The first route I attempted from Cycle Rides in Northumberland and Beyond was a bit of a cheat. It's a shorter variant of the Northawall route, beginning in Stonehaugh. I don't hesitate to recommend buying the guide if you haven't already. I carry it with me, and recommended it to two people along this route alone!

On my final day of 49-ness, 3rd May 2023, I decided to head up across the Crinkles and Bowfell. It's a classic Lakeland ridge walk that lends itself to a full day out. The route clocks in at 20km with 1520m of ascent, and it took me a shade under 10 hours from campsite to the Climber's Bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll. Route finding is easy, but there's a lot of picking your way between rocks and boulders, which can make for some slow going.

Open water swimming has been making a splash in the last few years. Lockdown related pool closures created a spring-board. After that, there came an increased awareness of the health benefits. You'll find two camps. The "you must be joking" camp, and the "evangelists". Having made this transition myself, I can empathise with both parties. But, just so you know, the first lot have got it wrong!

This mountain bike route takes in a short traffic-free section of The Sandstone Way in Harwood Forest. I rode it in November 2022, and my understanding is that this section of the route (and onward to Rothbury) was reopened at the end of October 2022. However, at the time of writing, much of Harwood Forest remains closed. In particular, St Oswald's Way is still subject to diversions due to Storm Arwen in November 2021; one of the issues being that storm damaged trees must be made safe within 2 tree-lengths either side of a right of way... and that's a lot of trees.

After the frustration of attempting to swim with a left-goggle full of water, I took the plunge and bought myself a pair of Alpkit Kisdon open-water goggles. I'd had my eye on them for a while, but the question is - do they get the seal of approval?

I began swimming outdoors in May 2020. To put this in context, summer began well and the water temperatures in the North Tyne were around 15 degrees. But, when your goggles steam up after less than 30 seconds, it does put rather a dampener on your swim!

This route on 9th July 2015 made for a longish day-walk, from Catstycam looping around to Sheffield Pike. The distance is 20km (with 1.6km of ascent) and it takes in the summit of 9 Wainwrights.

This was to be a short warm-up on the afternoon of 8th July 2015, prior to a night's camping at Glenridding, and Catstycam the following day.