17 cumbria mardale loop

Three contrasting walks to discover the ever-changing terrains encircling the Borrowdale valley and village of Rosthwaite in the Lake District .

■ Distance: 6⅔ miles/10.6km ■ Time: 3½-4hours ■ Grade: Moderate

THE area where the River Tees approaches the sea has been largely industrial in recent times, but the upper stretch of the river is very different in character. Here, while the villages, hamlets and r

Explore the Peak District ’s rugged beauty with the Dark Peak’s wilder side.

■ Distance: 11½ miles/18.2km ■ Time: 7 hours ■ Grade: Challenging

I'm a scrupulous planner and, since buying our first 'van in 2022, our trips have tended to be planned with military precision and packed agendas, often staying on a single site and heading out each d