#156: Kurt Schwitters – From the international avant-garde to exile in Ambleside
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which dazzling autumn light illuminates a breezy walk between Ambleside and Elterwater in the ...
#155: The Lakeland Angler – On Derwent Water with Eric Hope
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we spend a perfect autumn day 'gone fishing' on Derwent Water with angler-author Eric Ho...
#154: Rory Stewart: 'Middleland' – Letters from Britain’s most rural constituency
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by broadcaster, author, long-distance walker and former MP for Penrith and...
#153: Monasteries, mining and manhunts – A 10,000 year history of Seatoller
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we congregate in autumnal Upper Borrowdale to explore the history of Seatoller. In the...
#152: The Lost Paths – Jack Cornish from The Ramblers
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we're joined by Jack Cornish, author, long-distance walker and Head of Paths at The Ramb...
#151: Eycott Hill – Landscape in recovery
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we open Series 2 of Countrystride by exploring Eycott Hill in the northeast corner of th...
That's all for now: By Styhead Tarn
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a stroll – just Mark and Dave – from Seatoller to Sty Head Tarn to announce ...
#149: Hostelling in the Lakes
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we gather at YHA Borrowdale for a wide-ranging chat about hostelling in the Lake Distric...
#148: Tom Stephenson and Thomas Arthur Leonard: Footsteps to the Lakes
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we head south to Pendle Hill to explore the extraordinary lives of two campaigning outdo...
#147: Last of its kind – Eskdale Mill
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we venture west to the Eskdale village of Boot to visit the last remaining water cornmil...
#146: The lead mines of Nenthead
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we visit the far northeast of Cumbria to explore the remarkable history and remains of t...
#145: The Westmorland Dales – A century of farming memories
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a long-view picture of the ever...
#144: Gavin Capstick – New CEO of the Lake District National Park
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by Gavin Capstick, new chief executive of the Lake District National Park ...
#143: Robert Southey – The neglected Lake Poet
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we visit Keswick Museum for a deep dive into the life of one of Romantic Lakeland's most...
#142: Review of 2024
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we unwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Cu...
#141: A Cumbrian Christmas Cracker
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we congregate at the Armitt, Ambleside for a night of readings, historic press reports, ...
#140: The owls of Grasmere, with Polly Atkin
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which Dave takes a midwinter stroll with author Polly Atkin to discuss The Company of Owls, Po...
#139: Gowbarrow Fell with Fix the Fells
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we make a breezy autumnal ascent of Gowbarrow Fell to learn about the unending work of F...
#138: Running int' fells - A brief history of fell-running, with Peter Todhunter
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take an autumnual stroll around Grasmere to explore the history of fell-running with ...
#137: Voices from the changing commons
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we delve into a remarkable oral history archive to paint a picture of the historic Cumbr...
#136: Rebecca Smith in Grizedale – Lives of the working class countryside
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take an autumn stroll into Grizedale Forest with local-born author Rebecca Smith to e...
#135: Phoebe Smith – Love, loss and life on Britain's ancient paths
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which Dave interviews adventurer, author and multi-award-winning photographer, presenter and b...
#134: The Scafells – Hidden views and curious histories
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we ascend Moasdale from Cockley Beck in the company of author Guy Richardson to take a l...
#133: Whitehaven - A remarkable history
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we tour the west coast town of Whitehaven in the company of Blue Badge guide and histori...
#132: Cumbria – 1,000 years of maps
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we tell the 1,000-year story of cartography in the historic counties of Cumberland, West...
#131: The Atlantic rainforests of Borrowdale
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stride out from Seatoller in the company of conservationist and lichenologist April W...
#130: Goldscope – The wealth of Newlands
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we journey deep into Newlands to tell the remarkable story of Elizabethen copper mining,...
#129: Loughrigg Fell: Tales of a small mountain
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we climb one of the Lake District's most popular heights, Loughrigg Fell, to celebrate t...
#128: The lost history of Brampton coal
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we head to the far northeast of Cumbria to explore the once thriving North Pennines coal...
#127: Matt Staniek: Saving Windermere
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stride out from Waterhead in the company of ecologist and Save Windermere campaigner ...
#126: Pubs of Cumbria: When communities save their pubs
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, BBC Cumbria's Nick Brownlee takes a seat at the bar to d...
#125: Nature friendly farming champion: James Robinson from Strickley
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which, guest presenting for Mark and Dave, Radio 4's Caz Graham dons her boots for a day on th...
124: 778 ascents of Helvellyn, with fell top assessor Jon Bennett
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which, standing in for Mark and Dave, broadcaster Nick Brownlee ventures out with Jon Bennett ...
123: Barrow-in-Furness – A tale of iron and ships, hair and shops
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we explore the industrial and social history of Barrow-in-Furness in the company of for...
#122: Limestone of the Westmorland Dales
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we set out from springtime Orton to explore the limestone scars of the Westmorland Dales...
121: A history of paper-making on the River Kent
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a Dales Way wander downstream from Cowan Head to Burneside to explore the long h...
120: A history of boating on Windermere
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by Kendal-based author and Windermere Lake Cruises skipper Robert Beale to...
119: The birth of Quakerism in Cumbria
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox – founder of Quakerism –...
118: James Forrest - Record-breaking round of the 214
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we're defeated by weather, so shelter indoors to hear from one of the UK's great adventu...
#117: Above Great Moss: Stone axes of the earliest settlers
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we rewind the centuries to the Neolithic Age on a journey in search of Lakeland's earlie...
Countrystride #116: Review of 2023
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we uwrap a selection box of our favourite clips from the year past in the company of Lak...
Countrystride #115: A Cumbrian Christmas feast - With Helen Rebanks and Ivan Day
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by Farmer's Wife author Helen Rebanks and food historian Ivan Day for a fe...
Countrystride #114: Fell Foodie - A feast on Silver How
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we climb one of Grasmere's low-level favourites to dine in a dell with outdoors cook, ...
Countrystride #113: Why we Run - Fell and trail running in the Lake District
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we embark on one of our all-time favourite walks – up the Glendereterra valley – t...
Countrystride #112: Melvyn Bragg - Back in the Day
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we return to post-war Cumbria in the company of author, broadcaster and parliamentaria...
Countrystride #111: The Herdwick, with Will Rawling
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we head to misty Ennerdale in search of the Lake District's iconic sheep breed: the He...
Countrystride #110: Eliza Lynn Linton and The Lake Country
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we visit Crosthwaite to shine a light on one of Lakeland's most neglected historic fig...
Countrystride #109: Aira Force - Lakeland pleasure ground
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a timeless tour of Aira Force – one of Lakeland's enduring honeypots – to ...
Countrystride #108: To the Lakes! The early days of tourism
02 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we journey back 200 years to the early days of Lake District tourism in the company of...
Countrystride #107: Tales from Little Langdale
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stride out from Fell Foot Farm at the foot of Wrynose Pass to explore the upper rea...
Countrystride #106: The lichens of Borrowdale
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a deep dive into the miniature world of lichens with Cumbria Lichens & Bry...
Countrystride #105: The Old Man and the slate
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by industrial archeologist supremo Mark Hatton to talk all things slate as...
Countrystride #104: Eskdale - Living the Fisherground dream
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
..in which we don the Countrystride shorts for a balmy trip west into sylvan Eskdale to hear about...
Countrystride #103: Ambleside - A town through time
03 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a tour of honeypot Ambleside in the company of Blue Badge guide, and lover of ...
Countrystride #102: A Coast to Coast love affair, with Debbie North
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we travel east to the big-sky North York Moors to meet access campaigner and Cabinet O...
Countrystride #101: The Yellow Earl and Lowther Castle
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we visit one of Lakeland's great historic houses, Lowther Castle, to explore the histo...
Countrystride #100: Why we love the Lakes
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we celebrate our 100th birthday with an ascent of Grasmere's favourite fell, Helm Crag...
Countrystride #99: PEAT, POWER & THE PUBLIC – Caring for Watendlath
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we explore the much-loved hanging valley of Watendlath and the High Tove ridge above in ...
Countrystride #98: Askham – A vernacular celebration
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a wintry trip to Lowther country and the pristine village of Askham to celeb...
Countrystride #97: Townend – A Troutbeck farming dynasty
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we descend upon the cloistered valley of Troutbeck to celebrate the 75th birthday of t...
Countrystride #96: Eric Robson – Wasdale, Wainwright, and a champion of Cumbria
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
....in which we head west to Wasdale to talk with one of Cumbria's living greats; broadcaster, autho...
Countrystride #95: Catbells & Hugh Walpole
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we make the classic ascent of Catbells to celebrate the remarkable life of Sir Hugh Wa...
Countrystride #94: Review of 2022
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by outdoors writer and editor John Manning for our annual delve into Count...
Countrystride #93: A Grasmere Gingerbread Christmas
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a Grasmere ramble under wintry skies with local lass Joanne Hunter, Partner at...
Countrystride #92: Dentdale and The Dales High Way
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which stride out from Chapel-le-Dale in the Yorkshire Dales to nine-miles-distant Dent on ...
Countrystride #91: Geology of the Lake District
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we brave dark skies for a windy wander over Sale Fell to unearth the history of rock a...
Countrystride #90: The VIKINGS in Cumbria
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by archaeologist Steve Dickinson in Gosforth to seek out the lost Norse ...
Countrystride #89: Steve Birkinshaw – Smashing the 214
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we escape the autumn rains on Clough Head to meet fell-runner and Threlkeldonian Ste...
Countrystride #88: Forty Farms – Food and nature at Low Sizergh Farm
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we visit one of Cumbria's most visited farms, Low Sizergh Farm, in the company of owne...
Countrystride #87: Trees in the age of the Romantics
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we journey into Romantic-era 19th century Lakeland to explore the roots of change in o...
Countrystride #86: Beatrix Potter
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a warm-weather wander from Far to Near Sawrey in the footsteps of author...
Countrystride #85: COPPERMINES VALLEY - Landscape legacy of audacious ambition
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we journey into the mining past of iconic Coppermines Valley above Coniston with indust...
Countrystride #84: Latrigg - with Friends of the Lake District
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we make the perennially popular ascent of Latrigg in the company Douglas Chalmers, out...
Countrystride #83: Alston & Isaac’s Tea Trail
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stride out from the North Pennine market town of Alston on an amiable wander along ...
Countrystride #82: Dry-stone walling
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we wander the wildlife-friendly meadows of Strickley farm, Old Hutton, with geologist ...
Countrystride #81: Cumbrian dialect
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we trace the rise and fall of local dialect in the company of long-time friends and Cu...
Countrystride #80: ILLGILL HEAD - In search of the sublime
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we set out from the secluded valley of Miterdale for a wet-weather ascent of Whin Rigg...
Countrystride #79: Arthur Ransome - Life, loves & literature
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we descend upon Coniston Water to talk all things Ransome with lifelong Swallows and A...
Countrystride #78: The Carlisle-Settle line & springtime in Eden
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a springtime stroll from Langwathby to Lazonby in the company of author Stan A...
Countrystride #77: Fell ponies – On Roundthwaite Common with Libby Robinson
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we depart busy Tebay to climb atop biting cold Rondthwaite Common on a trip to meet so...
Countrystride #76: Wild Fell – Restoring Haweswater, with Lee Schofield
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we explore the lonely eastern valley of Haweswater, where one of the Lake District's l...
COUNTRYSTRIDE #75: The battle to save Ullswater
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we celebrate the 60th anniversary of a decisive House of Lords speech that saved Ullsw...
Countrystride #74: Railways of Cumbria
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we walk the popular Railway Trail between Threlkeld and Keswick to explore the history...
Countrystride #73: Millican Dalton - ’Caveman of Borrowdale’
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we follow in the footsteps of one of Lakeland's great characters – and neglected ico...
Countrystride #72: Review of 2021
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we are joined by Lakeland Walker editor John Manning for our annual delve into Countryst...
Countrystride #71: A Lake District Christmas
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take a seasonal Grasmere wander in the company of historian, journalist and collect...
Countrystride #70: Caldbeck - A community through time
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we descend from the Outlying Fells summit of Faulds Brow into the Back o’Skiddaw vil...
Countrystride #69: Blencathra with Andy Airey
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we summit one of Lakeland's finest heights via the rocky arête of Halls Fell Ridge wi...
Countrystride #68: Richard Leafe - The National Park at 70
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we celebrate the 70th birthday of the Lake District National Park by climbing Orrest Hea...
Countrystride #67: Ghosts on the coast
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stride out from the dunes of Drigg, destination Ravenglass, to celebrate the openin...
Countrystride#66: Eskdale - Rain & recollections
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we embark on a wild, wet-weather wander from Boot in Eskdale to explore the valley's fol...
Countrystride #65: The passionate sisterhood - Sisters and wives of the Lake Poets
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we stroll out from rainy Keswick with author and Back o' Skiddaw native, Kathleen Jone...
Countrystride #64: Joss Naylor
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we head to Wasdale in the company of farmer, fell runner and Lakeland royalty Joss Nay...
Countrystride #63: Danny Teasdale - Ullswater after the storm
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we explore the wildlife-rich meadows of Matterdale in the company of local lad Danny T...
Countrystride #62: GRANGE-OVER-SANDS & Hampsfell
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we take in the salt air at the Victorian seaside resort of Grange-over-Sands with loca...
Countrystride #61: Norman Nicholson - Son of Millom
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we journey to Millom to discuss the life and writings of Norman Nicholson, one of Cumb...
Countrystride #60: Wad - The wealth of Borrowdale
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we stride out from Seathwaite with mining authority Mark Hatton to unearth the turbulent...
Countrystride #59: Rural visionary - John Dunning in the Westmorland Dales
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we swap walking boots for the wheel as we journey down the M6 to meet John Dunning, fo...
Countrystride #58: Swaledale - Meadows & mines
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
…in which we cross county lines to visit the internationally-important hay meadows of Swaledale....
Countrystride #57: Helvellyn
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we tackle one of Lakeland's most iconic fells via the rocky arête of Swirral Edge. In ...