Cumbria Way

That's how long-lasting it was.

So, Lynne, CEO of Always Another Way, the person that we all aimed our energies towards on that famous five days on the Cumbria Way, wasn't it? So I've met up with Val, Julie, and also Zelda.

And it seems quite interesting that today is the day that Julie White's put a picture in our WhatsApp group with her fifth toenail off.

No. She's lost her fifth toenail.

Indeed.

The section of the podcast that you'll be covering is that moment that you can remember specifically where, and it's going to appertain to the war, but I think probably we can both remember where we met in the sea, where exactly we were when I said, do you want to come to Nepal? And you have become very accomplished at just saying yes, and I really, really recommend that because there was a point on the West Cumbria Way or the Cumbria Way where I thought I might not have any friends left.

Because it was between what we thought it was.

We had quite a romantic view of it, didn't we? Yes, we did.

Tell us a little bit about yourself before we get you onto the

Cumbria Way.

Well, my name is Julie White, as you said.

I am number 27 on your fantastic podcast.

We talked about her Te Aroa adventure, a 3,000-kilometre journey along the length of New Zealand.

but it's the Cumbria Way, 112 kilometer trail that goes through the heart of the Lake District where Jess's story as an adventurer starts.

This was Jess's first trail after she decided that she wanted to become a long distance hiker.

So in this episode, we're going right back to where it all began for Jess and all the lessons that came with that first adventure.

Here's our conversation.

Jess, before we get into everything, I just want to get a quick thought from you.

So we're about to talk about the Cumbria Way.

And when you think about that, what moment from it jumps into your mind?

Yep.

And then Manistee, get round the lake there on the Cumbria Way, back into Keswick.

There's plenty of places to stop for a drink, cup of tea, cake or whatever en route, including Lodol Falls Hotel, obviously, if you really want to.

But equally, there's loads of little coffee vans now around the Catbells area.

It's just a great walk and it's that thing about variety, isn't it? So yes, it does climb a fell, a relatively lowly one, but it's more about weaving it into that wider landscape walk.

So you get majestic oak woods, lakeside walking.

I do love that bit of the Cumbria Way there.

you've got that river ascent in wild craggy country superb varied walk take you most of a day and then a final one i was going to suggest mark and it's one both you and i know and many of our listeners will love i think it's the defining walk in great langdale bowfell and crinkle crags

And Ellie said we became very good friends very, very fast and, you know, we spend a lot of time together.

Like Jenny, Ellie, and I went, we did the Cumbria Way together over a few days, so we had, like, all this time just chatting.

I mean, I don't, we didn't stop talking, so I have no idea what we talked about, but it just was continuous.

And Ellie and I are really good at ridiculously long voice notes, so we have reverted to that more now that she's moved away, but it's like having a little mini podcast, and it's great.