Clare Dyson: I took a horse and dog on a month-long Lake District adventure

Clare Dyson has been fanatical about horses since she was a child.

Pony-trekking around the whole of the Lake District was an adventure that Clare had dreamed about for a long time.

In May 2018, having worked relentlessly to get the time off from her job working with the Lake District National Park in community engagement, she made the trip a reality.

Clare, Pansy and Finn on top of Helvellyn in the Lake District
(Photo: Clare, Pansy and Finn on top of Helvellyn in the Lake District)

Clare trekked and wild camped for a month with fell pony Pansy and dog Finn.

They started in Staveley-in-Cartmel and took a clockwise direction around the Lake District.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d8949.261184396757!2d-2.95658733718097!3d54.26183943947752!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487c964acd52afa7%3A0x168af7465fe778a!2sStaveley-in-Cartmel%2C+Ulverston+LA12+8NH!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1545999810979" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In this podcast episode, Clare speaks movingly about what the trip meant to her, and how being outdoors has been a huge help for her mental health.

Finn at one of the spectacular viewpoints on the trek
(Photo: Finn at one of the spectacular viewpoints on the trek)

She articulates so well the importance of the outdoors that many of us feel.

Clare also has lots of advice for those who want to make a dream adventure happen –  a hint – one piece of advice involves drawing!

Clare is @the_horseback_adventurer on Instagram.

Clare, Pansy and Finn wild camped for most of their trek
(Photo: Clare, Pansy and Finn wild camped for most of their trek)