120 episodes

A celebration of the landscapes, culture, heritage and people of Cumbria and the Lake District.

Countrystride Countrystride

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 143 Ratings

A celebration of the landscapes, culture, heritage and people of Cumbria and the Lake District.

    120: A history of boating on Windermere

    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 to Roman times and beyond to hypothesise about the first lake users. Moving into the medieval era, we consider the importance of Windermere to the monks of Furness Abbey, and the subsequent use of cargo boats to transport everything from slate and charcoal to limestone and gunpowder. Arriving in the tourist age, we reflect on the remarkable monopoly of the Furness Railway Company, with trains and boats ferrying huge numbers of people on lengthy Lakeland adventures. As we backtrack to historic fords and the River Leven 'dog hole', we learn about the role Windermere played during the two World Wars, before turning to matters more frivolous: the Tizzie-Whizie, the Crier of Claife and the possible genesis of Beatrix Potter's creative world.




    Robert's book Lakeland Waterways is now out of print, but you may find it at second hand shops.




    You can find Windermere Lake Cruises at windermere-lakecruises.co.uk




    For more about the route we followed, see lakedistrict.gov.uk/aboutus/media-centre/latest-news/news-releases/new-route-makes-it-easier-to-enjoy-the-scenic-west-shore-of-windermere

    • 48 min
    119: The birth of Quakerism in Cumbria

    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 walk at the Society of Friends meeting house in the picture-perfect hamlet of Brigflatts just outside Sedbergh, we learn about the turbulent times into which Fox was born. Introducing the charismatic, troubled and talented Fox, we follow his famous footsteps of 1652, through Lancashire and Yorkshire to Sedbergh and then into Westmorland, where he preached to 1,000 people atop Firbank Fell in a meeting that would become pivotal in the spread of early Quakerism. With grand views of the Howgills, we continue the story into 1653 as Fox moved north and west to Ulverston and then into Cumberland ("now't good comes round Black Combe"). Closing our conversation, we consider the importance of the '1652' north country, the period of persecution following the fertile early years, and the Quaker legacy – of Friends meeting houses and businesses – in Cumbria today.




    For more about Briggflatts, see https://brigflatts.org




    Angus' excellent book The Language of the Landscape can be bought from Handstand.

    • 48 min
    118: James Forrest - Record-breaking round of the 214

    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 Nuttalls and 214 Wainwrights. An escape from the nine-to-five was, James tells us, the drive for his first challenge – to conquer every mountain in England and Wales in the shortest documented time. But his heart was always in Lakeland, which led to his 2020 self-supported round of the Wainwrights. In a reflective interview, we hear about the highs and lows of an epic walk; we ask whether 'adventure' can be a ruse to escape everyday life; we consider our changing relationship with the fells as we spend more time in them; and we learn why James is "never, ever, ever" returning to the Brecon Beacons.




    James' book Mountain Man is published by Bloomsbury. Available from all local bookshops.




    James can be found at amesmforrest.co.uk

    • 51 min
    #117: Above Great Moss: Stone axes of the earliest settlers

    #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 medieval farmstead with Norse roots. Leaving the valley walls behind, we enter wild country, once a place of forest groves and wood pasture stalked by deer and lynx, wolves and bears. As we trace the river upstream, we imagine the 6000-year-old endeavours of our earliest ancestors, as they left their coastal settlements in search of a rare band of volcanic cutting stone. Arriving atop Scar Lathing – a maiden ascent for Mark and Dave – we seek out two extraordinary archaeological finds that paint a picture of a lost civilisation: of Cumbria's first extractive industry; of ritual burials; and of a deep communion with high places that was etched into immaculately crafted artefacts.




    Steve is on Twitter at @SteveDickinson2

    • 48 min
    Countrystride #116: Review of 2023

    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 Rawling, Charlotte Fairbairn, Rob and Harriet Fraser, Debbie North, Mark Hatton, Fell Foodie, Chris Butterfield and Melvyn Bragg, we sift through 19 episodes and 20 hours of recordings from as far flung as Ennerdale, Wigton, Coniston, Grasmere, Keswick and the big-sky North York Moors. In our annual extended fire-side chat, we ponder pubs, peat bogs, Potter and 'potatovators'; we visit Crosthwaite, Coniston Old Man and the Coast to Coast; we discuss Wainwright – a lot – and consider how the romance of his prose still draws folk to the fells; and finally, we close by asking 'What is the enduring magic of Lakeland?'




    You can find George's brilliant Lakeland Walking Tails blog – walks, stories and musings from the Lake District Fells – at lakelandwalkingtales.co.uk

    • 1 hr 31 min
    Countrystride #115: A Cumbrian Christmas feast - With Helen Rebanks and Ivan Day

    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 – 'hackin', powdered goose and sweet pie – before Helen and Ivan serve up three very different gingerbreads. Discussing her debut book, Helen speaks about food on the family farm, about memories of marmalade and about why food matters. Ivan, meanwhile, tackles a few local food queries: was ginger really a Whitehaven import?; was the Cumberland sausage introduced by German miners?; and which of Cartmel or Sharrow Bay can claim to be the true home of sticky toffee pudding? Finally, as we tuck into an early seasonal dinner, we learn about a Lowther christmas pie with ingredients that included 15 sparrows, 46 yellow hammers, 12 patridges... and a curlew.

    Helen's book The Farmer's Wife is available from all good bookshops.


    Helen is on Twitter at twitter.com/theshepherdswi1


    Ivan is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ivanpatrickday/


     

    • 58 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
143 Ratings

143 Ratings

JakJTB ,

Super chill

I’ve been chain listening to this. I love the Lake District, despite being a Lancastrian, and this podcast is a little slice of Cumbria on a dull drive to work! Needs more puns from Mark 😂🙌

AlRobBen ,

Thank you…

for bringing to life the Lakes for a contemporary audience. I love how the history of the Lakes comes to life and captures the myriad of experiences, texture, beauty which is in essence about how people continue to recognize, appreciate and share in the awe and wonder of the natural landscape to nourish us all at a profound, mystical and spiritual level. The Lake District: we love you!

Markowit ,

Mark Whitley

Touching, interesting, funny and full of wonderful sentiment.
An excellent podcast!

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