Blog
6th April 2020: Osprey Live Feed
Usually at this time of the year I would be up in the Lake District taking a short holiday. In fact I should have been there working for the last three days, teaching an Advanced Navigation Skills course. Whenever I visit the Lakes in spring I head over to Whinlatter Forest or Dodd Wood near Bassenthwaite Lake to watch the Ospreys nesting through telescopes they have set up.
You don't need to miss out on the action this year. Perhaps the best way to see the osprey's is via the live feed from the Dyfi Osprey Project. The first osprey arrived back from Africa last week so there will hopefully be plenty of action to watch the the next few months. Enjoy 😉🌄
The charity running this service is obviously having a big funding issue this year as nobody can visit so please also check out their donations page: http://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/how-you-can-help/make-donation
Please follow us on social media where you can see posts from the activities we have run in the past, updates on those scheduled for later in the year and things to keep you inspired whilst you stay home.
#StayHomeStaySafe
3rd April 2020: Nepal - Khumbu Climber & Island Peak Trek
Most definitely one of my all time highlights.
I made this incredible three week trek in the Everest region of Nepal in 2007, including ascents of four of the easier peaks: Gokyo Ri 5,357m (17,575ft), Lobuche East 6119m (20,075ft), Pokalde 5,806m (19,048ft) and Island Peak 6,189m (20,305ft). We didn't quite make the summit of Lobuche due to too high an avalanche risk from fresh snow.
In 2008 I was back again for a similar trek with my wife.
Two of my most recent guided walking clients were due to be heading to Nepal for Everest Base Camp treks this spring. It will still be there for them next year and hopefully they will still have the opportunity to go next year.
I've been wanting to create this virtual race through my treks for a long time now. Thanks to covid-19 I now have the time! So, here it is, after piecing together GPS tracks, sifting through hundreds of photos and video clips, and using the brilliant Relive app to recreate the experience.
Enjoy 😉🌄
Please follow us on social media where you can see posts from the activities we have run in the past, updates on those scheduled for later in the year and things to keep you inspired whilst you stay home. We're unable to take you out hiking at the moment but we are still taking bookings for later in the year (with full refund available if needed) or you can support us through these hard times by buying a voucher for any future activity. All vouchers are valid until Dec 2021, although we'll hopefully all be back in the hills long before that.
#StayHomeStaySafe
31st March 2020: Peak District Virtual Hike: Mam Tor, Kinder Scout & Win Hill
I thought I'd share another of our favourite hikes as a "virtual hike" today.
This is actually the first hike I ever led when I first started myGuidedWalks, and also my last walk before coronavirus.
It's a great route for those looking for a bit of a challenge with a total distance of just under 30km and over 1100m of height gain. We'll all perhaps need to warm up with something a little easier first after we come out of hibernation.
Enjoy 😉🌄
Please follow us on social media where you can see posts from the activities we have run in the past, updates on those scheduled for later in the year and things to keep you inspired whilst you stay home. We're unable to take you out hiking at the moment but we are still taking bookings for later in the year (with full refund available if needed) or you can support us through these hard times by buying a voucher for any future activity. All vouchers are valid until Dec 2021, although we'll hopefully all be back in the hills long before that.
#StayHomeStaySafe
29th March 2020: Back to the old ways... 5 day sourdough
Hi everyone,
Here, at the home of myGuidedWalks, we make our own bread and have been doing this for as long as I can remember. As #StayHome became a new way of life for the near future we had flour, water from the tap, but only a small mount of yeast. We therefore thought it would be the perfect time to try our first sourdough...
5 days later, and with the modern assistance of a broadband router (a little heat to keep the starter warm), today was the day to bake our first loaf.
It's amazing!
Give it a try whilst you have plenty of time 🌝. Please follow us on social media where you can see posts from the activities we have run in the past, updates on those scheduled for later in the year and things to keep you inspired whilst you stay home.
#StayHomeStaySafe.
28th March 2020: Northern Lights
Hi everyone,
Earlier this week I posted a few pictures on my social media, from that day (26th March) over the past 12 years. I've usually been cross country skiing in northern Sweden during the last few weeks of March. It's a great time to be there as the weather is often stable due to the usual "blocking high" that often sits over Scandinavia (as it has been doing again this year), and the hours of daylight are becoming longer with the spring equinox.
When I was selecting the photos (shown below) I looked at some of the amazing northern lights I would often see on those trips. I thought these would make a great short film for today, our last day of long dark evenings before the clocks go forward. Enjoy.
If there's anything you'd like me to cover on my regular videos please let me know and I'll see what I can do.
The hills will still be here when this all passes, and I'll be back guiding and teaching navigation again, but for now #StayHomeStaySafe.
25th March 2020: Welcome to the first of a regular series of walking videos.
Hi, this is the first of my regular videos, featuring photos taken during my guided walks over the last two years. I'll be sharing the amazing Peak District through the trips I have taken with visitors from across the UK and around the world.
I suspended my regular guided walking and navigation training events in the middle of March, due to the growing problem of the coronavirus. Hopefully this will help those who, like me, are missing the hills.
The hills will still be here when this all passes, and I'll be back guiding again, so for now #StayHomeStaySafe.
Please follow us on social media where you can see posts from the activities we have run in the past, updates on those scheduled for later in the year and things to keep you inspired whilst you stay home.
I'm still taking bookings for later in the year and vouchers are available too, now valid until December 2021, which would be a great way of supporting my business during these difficult times😉 Paul Smith, myGuidedWalks
