Over on instagram I share a lot of different photos of hikes and swims, but I thought I’d start doing a monthly round up, to highlight some of my favourites from each months. As always, any feedback is appreciated, so let me know in the comments it there’s things you’d like to see more (or less) of.
Walks
Addingham Loop: Approx 5 miles/ 1h 45
This was a lovely loop I did with my mum and dad on one of the most beautiful days we’ve had this month. There is ample parking along the road near the swing-bridge in Addingham and the loop takes you through fields, woodland and along the riverside (part of the Dalesway). There were some perfect spots along the river to stop for a picnic (or a dip in my case) and there is a great little cafe in the caravan park that you pass through just before returning to the start.
Timble Loop: Approx 6 miles/ 2h
I wanted to get out and explore some of the area’s local to my parents, so I looked on komoot and planned a little route near Timble. This was another walk with lots of different scenery and the option to add in the reservoir too (but I was too hungry at this point and wanted to get back for some lunch). The paths were well marked out and easy to follow and there were some incredible views from the top of Lippersley Pike. Parking wise, there is a small pull in just off the crossroads by the start point, or alternatively there is plenty of free parking further down the lane.
Dips:
Choosing only a couple of top dip spots has been pretty difficult this month, having been to so many with my dip a day challenge (I will share a full list in November). But these three were pretty magical…
Gaddings Dam – Todmorden
I had visited this spot back in April 2021 with my friend Kim, when we were both pretty new to outdoor dips. From what I remember, it was very cold and we were both feeling pretty self conscious of all the people walking by. This time however was a completely different experience. It’s not really on my doorstep, but it was just a quick detour when I was heading over to Stockport to visit my brother and family.
As I was driving over, I was down in the valley in thick cloud, but as soon as I started heading up, I was above it all. The sun was shining, there wasn’t a breath of wind and the remaining cloud in the bottom looked stunning. After hiking to the top of the hill (it’s a pretty steep trek) I was greeted with beautiful, glassy water and there were just two other people up there dipping at the other side of the pool.
There is limited parking, with just a small pull in opposite the Shepherd’s Rest Inn. But it’s a lovely spot and well worth the hike on the right day. I went back a few days later for a group swim and we weren”t quite so lucky with the weather. There were strong, cold winds, making the water look more like a wavy sea. but it was still a great swim despite the cold.
White Wells – Ilkley
This is somewhere that has been on my doorstep my whole life, but I’ve never actually dipped here before. I have known of people dipping here at New year, but thought it would be a great opportunity to visit for one of my Seashell October Dips.
White wells was built in the 1700’s and a single plunge pool remains inside the cottage. It was believed that plunging in the pool could cure all kinds of ailments, even Charles Darwin is thought to have taken a dip there when he visited Ilkley in 1859.
The cafe is open when the flag is flying (currently only at weekends), but a dip and a coffee is the best way to start the day in my opinion!
Janet’s Foss – Malham
I ended up here for my birthday dip and it was magical. After a pretty emotional morning, I was in desperate need of fresh air and a distraction. The water was crystal clear, felt incredible and was surprisingly not too cold. It is a very popular spot for walkers and we did have a pretty big audience, but I’m getting better at not letting this impact my zen when I’m in the water.
Books:
Unintentionally, or maybe subconsciously, I seem to be focussing on self love a lot this month and the two books I’ve been drawn to both focus on this. I know I am often pretty hard on myself, so I’m making a conscious effort to break the habit.
Dear Self – Ruby Dahl – I’ve found this book quite a lot emotionally, and have therefore only been reading a few pages at a time. I think this is because I resonate so much with the things Ruby is saying. It’s so well written and she uses her past experiences to talk about perceptions and situations in a way that inspires and guides you. Definitely worth a read.
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself – Kristin Neff – This is a much more practical guide and more along the lines of a typical ‘self improvement’ type book. It is filled with research and different exercises to help you learn to be kinder yourself and cope with the ups and downs that life throws at us. I’m only part way through, but have already learnt a lot.
If you fancy listening to either of these books via audible, you can get a free months trial via amazon here.
Podcasts:
I’ve been spending a lot of my time driving recently and rather than just listen to music, I wanted to start making more of this time by listening to podcasts instead. I have had so many recommendations over the past few years and often found it overwhelming with where to start, but two that I’ve been really enjoying recently are:
The Law of Attraction Changed my Life – I can’t quite remember where I came across this podcast, but it has become my go to. I try to listen to at least one episode a day, whether it’s on a quick walk around the village or on a drive to the lakes. I’m still on the fence about manifesting in general, however I have gained and learnt so much from this podcast. There are loads of great book recommendations, life lessons and easy steps to take on board to help live a more positive and fulfilling life.
Summit to Talk About – I absolutely love an adventure related podcast and I was lucky enough to be interviewed as a guest on Summit to Talk About earlier this month. It’s a UK based podcasts for all things hiking, walking, wild camping and more. Ryan does such a good job at making everyone he interviews feel calm and comfortable, which makes for great conversations and insights into so many different aspects of people lives and their adventures. My episode is due to go live in early November, so keep an eye out!
Morning Routine:
I had posted something on instagram a few weeks ago about the positive impact my current morning routine was having on my headspace and productivity, so I thought I’d share a quick insight into what I’m doing each day.
– Gratitude: Writing a list of 3 things every morning that I’m grateful for.
– Aims for the day: Writing out 3 achievable aims for the day. They don’t need to be big things and usually I will end up doing much more, but it’s a great starting point and I feel accomplished if I get at least these 3 things done.
– 10 Ideas: I heard about this via a podcast, but I think it came from James Altucher’s book ‘Choose Yourself’. It’s based on the fact that we very rarely let ourselves get bored and therefore lose that creativity for idea generation. To help combat this, he suggests writing down 10 ideas every morning to help train our brain in how to form new ideas. I’ve found this extremely helpful for coming up with new ideas for blog posts, increasing engagement and loads of other areas.
– Journal: I briefly write down my thoughts and feelings from the previous day and my focuses for the day to come.
– Walk and podcast: This has been one of the most beneficial things I’ve been doing, as I’ve found it puts me in a good headspace and increases my levels of productivity throughout the day. I try to go first thing in the morning, but if I haven’t had chance, then in the evening after dinner. It’s usually just a 30 min walk around the village, but for me it’s such a great way to start (or end) the day.
Hopefully you find some of these recommendations useful and please share any books, podcasts or dip spots in the comments!
Happy adventuring x
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Lisa Outdoors 
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