Countrystride
Episodes
#161: Donald Campbell – Speed king of Coniston
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
...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 re...
#160: Vicars of the fells
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we pull up a pew in the Langdale Aisle of St Oswald's Church, Grasmere, in the company of Lawrence Basham, rector of the Parish of Grasmer...
#159: Blackwell – Arts & Crafts in Lakeland
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
...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 Hodso...
#158: Haystacks – How Wainwright changed our lives
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...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 ...
#157: A Cumbrian Christmas Cracker – December 2025
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
...in which we select the best bits from our second Cumbrian Christmas Cracker, a celebration of all things festive in the historic counties of Cumber...
#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 company of art historian Dr Lizzie Fisher, where w...
#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 Hope. Setting out from Lodore, we cast our minds –...
#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 the Border, Rory Stewart, to discuss his new book...
#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 company of Steve Uglow – author of Seatoller: H...
#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 Ramblers to talk about his book The Lost Paths, and th...
#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 the Lake District National Park – a landscape in r...
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 the end of Countrystride (for now) and reflect on ...
#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 District: the people. the places and the passion. In the...
#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 outdoorsmen, who helped establish National Parks, Youth...
#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 cornmill in the Lake District. Guided by Mill manager Ka...
#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 the Nenthead lead mines. In the company of geologi...
#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-changing farmed landscape of the Westmorland Dale...
#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 Authority, for a wide-ranging chat about the state...
#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 under-appreciated figures: writer, former Poet La...
#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 Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Jamie Normington and Low Si...
#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, dialect poems and music that celebrate a distinctl...
#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, Polly's new book about her tawny owl neighbours in G...
#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 Fix the Fells. In the company of FtF partnership m...
#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 runner, archivist and west coast lad Peter Todhunt...
#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 Cumbrian commons as they enter a period of profound cha...
#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 explore the hidden history of working class people ...
#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 broadcaster Phoebe Smith about journeys of self-dis...
#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 long view of the Scafell massif and its oft-overloo...
#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 historic buildings expert Alexandra Fairclough. From the ...
#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, Westmorland and Lancashire with author, academic and c...
#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 Windle to explore the Celtic woodlands of Borrowda...
#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, and the part it played in making Keswick the birt...
#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 the launch of a new book, Loughrigg: Tales of a sma...
#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 industry in the company of ex-pitman Clive Seal. ...
#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 Matt Staniek. In the vibrant watermeadows that fla...
#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 discuss the highs, lows and daily realities of oper...
#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 the farm with organic dairy farmer, Chair of the Nat...
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 – a man who has climbed Helvellyn 778 times. Asc...
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 former mayor John Murphy and artist Maddi Nicholson. ...
#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 in the company of husband-and-wife geologist / bo...
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 history of paper-making on the River Kent. In the c...
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 dive into the deep history of boating on England ...
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 – on a journey through '1652 country' with histor...
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 adventurers: Cockermouth-based James Forrest, who has bag...
#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 earliest settlers and their highly-valued stone axes. In...
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 Lakeland Walking Tales blogger and Lakeland Walker co...
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 feast of Cumbrian Christmas fare. In Ivan's historic...
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, author and mental health speaker Harrison Ward –...
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 – to ask why runners head into the toughest of fell l...
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 parliamentarian, Melvyn Bragg, to reflect on his early years in ...
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 Herdwick. In the company of Will Rawling, Chairman o...
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 figures – remarkable Eliza Lynn Linton, the first f...
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 uncover a history that takes in Victorian tourists...
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 Jeff Cowton MBE, principal curator at Wordsworth ...
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 reaches of Little Langdale with National Trust Archae...
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 & Bryophytes expert Pete Martin. Embarking from the car...
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 we ascend and then tunnel deep into the fellside ...
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 Ian and Jen Hall's 27-year journey to make a succ...
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 all things Ambleside, Alison Pickering. Setting ou...
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 Office disability ambassador Debbie North on a stre...
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 history of the 'Yellow Earl': Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of...
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, to consider the question: "What is the unique ma...
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 the company of veteran National Trust ranger Roy H...
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 celebrate the built heritage of Cumbria. In the company...
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 the National Trust farm at Townend, home for 12 gen...
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, author, film-maker and former sheep farmer Eric Robson ...
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 Walpole, at one time one of the world's best-selling...
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 Countrystrides past, picking our best bits from 2022 as...
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 Grasmere Gingerbread, for a seasonal trip down me...
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 the Dales High Way long distance footpath in the c...
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 and glaciation in the Lake District. Setting out fr...
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 kingdom of 'Laithlinn'. Embarking from the infamou...
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 Steve Birkinshaw, who in 2014 broke the record for th...
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 owners Richard and Alison Park, and photographer Amy B...
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 our relationship with trees. In the company of Dr A...
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, illustrator, farmer and countrywoman Beatrix Pot...
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 industrial historian Mark Hatton. Rewinding time to the ...
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, outgoing chief executive of Friends of the Lake Distr...
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 the Isaac's Tea Trail footpath. In the company of ...
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 and waller Arthur Robinson to learn about the hist...
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 Cumbriana champions Jean Scott-Smith and Donald Angu...
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 and Illgill Head. As we walk, with author and Lak...
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 Amazons devotees Paul Flint and Geraint Lewis. Emba...
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 Abbot to track the route of the Carlisle-Settle lin...
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 some of Cumbria's oldest residents: the Globetrotter...
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 largest landscape-scale restoration projects is bei...
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 Ullswater from being turned into a reservoir. Setting o...
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 of rail in the historic counties of Cumberland an...
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 icons – Millican Dalton, the self-styled Professor ...
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 Countrystrides past, picking our best bits from 2021 as we ...
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 collector of Cumbrian cultural traditions, Alan Cleaver. ...
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 village of Caldbeck with local historian Tony Vaux to...
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 with Threlkeld born-and-bred Andy Airey. After grapp...
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 Head with Park Authority chief executive Richard Leaf...
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 opening of the first Cumbrian stretch of the English Coa...
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 folk history through the memories of residents. Strid...
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 Jones, to discuss the women in the lives of Wordsworth...
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 Naylor to discuss his legendary 1983 ‘Lakes, Meres ...
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 Teasdale, founder of the Ullswater Catchment Manage...
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 local historian and National Park Rights of Way Office...