spacer Northern winter; at the turning of the year. At the turning of nature’s year, not the turning of our human year. Mistchill and windwhip swirl around the fell and valley blurring sound and sight. Reminders this place of aeons old fort and ritual may be within Sheffield’s city bounds, Read more…
spacer Car park; drop off, jump out; car door, shut. Wave K off, now; Run Mam Tor steps steep past scowling tourists. Quick, tap summit view guide then skedaddle fell shoes scarting on crumbling paving slabs where grass once grew. Run on Down now – more people; polite good afternoons Read more…
“Never go into the hills alone”, so say the sages. Now, I think a sage is best taken with a pinch of salt(especially good on tomatoes and new potatoes). I also think solo, self-supported is the best way to play in the hills. Ooh, such a rebel am I. A Read more…
FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT: I use a fair bit of Inov-8 kit. It’s simple, it fits, and it works well in the UK hills. I have neither been paid for this review, nor been given the shoes by either Inov-8 or Accelerate. Okay, so what am I reviewing here? The shiny new Inov-8 X-Talon Read more…
I’m not one of those folk who ascribe motives or emotions to mountains. A mountain, whether Kinder or K2, is just a lump of rock, maybe covered with slippery and/or squelchy bits. Any treachery, cruelty, intimidation, or indeed welcoming friendliness, is our human projection; nothing more, nothing less. A mountain Read more…
Rest day baking recipe: crispy crunchy oat biscuits(cookies if you’re US). A recipe easily made vegan, lots of fibre, lots of calories & very good on yoghurt. Of course it’s good running, climbing, cycling food. As with many of my recipes, it’s basic & adaptable; have a play. Maybe add some cinnamon Read more…
Ah, Easter break last weekend; you enjoyed longer days and longer runs. And a realisation about socks. You need some new ones. You’ve time before May Day weekend though; but there are so many socks … So how about trying Injinji toe socks? Odd things. Odd, but comfortable and effective. Read more…
Pan Speziale di Certosino. Basically a solid, rich Italian Christmas cake, reputedly originating from the monks of Certosino. It’s full of delicious stuff and calorie dense with a mix of carbs, fat and protein. A bonus is it keeps well(allegedly, it’s delicious and moreish) and survives battering in running/climbing/cycling bags. Read more…
April, the clocks have shifted. The weather is warming, feeling a little more friendly. Buds are bursting and the world is greening. Time to ramp things up, to remember dreams of long laid plans. Perhaps finesse them, perhaps make some more. Time now for long days over the hills; days Read more…
A literal hack this. Modern plastic whistles are great; light, loud and kind to your lips in cold weather. They are however, difficult to keep hold of, and have a bizarrely useless clip on the back. Solution? Chop the clip off, smooth the burr (a flame helps, plastic is difficult Read more…