Fells Kitchen Adventures

03/01/2025

An absolutely stunning day in Northumberland today 🤩
Not leading any groups again, but still working, recceing some locations for new adventures in 2025 🥾🗻🔥
The dogs definitely had fun🐕. Mind, I had to tell Sarah to wear a coat; she said she didn’t need one 😳 Even the infamous Northumberland bogs were frozen today 🥶

29/12/2024

No clients yesterday, but a lovely walk out checking out a possible new routes for my navigation training days. Leaving the van at Hethpool I headed towards the Border Ridge through Elsdonburn Shank on to Ring Chesters, one of the finest examples of Iron Age hillforts in Northumberland. Lots of evidence of Storm Arwen is visible. Note the picture of the map clearly showing me in the middle of the forest and then note the black and white pictures showing a very different story. One of the things you will learn on my navigation training days is that you can never always trust the map and this proves it. The map picture here is from the online OS App, so even that is out of date - your paper map may be even more so depending on when it was printed. My paper OS16 of the Cheviot Hills for example was last revised in 2009 and is the current version available. Mother nature changes things quicker than the cartographers can keep up! Something to be aware of when navigating in the hills. Learn this and other 'navigation know how' on my navigation training days. A two course lunch is included on all of my navigation training days.

WhatsApp for more info - 07976374629

27/12/2024

What a fabulous day we had today on my Winter Wellbeing Walk in the Harthope Valley. The weather started misty, but once the sun rose up the mist lifted to give us some wonderful colours in the National Park.

We did the walk in two loops today. The first loop was from Carey Burn bridge to North Middleton and then back through the wonderfully named Happy Valley for lunch. I cooked lunch back at the van today using my wood fired oven. I wanted to keep the Christmas 🎄 feel but two guests didn’t eat meat, so opted for the following…

Oven Roasted Monkfish, Port, Orange and Cranberry Sauce
Parmentier Potatoes, Rosemary
Honey and Fennel Roasted Carrots
Sautéed Sprouts with Sage and Chestnut Butter

Chocolate Orange Bread and Butter Pudding

After lunch, we did the second loop and headed from Carey Burn over Hart Heugh and then back via the beautiful Carey Burn valley.

A wonderful day with some lovely guests

26/12/2024

Two spaces left on this for if anyone is alone tomorrow and interested in joining us.
Start time will be 9.30 near Wooler. WhatsApp me for more info.

Menu is...
Roasted Monkfish Kebabs,
Port, Orange & Cranberry Sauce
Parmentier Potatoes
Roasted Vegetables, Sage & Chestnut Butter

Chocolate & Orange Bread & Butter Pudding.

Cooked in a wood fired oven after the walk in the morning and before the afternoon stroll!

Just a tenner donation towards the food!

More info below...

🔥 Free guided wellbeing walk for those alone this Christmas 🔥

I'm conscious that some folk will be alone this Christmas, so I'm putting on a free guided winter walk on Friday December 27th. I will provide a two course gourmet lunch with refreshments as I normally do for my adventure days, and only ask for a donation to cover the cost of the food and refreshments in return.

Maybe like me, you're a single parent and don't have the kids this Christmas, maybe you've lost your partner, or maybe friends and family are just away and you're alone this year. Whatever the reason, come and join me and other like minded outdoor loving folk for a walk and lunch in beautiful Northumberland.

The walk I have in mind is a figure of eight loop starting at Carey Burn Bridge in the Harthope Valley. Lunch would be served back at the van after the first loop before embarking on the second one after lunch. The total route is 7.5 miles, on trails with 600ft of ascent after lunch. If you are used to hiking, I would rate the route as 'medium'. There's even a spot for a swim before the end if you dare!

I have no idea if this will be popular, but I am going to cap the numbers at 20 to make it manageable, so please WhatsApp me if you want to come. I don't know what the menu will be yet; I'll come up with one once I know all the dietary requirements, but I will make it seasonal and warming! Check out my socials for what I have done previously if you are not familiar.

When I have enough bookings, I will create a group on WhatsApp to sort out the finer details.

This is not a day for couples or families, This is for people who are going to be alone over Christmas and want to get out in the hills and meet other people.

Housekeeping - I'm a qualified Mountain Leader registered with The Mountain Training Association and have the required Outdoor First Aid training qualification. The suggested donation would be £10 to cover food and drinks. Thank you.

See you in the hills! Chris x
WhatsApp - 07976374629

12/12/2024

🔥 Free guided wellbeing walk for those alone this Christmas 🔥

I'm conscious that some folk will be alone this Christmas, so I'm putting on a free guided winter walk on Friday December 27th. I will provide a two course gourmet lunch with refreshments as I normally do for my adventure days, and only ask for a donation to cover the cost of the food and refreshments in return.

Maybe like me, you're a single parent and don't have the kids this Christmas, maybe you've lost your partner, or maybe friends and family are just away and you're alone this year. Whatever the reason, come and join me and other like minded outdoor loving folk for a walk and lunch in beautiful Northumberland.

The walk I have in mind is a figure of eight loop starting at Carey Burn Bridge in the Harthope Valley. Lunch would be served back at the van after the first loop before embarking on the second one after lunch. The total route is 7.5 miles, on trails with 600ft of ascent after lunch. If you are used to hiking, I would rate the route as 'medium'. There's even a spot for a swim before the end if you dare!

I have no idea if this will be popular, but I am going to cap the numbers at 20 to make it manageable, so please WhatsApp me if you want to come. I don't know what the menu will be yet; I'll come up with one once I know all the dietary requirements, but I will make it seasonal and warming! Check out my socials for what I have done previously if you are not familiar.

When I have enough bookings, I will create a group on WhatsApp to sort out the finer details.

This is not a day for couples or families, This is for people who are going to be alone over Christmas and want to get out in the hills and meet other people.

Housekeeping - I'm a qualified Mountain Leader registered with The Mountain Training Association and have the required Outdoor First Aid training qualification. The suggested donation would be £10 to cover food and drinks. Thank you.

See you in the hills! Chris x
WhatsApp - 07976374629

08/12/2024

A reminder that I have gift vouchers available from the Fells Kitchen web shop. Vouchers are available for my Navigation Days (dates already on web) , Open Events (not published yet, but I tend to do one a month, April - Oct) and vouchers just for couples as a special gift (bespoke dates by arrangement). Vouchers to be used in 2025. Vouchers emailed out after booking.

Please share, Chris x

https://www.fellskitchen.co.uk/

23/10/2024

Evening all...

I've added 6 dates to next year for my Navigation Training & Gourmet Lunch Experience days. 3 will be in the Harthope Valley and 3 will be in the Simonside Hills next year.

I get asked a lot for gift vouchers and since Christmas is not far away, I've added to the FK shop an option to buy gift vouchers specific to the navigation days. The vouchers can be used on any of the days, just let me know which and I'll book you on. The vouchers will need to be redeemed in 2025. Max 8 people per day. Further details on the FK web shop.

The link is here...

https://www.fellskitchen.co.uk/store/p12/giftvoucher.html

I will add other experience days shortly.

I'd be grateful if you could share this on. Thanks, Chris x


fans

19/10/2024

Busy sorting some dates for my Navigation Days in 2025. I’ll be doing one per month from April through until September. Cheviots or Simonside.
I get asked a lot for gift vouchers on the lead up to 🎄so will sort that out too. More info soon.,,
🔥👨‍🍳🥾⛰️

09/10/2024

With all this awful weather around, some nice sunny photos are in order to brighten up your evening!

On Saturday, I was out in The Cheviots once again teaching navigation skills to two sisters, Gemma and Jennifer. Both had done a little navigation before as teenagers but wanted to brush up their skills and enjoy some fantastic food on the fells!

We had a lovely walk 8 mile circular walk from Carey Burn Bridge in the Harthope Valley, up and over Brands Hill down to Langley and then up to the trig point on Cold Law, before returning via Broadstruther and Carey Burn Linn.

The menu was…

Homemade Wood Fired Flat Breads
Lamb Kofta
Tzatziki
Pickled Sweet Red Onions
Greek Salad
Charred Spring Onion & Potato Salad with Aioli

Chocolate & Salted Caramel Tart
Macerated Blood Orange Slices
Grand Marnier Creme Fraiche

Oh, and Creme Brûlée with mugs of tea back at the van (as usual!)

These days make ideal gifts and corporate team building events. Look out for future dates I post.

Group bookings by request. Please get in touch for details.

Please share x

29/09/2024

Some photos from previous navigation training days...

I'm running another navigation training day on Saturday 5th October in the Harthope Valley.

Maximum of 8 guests (2 already booked as of today). The route is about 7.5 miles and if you're up for it there's a great swimming spot!

OS maps and compasses provided for the day. Free 15 page PDF guide of what you have learned emailed out afterwards.

A two course lunch cooked over a wood fire will be provided on the walk. Exact menu decided when I get all the dietaries, but see previous posts for an idea. All diets catered for.

And yes, there will be creme brûlée at the end! There always is!

Booking via Events here on FB or via the following link in my shop on the FK interweb site!

https://www.fellskitchen.co.uk/store/p42/Beginners%2FRefresher_Nav_-_5th_Oct.html

Chris

28/09/2024

Some from yesterdays Mountain Leader guided walk with two course lunch in The College Valley, Northumberland.

Gillian booked me to take herself and son, Daniel out for the day. A vegetarian menus was required with chocolate...

Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash Curry
Tamarind Shallots & Tomatoes
Potato & Sugar Snap Peas, Coconut Milk
Homemade Naans

Chocolate & Cherry Ganache, Rodda's

Bespoke private bookings by arrangement. All diets and walking skill levels catered for. Get in touch for more info. Chris x

28/09/2024

Plenty of water in the College Burn yesterday after Thursdays rain 🌧️

25/09/2024

Some photos from a recent private booking...

Abby booked me for husband, Kev's big birthday and wanted a walk where young Oakley (4) could come too. I offered them various routes of different length and elevation around the Mardale Valley, Haweswater. We settled on one that was 5 miles in length and involved climbing up and over Harter Fell then returning via Small Water and Small Water Beck to Mardale Head.

Although the weather was dry and grey at Mardale Head, it was misty and windy on the top of Harter Fell with very poor visibility. Such a shame when you compare the photos I posted earlier in the week when I ran the route to check it out in preparation. Once we descended down to Small Water however, the wind stopped, the clouds parted and the sun came out. We joked that it would be beautiful when we were all driving home. (it was!)

I prepared the following using a wood fired stove next to Small Water Beck

Monkfish and Chorizo Kebabs, Rocket Harissa, Flat Breads
Panzanella, Cous Cous, Feta and Pomegranate
Salted Caramel Tart with Raspberries & Passion Fruit (Oakley ate it before I got a pic!) 🤣

Back at the van I served chocolate mousse with raspberries, tea, coffee and cold drinks.

Please get in touch for information on private bookings like this.

📷 Chris Reay & Kevin Williams.
Permission given to post pictures of Oakley.

17/09/2024

I'm off to The Lakes this Saturday to lead a group from Mardale Head at the end of Haweswater up Gatesgarth Pass, across Harter Fell and down to Small Water and then back via Small Water Beck. The walk is 5 miles in length with 1781ft of elevation. For the Wainwright baggers, it ticks off Little Harter Fell and Harter Fell. Spaces still available of anyone wants to join us. We will be meeting at Mardale Head car park at 09.00 (the car park fills up quickly). £79 per person which includes a two course gourmet lunch, tea/coffee, soft drinks and creme brûlées back at the van at the end. The walk will be lead by myself, Chris a qualified professional Mountain Leader & chef. Text me for more info and a payment link.
Chris 07076373629

17/09/2024

There area a total of 19 plane wrecks from WW2 scattered over The Cheviot Hills, with a total 59 lives lost.
Arguably the most well known is the B17 Flying Fortress that crashed in a storm on December 16th 1944 after a navigation error put their height lower than they thought they were. The plane narrowly missed Braydon Crag on the west side of The Cheviot, but crashed instead on West Hill with the loss of two lives, but with seven survivors.
On Saturday, I led a small group up the Hen Hole to Auchope Cairn then across to the summit of Cheviot and then across to the crash site where I told the full story of the plane, the crash, the survivors and the heroes of the rescue; local shepherds and a Border Collie called Sheila.
The weather was dreadful for most of the day and I cooked lunch in driving rain in a sheep pen (for a little shelter) on Cairn Hill. To get to the site, we had to take a bearing from the summit of Cheviot and trudge across the peat hags for a couple of kilometres. Just as we reached the wreckage, the rain stopped, the mist lifted (I was navigating by compass as we couldn't see much) and out came the sun giving us stunning views of the site, Scotland and The College Valley where we had walked from. A poignant and glorious moment at the same time.
We then made our way back to the van at Mounthooly or tea & creme brûlées!
If you would like to do this expedition with me and a group of friends, please get in touch to arrange a suitable date.

21/08/2024

Beautiful Arran! You never disappoint ♥️

I spent a long weekend on the Isle Arran a couple of weeks ago working, with a day off trail running. I caught the first ferry from Troon on a Friday morning, camped all weekend in my Transporter and got a late ferry back on the Sunday evening after my run. (that was a good incentive not to stop - I had to be back in time to make the ferry!)

Day 1 - Hike. Glen Catacol, Beinn Bhreac, Gleann Easan Biorach, Catacol (10 miles, 1500 ft ascent).

Day 2 - Hike. North Glen Sannox, Creag Dhubh, Caisteal Abhail (Witches Step), Suidhe Fhearghas (8 miles, 3200 ft ascent).

Day 3 - Trail Run (day off). Glenrosa, Beinn Nuis, Beinn Tarsuinn, Cir Mhor, The Saddle, Glenrosa (14 miles, 4550 ft ascent).

Miraculously (for Scotland) the weather was kind, apart from 40mph winds on day 2, which was fun on the top of Caisteal Abhail!

A fabulous weekend. I love Arran. For guiding on the Isle of Arran, please get on touch to discuss your requirements.

Chris x

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20/08/2024

After a busy Saturday teaching navigation in the hills, I was back out again on Sunday. No teaching this time, but a 10 mile hike with lots of chat and great food!

We met in the Harthope Valley and headed along the top ridge of the wonderfully named, Happy Valley past the site of Middleton Old Town before dropping down to the ford at Coldgate Mill. We then hiked back through the valley to Carey Burn bridge where we had left the vehicles. Happy Valley must be one of my favourite places in The Cheviots because it's so beautiful and such a contrast to the wild, barren, heather strewn hills surrounding it.

After a brief stop at the vehicles (for me to collect the food pack) we headed up and around the back of Cold Law and on towards the shooting lodge at Broadstruther where I prepared and served lunch. I spoke about the iron age forts in the Cheviots, the largest of which is on nearby Yeavering Bell, along with the Northumberland wild goats, the 7th century ancient palace of King Edwin of Northumbria at Ad Gefrin and also the story of the Flying Fortress plane wreck on Cheviot. After lunch and pud, we followed the Carey Burn through it's beautiful valley stopping for photos at the waterfall (no one fancied a swim today) and back to the vehicles for refreshments and of course creme brûlée!

I love doing these hikes. I was discussing with one of the guests, how I get to spend a day hiking in the hills with a group of people I would never normally meet in every day life. Sometimes these days are booked by groups of friends who all know each other, but Sunday was a mixture of couples and singles who didn't and it makes for a wonderful day meeting new people.

The following two expeditions are live on the FK shop...

Sept 15th - Hike to the Flying Fortress plane wreck site.
Oct 5th - Last Beginner/Refresher Navigation training day.

https://www.fellskitchen.co.uk

I am in the process of planning an expedition in The Lakes on the 21st September. Details will follow when I have worked them out, but it will be around Haweswater.

All my trips include a gourmet two course lunch followed by refreshments and creme brûlée at the end.

Lunch on Sunday was...

Moroccan Lamb Tagine, Tabbouleh, Fattoush, Rosemary Foccacia, Padron Peppers, Hummus and Yoghurt & Mint Dressing.
Chocolate & Caramel Tart, Raspberries & Orange Creme Fraiche.

If you don't already follow Fells Kitchen on socials, please consider doing so and sharing. Thanks x