#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,...
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Recent dispatches
- 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...
- Mar 31, 2023
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...
- Mar 10, 2023
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...
- Feb 17, 2023
Countrystride #97: TOWNEND – 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...
- Jan 27, 2023
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...
- Jan 13, 2023
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...
- Dec 30, 2022
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...
- Dec 16, 2022
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...
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