Raven Crag still stands proudly overlooking the northern tip of Thirlmere, but the lower slopes around it look a little different than they did a few years ago, and the direct route to the summit does not look like the one Wainwright wrote about in 1958 or even the version of Clive Hutchby in his excellent 2016 revision.
Perhaps the stroll to the top of Orrest Head has itself become something of a cliché as a gateway to Lakeland, but that's with good reason - it's a lovely little walk with views that far exceed the effort required to obtain them. What better way to introduce a German Shepherd puppy to the Lake District?
The Levada do Furado trail (waymarked as PR10) has everything you'd expect from a Madeiran levada walk. Clinging tight to the steep mountainside, it winds through the forest from the trout-farming hamlet of Ribeiro Frio ("cold river") high in the mountains, eastwards to the pretty village of Portela which has a fantastic view of the north-east coast.
I’m really excited to welcome you to the “Iain Walks” website!
I’ve loved the Lake District since I was a little boy. As an adult, over the last few years I’ve rediscovered not only that love but I’ve begun to explore our urban and rural green spaces in all their weird and wonderful forms.
As someone who spends a lot of time writing for a living, I’m really looking forward to sharing my stories about walking in the Lake District, exploring the green spaces of Greater Manchester, and occasionally upping sticks and exploring beyond the North West of England.
If I can persuade or inspire only a handful of people to take a few steps further into the countryside than they would have done otherwise, then I’ve exceeded all expectations for this website. I hope you enjoy reading.
