Michael Hill
@mike-hill.bsky.social
CEO of landscape charity Friends of the Lake District. Before that, 35 years in media and technology, mostly at the BBC. Now usually up a mountain in #Cumbria UK.
@friendsoflakes.bsky.social
@friendsoflakes.bsky.social
A rare opportunity to explore an old tungsten mine today, near Mungrisdale. With the expert guidance of Warren Allison we waded into tunnels deep under the fell. He pointed out the vein of quartz that miners chased into the mountain, blowing passageways with dynamite (the tungsten is in the quartz).
August 19, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A rare opportunity to explore an old tungsten mine today, near Mungrisdale. With the expert guidance of Warren Allison we waded into tunnels deep under the fell. He pointed out the vein of quartz that miners chased into the mountain, blowing passageways with dynamite (the tungsten is in the quartz).
First ‘legs out’ walk of the summer
May 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
First ‘legs out’ walk of the summer
Spotted this camping #cargobike made by @riesemuller.bsky.social. Definitely on the wish list!
April 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Spotted this camping #cargobike made by @riesemuller.bsky.social. Definitely on the wish list!
Big plume of filthy water heading out into the River Kent. Hey @unitedutilities.bsky.social, it hasn’t even rained recently. What’s the excuse this time?
March 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Big plume of filthy water heading out into the River Kent. Hey @unitedutilities.bsky.social, it hasn’t even rained recently. What’s the excuse this time?
Been building an electric cargo bike at the weekends. It’s a Dutch ‘Bakfiets’ with new front forks, rebuilt front wheel with hub motor, and it’ll shortly have hydraulic disc brakes too. Gem seemed to enjoy the first wobbly test ride!
March 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Been building an electric cargo bike at the weekends. It’s a Dutch ‘Bakfiets’ with new front forks, rebuilt front wheel with hub motor, and it’ll shortly have hydraulic disc brakes too. Gem seemed to enjoy the first wobbly test ride!
Water vapour was definitely doing its thang today
March 1, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Water vapour was definitely doing its thang today
Stolen from Facebook (but true, nonetheless)
January 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Stolen from Facebook (but true, nonetheless)
Bubble and squeak…and bubbles
December 27, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Bubble and squeak…and bubbles
Charing Cross station, middle of a weekday. Just utterly surreal times.
December 16, 2024 at 6:39 PM
Charing Cross station, middle of a weekday. Just utterly surreal times.
There are some gorgeous ancient lanes on this walk too. I took one of my favourite pictures on one of them, a few years ago.
December 14, 2024 at 1:24 PM
There are some gorgeous ancient lanes on this walk too. I took one of my favourite pictures on one of them, a few years ago.
We’re doing one of our favourite medium-level walks today, up from Ambleside and over Wansfell Pike, down to Troutbeck, and back round through the woods. The view/effort ratio is fantastic, with 360 degree interest at the top.
December 14, 2024 at 12:14 PM
We’re doing one of our favourite medium-level walks today, up from Ambleside and over Wansfell Pike, down to Troutbeck, and back round through the woods. The view/effort ratio is fantastic, with 360 degree interest at the top.
A very windy walk past one of our loveliest bits of land. Not particularly ‘tranquil’ today though!
December 8, 2024 at 1:53 PM
A very windy walk past one of our loveliest bits of land. Not particularly ‘tranquil’ today though!
Full house for a talk by @lauralaker.bsky.social at the @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social . She talked about @sustrans.bsky.social and the National Cycle Network, and how we need proper long-term planning for #activetravel.
November 23, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Full house for a talk by @lauralaker.bsky.social at the @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social . She talked about @sustrans.bsky.social and the National Cycle Network, and how we need proper long-term planning for #activetravel.
Walking one of the trails marked out for a @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social run later. Tricky conditions! Quite deep water over frozen ground #fellrun #parkrun
November 23, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Walking one of the trails marked out for a @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social run later. Tricky conditions! Quite deep water over frozen ground #fellrun #parkrun
Finally, it’s past another bit of land we own and look after (the gorgeous Sweden Wood), and back into Ambleside
November 16, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Finally, it’s past another bit of land we own and look after (the gorgeous Sweden Wood), and back into Ambleside
A shepherd and his dogs are moving about a hundred sheep up the valley
November 16, 2024 at 4:46 PM
A shepherd and his dogs are moving about a hundred sheep up the valley
It’s getting cold and blowy on the tops, so I’ve changed my route back. Down the valley instead, passing the brilliant Mountain Rescue folks walking up to help someone at Red Screes (where I was planning to climb to)
November 16, 2024 at 4:41 PM
It’s getting cold and blowy on the tops, so I’ve changed my route back. Down the valley instead, passing the brilliant Mountain Rescue folks walking up to help someone at Red Screes (where I was planning to climb to)
Lunch, from the best butcher in the world (Garsides in Ambleside). Why do I feel like someone’s watching me?
November 16, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Lunch, from the best butcher in the world (Garsides in Ambleside). Why do I feel like someone’s watching me?
Cracking wall that winds its way up these fells. Would have been fun to build!
November 16, 2024 at 11:40 AM
Cracking wall that winds its way up these fells. Would have been fun to build!
Bit of a challenge! Long legs required (and some maintenance)
November 16, 2024 at 11:28 AM
Bit of a challenge! Long legs required (and some maintenance)
Looking back over Ambleside and Windermere as we start the long pull up to Low Pike
November 16, 2024 at 11:17 AM
Looking back over Ambleside and Windermere as we start the long pull up to Low Pike