Souther Fell

We are having a glorious spell of weather, but as usual we have been busy doing a variety of things, but today we had chance to get a walk done. Lots of jobs are still needing doing at home - still playing catch-up - but we have been saying we must have a walk up Bannerdale to see if the rerouted path/bridge etc have been finished. This is work following the Dec 2015 Storm Desmond devastation.

No doubt there will by many complaints from “purists” but in time this path will look less intrusive and I really don’t know what better alternative there could be. It is made using stone from the river bed.

After a short distance the path changes into these huge slate slabs. Obviously it has been created good and wide, to try and dissuade people from walking to one side which often seems to happen!

The new bridge is finally in place over bannerdale beck

further along, looking back. The glenderamackin winds its way through the valley. 

This new bridge has been in a little while now, we use it to cross the Glenderamackin to head up towards Mousethwaite comb and then onto Souther

It's warm, the forecast was suggesting 16 degrees and the combination of warm sunshine and February ground temperatures has created quite a haze in some of the valleys.


A panaranic shot from near the top of  Souther. The distinctive saddle of Blencathra on the skyline

It was so warm we could have sat for ages on the top of Souther, but life is busy, so a quick bite to eat on down we headed back home. 

Just over 5 miles again today but much less pain at the end than our High Pike trip.Definitely on the mend at last.

A Bit of A Break

Anyone who looks at this blog may notice there has been a bit of a lull in activities of late. It's not entirely down to idleness.

On October 28th I was riding out up the gallops as usual, on what is probably the quietest of the horses that I ever ride. We can all have our off days and (in hindsight we now know) this day was an off day for this little horse - who later turned out to have a back problem.

To cut to the chase, I was flung in the air, did an undoubtedly ungraceful somersault and landed on my sacroilliac. Just below the large part of my back which was nicely protected by a back pad. OUCH.

So after a long saga NHS failings (quite the opposite from our experiences with the NHS thus far), it transpired that I had a total of 6 fractures. 3 involving Lumbar spine L1, L2 and L3 (both L2 and L3 have 2 fractures apiece) and 1 involving Sacral Ala. 

So, whilst I have been progressing steadily throughout the last 15 or so weeks, one of the most painful positions has been sitting. Hence no computer work!

I am now in 'Rehab', getting the very best of care from Sophie at Jack Berry House and doing an enormous number of pilates and hydrotherapy exercises . We have managed the odd 'Fell ' Walk during this time and last week made it up High Pike - my best effort yet (not carrying a pack!!). So with luck and lots of physio, we'll be back to full steam ahead soon.

19th Dec 0.6 mile

Christmas Day on High Rigg 1.15 miles.


14th Jan Askham Fell 1.5 miles


24th Jan Dunmallard - 1.7 miles


14th Feb High Pike - 5 miles



18th Feb - Yearsley Moor (on the way to Rehab) 3.5 miles