Top 5 Hiking Snacks

They say that soldiers march on their stomachs, well it's much the same for hikers.  I don't only hike so I can eat piles of cake and other gooey goodies, but it's as good a reason as any.  There are plenty of excellent websites which will guide you through the essential items needed for a hike, but what are the best snacks to pack?  I realise I'm about to open a big can of worms with this blog (definitely NOT on my list of essential food items!) but here are our top 5...

5. Mini Cheddars

I adore crisps but they are really not practical on a hike - they are far too fragile and end up as a disappointing pile of smashed up crispy dust, impossible to eat on a windy hillside.  Cheddars, on the other hand, come in smaller packs, are more robustly constructed and aren't so easily blown out of your hand in a force nine gale.

4. Malt Loaf

I have extolled the virtues of the humble malt loaf many times in the past.  For me it is a near perfect hiking food.  It's solid, doesn't melt, can be shoved in a corner of the rucksack and is crammed full of calories for that much needed boost when you're flagging at the end of the day.  At home we may slice it and serve it in a civilised fashion, on the hillside we simply rip chunks off it and argue over who has the biggest chunk.

3.  Peanut M&Ms

If you're on a health kick you could always swap these for a nice bag of dried fruit and nuts but we found that the bags of fruit and nut returned unharmed from far more hikes than the peanut M&Ms did and often got dangerously near to their expiry date before we ate them.  M&Ms do have their downsides - being chocolate they're not great in the summer but, let's face it, there aren't going to be many days when you're hiking in Cumbria in 30C temperatures.  Nutritionally you get a double benefit from peanut M&Ms - a quick sugar boost from the chocolate and a slower boost from the nuts.  It's tenuous, but it's what I keep telling myself.

Equal first - Tea and Cake

I thought long and hard about this, I even put off writing the blog while I thought about it some more, but these two simply cannot be separated.  There should be no cake without tea and no tea without cake - so joint first was the only option.  We're terribly civilised and find that mid way through the afternoon is the perfect time to pause for tea and cake.  I'll be the first to admit that I drink pretty revolting tea - very weak and milky Redbush - but the cakes are always divine (life is too short for cheap and nasty cakes!)

My absolute favourite cake is a slab of Ginger Bakers Beetroot & Berry Brownie (it's even gluten free for those who require such things) which, if you follow me on social media, you'll have seen be gush about many times in the past, but last time I visited them (they're near to Plumgarths roundabout in Kendal so if you're driving form the M6 to Windermere you'll probably go right past their door) they pointed out that they make lots of other cakes too and gave me a few to sample to prove it - each and every one of them was utterly divine, but the beetroot & berry brownie is still my favourite.  Look - you can even be civilised and eat it at home with a lump of white Stilton on top:

White Stilton on Beetroot & Berry Brownie - don't knock it till you've tried it!

(The blurry cake in the background is their new Westmorland Pepper Fruitcake which is perfect when sliced thickly and spread with butter). 

The best part is that you don't even need to come to Kendal to buy them - they have an online shop right here so you can enjoy them wherever your hike may take you.

So, that's our top 5 - I know there will be others you want to add - but please don't tell me to pack Kendal Mintcake, I know I live in Cumbria but I honestly can't stand it.  Sorry.

If you're putting your feet up with a slice of cake then you'll need a good book to go with it - our 3 fit the bill perfectly and, if you order directly from us, I promise to wipe all the cake crumbs off the cover before I send them. Click the pic to find out more & order yours.  😀

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10 Christmas Pressie Ideas for Cumbria Lovers

Last years list of pressies proved SO popular (over 10,000 views!) that I'm back again this year with another list of 10 pressie ideas which are perfect for lovers of the outdoors and/ or Cumbria.  (And if you missed it and want even MORE ideas, then last year's list is right here!).

As usual there's a mix of stuff from funky stocking fillers to huge romantic gestures so pick your favourite and earn some brownie points this festive season!

1.  Gyroplane flight with Lakes Gyroplanes

Let's start with a big pressie - how about treating someone to a completely different view of the Lake District?  There are several places that offer flights but this one was recommended to me by someone who knows a lot about flying, and pilots.  I bought Steve a certificate for a flight for his birthday and although he's not used it yet he's properly keen & hopes to be up before Christmas (watch this space!).  You can buy gift certificates for flights here.

2. Ginger Bakers

Regular readers of this blog will have heard me wax lyrical about Ginger Bakers in the past - a small bakery on the outskirts of Kendal producing magical cakes.  They were wiped out a couple of years ago by Storm Desmond but are back and better than ever.  Many of their bakes are gluten free and they have a whole range of gorgeous Christmas goodies ready to wing their way to you - just click here to find out more (warning, you may be tempted to lick your screen...)

3. Splash Maps

Thanks to @Glocky9 for the pic & modeling
 it beautifully! 

This is a simply genius idea - a company which will print an OS map area of your choice onto a beautiful Toob (like a buff but more "mappy") - as they say, you need never be lost again!  They are functional, practical and keep you toasty warm on a windy walk.  All the details are on their website - it's a gift any outdoors lover will love!

4. Zippo Hand Warmer

We all know someone who is always cold, so introduce them to something which is always hot!  Zippo have launched a range of colourful handwarmers to keep your fingers toasty warm on long winter walks.  They run on lighter fuel, are fully reusable and run for up to 12 hours - pick the perfect pressie colour right here.

5. A romantic retreat at Crumble Cottages

There are loads of holiday cottages in Cumbria but Sarah and Stewart have created something truly special at Crumble Cottages in Cartmel - and you don't just need to take my word for it, check out their Facebook page where they have 36 reviews and every single one of them is 5 star.  The cottages are stunning - you can curl up in front of a cosy log fire in the autumn and winter or enjoy their spectacular gardens in the spring and summer.  AND if you book before the end of 2017 champagne & flowers on arrival are included (also, if you tell Sarah it's for a surprise pressie she'll send you a lovely gift card too).  Book directly with Sarah & Stewart - all their details are here.

6. Proper Cumbrian Crafts from Farfield Mill

Farfield Mill is tucked away at the foot of the Howgills near the beautiful village of Sedbergh and is home to a broad range of talented Cumbrian artists and crafters - there's everything from clothing to jewellery and works of art to toys.  If you're in the area you can pop in, enjoy a bite to eat in the cafe and visit the artists as they work, or if you're after the perfect Cumbrian Christmas gift, here's their artists directory, - pour yourself a cuppa, have a browse and order online.

7.  Funky laces from Keswick Boot Company

How about some fab and funky boot laces as the perfect stocking filler for the hiker in your life?  Breathe life back into an old pair of boots by giving them a good clean and a fab pair of laces - in fact, why not buy a few different pairs and mix and match them to really brighten up the fells?  BLOG SPECIAL - the laces are 120cm or 140cm and, if you quote this blog when ordering P&P IS FREE!  (Keswick Boot Company are a properly independent small business based in Keswick (you'd never guess from their name would you?) with boots to suit every size and shape of foot so if you *really* loved the person you're buying for you could always buy them new boots too - though there would be P&P on those 'cos they're big and heavy!)

8.  Cumbrian Spirits

You may remember that I spent the first 2 weeks of September visiting all the spirit and liqueur producers in Cumbria with my new found friend Karen (if you missed it the adventure from day 1 begins here and the book will be out spring 2018!), so I couldn't leave them out of my Christmas list now, could I?  I'm including 3 of my favourites - Shed 1 gin (who produce a special festive tipple) Kendal Mint Cake Liqueur (because of its awesome uniqueness) and Kin Toffee Vodka (which tastes amazing in hot chocolate!) - they are all the perfect way to add a dash of Cumbria to your festive cheer!  PLUS you're going to need a beautiful Cumbria Crystal glass to drink it from - if it's good enough for James Bond and Downton Abbey, it's good enough for us!

9.  Bakes and Balls

As well as a whole range of delicious tray bakes the inventive chaps (and chapesses!) at Bakes and Balls also offer a range of high energy snacks perfectly packed for throwing into your rucksack to keep you going on a long hike.  They use only natural ingredients, dry all the fruit themselves and offer plenty of low sugar and gluten free options - they've even created an edible advent calendar to help you count down to the big day in style!  All of their other cakes and scrummy goodies can be found right here.

10.  Our fabulous books!

This year we have THREE books to keep you entertained - and there's another two coming next year!

50 Gems of Cumbria explores 50 fab places to visit in the county: "This book is not just for visitors...a surprisingly eclectic mix...places that on many occasions have 'slipped under the radar'  Penrith Today

Trails with Tales is a full of intriguing walks around Arnside & Silverdale: "...lovely clear instructions...all the information you need to plan many lovely days out."  Lancaster District Magazine

Historic Cumbria (off the beaten track) gives a more detailed account of 10 sites around the county: "This is a truly lovely little book and an invaluable companion on any walk or wander around the Lake District." Sir Chris Bonington

You can find all of our books here - we'll personally pack them and sign them if you'd like too.  If you want more than one book just email us here and we'll sort something out with the P&P


JUST SO AS YOU KNOW - with the exception of Zippo who kindly sent me one of their funky hand warmers to try, we haven't received any payment or payment in kind for including people in this list.  Well, in the interests of full disclosure,  I did reward myself with a couple of bourbon creams for writing the blog and including our books, but that's all.  Everyone else is there because they're lovely and we love the stuff they do. Cheers!  😀

Day 13 - The Neverending Story

Chippy tea

It would be very easy to say that the Spirit Trail is over, but the reality is it's only just begun.  Me & Karen have completed the inaugural lap and, once we've got our book sorted (looking like an ebook just now unless any of you know any publishers) we sincerely hope that you'll be following in our footsteps, visiting some of the quieter corners of Cumbria and discovering for yourselves the amazing drinks we've enjoyed along the way.  I'll do a proper "end of term" blog tomorrow to properly credit all of the producers who took the time to meet with us - those we made appointments with and those who fed us when we just dropped in on them (I'm looking at you Ginger Bakers!) - but for now, what happened on the final day?

We finished off day 12 with a chippy tea on Whitehaven Harbour and, rather than celebrate our success until the wee small hours, we were both tucked up in bed for another early night - honestly, this really hasn't been the drunken fest everyone appears to think it was.  I am far to old to hike with a hangover and drinking before we hit the trails would just have been silly (actually, I take it back - there was one minor hangover and I know exactly who to blame - this time I'm looking at you Kendal Mint Cake Liqueur - their cocktails are divine but lethal!)

Anyway, following an entertaining night in a B&B which shall remain nameless but appears to have considered the 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers as "How to run a B&B" training videos (the full story will be in the book!) we ventured down to The Rum Story in heart of Whitehaven.

I was properly surprised by how big the place is - it looks just like a shop front and a small alleyway from the street but opens up, and up, and up inside.  It is really cheap to go around (£5.95 for adults) and there is loads to see and do.  Very imaginative and interactive it takes you through the history of Jefferson's rum and around the world in 3 floors of videos, information boards and rainforests.

Of course, by the time we finished, we were really keen to sample some of the rum and it didn't disappoint - it was great to finish off with something different and with such a long and fascinating history.  (I headed home with a tub of rum butter, a miniature of rum and a hunk of tea bread just in the interests of conducting full and proper research!)

Happy that our mission was complete we headed for Whitehaven harbour - I absolutely adore the harbour and it was great to visit on such a gloriously sunny day.  We've had our fair share of showers this past week but seeing as most of the producers we met with rely on Cumbrian water, that's perhaps just as well.

Whitehaven Harbour

We hopped on the coast train from Whitehaven (where it was fab to meet another Twitter friend (Not) Posh Dave - this entire adventure wouldn't have happened without social media and I love it when I meet folks in person) and the weather was perfect for enjoying the views all the way back around the coast to Ulverston and our starting point.

View from the train

Black Combe

Where it all began

Neither of us can believe how quickly it's raced past - we've had amazing highs as well as an assortment of challenging moments but we got through them all and never got lost once (well, apart from the very start when I took us down the wrong street in Ulverston less then 5 minutes after leaving Virginia House).  I'll do a proper round up tomorrow because right now I can hear the bath calling to me - for now I shall leave you with our first and last selfies and, if you want to know all the details of what happened inbetween these two photos, you'll have to buy the book!  😊

"What the hell are we getting into?!"

With the lovely Louise at The Rum Story

I'll put a full set of clicky links on here tomorrow but below is a list of all of our supporters ALL of whom deserve a "like" and a "follow" - we really do appreciate every last ounce of support we've received.

DON'T FORGET OUR THREE BOOKS - perfect as a pressie or just to treat yourself!  Click HERE to learn more!

Click on the pic to learn more!

Day 6 - Here comes the rain again

We all know that when you hike in Cumbria there's a good chance you'll get rained on but

today surpassed all expectations. Pretty much from the moment we left Kendal to the point we collapsed into our gorgeous cottage, it threw it down.

I told Karen I'd adapted the route to make it easier in the rain but really it was a carefully engineered ploy to pass Ginger Bakers & nab a piece of their beetroot & berry brownie. Long time followers of this blog will know that my love for this delicacy knows no bounds and I warned Karen that I would cry like a baby if they didn't have any.  There was none on display but in a deft move to prevent my meltdown they produced 2 pieces from the kitchen.  Once we told them about our journey they refused to let us pay. Ginger Bakers may be my favourite people on the planet right now.

Back out into the rain we continued on to Crook where we paused for coffee under a tree. A lovely delivery driver offered us a lift which we puritanically/ idiotically turned down. We would name the company he worked for to give them some kudos but fear it may land him in trouble of the "you're not insured to carry hitchikers" variety.  Still, I enjoyed a spot of history while I slurped my coffee.

Once up onto the fells & following The Dales Way the rain really kicked in.  Karen's Twitter name is @happy_rambler but it's fair to say she was more @lessthanhappy_rambler and @ifthisraindoesntstopsoonIllscream_rambler - proof that too much time down south makes you soft.  She may be smiling in this photo but beneath the jovial exterior she's a seething cauldron of sodden malice.

Finally we made it to Windermere where the wonderful Sally's Cottages had offered us a cottage for the night.  The Hideaway is utterly perfect for us in every way - pristine clean, HUGE bath, toasty warm for drying our clothes and big enough for us to escape each other for a while.  Considering we'd never met before this adventure me & Karen are getting along brilliantly but sometimes it's nice to have your own space so, for example, while I'm sat in the dining room writing this blog, Karen is up in her room plotting my downfall if I drag her over another sodden fell tomorrow.

These are just a few pics of The Hideaway but they don't really do it justice - click on the link below the pics to see more info about it.

Lounge

Lounge

Twin Room

Of course we absolutely HAD to have a soak in the glorious bath and I laughed like a drain when I saw this on the bathroom wall. Karen didn't see the funny side - no idea why... 😁

Tomorrow our plans are a little different so we're just getting everything dry & sorting our rucksacks out - but the joy of having a cottage to ourselves is that I can toast crumpets and pour me a glass of wine (obviously in my Cumbria Crystal glass) while I listen to the rain hammer on the windows - maybe Karen will change her name to @dancingintherain_rambler tomorrow... 😀

As always, PRETTY please (with jam on) take a moment to like & follow our supporters - we really couldn't do this without them.