Category Archives: Uncategorized

A while back me and my mate Paul bumped in to a couple of almost overladen cycle tourers in Hathersage. After a wee natter the penny dropped that i’d sent them some route advice after they’d asked on instagram for routes in the Peak. After another few cerebral dots joined together i realised afterwards thatContinue reading “Tony the Trout”

Quite a good evening patrol. A couple having pre-wedding photos taken. A couple just engaged. A 17th birthday picnic. A few campers. Lots of walkers and sunseters. A lot of midges. And then this 8 lads from Staffordshire treating the place like a shithole. Which led me to think of this tourism campaign …

You’ll probably know the story … but i’ll summarise it anyway …. Tip the collie belonged to shepherd and dog breeder Joseph Tagg. Joseph and Tip set off from their home near Bamford to walk across the bleak Howden moors. That was on 12 December 1953. The weather was winter foul.  104 days later laterContinue reading “Songs about Dogs”

In amongst various health issues of late i have managed to tootle around the local valleys on Geraldine ( for the uninitiated that’s my Surly Straggler gravel / touring / mental health improving bike). Of late i’ve been singing along – and inserting my own lyrics and places – to a lovely little song that’sContinue reading “Ear Worm”

a blog post by Ben McMillen owner of Hill Top Packs Read

Purposefully quiet …         “ To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths  Of all the western stars, until I die.  It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:  It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,  And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.  Tho’ much is taken, much abides; andContinue reading “Of Late”

This.

A very short break to the Lake District. Leisurely start yesterday. Tea and amazingly good cake at Rheged. Traditional mooch round Needlesports. Tea and cake in Flock Inn. Wet plod up Castle Crag. Seemingly Wednesday was exceptionally wet even by Cumbrian standards – there was a lot of water about.  Back to Keswick. Queuing outContinue reading “New Adventures in Boop Boop”

Not Burbage Brook …. To Liverpool to @outdoorindustry Outdoor Trade Show Summer 2026 with @bencooper_bc1 to look at new stuff and things for an article for the mountain rescue journal. Some new bits and pieces. Some interesting stuff. Nothing mindblowing imho. But there was the annual shaking of the hand of @christownsendoutdoors. He’s done aContinue reading “Day Tripper”

A species based report by the RSPB covering a decade of raptor persecution in the UK. Data over anecdote. Report