• Running,  Running Writing,  Writing

    The Outside Round

    It was a dark and stormy night, and, shambling through the peak district hills came a band of runners.  Denizens of Alpkit and Outside, ambassadors from kit and clothing makers.  From the doors of the shop, for many an hour…

  • Running,  Running Writing,  Writing

    Race Day

    Summer’s here, and with it comes fell racing season. All over the north bunches of enthusiasts scamper updownroundacross rough ground.  Very often on a midweek evening after work, then both days at the weekend. None of these events can work…

  • Nature Writing,  Photography,  Writing

    After the closure

    A picture can paint a thousand words, or so the phrase says.  Perhaps so.  On a long office day, editing my back catalogue, a 5×4 slide starts talking about memories.   In 2001 my world, like many other people’s, was…

  • Climbing Writing,  Writing

    Playtime

    The bus has stopstarted out from Sheffield to Fox House.  The stopstarting shlep from Fox House, sweatily burdened under bouldering pads and bag full of shoes and food is finished.   Time to climb.   But maybe coffee and a teacake in this…

  • Climbing Writing,  Writing

    The Grit

    “Millstone Grit; coarse-grained carboniferous sandstones – gritstone specifically refers to such rocks in the Pennine areas of Northern England – the gritstone edges and boulders of the Peak District provide one of the world’s classic climbing areas.” Yes, yes they…

  • Ghost Story Writing,  Running Writing,  Writing

    Solstice

    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…