Our first date, over 30 years ago, was a walk up the hills above Osmotherley in North Yorkshire. The hedges were full of sloes and elderberries, so we ended up foraging. Our second date was pricking the sloes for sloe gin and stripping the elderberries for wine making. That was the start of our outdoor adventures together.
This blog has come about because we are both interested in nature and want to share our experiences of beautiful routes, stunning places and knowledge of wildlife.
Whether we are walking, trail running or wild swimming we do it at a steady pace, appreciating the wildlife around us. We do not go in for long distance challenges, just activities that anyone with reasonable fitness should be able to do.
Our articles include some of the wildlife we have seen on the route, so that you know what to look out for and when. The "what to look out for boards" will be updated as we repeat routes. We would love it if people who follow our routes share their sightings with us via our instagram feed.
Enjoy reading.

Circular Route near Stirling
Sauchie Crags and North Third Reservoir. This is a short but spectacular circular route close to Stirling which has a variety of habitat, including spectacular cliffs, mixed woodland and banks of North Third Reservoir. It is one of the routes recommended in the book Scottish Trail Running, which I have previously reviewed. As it was…

Strathblane Circular Walk, Stirlingshire
Views, new plants and a lunchtime dip We have a bit of an ongoing joke between us that when I choose the route we end up without a footpath and when Peter chooses the route it is much longer than intended. As it was a hot day in July Peter chose this Strathblane Circular route…

Scottish Trail Running
Scottish Trail Running by Susie Allison What a fantastic Christmas present to receive just before our move over the border. Scottish Trail Running contains descriptions, route maps, elevation profiles and images of 70 great running routes in Scotland, ranging from simple 4km loops near Glasgow up to 48km routes in the Cairngorms. It is laid…

Walk at Lochmaben, Dumfries & Galloway
A Walk that Packs a Punch We discovered this walk from Lochmaben by pure accident – and what a happy accident. This walk has it all: a variety of ecosystems, local history, sculptures, excellent interpretation boards, easy navigation and good access – oh yes and willow tits. This 4 mile flat circuit around Castle Loch…

Beningbrough Hall Walk
In Search of the Jewel of York A favourite walk in the York area is around the perimeter of Beningbrough Hall. This is a lovely route for either a summer evening stroll or a winter trail run, not too long (approx 5km) and finishing at a lovely pub. We most recently ran the route on…

Howsham Bluebell Woods and a Favourite Walk
May is the time for walks in bluebell woods. Around York there are a number of beautiful bluebell woods to enjoy as the weather gets warmer. We made the most of a warm mid-week day by leaving work slightly early and heading to a favourite walk round Howsham Woods. You can start this walk either…

Bishop Wilton Re-visited
This is a lovely 5km walk from the pretty village of Bishop Wilton, 15 miles to the East of York. As the start is from the village pub, this is a perfect way to walk off the calories after a pub lunch or to build up a thirst on a summer’s evening. With your back…

Curlew Call Lifts Spirits
On World Curlew Day (21st April) I thought it appropriate to write about my encounters with this beautiful bird. This year I fear I will not hear it’s evocative call, the call of the wild moorland. one of my harbingers of spring. This 2020 spring has me stuck in suburbia, but I have so many…

A Mausoleum and Many Monuments
Yesterday we returned to Castle Howard parkrun for the second time. This is one of the toughest courses I know, with the last kilometre or so uphill. Yesterday it was also into a biting wind. The course designers have done a really good job in showing off all that Castle Howard has to show, with…