The Lake District holds a very special place in my heart. It’s not only a place where I’ve always loved walking (I mean who doesn’t love walking there?), but also where I filmed my first walking series, taking on some of Alfred Wainwright’s much loved walks. So when we were looking for somewhere to host my first Walk Yourself Happy Days Out – there was one clear choice for me.
Nestled in the North Western Lakes is the beautiful market town of Keswick. A short distance away from there you’ll find Castlerigg Hall, a stunning camping and glamping site that offers breathtaking views out across Derwentwater that became our base for two extraordinary days out in May 2025.
Whilst the draw for many might have been the opportunity to bag a Wainwright, these were more than just going for a walk together. It was an opportunity to pause, to reset and to reconnect with the world around us.
The day started with a warm welcome from the team and a delicious Bradders breakfast prepared by my good friend, Andrew Dickens – a no nonsense, nourishing Cumbrain BLT with locally sourced dry cure bacon from Basecamp North Lakes, Sow & Arrow sourdough buns, avocado, wood fired tomatoes and free range eggs. Absolutely delicious and perfect to set us up ready to bag our Wainwright, Walla Crag.
Standing at 1243 ft tall (or 379 metres), Walla Crag offers some mighty views of this corner of the Lake District. In his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Wainwright praised the “steep, romantic, challenging nature” of this Fell despite being of only moderate elevation. In his words it’s an “eminence of intermingled rocks and trees” and a “delectable place for a picnic” with its heathery top! As tempting as a picnic on the summit would have been, we raced back to Castlerigg knowing that Andrew had whipped up another delicious and nutritious treat for us for lunch.
To start we had flatbreads and crackers from Sow & Arrow with 3 different types of sauerkraut, avocado and wood fired sweet potato mash. Next up was a hearty wood fired whole vegetable broth based on an indigenous Indian recipe called Misckquatash (it’s based on the principle of the three sisters – corn, squash and beans that were traditionally grown together as they support one another) with some amazing sausages that again came from Basecamp North Lakes. To accompany – there were some amazing sauces from Hunter Gather (more about them coming soon to TOG!).
Feeling replenished, the afternoon was another walk – this time to Low Rigg and the Castlerigg Stone Circle. Taken at a more relaxed and leisurely pace, offering us the chance to really slow down and connect to the world around us. I was also able to share some extracts and insights from my Sunday Times best seller, Walk Yourself Happy – giving everyone some tools that they can take away and use in their day to day life.
Back at Castlerigg Hall again it was time for tea, cake (all healthy of course thanks to my good friend Pauline Cox at Sow & Arrow) and wood fired spiral pineapple with maple and agave that Andrew whipped up. After the chance for our guests to ask me any questions and to share thoughts from the day before it was time to say our goodbyes.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us across the two days – it was such a beautiful, uplifting and memorable time and I’m so grateful I could share it with you all.
So where should we do our next Walk Yourself Happy Days Out?
