Countrystride

…in which we set out from Coniston to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of John Ruskin, the Victorian polymath who wrote that mountains are "the beginning and the end of all natural scenery". As we walk, with Ruskin Museum  archivist Vicky Slowe – past wildflower meadows, lime kilns and iconic Yewtree Farm to arrive at Coniston Water with its view of Brantwood – we discuss the great man's rem...

…in which we are joined by Cumbria Magazine and Lakeland Walker editor John Manning to walk from Dufton to Appleby-in-Westmorland along the Pennine Journey, the long distance footpath inspired by Alfred Wainwright’s 1938 ramble through the hills of northern England. As we walk - through bluebell woods and down cloistered ghylls - John discusses his life-changing experience on the Pennine Way, expl...

...In which we wander with Ann Lingard along the mosses, marshes and mudflats of the Solway coast. Enveloped in birdsong, we take in big skies, skeleton trees and wildlife-rich marshes before discussing the rise – and dramatic fall – of one of Cumbria's lost railways, the dying craft of salmon 'haaf netting' and how Ann's love for the sea was woken during rockpool 'guddles' with her Cornish father...

...in which we celebrate World Heritage Day by exploring Great Langdale with National Trust archaeologist Jamie Lund. Setting out from Sticklebarn, we talk dry stone walls, the remarkable Cumbrian commons and the legacy of campaigner George Trevelyan, before surveying Pike o’Stickle and the perilously-located axe factory – part of the UK’s first major industry.

…in which we climb above Buttermere on a blustery ridge walk over the High Stile range with researcher and broadcaster David Powell-Thompson, best known for his appearances on Terry Abraham’s 'Life of a Mountain' films and Julia Bradbury’s 'Wainwright Walks'. As we wander - mostly in cloud - we discuss epic mountain days; ticking off the 214 (for the fourth time); the ‘steamy’ atmosphere of the ol...

...in which we climb to the impressive upland corrie tarn of Blea Water from Mardale Head with mountain leader Phil Tinning before striking over rough country to High Street's airy Rough Crag ridge - one-time home of Eddie the last Lakeland Eagle. As we walk we refresh our navigational skills, encounter deer tracks and long-lost mining trods, and are converted to the joys of wild walking. 

 ...in which we walk Derwent Water's wooded west shore from Manesty to Brandelhow Wood with National Trust ranger Roy Henderson, who talks to us about the valley's industrial past and today's management, before organising a search party for a missing labrador. At Crow Park we're joined by Dr Christopher Donaldson to take a long view of the Picturesque and the birth of the worldwide conservation mo...

…in which we make the classic Helvellyn ascent to the Hole in the Wall with film maker Terry Abraham, whose celebrated ‘Life of a Mountain’ documentaries have captured the essence of the Lakeland fells - and the communities that live among them - in a way no others have. En route we talk about what inspires Terry, the highs and lows of filming in wild places, why Thirlmere needed no zipwire, and h...

...in which we brave the drizzle to walk from Dove Cottage in Townend along the old corpse road round Grasmere to join the festivities at Allan Bank. En route we talk with Marian Veevers about how William and Dorothy Wordsworth celebrated Christmas, and hear from the National Trust's Elaine Taylor about seasonal Cumbrian traditions. We close with music from the Cumbrian Duo, who play us out with a...

...in which we wander up rugged Borrowdale to visit the Langstrath Birch, one of seven enigmatic trees identified by Harriet and Rob Fraser  in their Long View project. As we walk we discuss rewilding, poetry and Dorothy Wonrdsworth's little-known Scafell Pike ascent before breathing in as a flock of ewes heads down the valley.

…in which we embark on a spooky - and windy - Hallowe’en wander along the moorland corpse road between St Catherine’s Church, Boot, and St Olaf’s Church, Wasdale Head. We are joined by historian Alan Cleaver who shares his passion for lonnins, talks us through the story of Burnmoor Tarn’s ghostly pony, and enthuses on the value of story - and tall tales - within Cumbria's cultural landscape. We ev...

...In which we walk between Windermere and Brockhole to climb the viewpoint of Orrest Head, where author, artist and fellwalker Alfred Wainwright first fell in love with the Lake District. We speak with Chris Butterfield, an avid collector of the great man's memorabilia, and share a conversation with Andrew Nichol, who worked with the enigmatic fellwanderer at the Westmorland Gazette, and who was...

...In which we gain a farmer’s perspective on life close to Hadrian’s Wall. Stockmen and women converse about their lives and the age-old cycle of the seasons stretching back long before the Romans imposed their frontier. We walk from an organic dairy farm which produces fabulous cheese to a traditional upland smallholding along the Maiden Way and Hadrian’s Wall National Trail.

...In which we set out from Glenridding, a village that owes its origins to the lead mining industry, to climb Sheffield Pike. During the walk we meet Eddie Pool, the last surviving miner from the Greenside Mine, and share with local resident Tim Clarke an appreciation of the importance of an empowered community. 

Dispatch #1: SCAFELL PIKE - Roof of England ...In which we tackle the Big One, Scafell Pike, from Wasdale Head. We're joined by Fix the Fells' Iain Gray, who talks to us about how path engineering has evolved over the 30 years he has worked for the National Trust. On the summit - with its newly rebuilt war memorial - we speak to all ages and nationalities about what summitting England's highest pe...