Finding Words in The Fells

Move from ‘How do I find the words’, to feeling the satisfaction of engaging in a creative process as emotions become words on the paper in front of you. Inspired by what is under your feet, what you can hear, see & feel as you move around the fells, with Julie Carter, Mindfell.

“…for going out, I found, is really going in.” John Muir

Our writer in residence for our 3-day break is Julie Carter, author, poet, fellrunner and climber. Julie is a 2025 Lakeland Book Of The Year Award Winner (link) for her book The Dreamtime Fellrunner. For information on Julie’s other books, theatre show and other creative works have a look at www.mindfell.co.uk

Julie is joining Hiking Highs to help guide us in the wonderful ‘art’ of writing.

Day 1 - ROCK :
Explore the meaning of rock for you.  How do you interact with our earth’s foundation?  With origins in deep-time rocks can be cold, inhospitable and connect us to fear, anger and awe.  But rock has many textures and colours, provides stability and substance, and is the home from which life emerged. 

Evening: Red Deer Talk and mountain flora talk from Lee Schofield

Day 2 - RED DEER
A boat trip on the  Ullswater Steamers will take us to Howtown, the start of our special Red Deer Day.  Today’s workshop, in the tiny church of St Martin, Martindale, built in the 1660’s, connects us with echoes of roaring deer and clashing of antlers, autumn light on the fells and the cycles of life.

The walk, led by Hiking Highs guide, Nicky, will take us deep into Martindale and Bannerdale valleys and a slow roam up and over Bedafell, with binoculars in hand.  Whatever the weather the echoing of the magnificent stags is guaranteed during October. 

Martindale is home to England’s oldest red deer herd. They have inhabited these fells for over 300 years. We can guide our hikes with kind permission of the McCosh family, with whom Hiking Highs works closely, from the Dalemain Estate who own this valley.

Please note: The Ullswater Steamers may not sail if the winds are high, and we will organise a car share to Martindale.

Evening: Readings and films

Day 3 - WATER
The freedom of water.  The flow takes its course, we can't control it, we shouldn't control it, but we need it.  It is free to run away down the fellside. Sometimes sitting amongst our bogs or hiding in our glorious Sphagnum moses. We will touch and feel these mosses, and listen to the becks in full autumn flow, maybe raging, maybe trickling, maybe underground with echoes to listen for - shhhhh… it’s a secret. How might it feel to walk on the cold wet ground?  How you connect to the water will be up to you…. We are all different.

Take away pages containing your words, emotions and sensations as a lasting reminder.

NOTE: The taste of your water during your stay is different to any you have drunk before, it runs down the face of Helvellyn and Red Tarn Beck and into your taps here at the hostel for you to drink and run over your body - minimal chlorine, just ultraviolet cleaning…. The taste is clear and clean… you should bottle it and take it home; its energy is magic.