Countrystride
Society & Culture
About
A celebration of the landscapes, culture, heritage and people of Cumbria and the Lake District.
Episodes
- #163: Walla Crag – A short history of Lake District guidebooks
...in which we climb Walla Crag in the company of academic and Back o’ Skidda’ resident Dr Liz Woodham for a deep dive into the history of guidebooks dedicated to fell-walking in Lakeland. Striding out from Surprise View, we set the histor…
- #162: The Grasmere Dialect Plays
...in which we visit springtime Allan Bank to explore the forgotten phenomena of the Grasmere dialect plays – celebrations of Westmorland dialect and life that put Lakeland on the national cultural map for nearly 40 years – and the woman b…
- #161: Donald Campbell – Speed king of Coniston
...in which we return to the golden age of speed records in the company of Dr Keith Mitchell, who was a teen when Bluebird K7 made its tragic final record attempt on Coniston in January 1967, and who has researched all things Campbell ever…
- #160: Vicars of the fells
...in which we pull up a pew at St Oswald’s Church, Grasmere, for a wide-ranging chat about faith in the hills, fell-running and the day-to-day life of the rural vicar. Opening the podcast, we reflect on the personal and faith journeys tha…
- #159: Blackwell – Arts & Crafts in Lakeland
...in which we head south over a snowy Dunmail Raise to immerse ourselves in the world of Arts and Crafts at Blackwell. In the company of Niall Hodson, Keeper of Collections at Lakeland Arts, we start our conversation taking a long view ov…
- #158: Haystacks – How Wainwright changed our lives
...in which we embark on a memorial walk to Innominate Tarn on Haystacks to ask the question: How did fell-walker Alfred Wainwright impact on so many lives? Closing a year of AW anniversaries – including the 70th anniversary of the publica…
- #157: A Cumbrian Christmas Cracker – December 2025
...in which we select the best bits from our second Cumbrian Christmas Cracker, a celebration of all things festive in the historic counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire north-of-the-Sands. In the company of historian and auth…
- #156: Kurt Schwitters – From the international avant-garde to exile in Ambleside
...in which dazzling autumn light illuminates a breezy walk between Ambleside and Elterwater in the company of art historian Dr Lizzie Fisher, where we discuss the remarkable life of the groundbreaking 20th-century German artist Kurt Schwi…
- #155: The Lakeland Angler – On Derwent Water with Eric Hope
...in which we spend a perfect autumn day 'gone fishing' on Derwent Water with angler-author Eric Hope. Setting out from Lodore, we cast our minds – and line – back to Eric's Lancashire childhood, and the day trips he made to Windermere, w…
- #154: Rory Stewart: 'Middleland' – Letters from Britain’s most rural constituency
...in which we are joined by broadcaster, author, long-distance walker and former MP for Penrith and the Border, Rory Stewart, to discuss his new book, Middleland – Dispatches from the Borders . In a wide-ranging discussion about the 'lost…
- #153: Monasteries, mining and manhunts – A 10,000 year history of Seatoller
...in which we congregate in autumnal Upper Borrowdale to explore the history of Seatoller. In the company of Steve Uglow – author of Seatoller: History of a Hamlet – we ascend the flanks of High Doat and return to the last Ice Age, when t…
- #152: The Lost Paths – Jack Cornish from The Ramblers
...in which we're joined by Jack Cornish, author, long-distance walker and Head of Paths at The Ramblers to talk about his book The Lost Paths , and the deep history of England and Wales' extensive path network . Recorded live at June's Co…
- #151: Eycott Hill – Landscape in recovery
...in which we open Series 2 of Countrystride by exploring Eycott Hill in the northeast corner of the Lake District National Park – a landscape in recovery. In the company of Kevin Scott, Northern Reserves Manager at Cumbria Wildlife Trust…
- That's all for now: By Styhead Tarn
...in which we take a stroll – just Mark and Dave – from Seatoller to Sty Head Tarn to announce the end of Countrystride (for now) and reflect on 149 episodes and 6.5 years of the podcast. Under perfect Spring skies, we catch the bus from…
- #149: Hostelling in the Lakes
...in which we gather at YHA Borrowdale for a wide-ranging chat about hostelling in the Lake District: the people. the places and the passion. In the company of Aaron Jones, manager at YHA Borrowdale; Christine Thomas, co-owner of Elterwat…
- #148: Tom Stephenson and Thomas Arthur Leonard: Footsteps to the Lakes
...in which we head south to Pendle Hill to explore the extraordinary lives of two campaigning outdoorsmen, who helped establish National Parks, Youth Hostels, the Ramblers and The Pennine Way – 60 years young this year. In the company of…
- #147: Last of its kind – Eskdale Mill
...in which we venture west to the Eskdale village of Boot to visit the last remaining water cornmill in the Lake District. Guided by Mill manager Kate Hughes, we explore the old gardens – a scene of watery activity, with Willan Beck tumbl…
- #146: The lead mines of Nenthead
...in which we visit the far northeast of Cumbria to explore the remarkable history and remains of the Nenthead lead mines. In the company of geologist and Nenthead Mines trustee Pete Jackson, we learn about the earliest mineral prospectin…
- #145: The Westmorland Dales – A century of farming memories
...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a long-view picture of the ever-changing farmed landscape of the Westmorland Dales. In the company of local-born John Hastwell and project officer Amanda Walters, we list…
- #144: Gavin Capstick – New CEO of the Lake District National Park
...in which we are joined by Gavin Capstick, new chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, for a wide-ranging chat about the state of the Park and his ambitions for its future. Ascending out of Tebay onto the Howgills,…
- #143: Robert Southey – The neglected Lake Poet
...in which we visit Keswick Museum for a deep dive into the life of one of Romantic Lakeland's most under-appreciated figures: writer, former Poet Laureate and long-term resident of Greta Hall, Robert Southey (1774-1843). In the company o…
- #142: Review of 2024
...in which we unwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Jamie Normington and Low Sizergh Barn co-owner Alison Park. Featuring clips from, among others, James Robinson, Eile…
- #141: A Cumbrian Christmas Cracker
...in which we congregate at the Armitt, Ambleside for a night of readings, historic press reports, dialect poems and music that celebrate a distinctly Cumbrian Christmas. In the company of Alan Cleaver, Lesley Park, Sue Allan and – on har…
- #140: The owls of Grasmere, with Polly Atkin
...in which Dave takes a midwinter stroll with author Polly Atkin to discuss The Company of Owls , Polly's new book about her tawny owl neighbours in Grasmere. Climbing from Town End onto White Moss Common, we consider the recent history o…
- #139: Gowbarrow Fell with Fix the Fells
...in which we make a breezy autumnal ascent of Gowbarrow Fell to learn about the unending work of Fix the Fells. In the company of FtF partnership manager Isabel Berry and deputy ranger Jonny Skinn, we take a long view of Lake District tr…
- #138: Running int' fells - A brief history of fell-running, with Peter Todhunter
...in which we take an autumnual stroll around Grasmere to explore the history of fell-running with runner, archivist and west coast lad Peter Todhunter. Setting out from the village green – one-time site of Westmorland wrestling matches –…
- #137: Voices from the changing commons
...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a picture of the historic Cumbrian commons as they enter a period of profound change. In the company of local-born John Hastwell and project officer Amanda Walters, we li…
- #136: Rebecca Smith in Grizedale – Lives of the working class countryside
...in which we take an autumn stroll into Grizedale Forest with local-born author Rebecca Smith to explore the hidden history of working class people in the countryside. Exploring the expansive pine plantations north of Satterthwaite, we l…
- #135: Phoebe Smith – Love, loss and life on Britain's ancient paths
...in which Dave interviews adventurer, author and multi-award-winning photographer, presenter and broadcaster Phoebe Smith about journeys of self-discovery on the country's old ways. Recorded live at Countrystride's end of summer gatherin…
- #134: The Scafells – Hidden views and curious histories
...in which we ascend Moasdale from Cockley Beck in the company of author Guy Richardson to take a long view of the Scafell massif and its oft-overlooked history. Under pristine skies we ascend the 'moss valley' on a long-abandoned turf-cu…
- #133: Whitehaven - A remarkable history
...in which we tour the west coast town of Whitehaven in the company of Blue Badge guide and historic buildings expert Alexandra Fairclough. From the heart of the bustling harbour, we paint a picture of the settlement's early history – of…
- #132: Cumbria – 1,000 years of maps
...in which we tell the 1,000-year story of cartography in the historic counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire with author, academic and cartophile Bill Shannon. When does the name 'Cumbria' first appear on a map? Who were the…
- #131: The Atlantic rainforests of Borrowdale
...in which we stride out from Seatoller in the company of conservationist and lichenologist April Windle to explore the Celtic woodlands of Borrowdale and celebrate the designation of a new 721-hectare (1,782-acre) National Nature Reserve…
- #130: Goldscope – The wealth of Newlands
...in which we journey deep into Newlands to tell the remarkable story of Elizabethen copper mining, and the part it played in making Keswick the birthplace of modernity. Leaving Little Town in the company of the inimitable Mark Hatton, we…
- #129: Loughrigg Fell: Tales of a small mountain
…in which we climb one of the Lake District's most popular heights, Loughrigg Fell, to celebrate the launch of a new book, Loughrigg: Tales of a small mountai n. In the company of author Eileen Jones and botanist Pete Martin, we consider w…
- #128: The lost history of Brampton coal
…in which we head to the far northeast of Cumbria to explore the once thriving North Pennines coal industry in the company of ex-pitman Clive Seal. Rewinding to the 1240s, we unearth the first records of coal production in the area – suppl…
- #127: Matt Staniek: Saving Windermere
...in which we stride out from Waterhead in the company of ecologist and Save Windermere campaigner Matt Staniek. In the vibrant watermeadows that flank the River Rothay we dig into local lad Matt's early life – where hedgehogs were nursed…
- #126: Pubs of Cumbria: When communities save their pubs
...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, BBC Cumbria's Nick Brownlee takes a seat at the bar to discuss the highs, lows and daily realities of operating a community pub. In a hospitality sector beset by staff shortages, rising costs and…
- #125: Nature friendly farming champion: James Robinson from Strickley
...in which, guest presenting for Mark and Dave, Radio 4's Caz Graham dons her boots for a day on the farm with organic dairy farmer, Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network and one of Cumbria's farming heroes, James Robinson. In a wi…
- 124: 778 ascents of Helvellyn, with fell top assessor Jon Bennett
...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, broadcaster Nick Brownlee ventures out with Jon Bennett – a man who has climbed Helvellyn 778 times. Ascending Mires Beck, we hear from Jon about the important role of the National Park fell top…
- 123: Barrow-in-Furness – A tale of iron and ships, hair and shops
...in which we explore the industrial and social history of Barrow-in-Furness in the company of former mayor John Murphy and artist Maddi Nicholson. Overlooking Walney Channel and distant Black Combe, we delve into the Furness peninsula's…
- #122: Limestone of the Westmorland Dales
...in which we set out from springtime Orton to explore the limestone scars of the Westmorland Dales in the company of husband-and-wife geologist / botanist team Syvia and Peter Woodhead. Alongside bubbling Chapel Beck, we encounter early…
- 121: A history of paper-making on the River Kent
...in which we take a Dales Way wander downstream from Cowan Head to Burneside to explore the long history of paper-making on the River Kent. In the company of paper manufacturer and fell-runner Mark Cropper, Chair of the six-generation fa…
- 120: A history of boating on Windermere
...in which we are joined by Kendal-based author and Windermere Lake Cruises skipper Robert Beale to dive into the deep history of boating on England largest lake. Rambling along the fine new path from Lakeside to Finsthwaite, we look back…
- 119: The birth of Quakerism in Cumbria
...in which we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox – founder of Quakerism – on a journey through '1652 country' with historian, Quaker and Professor Emeritus at Lancaster University, Angus Winchester. Starting our wa…
- 118: James Forrest - Record-breaking round of the 214
...in which we're defeated by weather, so shelter indoors to hear from one of the UK's great adventurers: Cockermouth-based James Forrest, who has bagged all 1,001 mountains in the UK and Ireland, and broke records walking both the 446 Nut…
- #117: Above Great Moss: Stone axes of the earliest settlers
...in which we rewind the centuries to the Neolithic Age on a journey in search of Lakeland's earliest settlers and their highly-valued stone axes. In the company of archaeologist Steve Dickinson, we set out from Brotherilkeld – the great…
- Countrystride #116: Review of 2023
...in which we uwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Lakeland Walking Tales blogger and Lakeland Walker contributor, George Kitching. Featuring clips from, among others, Bill Birkett, Will Rawlin…
- Countrystride #115: A Cumbrian Christmas feast - With Helen Rebanks and Ivan Day
...in which we are joined by Farmer's Wife author Helen Rebanks and food historian Ivan Day for a feast of Cumbrian Christmas fare. In Ivan's historic Westmorland farm kitchen we learn about the dishes that marked a traditional Christmas –…
- Countrystride #114: Fell Foodie - A feast on Silver How
...in which we climb one of Grasmere's low-level favourites to dine in a dell with outdoors cook, author and mental health speaker Harrison Ward – a.k.a. Fell Foodie. Setting out along the old drove road from Allan Bank, Harrison speaks fr…