Projects

Arnside and Silverdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, straddles the border between Lancashire and Cumbria, adjoining Morecambe Bay. One of the smallest AONBs, It covers just 29 square miles between the Kent Estuary, the River Keer and hemmed by the A6 road to the East.  The area is characterised by low hills of Carboniferous Limestone, including Arnside Knott (522 feet) and Warton Crag (535 feet), interspersed with grassland. Much of the area is covered by deciduous woodland, in which ash, oak, and hazel predominate. The coastal area contains large extents of salt marsh, although these are under threat from the shifting channel of the Kent Estuary which witnesses a small bore at high tide. Herein lies the birthplace of 'tarmac', the large RSPB reserve of Leighton Moss and a growing artist colony... enough to tempt the walker further to discover the delights of this compact region.

The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors is one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. Lying immediately to the south of Middlesbrough and dipping it's eastern end into the North Sea: Ridge upon ridge of purple heather moorland extend as far as the eye can see. Deep secret valleys which cut the plateau come almost as a surprise and the warmth of their red-roofed villages contrasts with the upland solitude. With tourist honey pots such as the town of Whitby and The North York Moors Railway bisecting the park , it is a popular destination, though quiet spots can always be found.

There are thirteen long distance routes in England & Wales which have been designated by the Countryside Agency as 'Official' National Trails. Ten of these are fully developed and three are still under development in places. The first National trail was the 412 km Pennine Way, opened in 1965. The longest is the Southwest Coastal Path which follows the coastline around the South West of England from Somerset in the North to Dorset in the South. The ultimate long distance route is from John 'O' Groats at the North Eastern tip of Scotland to Land's End at the South Western tip of England. Many people have walked it more than once to raise money for charity, some have even walked it backwards (that's walking backwards - NOT Land's End to John 'O' Groats!)

Often described as a heard of 'Sleeping elephants', for most the introduction to the Howgill Fells is the view to the East as the drive on the M6 heads north through the Lune Gorge. With setting sun on their Southern flanks there can be few places that promise much and deliver ten fold. Rising up above the quiet market town of Sedbergh on the Southern edge The Howgills provide a 'bridge' between the Lake District Fells to the West and the Yorkshire Dales to the East. R  ounded hills with lonely fell tops, extensive views and rarely visited a rural idyll tucked away in a place that seems forgotten.

The Yorkshire Dales are well known for the rich beauty of their landscapes. Dales villages are surrounded by lush, dark green pastures, criss-crossed by limestone dry stone walling and characterised by lonely limestone field barns. The dry stone walls take account of neither gently sloping meadows nor steep valley flanks, bounding ancient fields as they have done for centuries. Many are the waterfalls cascading over limestone ridges. Countless gallons of water thunder through dramatic gorges. Relentless scouring of the landscape, begun by glaciers and meltwater over a period of one and a half million years continues today as rainwater and winds play their part.

That magical line where surf and rock collide. The Scottish coast offers the same remoteness of the Highland mountains but in a totally different context. Coastal wildlife abounds and echoes of communities past abandoned in some past era still rouse the soul and excite the senses. The Scottish Coast offers the enquiring mind so much in geographical, geological, natural and historical terms. take time to explore and find an aspect of our heritage that will reward exploration. I have walked alone the ragged beaches, the white wind clutching my bones. The vaulting black cliffs have glistened wetly to my trembling hand, and yet, I have drunk from this broken cup of experience, for as those before me so came I borne of wisdom and experience.

Lying under the steep shoulders of the Northern Pennines to the east and the Lakeland fells to the west, The Eden Valley is an area of sylvan beauty. The lush green of the rolling countryside and deep red sandstone villages give an air of a bygone era in which time seems to slow and all becomes the pace of the river itself. Stretching from it's source high up in the Yorkshire Dales National Park on the slopes of Mallerstang, the Eden descends Hell Gill from the strange sculpture of 'Water cut' and runs parallel with The Settle - Carlisle Railway Line. One of the few rivers in the country to flow north, it twists through the towns of Kirkby Stephen and Appleby wending it's way between lush fields and drystone walls. Through timeless vilages and onto the city of Carlisle, the Eden finally exits into the Solway Firth. A glorious area for fell walking in the upper course and for rambling in the mid and lower sections, it is an area waiting to be discovered having played second fiddle to the near neighbour of The Lakeland Fells for too long.

Being on the border of England and Scotland, Northumberland is noted for its undeveloped landscape of high moorland, now largely protected as a National Park. This features the World Heritage site of Hadrian's Wall stretching coast to coast. As a contrst to this the coastline (An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) has a splendour of its own, dominated by huge skies. Northumberland is the most sparsely populated county in England and has the historic interest of a border county including a multitude of castle and fortified houses. The area to which Christianity first came to England adds further interest in the form of The Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

Cornwall is a stunningly beautiful part of the British Isles that is a source of inspiration for artists and writers alike. Almost surrounded by the sea, The Cornish peninsula stands alone presenting a rugged face to the elements of sea and weather, yet blessed with the warmest climate in the UK . The rocks and cliffs of the coastline shelter small fishing villages unchanged after centuries of existence. Small cottages, thatched and whitewashed, cluster around tiny harbours. Colourful fishing boats pulled up on the shore or moored in quiet coves bear testsment to the fact that the sea still provides the mainstay for these small communities.