dale in the Yorkshire Dales to nine-miles-distant Dent on the Dales High Way long distance footpath in the company of the trail's co-creator – and local lass – Chris Grogan. Leaving the diminutive 'chapel in t' dale' with its memorial to navvies killed building the Carlisle–Settle line, we rise into farm country and learn about Chris's childhood as a farm girl in Upper Dentdale. Encountering a group of firemen undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge, we talk place names, and the meanings of Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Boot of the Wold. On the age-old Craven Way that runs across the shoulder of Whernside we discuss the joys of long-distance walking - 'mindfulness before the term was invented'. Finally, we take a trip down memory lane as Chris recalls haymaking in the era of the fell pony, the Whernside gather... and truant officers being outfoxed by local mums.

• You can find out more about the Dales High Way at https://www.daleshighway.co.uk
• You can find Chris and Tony on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/daleshighway/

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Countrystride #91: Geology of the Lake District

...in which we brave dark skies for a windy wander over Sale Fell to unearth the history of rock and glaciation in the Lake District. Setting out from cloistered Wythop vale with author, geologist and local lad Ian Francis, we learn about the three rock groups that form the backbone of Lakeland, as identified by Keswick geology pioneer Jonathan Otley. Passing some of the oldest rocks in England – Skiddaw Slate – we look north to Galloway across a former continental divide. As we descend, we consider the fraught debates around glaciation that challenged generations of Great Flood-believing geologists; we discover a hillside stretch of Napoleonic 'rigg and furrow' where crops were planted in the toughest of landscapes; and we hear from Ian about why the best view in Lakeland is from lowly Low Fell.

• The Lake District: Landscape and geology can be bought from Crowood Press at www.crowood.com/products/lake-district-by-ian-francis-stuart-holmes-bruce-yardley?_pos=1&_sid=cd4dc4bd4&_ss=r
• Ian is on Twitter at mobile.twitter.com/ianfrancisrocks

Countrystride #90: The VIKINGS in Cumbria

...in which we are joined by archaeologist Steve Dickinson in Gosforth to seek out the lost Norse kingdom of 'Laithlinn'. Embarking from the infamous Viking Cross – where Steve guides us through a series of remarkable carvings – we set out on an autumnal wander over the meadows to Irton, and a second iconic cross. As we walk – down quiet bylines, and over a busy Irt and Bleng – we consider signs in the landscape; in names, in landforms, beneath our feet; that paint a dazzling picture of 1,000 years ago, and a thriving, if violent, kingdom based around a people who arrived from across the Irish sea, beached their boats and then settled their Herdwicks and slaves around a huge longhall overlooked by their Gods on Scafell and Great Gable.

• You can find out more about Steve at facebook.com/steve.dickinson3

Countrystride #89: Steve Birkinshaw – Smashing the 214

...in which we escape the autumn rains on Clough Head to meet fell-runner and Threlkeldonian Steve Birkinshaw, who in 2014 broke the record for the fastest run of all 214 'Wainwrights' – the ultimate British ultramarathon. His 6 day, 13 hour record – which smashed Joss Naylor's epic 1987 run by a staggering 12 hours – not only laid down new lines that enabled a new generation of records to tumble, but also had a profound effect on softly-spoken Steve, who has spoken candidly about the physical and emotional toll the run took. In a wide-ranging discussion, we learn about the tough schooldays that gifted Steve a love for the outdoors, we take a bird's eye view of his many career highlights – from the Bob Graham Round to the Lakeland 100; and we talk though the remarkable 320-mile, 36,000m ascent odyssey across the fells that ended with the eyes of the world following a near-broken runner onto the steps of Keswick Moot Hall.

• There is no Map in Hell can be purchased at https://www.bookscumbria.com/product/cumbrian-books/cumbrian-outdoors/there-is-no-map-in-hell/
• Steve is on Twitter at @SJBirkinshaw