Marky B

Well,I had a stroll up to Catsbells,then up to Crinkle Crags followed by Bow Fell,and lastly,but not leastly,one of the smallest fells,Helm Crag. Sumptious views to put your mind off the winter.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Captain Oates

I'm sure budgets and schedules didn't allow any flexibility, and weather in the Lakes is notorious unpredictible...BUT what kind of idiot thought it a good idea to film along Striding Edge in such zilch visibility? An opportunity wasted I say...

penfold

By any chance, did anyone catch last weekend's Antique Roadshow? A lady had a gorgeous original Wainwright landscape.....and it was valued at around £200. I thought that seemed inordinately cheap......it might still be viewable on Iplayer...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Marky B

I was thinking that myself,but your first words perhaps summed it up. If it was me,I would have looked at the weather and just got a bus into Keswick or somewhere to make the time up. However,I am assuming that Helvellyn via Striding Edge was on the agenda and wheras the weather was okay at the onset,the clouds just rolled in. Julia had a guide in someone who knew the fells as much as AW,and we did at least get arial shots of the ridge and the summit. I am sure that Julia would have wished for kinder weather,but duty demands flexibility on her part. Thankfully,she or her guide and crew didn't come a cropper.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Marky B

Although didn't the expert hint that it might be worth more in the future?
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

samkydd

She is quite good in an outdoor person Blue Peter type of way! I'd much rather see her do the walks in a very tight, low cut mini dress and high heels though, or even completely naked! It would be more natural I suppose!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Marky B

Well,I am sure if good weather was guaranteed...........
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Freddy

Another series of Walks begins with on 21st March, Friday, BBC2, 7.30. with JB.



regards

Freddy

Rob Compton

Excellent! I wasn't expecting more, I thought last night's episode had a slightly "end of programme" feel to it.....

Marky B

I have just watched a DVD of Wainwright's Coast To Coast Walk,which is part of series called AERIAL BRITAIN and all I can say it was disappointing. It had the marvellous dulcet tones of Tyneside born actor John Woodvine,but somehow I couldn't relate to it. It did do the journey from Robin Hood's Bay to St Bees (I did it the other way),but I just thought it was highlighting more of the historic parts than doing an insight of the walk.
Hopefully,the BBC might commission Julia to the walk herself,quoting from Wainwright's book as she goes along,and perhaps give a more personal insight of the walk,then exulting the triumph and personal ambition recognised when she throws the rock into the North Sea (it is traditional to pick up a rock from St Bee's beach,carry it along the 192 mile trek,and throw it in the North Sea at RHB - a small rock I hasten to add),and sups a cold beer from the Bay Hotel.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Piccadilly

I've not seen the Wainwright's Walks series, but the feature documentary that kick-started the series (about Wainwright himself) was brilliant.

kezzy

That doc is included on one of the dvds of the series - the one with Haystacks and Scafell Pike.

Regarding the weather, I think that possibly the best thing about this series is that they go ahead and shoot even when it's misty and drizzly - exactly the sort of weather we all encounter on the fells much of the time.

I've absolutely had a bellyful of 'beautiful' television ('Coast' for example, or one of those interminable 'Beautiful Planet'-type series). With the exception of Attenborough, gorgeous visuals normally mean dumb content. Also, all the so-called beautiful shows merely subscribe to a boringly middle-of-the-road notion of what is beautiful, but they're no more than moving Athena posters.

In Wainwright's Walks, they're prepared to say, 'These mountains are awesome whatever the weather'. The show has integrity and avoids the usual BBC patronising attitude. Julia Bradbury pulls it off despite her deputy-head-girl image. Bang on for 36!

Marky B

Good point,Kezzy. During the three times I did the C2C,good weather in the Lake District was rare and as we had to go from point with pre-booked B&B's and Youth Hostels,you had to carry on regardless. As JB points out,the Lake District has micro-climates,where a walk could start off with glorious weather,but as soon as you get near the top,you could be pelted with hailstones.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Marky B

The Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival is being held this year on May 14-18,and along with Sir Chris Bonington and Alan Hinkes,Julia Bradbury will be giving a talk at a VIP reception about her experiences filming Wainwright's Walks.

www.keswickmountanfestival.co.uk

With Country Walking magazine,there is a competition to win a prize of for one night's B&B at the Kings Arms Hotel in Keswick for two people,and two tickets for the VIP reception.
All you do is simply answer this question:
Which Lake District walking guide writer was the inspiration for the recent BBC2 outdoor series presented by Julia Bradbury.
Answer the question and send your name,address and daytime telephone number to:
COUNTRY WALKING
Lynchwood
Peterborough Business Park
Peterborough
PE2 6EA
Closing date 30 April 2008

Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Rob Compton

Thanks Marky, I'll have a try at that!

rgds
Rob