Dispatches | Countrystride

Recent dispatches

Dec 1

#139: Gowbarrow Fell with Fix the Fells

...in which we make a breezy autumnal ascent of Gowbarrow Fell to learn about the unending work of Fix the Fells. In the company of FtF...

Nov 16

#138: Running int' fells - A brief history of fell-running, with Peter Todhunter

...in which we take an autumnual stroll around Grasmere to explore the history of fell-running with runner, archivist and west coast lad...

Nov 1

#137: Voices from the changing commons

...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a picture of the historic Cumbrian commons as they enter a period of...

Oct 19

#136: Rebecca Smith in Grizedale – Lives of the working class countryside

...in which we take an autumn stroll into Grizedale Forest with local-born author Rebecca Smith to explore the hidden history of working...

Oct 11

#135: Phoebe Smith – Love, loss and life on Britain's ancient paths

...in which Dave interviews adventurer, author and multi-award-winning photographer, presenter and broadcaster Phoebe Smith about...

Sep 27

#134: The Scafells – Hidden views and curious histories

...in which we ascend Moasdale from Cockley Beck in the company of author Guy Richardson to take a long view of the Scafell massif and...

Sep 14

#133: Whitehaven - A remarkable history

...in which we tour the west coast town of Whitehaven in the company of Blue Badge guide and historic buildings expert Alexandra...

Sep 1

#132: Cumbria – 1,000 years of maps

...in which we tell the 1,000-year story of cartography in the historic counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire with author,...

Aug 16

#131: The Atlantic rainforests of Borrowdale

...in which we stride out from Seatoller in the company of conservationist and lichenologist April Windle to explore the Celtic woodlands...

Aug 2

#130: Goldscope – The wealth of Newlands

...in which we journey deep into Newlands to tell the remarkable story of Elizabethen copper mining, and the part it played in making...

Jul 19

#129: Loughrigg Fell: Tales of a small mountain

…in which we climb one of the Lake District's most popular heights, Loughrigg Fell, to celebrate the launch of a new book, Loughrigg:...

Jul 5

#128: The lost history of Brampton coal

…in which we head to the far northeast of Cumbria to explore the once thriving North Pennines coal industry in the company of ex-pitman...

Jun 21

#127: MATT STANIEK: Saving Windermere

...in which we stride out from Waterhead in the company of ecologist and Save Windermere campaigner Matt Staniek. In the vibrant...

Jun 8

#126: PUBS OF CUMBRIA: When communities save their pubs

...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, BBC Cumbria's Nick Brownlee takes a seat at the bar to discuss the highs, lows and daily...

May 24

Countrystride #125: Nature friendly farming champion: James Robinson from Strickley

...in which, guest presenting for Mark and Dave, Radio 4's Caz Graham dons her boots for a day on the farm with organic dairy farmer,...

May 6

Countrystride #124: 778 ascents of HELVELLYN, with fell top assessor Jon Bennett

...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, broadcaster Nick Brownlee ventures out with Jon Bennett – a man who has climbed Helvellyn 778...

Apr 19

Countrystride #123: BARROW-IN-FURNESS – A tale of iron and ships, hair and shops

...in which we explore the industrial and social history of Barrow-in-Furness in the company of former mayor John Murphy and artist Maddi...

Apr 5

Countrystride #122: LIMESTONE of the WESTMORLAND DALES

...in which we set out from springtime Orton to explore the limestone scars of the Westmorland Dales in the company of husband-and-wife...

Mar 23

Countrystride #121: A HISTORY OF PAPER-MAKING on the RIVER KENT

...in which we take a Dales Way wander downstream from Cowan Head to Burneside to explore the long history of paper-making on the River...

Mar 9

Countrystride #120: A history of BOATING ON WINDERMERE

...in which we are joined by Kendal-based author and Windermere Lake Cruises skipper Robert Beale to dive into the deep history of...

Feb 23

Countrystride #119: The birth of QUAKERISM in CUMBRIA

...in which we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox – founder of Quakerism – on a journey through '1652 country'...

Feb 9

Countrystride #118: JAMES FORREST: Record-breaking round of the 214

...in which we're defeated by weather, so shelter indoors to hear from one of the UK's great adventurers: Cockermouth-based James...

Jan 19

Countrystride #117: ABOVE GREAT MOSS: Stone axes of the earliest settlers

...in which we rewind the centuries to the Neolithic Age on a journey in search of Lakeland's earliest settlers and their highly-valued...

Dec 30, 2023

Countrystride #116: REVIEW OF 2023

...in which we uwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Lakeland Walking Tales blogger and...

Dec 19, 2023

Countrystride #115: A CUMBRIAN CHRISTMAS FEAST - With Helen Rebanks and Ivan Day

...in which we are joined by Farmer's Wife author Helen Rebanks and food historian Ivan Day for a feast of Cumbrian Christmas fare. In...

Dec 8, 2023

Countrystride #114: FELL FOODIE - A feast on Silver How

...in which we climb one of Grasmere's low-level favourites to dine in a dell with outdoors cook, author and mental health speaker...

Nov 24, 2023

Countrystride #113: WHY WE RUN - Fell and trail running in the Lake District

...in which we embark on one of our all-time favourite walks – up the Glendereterra valley – to ask why runners head into the toughest of...

Nov 10, 2023

Countrystride #112: MELVYN BRAGG - Back in the Day

...in which we return to post-war Cumbria in the company of author, broadcaster and parliamentarian, Melvyn Bragg, to reflect on his...

Oct 13, 2023

Countrystride #111: THE HERDWICK with Will Rawling

...in which we head to misty Ennerdale in search of the Lake District's iconic sheep breed: the Herdwick. In the company of Will Rawling,...

Sep 29, 2023

Countrystride #110: ELIZA LYNN LINTON and THE LAKE COUNTRY

...in which we visit Crosthwaite to shine a light on one of Lakeland's most neglected historic figures – remarkable Eliza Lynn Linton,...

Sep 16, 2023

Countrystride #109: AIRA FORCE - Lakeland pleasure ground

...in which we take a timeless tour of Aira Force – one of Lakeland's enduring honeypots – to uncover a history that takes in Victorian...

Sep 2, 2023

Countrystride #108: TO THE LAKES! The early days of tourism

...in which we journey back 200 years to the early days of Lake District tourism in the company of Jeff Cowton MBE, principal curator at...

Aug 11, 2023

Countrystride #107: TALES from LITTLE LANGDALE

...in which we stride out from Fell Foot Farm at the foot of Wrynose Pass to explore the upper reaches of Little Langdale with National...

Jul 21, 2023

Countrystride #106: The LICHENS of Borrowdale

...in which we take a deep dive into the miniature world of lichens with Cumbria Lichens & Bryophytes expert Pete Martin. Embarking from...

Jun 30, 2023

Countrystride #105: THE OLD MAN and the SLATE

...in which we are joined by industrial archeologist supremo Mark Hatton to talk all things slate as we ascend and then tunnel deep into...

Jun 16, 2023

Countrystride #104: ESKDALE - Living the Fisherground dream

..in which we don the Countrystride shorts for a balmy trip west into sylvan Eskdale to hear about Ian and Jen Hall's 27-year journey to...

Jun 3, 2023

Countrystride #103: AMBLESIDE - A town through time

...in which we take a tour of honeypot Ambleside in the company of Blue Badge guide, and lover of all things Ambleside, Alison Pickering....

May 12, 2023

Countrystride #102: A COAST TO COAST LOVE AFFAIR, with Debbie North

...in which we travel east to the big-sky North York Moors to meet access campaigner and Cabinet Office disability ambassador Debbie...

Apr 28, 2023

Countrystride #101: THE YELLOW EARL and Lowther Castle

...in which we visit one of Lakeland's great historic houses, Lowther Castle, to explore the story of the 'Yellow Earl': Hugh Lowther,...

Apr 14, 2023

Countrystride #100: WHY WE LOVE THE LAKES

...in which we celebrate our 100th birthday with an ascent of Grasmere's favourite fell, Helm Crag, to consider the question: "What is...

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