Countrystride

Countrystride #77: Fell ponies – On Roundthwaite Common with Libby Robinson

...in which we depart busy Tebay to climb atop biting cold Rondthwaite Common on a trip to meet some of Cumbria's oldest residents: the Globetrotter fell ponies – roamers of the uplands since time immemorial. As we trail above the 'other Borrowdale' with long-time fell pony champion Libby Robinson, we hear about the moment in Kentmere, aged eight, when Libby first fell for the semi-wild breed; we reminisce about a Lakeland childhood – otters under the bridge, minnows from the tap; we look back at the remarkable industrial history of the pony, and the part it played in the north's historic economy; finally, we consider what role the pony might play in 21st-century Lakeland.

• You can find out more about Libby and her ponies at facebook.com/GlobetrotterStud
• Libby is campaigning to establish a Fell Pony Heritage Centre. You can found our more here.
• If you enjoy this podcast, Libby – and many other people involved with the fell pony breed – can be found on Tom Lloyd's superb Fell Pony podcast.

Countrystride #76: Wild Fell – Restoring Haweswater, with Lee Schofield

...in which we explore the lonely eastern valley of Haweswater, where one of the Lake District's largest landscape-scale restoration projects is being managed by author and ecologist Lee Schofield. Celebrating the publication of Lee's new book Wild Fell, we set out from sunshine-bathed Naddle Farm to visit a range of projects – from tree nurseries to reborn tarns – that showcase the RSPB and United Utilities' vision of marrying light-touch farming with ecological recovery. As we wander, we recall the declining years of England's last golden eagle, we seek the ghosts of beasts that once roamed the fells, we consider why fighting for change in a heritage landscape can be a lonely – sometimes bruising – business, and we learn why Lee sees hope taking root across the Lakes.

• Lee's book Wild Fell is available in bookshops and online.
• More about Wild Haweswater can be found here

COUNTRYSTRIDE #75: The battle to save Ullswater

...in which we celebrate the 60th anniversary of a decisive House of Lords speech that saved Ullswater from being turned into a reservoir. Setting out from Pooley Bridge with valley born-and-bred Miles MacInnes, we learn about the arrogance of Manchester Corporation, who after wins at Thirlmere and Haweswater, considered Lakeland water its own; we learn about the grass-roots campaign that fought back, and which garnered support from around the world; and we consider the leading voice of that campaign – Norman Lord Birkett QC – Ulverstonian and alternate British judge during the Nuremberg Trials, whose barnstorming speech to the Lords saw Manchester's water bill defeated by 70 votes to 36. As we wander, we talk with Miles about a Lakeland childhood, about Pooley Bridge's fishy past, and consider why Ullswater might be the best lake of all.

• The walk also celebrates the launch of our all-new Ullswater Walking Companion - 20 fabulous walks in and around the valley. More at www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/the-ullswater-walking-companion

 

Countrystride #74: Railways of Cumbria

...in which we walk the popular Railway Trail between Threlkeld and Keswick to explore the history of rail in the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. In the company of Peter Rooke, curator of the West Cumberland Railway Museum, we embark on our journey in the pioneering age of steam, when Carlisle offered a west coast port for the metalworks of Newcastle. As lines spread – around the west coast and reluctantly over Shap – we learn about the Lowther decree that split Whitehaven in two and the overseas fate of Europe's then-longest viaduct across the Solway. Entering the tourist age, we consider why golf-loving Scots were the making of Silloth and why La'al Ratty once had ambitions on Ambleside, before arriving in rail's sunset years, when consolidations and Beeching laid waste to many still-lamented rural lines.

 

• You can find out more about Peter's museum – and arrange a visit - at https://www.facebook.com/West-Cumberland-Railway-Museum-1082018475225883/

Countrystride #73: Millican Dalton - ’Caveman of Borrowdale’

...in which we follow in the footsteps of one of Lakeland's great characters – and neglected icons – Millican Dalton, the self-styled Professor of Adventure. In the company of researcher and 'M.D.' authority Matthew Entwistle, we wend our way from Rosthwaite into Wainwright's 'loveliest square mile' to consider the early life of the Dalton family, who swapped the big skies of Nenthead for smog in London. Summitting Castle Crag, we trace Millican Dalton north as he quits the nine-to-five and embarks on a lifetime of adventure in the Lake District, where – among other firsts – he pioneers adventure holidays, mixed-sex camping parties, lightweight clothing... and possibly the humble pair of shorts. Seeking out the Borrowdale cave that was his summer home for over 50 years, we learn about fires on Napes Needle, letters to Churchill, the lost chasms of Dove's Nest and finding solace in nature, before pondering two unsolved mysteries: what happened to the book left at Dalton's hospital bedside?; and where is his grave?

• You can order the expanded second edition of Matthew's biography of Millican Dalton, Millican Dalton: A Search for Romance and Freedom at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millican-Dalton-Search-Romance-Freedom/dp/0954721322/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=millican+dalton&qid=1642589923&sr=8-1
• You can find Matthew on Twitter at @M_D_Entwistle and on YouTube at Professorofadventure

Countrystride #72: Review of 2021

...in which we are joined by Lakeland Walker editor John Manning for our annual delve into Countrystrides past, picking our best bits from 2021 as we chat about everything from wad to Wainwright; plums to proms; lost histories to laudanum; flower meadows to farming; before naming our favourite walks of the year. As we hear from, among others, Joss Naylor, Kathleen Jones, Richard Leafe, Danny Teasdale, Helen Guy, Mark Hatton and John Dunning, we ponder the unspoken rules of conversation on the fells, consider whether transport charging could alleviate congestion in the National Park, and celebrate egrets in Matterdale. Wishing all of our listeners, subscribers and Patreon supporters a very Happy New Year. We look forward to joining you again in January :-)

Countrystride #71: A Lake District Christmas

...in which we take a seasonal Grasmere wander in the company of historian, journalist and collector of Cumbrian cultural traditions, Alan Cleaver. Striking up moss-cloistered Huntingstile ('stile' means steep), we discuss the seasonal ballad 'Down t' Lonnin', recited each year by the Grasmere Players – and read to us by Elaine Nelson of Sam Read bookshop. Failing to persuade Alan to sing Arthur Somervell's 'Grasmere Carol', we arrive above Red Bank to reflect on seasonal misrule and authority attempts to ban all manner of Cumbrian fun – from snowball fights in 1840s Workington, to bringing pistols to school in 1700s Carlisle. Descending down icy Easedale, we learn about the Christmas tragedy of the Green family, and consider how the children – fending for themselves as their parents perished – became a model of Victorian fortitude. In fading light, we arrive at Allan Bank, where local lad Paul Nelson reads Hardwicke Rawnsley's evocative description of the Keswick 'old folks Christmas do'.

• You can buy Alan's book 'A Lake District Christmas' at www.inspiredbylakeland.co.uk/products/a-lake-district-christmas
• Alan is on Twitter at twitter.com/thelonningsguy
• Elaine owns Sam Read bookshop in Grasmere. www.samreadbooks.co.uk
• With thanks to Elaine and Paul for their contributions to the podcast.

Countrystride #70: Caldbeck - A community through time

…in which we descend from the Outlying Fells summit of Faulds Brow into the Back o’Skiddaw village of Caldbeck with local historian Tony Vaux to take a long view of a community through time. From the Brow – with a remarkable view into Galloway – we reach farmed country, where fortified barns tell of riever raids and the hue-and-cry that once mustered resistance. Entering the village, we unearth the clay-dubbin heritage of the duck pond and learn why human urine was once in high demand. Ambling upstream, we come upon the bobbin mill – a remarkable remnant of industrial Caldbeck, when dozens of pubs and mills served hundreds of workers. Discovering why tungtsen from the Caldbeck fells – initally plundered for armour plating by German miners – helped turn the tide of World War I, we close with reflections on the village’s most famous son, and learn why John Peel’s coat was never meant to be ‘gay’, but Herdwick ‘Hodden’ grey.

• You can buy Tony’s book ‘Caldbeck: A Special Part of Lakeland' (£9 plus P&P) by emailing him direct at vauxt@aol.com.

Countrystride #69: Blencathra with Andy Airey

...in which we summit one of Lakeland's finest heights via the rocky arête of Halls Fell Ridge with Threlkeld born-and-bred Andy Airey. After grappling with local pronunciations, we hear about the outdoor freedoms of a Lakeland childhood; we learn that Father Christmas lives on Great Mell Fell; and we explore the merits of each route onto Saddleback. Approaching the summit on a picture-perfect autumn evening, conversation turns to Andy's daughter Sophie, who took her life in December 2018. In a frank discussion about suicide, about the need to talk with young people and about healing though walking, we move on to consider the '3 Dads Walking' campaign, in which Andy and two other suicide-bereaved fathers walked 324 miles in memory of their daughters – and captured the attention of millions around the world.

• You can find Andy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AireyAndy
• You can support 3 Dads Walking at https://www.3dadswalking.uk
• You can find out more about the work of Papyrus at https://www.papyrus-uk.org

Countrystride #68: Richard Leafe - The National Park at 70

...in which we celebrate the 70th birthday of the Lake District National Park by climbing Orrest Head with Park Authority chief executive Richard Leafe. Exploring a new, accessible route to the summit – a re-discovered track used by Victorian charabancs – we consider the challenge of finding a policy sweet-spot that takes into account conservation, farming, community and business; we discover what drives Richard after 14 years in the job; we talk about ski-ing the front face of Helvellyn; and we pose a series of questions from listeners, including 'Should we charge cars to enter the Park?', 'Have we reached peak tourism?', 'Should 4x4s be on green lanes?' and 'Would the Park have granted planning permission for house boats on Grasmere?'

Countrystride #67: Ghosts on the coast

...in which we stride out from the dunes of Drigg, destination Ravenglass, to celebrate the opening of the first Cumbrian stretch of the English Coast Path. In the company of Ange Harker – Lead Adviser on Natural England’s North West Coastal Access team – we discuss the grand vision of the 2,795-mile long-distance path, latest to join the country's family of national trails, and hear about her favourite stretches, including isolated Cumbrian beaches that have never before enjoyed public access. Then, joining Peter Frost-Pennington on the approach to Ravenglass, we learn about the village's history as a thriving Roman port then busy medieval thoroughfare before encountering remnants of the Esk's once-bounteous salmon garth. Finally, mists cloaking the Lakeland fells, we end our journey at Muncaster Castle – seat of the Penningtons and one of the country's most haunted homes – to enjoy a Hallowe'en ghost story...

 

• You can find Ange on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ange_harker
• For more about visiting Muncaster Castle, see https://www.muncaster.co.uk
• For more about the English Coast Path see https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/england-coast-path/route-descriptions/