Category Archives: Beer

Days Like This, No 25: The Constant Mountains

Posted on July 10, 2017 by McFadzean

JUNE 2000: The most noble of plans sinks into dregs outside the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. I’m walking the West Highland Way, and today I’ve hiked the few miles along General Wade’s military road from Tyndrum to the scattering of … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, Life, Mountains, Railways, Walking | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Days Like This, No 17: Sleeping Giants of Assynt

Posted on March 30, 2015 by McFadzean

CONIVAL and Ben More Assynt are mountains with majesty. I read an article a long time ago about these northern giants glimpsed in the rays of the setting sun, and the quartzite stones on their summits glowing golden in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Climbing, Environment, Fish and chips, Food, Hiking, Mountains, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 51 Comments

Days Like This, No 15: Walking From Penrith to Ravenglass

Posted on February 27, 2015 by McFadzean

Backpacking through the Lakes on Vesta Beef Curry in 1978 . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Climbing, English language, Environment, Food, Hiking, History, Life, Mountains, Politics, Ranting, The Romans, Traditions, Walking, Weather, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , , , , | 61 Comments

Days Like This, No 12: Dawn on Dove Crag

Posted on January 21, 2015 by McFadzean

WALKING is a dangerous business. Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov has just been stabbed while walking over Waterloo Bridge. And get this: his assailant used an umbrella with a poisoned tip. We down another round of pints in the Brotherswater Inn … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Caving, Climbing, Hiking, History, Legends, Mountains, Traditions, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Black Gold, Tan Hill Tea

Posted on September 17, 2014 by McFadzean

THERE was a loose plan fluttering about this morning like a threadbare flag above a roadside burger bar. But the wind changed and the plan got blown across fields and was last seen snagged on a fence alongside a ragged … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Environment, Footpaths, Geology, Ghosts, Hiking, History, horse gins, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Railway goods wagons, Tan Hill Inn, Teesdale, Walking | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

Days Like This, No 8: The Five Sisters of Kintail

Posted on June 5, 2014 by McFadzean

I HITCH a ride from Shiel Bridge along Glen Shiel. I used to do a lot of hitching but times and attitudes change. People are more wary of strangers these days. Everyone is less communicative. But what the heck. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Climbing, Environment, Hiking, Mountains, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Feet of Cley on the Norfolk Coast Path

Posted on April 2, 2014 by McFadzean

SHINGLE banks are not the easiest terrain to walk across. And between the north Norfolk village of Cley and the town of Sheringham they stretch for miles. It’s a matter of steer your prow into the wind and start plodding … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Bronze Age, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Newsquest, Norfolk Broads, Politics, Ranting, Redundancy, Second World War, Walking, Windmills | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

Days Like This, No 1: The Aonach Eagach Ridge

Posted on February 6, 2014 by McFadzean

THE Aonach Eagach is one of the most exhilarating high-level walks on the British mainland. The ridge forms the northern wall of Glencoe and stretches in a line of imposing crags from the foot of the glen to the pass … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Camping, Climbing, Environment, Glencoe, Hiking, History, Life, Mountains, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 37 Comments

Stamford Bridge: A Long Walk to the Last Battle

Posted on January 20, 2014 by McFadzean

Walking from York to Stamford Bridge in search of Vikings . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Legends, Northern Echo, Railways, The Romans, Vikings, Walking, York | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

Walking up the Camino and Down Again

Posted on November 19, 2013 by McFadzean

NOVEMBER in the Sierra Nevada. This camino runs from the rio Guadalfeo to Orgiva. It’s a back lane from a river to the centre of a small town. It is steep and long. Cars can be a problem. Goats can … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Footpaths, Hiking, Mountains, Walking | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Forever Changing – Broad Majestic Duddon

Posted on April 25, 2013 by McFadzean

A walk along the shifting sands of the Duddon estuary . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Second World War, Walking, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

London 5: Butchers, Saints and Sinners

Posted on April 17, 2013 by McFadzean

BLOWN on a thin wind around a corner from the Barbican tube station past a private park surrounded by private railings to a place where knights once jousted on a meadow called the Smooth Field – which was situated just … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Cookery, Death, Environment, Food, History, Life, Pigeons, Politics, Religion, Walking, Writing | Tagged | 14 Comments