Hiking is our favourite pastime and I am told one of the top U.K. activity hobbies. For us a good hike is just getting out into the ‘Great Outdoors’ where ever that might be. So here are two images that perhaps sum up a good days hike for us.
It is great to explore the valleys, the woods and river banks, observing as we go the wildlife, the hamlets and villages, churches and farms, discovering traces of our ancestors and sharing the community life of today. But the highlight of any hike is to reach a high view point where you can gaze unhindered on the trail you have just tramped. This view point is on Stanage Edge in the Peak District of Derbyshire and gives a clear view over the Hope Valley towards Mam Tor and the Kinder Plateau. It might not be a lofty peak but provides the sense of achievement and an inner sense of peace and satisfaction…….
To accompany the second image I am going to misquote a famous travel phrase…It is better to travel then to arrive. Yes, the experience of the journey is the better than the pleasure of the destination. Well we have an addition to that. A journey is only as good as the opportunity to sit, take in the surroundings and to enjoy a welcome, and hopefully, a well deserved snack.
That is exactly what Jean, Buster and Carla are enjoying here in the Langdale Valley, in the Lake District of Cumbria…..
Happy Days are Hiking Days!
29th May
© David Oakes 2013
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
What a beautiful country you live in, David. Although I love my very flat country very much, England has so much history and even magic attached to so many places of extraordinary beauty that I love to keep coming back. July again, but only for a visit to my spiritual mum (second mum) who is 89 now. Eacht visit could be the last. And I keep trying to see her once every year but things are changing for the worse. Both in Britain as in my country where mostly people on low income are being cut even further. September 2014 I will at last officially be a pensioner. Hopefully, I will have a wee more money and a bit extra freedom. Then who knows where I can go in Britain… Fact remains that I will. 🙂
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Keep visiting whilst you can….each visit will create a precious memory for future years.
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The Lake District is very high on my wish list of places that I hope to visit, likely in just a few years. You’ve helped to push it a little higher on that list!
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It is a relativy small area but packs so much into it and is full of character and character’s!
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