Much as I prefer walking over mountains, open fellsides and rights of way, I never mind occasional strolls around country lanes – particularly if there’s not much traffic on them. Many of the great walkers of the past – people like George Borrow, Jim Phelan, Walter Starkie etc. (do read their books if you haven’t)Continue reading “Walking the Lanes of the Eden Valley”
Tag Archives: Westmorland Dales
A Stroll in the Westmorland Dales
The village of Orton’s original name was Sker-Overton, changed to Orton in the local dialect. I found this out when I was researching my novel Villain – the third in the series which brings some reality back to the legend of Robin Hood. My book starts on the wild moorlands above Orton, before my villains returnContinue reading “A Stroll in the Westmorland Dales”
Don’t Lose Your Way
We have until January 2026 to save our historic rights of way. Please help The Ramblers with this latest campaign Well over 140,000 miles of public paths criss-cross England and Wales. This network has evolved over centuries with many paths dating back to medieval times – or earlier! These paths link villages, hamlets, roads andContinue reading “Don’t Lose Your Way”
Walking into Prehistory
A Neolithic stone circle, a Bronze Age burial cairn used again in the Dark Ages, and a Romano-British defensive settlement – centuries of history in a walk of several miles from the village of Orton in the Westmorland Dales. Confusingly, the Westmorland Dales are part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, though not actually inContinue reading “Walking into Prehistory”
Maytime by the Rawthey
I like all seasons of the year, but there is something really special about walking through the English landscape in May. The month gives us a rebirth of the countryside after a long winter. And there is such a delicious freshness about it all – the leaves on the trees, out at last, look soContinue reading “Maytime by the Rawthey”
