Category Archives: 4. Northern England

#216 – “I’ve sunbathed on Kinder, been burned to a cinder…” (from ‘The Manchester Rambler’ by Ewan McColl)

Posted on 30/01/2017 by Paul Shorrock

Regular readers of this blog will know that every January I disappear for a week to work with my old mate John Bamber on one of the Safety Teams on the Spine Race (click here for the back-story of ‘The … Continue reading →

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#215 – A dogs life! (in 2016)

Posted on 04/01/2017 by Paul Shorrock

“Woof – Every now and then the Boss goes out of the room and then it’s my chance to take over his blog.  He’ll never learn!  So, here’s what I’ve been doing all year.” “We had the usual nonsense back … Continue reading →

Posted in 1. Scotland, 2. Lake District, 4. Northern England, 5. North Wales, 6. Mid and South Wales, 7. Everywhere Else! | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

#212 – Bleaklow from Snake Pass

Posted on 22/11/2016 by Paul Shorrock

I’m not saying that I’ve turned into a ‘fair weather walker’, but It’s good to be able to pick and choose hill days according to the conditions.    It doesn’t always work that way though – I had to taxi … Continue reading →

Posted in 4. Northern England, Aircrash Sites | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

#209 – Mam Tor, the Shivering Mountain

Posted on 27/09/2016 by Paul Shorrock

Living in North Wales, there really isn’t any need to go far for a good day out in the mountains, but sometimes it’s good to have a change.   A Peak District trip was on the cards, and one walk … Continue reading →

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#200 – Parlick Pike and Fairsnape Fell

Posted on 11/05/2016 by Paul Shorrock

For me, this was the beginning.  For all my adult life, the hills and mountains have been very important to me, and this is where it all began.  When I was 14 I cycled to these hills with a mate … Continue reading →

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#199 – Mysterious Lancashire – Pendle Hill

Posted on 02/05/2016 by Paul Shorrock

Pendle Hill has an air of mystery about it.   The hill dominates the view in much of Central Lancashire, but stands separate from the Pennines, the Bowland Hills and the Yorkshire Dales which surround it.    At 557 metres (1827ft) … Continue reading →

Posted in 4. Northern England, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

#195 – Mam Tor – The ‘Shivering Mountain’

Posted on 22/02/2016 by Paul Shorrock

About 4000 years ago, the slopes of Mam Tor in the Peak District of Derbyshire would not have been a good place to be.    The hill is mostly sandstone lying on top of unstable shales, and 4000 years ago the … Continue reading →

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#194 – The Pennine Way in winter – twice as much fun for Javed

Posted on 08/02/2016 by Paul Shorrock

On 16 January 2016, the fifth Montane Spine Race ended at Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. Of the 68 racers who had started only 24 reached the finish, adding to the myths surrounding ‘Britain’s most brutal race’.    One of the … Continue reading →

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#193 – The Spine Race 2016, as seen from Gregs Hut

Posted on 25/01/2016 by Paul Shorrock

The Spine Race – 268 miles on the Pennine Hills – In winter! Every January for the past five years, a hardy bunch of ultra-athletes have set off from Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District with the intention of racing … Continue reading →

Posted in 4. Northern England, Bothy days, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

#192 – Here we go again – The Spine Race 2016

Posted on 11/01/2016 by Paul Shorrock

It’s that time of year again – the Montane Spine Race started on Saturday 9th January on a cold misty day in Edale.   The racers have one thing in mind, and that is running the length of the Pennine Way … Continue reading →

Posted in 4. Northern England | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments