(grandiose orchestral music)
Britain's great outdoors.
Look at that view.
Breathtakingly beautiful.
It's just absolutely incredible.
Dazzling in its diversity.
It really is a beautiful part of the world.
There's no better way to explore it
than on foot.
Come, Milo.
With a faithful four-legged friend.
Haha, you not wanna get your paws wet?
(dog panting) I know, I love you too.
What do the dogs see?
Can we get a dog's eye view?
Always like a dog with a job.
You are now camera dog.
From stunning mountain treks.
That was quite a climb, but it was worth it.
To meandering country walks.
You enjoying your day in Suffolk, Billy?
It's nice, isn't it, lovely.
And rugged clifftop rambles.
Whoa, wow.
(waves crashing)
Join us and our best canine pals
as we experience some incredible
and unique walks with our dogs.
I find this place surreal, but incredibly beautiful.
This is as near to heaven as I'm likely to be.
Come on, come on, come on.
I'm heading out on one of my favorite dog walks
along the tranquil bank of the River Thames
with my faithful black Lab, Storm.
There you go, come.
(orchestral music)
Along the way, there's time to meet some
of its most famous inhabitants.
Oh, look how beautiful they are.
And Storm and I enjoy a bracing dip.
(woman laughing)
Oh, that.
(water splashing) (man laughing)
In its enticing waters.
Come on, good girl.
(dog barking)
Come on, then.
Writer and broadcaster, Emma Kennedy,
and her Maltipoo puppy, Molly, are in the Lake District.
Ah, look at that.
We're enjoying the spectacular landscape
that inspired William Wordsworth.
He must have spent many happy days writing here.
Yeah, you can feel it, can't you?
And with two long legs and four short,
attempt to retrace the great poet's often arduous footsteps.
I very much understand the phrase, no pain, no gain.
Because look at that.
But first, presenter Helen Skelton is in Scotland.
Wow, Barney.
Discovering a hidden gem
with her Blue Peter dog, Barney.
(waves roaring)
(tranquil orchestral music)
Wild, beautiful and off the beaten track.
The stunning seashore of Dumfries and Galloway
is often referred to as the Secret Coast.
This corner of South West Scotland,
with its miles and miles of dog-friendly beaches,
is new territory for me and my nine-year-old dog, Barney.
(dog barking)
And we can't wait to explore it.
Do you know, it's hard to put into words
why I like walking with my dog,
because for me, it's like saying
why do you put shoes on in a day?
I walk with him because it's fun, it's company.
He's loyal, he's loving, I can say stupid things to him,
he doesn't judge me, and he takes me to places
I would never go.
He explores nooks and crannies I would wander past.
He's a joy to be around.
Barney is an eclectic mix of dachshund and red setter,
which accounts for his stubby legs and beautiful coat.
But he's no lap dog.
With a double dose of hunting genes,
if he gets a scent, there's no stopping him.
So today is sure to be a workout for both of us.
We'll be following a six and a half mile section
of the Urr estuary, starting at Rockcliffe
and ending at wild and windy Sandyhills.
With Barney staying close to hand,
we'll cross the mudflats to Rough Island,
visit some land art, and finish with an exhilarating run
along some breathtaking beaches.
But we're beginning on a spectacular high.
Now, lots of people bypass Dumfries and Galloway,
favoring the major cities of Scotland
and of course, the fabulous Highlands.
But this part of the world really rewards exploration.
Now today, I'm not on my own.
I have got my first baby, my loyal friend, Barney,
who served on Blue Peter with me for five years,
and he is almost as nosy as me.
Come on then, Barney, let's go.
Let's see what we can find.
(grave orchestral music)
And true to form, he's sniffing straight off ahead.
At 140 foot above sea level,
the grassy knoll we're passing over
was once an ancient hill fort
known as the Mote of Mark,
a Celtic stronghold in the Dark Ages.
And as we head downhill
through the autumnal splendor of Rockcliffe Woods,
Barney thinks he's smelled his lunch, and he's off.
(bird wings flapping)
(playful guitar music)
Excuse me, (whistling) where have you gone?
Barney, this is not on the route.
Excuse you, oy.
(whistling) (hands clapping)
Barney.
Great, he's smelled something, the little rascal.
Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy.
No, no, no, no, no.
Nah, nah, nah, nah, come on, chill, this way, good bay.
Barney is a rescue dog
who had a very difficult start in life.
Found tied to a crash barrier on a motorway in Ireland,
it's no surprise he's got such a thirst for life.
With him back at heel,
(whistling) hip-up.
Sort of.
The trees give way to this glorious shoreline.
Wow.
I mean, there are views, and then there's this.
People travel all over the world
to find things half as impressive as this.
Stunning.
This beautiful landscape is part of the Solway Firth,
which separates Dumfries and Galloway
from Cumbria, where I was born.
It's doggy heaven, and Barney can roam free
and really get his paws muddy.
And he's also sniffed out senior ranger, Karl Munday.
Hi, Helen, how are you?
How can't you be great in this?
Oh, can't ask for better, can we?
He's kindly agreed to help us navigate our way
across the tidal sands
to the rugged beauty that is Rough Island.
I grew up not far from here
and I had no idea this bit existed.
It is a little hidden gem, but if I'm honest, Helen,
I'm a bit biased, but I think you could say that
about a lot of places
(Helen laughing) in Dumfries and Galloway.
Now, Rough Island looks pretty busy today.
There's quite a lot of people on the horizon there,
isn't there?
There certainly is.
Volunteers come from throughout the UK
and also around the world,
and they get involved in all sorts of conversation tasks.
It just so happens, today we're over on Rough Island
and we're doing some meadow management.
Now, I think we should go and join them for two reasons.
One, I feel guilty standing here watching them work,
and two, I'm pretty sure I'm sinking.
(Karl laughing)
Let's do it, let's go. -: I'm not imagining now, am I?
No, not at all.
(laughing)
(dark, mellow music)
Cut off twice a day by tidal water,
visiting the island needs careful timing.
Thankfully, Karl has been looking after this area
for over a decade.
Do people get stuck ever?
If you get caught between tides,
you can be on the island up to seven hours,
six, seven hours.
With no shelter on the island
and half a mile of sticky mudflats to cross,
I think we best get our skates on.
Just 40 miles south across the Solway Firth,
broadcaster Emma Kennedy and her puppy, Molly,
are enjoying the dramatic panoramas of Cumbria.
(uplifting instrumental music)
I've explored all over Great Britain,
and I only recently discovered the Lake District,
in fact, only three years ago.
But since then, I've absolutely fallen in love
with its spectacular landscape.
I simply think it's one of the most
beautiful places on Earth.
And the brilliant thing is it's right on my doorstep.
A glittering gem in the heart
of the magnificent Lake District
is still waters and wooded slopes of Grasmere,
or as close as you can get to a national treasure.
So I'm very excited to introduce
my Maltese terrier poodle cross to its considerable charms.
This is my Maltipoo, she's called Molly,
and she's eight months old.
We have a very loving, close relationship.
She's adorable and I love her.
(tranquil instrumental music)
Molly's a spirited little thing, full of beans.
(dog barking)
Come on, then.
But she's not quite used to such epic terrain as this.
So like one of the area's favorite sons,
William Wordsworth, we'll be making some time
for quiet contemplation too.
Ah, look at that.
See, if I was a poet, Molly, like William Wordsworth,
I'd come up with something amazing here, like saying,
oh, lake you are so super,
but I'm afraid I'm not.
I'm not as good as him.
But what about that for a view, eh?
Pretty good.
(lips smacking)
Come on.
(gentle instrumental music)
Our four and a half mile round walk
starts off in Grasmere,
taking in some of Wordsworth's favorite haunts.
And Molly's little legs
will get a workout scaling vertiginous Loughrigg
before we head back to the village for a local delicacy.
Right there.
You're a good girl.
Molly is firmly on the leash
as we join the hordes of hikers in Grasmere,
but before head for the heroic hills,
we're going in search of one of my literary heroes,
William Wordsworth.
And our first stop is a place
which has become a point of pilgrimage for his many fans.
So here we go, St. Oswald's Church
where William Wordsworth is buried.
(melancholy guitar music)
Wordsworth's headstone is here,
along with his brother, John, and sister, Dorothy.
for whom William and his extraordinary talent
became almost an obsession.
And here they are.
I studied the great poet when I was younger,
and now Molly and I have come to pay our respects.
Dorothy was so devoted to William
that the night before he got married
to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Hutchinson,
she actually took the wedding ring
that Mary was supposed to wear
and wore it throughout the night.
And in the morning, she got dressed in white
and there was a sort of a strange,
almost a betrothal ceremony
between her and her brother, William.
Emotionally, it took a great toll
that he was getting married.
Thousands of people come here every here.
In fact, it makes it one of the most visited literary spots
in all of Britain.
And as you can see, it's an absolutely beautiful churchyard
and beautiful surroundings.
Perfect place to be buried.
Come on, then.
(serene orchestral music)
From Wordsworth's final resting place,
Molly and I visit his home
and then get the ultimate workout
as we trek up into the hills
in search of the sites and sounds that inspired him.
While way down south, my Lab, Storm, and I
are enjoying the rural pleasures of the Thames.
Go on, go on.
(water splashing)
Meeting river royalty.
Morning, Ben. -: Look at that jacket.
I'm feeling very underdressed.
(men laughing)
And his majestic charges.
And Helen Skelton and Barney
slip and slide their way across the mudflats.
Yeah, it's very slippy.
I feel like I've had a drink.
(Karl laughing)
To the stunning and remote Rough Island.
(uplifting instrumental music)
We're walking with our dogs far and wide.
Barney, my dachshund red setter cross and I
are discovering the spectacular secret coast,
the Solway Firth.
And I'm introducing my eight-month-old Maltipoo,
Molly.
Good girl.
To Wordsworth's Lake District.
While Ben Fogle is taking his Labrador, Storm,
for a stroll along Britain's most famous waterway.
Every great city needs a great river,
and London has one of the most famous in the world,
the mighty Thames.
But away from the iconic landmarks
and bustle of London life,
it takes on a totally different character
here just 60 miles upstream and west of the capitol.
Come on, Storm, come on.
Perfect for a walk with man's best friend.
(mellow instrumental music)
Come on.
As a born and bred Londoner, the River Thames
is part of me, part of who I am.
(water splashes)
Over the years, I've swum in it, I've rowed it,
I've walked along its shores, I've fished in it,
and today, I've come to a place near Marlow
in Buckinghamshire to introduce it to Storm.
I've had Storm since she was a puppy.
She pretty much stole my heart the moment I met her.
I'm a self-confessed crazy barking Labrophile.
Come on, come on, come on.
True to breed, Storm's a bit of a social butterfly.
(dog barking)
She loves people and other dogs,
so I think she'll have a ball
along this popular stretch of river.
Now, Storm here is nearly two years old.
Labradors were actually designed to be swimming dogs
to help fishermen.
She's never been quite so sure about water.
Got to entice her in.
You ready?
Go on, go on.
(water splashing)
Oh, yeah, we're getting there.
She's such a docile dog, she's brilliant with our children.
She's a very, very easygoing dog.
I'd like to say a bit like her owner.
We're both pretty laid-back and chill.
I think she's gonna like this walk.
(water splashing) (Ben whistling)
Come on, come on.
Come on, come on, don't shake on me, don't shake on me.
(cheerful folksy music)
We're kicking off near Marlow in Buckinghamshire,
following the river along a three and a half mile
dog-friendly section of the Thames path.
Enjoying the surrounding open countryside
before crossing over to the south bank
to refuel and make a splash just outside Cookham.
There's plenty for Storm and I to see on this walk,
not least the most regal of Thames' residents, its swans.
(jovial chamber music)
Ancient tradition dictates
that the Crown owns any unmarked mute swan on the river.
And it's not every day you bump into the man tasked
with looking after them all.
David, I can't miss you.
Morning, Ben. -: Look at that jacket,
I'm feeling very underdressed.
(laughing)
This is Storm.
Storm, this is not a swan. Oh, hello.
Nice to see you.
She's a very friendly dog.
For the past 23 years,
David Barber has been Her Majesty's swan marker.
Look at this.
And Storm and I are joining him
on one of his regular inspections.
(boat engine growling)
Something tells me Storm and I
are slightly cheating on our dog walk
by going down the river, but I think it's worth it.
(David laughing)
How would you describe your role?
Well, the role is all about monitoring the welfare
of the Thames' swans.
The swan population isn't increasing on the Thames,
it's actually going down slightly,
so we're here trying to protect the wildlife
and the swans, especially.
What is it, do you think, about swans
that has this effect on humans?
Well, they're serene, and course,
they've got the royal connection.
Mm-hmm. -: It's been in royal hands
for nearly 1,000 years.
So they're precious.
(jovial guitar music)
Now, I think we're just coming up to a family of swans here.
Oh, look how beautiful they are.
Yeah.
As the Queen's representative on the river,
David leads the annual swan upping event in July,
when splendidly liveried men and women like himself
cruise the Thames, catching swans to count them
and check their health.
I guess I've got my swan eyes on.
So we got another swan here. Now, that's the cob bird
from the pair up there. Oh, is it?
He's the male bird.
Should I throw a piece of bread?
He's quite angry.
Is he?
We're passing through his territory,
which has clearly ruffled his feathers.
Don't be angry.
There you go, that's from Storm.
(David laughing)
Storm may be friendly,
but dog attacks alongside fishing tackle
are one of these birds' biggest threats.
So dog owners really have to take responsibility
with their dogs when
they're walking around. Well, yes,
if there's wildlife around, you've got to be careful
and put your dog on the lead.
Luckily, Captain Storm is decidedly uninterested,
and instead, guides us both back to dry land.
Okay, Storm.
But my pal's not too keen
on the welcome committee on the riverbank.
Storm, come.
Hello, cows.
(chuckling) Come on, don't worry, stay close.
Thankfully for Storm, we're moving on
to a country pub downriver
where dog food takes on a whole new meaning.
(water bubbling)
(peaceful electric guitar music)
I'm on the coast of Dumfries and Galloway,
taking advantage of low tide to walk my dog, Barney,
to the beautiful nature reserve at Rough Island.
We're squelching across the sand,
guided by senior ranger, Karl Munday.
In just four hours,
high tide will reclaim this part of the estuary,
but for now, we have it all to ourselves.
This really is quite breathtaking.
You'd think, (chuckling) without being harsh,
you could say this is just a load of mud.
You could. -: It's more than that,
isn't it? It's a lot more than that.
It is full of a host of different shellfish.
I can see evidence of lots of worms.
There's certainly lots of lugworm casts.
They create these wonderful U-shaped tubes.
Because of all the shellfish, because of all the worms,
it's food for a lot of different species.
Things like oystercatcher, curlew,
and they'll come to places like this
because of the abundance of food and shelter.
It's quite slippy, this stuff, isn't it?
(both laughing) It is, it's very slippy.
I feel like I've had a drink.
(Karl laughing)
Four legs are clearly better than two here,
so I'm keeping Barney on the lead
as there's no way I'd catch him if he made a run for it.
(orchestral piano music)
Excellent, well, we've made it to the shore.
We certainly have.
And it's worth the walk.
Millions of pretty cockleshells surround the 20-acre island,
and it's these, worn away over time,
which help give the area
its distinctive pinky white beaches.
It's a real kaleidoscope of colors though, isn't it?
It is, and again, it's another really dynamic habitat,
the shingle, because there's certain types of plants
which colonize and use the shingle,
but obviously, it's constantly changing.
Rough Island was once grazed by cattle,
but these days, its volunteers clear it of bracken
to help nurture wildlife meadows,
perfect for attracting red butterflies
and ground-nesting birds like ringed plover.
And I'm happy to pitch in and lend a hand.
In return, I've asked Karl to keep an eye
on my little escape artist.
Oh, look at this.
Teamwork makes a dreamwork.
So Andrew, what made you wanna do this?
You know, I love the countryside.
I use it all the time for walks and things,
and gives a chance to put some work back.
Fair play because it's not easy work, is it?
No, you'd break a sweat every now and then.
I mean, it's good place to go on holiday.
Good food, good people.
I love that you're calling it a holiday.
It is, it's a working holiday, so. (chuckling)
I don't take a rake with me on holiday, Andrew.
(merry guitar music)
(brush scraping)
They seem to be managing perfectly well without me.
And as Barney and I have a tide to catch,
we can honorably make our excuses and leave.
From Rough Island, a cockle causeway spreads out
before us, guiding us back to the mainland and a beach
where Barney can run free to his heart's content.
(waves crashing)
(calming guitar and piano music)
We're in William Wordsworth Country
in the Lake District.
Good Molly, keep going.
About to tweak some of the great poet's words.
For here are Molly and I,
wandering all alone under the clouds.
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
where walking the dog is such a wheeze.
Oh, well, there's nothing quite like the original.
Come, Molly.
So we're saying goodbye to Grasmere Village,
and following the steps Wordsworth
would've taken to his home.
Dove Cottage is now a museum, all a bit highbrow for Molly,
so we're taking in its idyllic gardens
where curator Jeff Cowton can often be found.
He was incredibly prolific when he was here,
wasn't he? He was.
And did he come to the garden every day to--
Oh, yeah. -: To seek inspiration and...
The garden was this wonderful refuge, you know?
And Wordsworth talked about the garden
as the loveliest spot that man has ever found.
He must have spent many happy days writing here too.
Yeah, you can feel it, can't you?
And when you look across the fells there,
that is the same skyline, isn't it?
Yeah. -: When the trees have changed,
the buildings have changed.
Yeah. -: But the skyline
must be exactly as he saw it.
Yeah, it would've been exactly the same.
(mellow guitar music)
It's amazing to think Wordsworth would've sat here
with his own pet pooch, a terrier called Pepper
who looked a little bit like you, Molly,
but it's all rather an odd tale.
The library next door, we also have an envelope.
Perhaps we should close Molly's ears
at this point. (Emma gasping)
We have an envelope, inside, a piece of Pepper's tail.
So, that's a-- Oh, what happened
to Pepper's tail?
We know what happened to the tail,
it's what happened to Pepper that we don't know.
I'm quite surprised William
didn't write a poem about that.
Well, it's lost if he did.
(laughing)
Thankfully, my little Molly is still in one piece,
and it's time for us to carry on our way
to the more challenging part of the walk.
Good girl.
Looming at the end of Grasmere Lake
is the daunting peak of Loughrigg.
And while Molly and I pluck up the courage to tackle it,
our path leads us through this calming lush green woodland.
This way, Mol.
Good girl.
Wordsworth was a great lover of nature,
and he would've spent hours every single day
walking in this woodland.
Come forth into the light of things,
he once wrote, let nature be your teacher.
And he was such a great fan of walking that his friend,
Thomas De Quincey, estimated that he must have walked
180,000 miles during the course of his lifetime,
which is absolutely incredible.
(tranquil instrumental music)
It's not the distance that worries me about my walk today,
but the height, eh, Molly?
(dog barking)
Come on, then.
And as we cross over the wooded banks of the River Rothay
that flows between Grasmere and Rydal Water,
we know it's uphill to over 1,000 feet above sea level
to that intimidating summit.
Come on, Molly.
(gate squealing)
On the banks of the River Thames,
Storm and I make new friends.
Any takers for the sausages?
(bystanders laughing) Oh, yeah, we have a few.
When we pause for a delicious dog's dinner.
And Barney runs wild
(dog barking)
as we're blown away by the beauty of the Solway Coast.
Look at this!
Wow!
(mellow piano music)
(birds chirping)
I'm messing about along the River Thames
with my two-year-old black Lab, Storm.
Come on, Storm.
While I'm enjoying the vast empty beaches
of Dumfries and Galloway
with my mischievous mutt, Barney.
And my puppy, Molly, and I
are about to begin our ascent to the top of Loughrigg,
an impressive peak which gave the poet, Wordsworth,
magical views close to home.
Coming from leafy Surrey,
this is a lot tougher than our normal workout.
So we're enlisting keen fellwalker,
Becky Heaton Cooper for a bit of moral support.
Are you Becky?
Hello, yes, I'm Becky.
Nice to meet you, by the way. Oh, hello, nice to meet you.
Hello, yeah? -: Well, this is Molly.
Oh, hi, Molly.
My Maltipoo, -: Oh, she's gorgeous.
Look, she's raring to go already.
Yeah, yeah, she is.
So, you're a fellwalker.
Yes, I get out onto Loughrigg often.
It's a very low fell, right in the middle of the lake.
(wheezing) Doesn't look very low to me.
Compared to the other ones around, this is quite low.
Yeah. -: I know it looks quite steep
to start with, but it's fine. It's certainly daunting.
You'll be fine, it's definitely worth the effort.
(upbeat guitar music)
Molly doesn't look so sure.
Let's go, come on.
I'm coming.
(Becky laughing)
In Wordsworth's time, the Lake District
was well off the beaten track, but his words helped turn it
into a magnet for people like Becky
who love scaling as many peaks
as their mind and bodies can take.
All Molly and I have to do is keep up.
(Emma groaning)
Just slow right down now.
Yeah, we were pacing up there.
Yeah.
(Emma sharply exhaling)
But a lot of people do, they actually run up this.
We're actually showing off.
(Becky laughing)
(upbeat bass music)
At just over 1,000 feet high,
Loughrigg's supposed to be a mere bagatelle
in the pantheon of Lakeland peaks.
And Becky and Molly are off like mountain goats,
so it seems it's only me that's feeling the strain.
I seem to have disproportionately short legs,
although Molly has technically shorter legs than me,
and she's gone up here like a flippin' rocket.
(orchestral piano music)
Stone after stone, the effort seems relentless.
Unlike Becky, I think I must have peaked too early.
And faithful Molly feels my pain.
Oh, thank you.
A bit of brandy would've been nice, Mol,
but thanks anyway.
And at last, comforted by my canine good Samaritan,
we're ready for the final push to the summit.
I think only lung is punctured, so that's good news.
But now, I very much understand the phrase,
no pain, no gain.
Because look at that.
(swelling orchestral music)
View's here amazing,
aren't they? It's fabulous, isn't it.
I mean, you've got 360 rewarding you.
You do have a sense of achievement
when you get here,
don't you, so. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
It is. -: It's an effort to get here.
(laughing) It is worth it.
Molly's done well as well.
You've been very brave. She's done super.
It's been fantastic.
And now I've seen the views that so inspired Wordsworth.
Molly and I can look forward to a well-earned,
world famous local delicacy.
(mellow guitar music)
My lovable Labrador, Storm, and I are two and half miles
into our stroll along the River Thames,
just outside Marlow in Buckinghamshire.
We're crossing the river now,
over the Bourne End Railway Bridge to the south bank.
But before we continue downstream,
we're making a short detour, a dog leg, if you like,
to give Storm a tasty treat.
A hearty lunch is just what you need after a bracing walk,
and the pub that I'm heading for isn't just for humans.
They've got their own doggy menu.
Come on, Storm, come on.
(folksy music)
Hemmed in by fields and the river,
you can't reach The Bounty by car.
But if you want a pub lunch for your pooch,
this is the place to come.
They've tapped into a growing market
by offering doggy-sized portions of the plat du jour.
Right, sausages are up.
We all deserve a treat once in a while,
and armed with today's special,
Storm and I quickly make friends.
Have we got any takers for the sausages?
(bystanders laughing)
Yeah, we have a few.
There you go.
Oh, look, a retriever, yeah.
Here you go.
What well-behaved dogs.
Hello, everyone.
How are you all doing? Hi, good.
That is quite a collection of dogs
that we have here. (people laughing)
Oh, hello, hello, do you want to come up?
Come up if you want.
But not, you're not having the sausages.
(people laughing)
This is definitely what I'd a call dog-friendly pub.
Yeah. -: You're all dog owners,
obviously.
Yeah. -: Have you all been out
walking the dogs?
Or have you walked the dogs here specifically
to come to the pub?
We walked here specifically to come to the pub.
Oh, okay, very good. -: Yeah.
I like your style here. (people laughing)
And everyone's very well-behaved so far.
You're all very well-behaved, aren't you?
Hello, hello.
Every now and then, one dog will come along,
and the whole lot will go off.
It's quite funny.
Oh, really, then-- -: And then fight,
all the barking and
what have you, yeah. Oh, really, what,
just one dogs comes in,
puts up a swagger or something and no one likes it.
So, a chip and a piece of scampi for the road.
Yeah. -: A piece for Storm,
and I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of the meal.
Refueled and primed for action,
Storm and I get ready to take part
in the newly revived pastime, swimming in Old Father Thames.
(gentle piano music) (waves crashing)
I've cycled to the South Pole
and kayaked the mighty Amazon.
But up until today, Barney and I had never set foot here
on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth.
(bird wings fluttering)
Right, Barney, we've got two options.
We can go up and over the cliffs to Sandyhills,
or we can go down and along the beach.
I think gravity's answered that one.
Come on, let's go with the momentum and go along the beach.
Come on, Barn. (whistling)
You're gonna love this.
Oh, my word.
With the tide out, the dog-friendly Portling Bay
opens up to us and our route hugs the shoreline
for miles into the distance.
Virtually empty except for Barney and I,
it's the perfect place for his little legs to run free.
Wow, Barney. (laughing)
Look at this!
Wow!
In our walk in this wild and windy epic coastline
is just the kind of landscape
where both of us love to come and feel alive.
This is probably gonna sound forlorn, but actually,
going for a walk with your dog is incredibly grounding.
When I've had horrible things happen in life,
like you lose people, you have your heart broken,
things don't go the way you want,
he's been there for all of it.
And always loyal, always unquestioning,
always only ever wanting a walk.
He's such a precious member of our family.
He is. (lips smacking)
A total best friend.
I love you.
(lips smacking)
You're a good dog. (lips smacking)
Oh, that's nice, oh, that's meaty.
(serene instrumental music)
With the tide out, there's time for us to savor the moment
and discover what other treasures this magical beach holds.
(dog barking)
While in the Lake District, Mol and I get a feast
for our eyes as well as our tums.
That is absolutely delicious.
Come on, Molly.
Let us go to the lake and fill our boots.
And as I take the plunge.
Oh.
It's Storm that gets cold feet in the River Thames.
You coming in, Storm?
Come on, Storm, come on, come on.
(lighthearted music)
In the Lake District, my Maltipoo, Molly, and I
are in need of some urgent refueling
after our heroic ascent and descent of Mt. Loughrigg.
And the last part of our walk back into Grasmere
takes us to a local delicacy
that's bound to spice up our aching limbs.
(sighing heavily)
First produced over 160 years ago,
Grasmere Gingerbread is famous around the world.
Owner Joanne Hunter is making sure the original bakery
is still going strong.
At last.
Joanne, you're a sight for sore eyes.
I had some few dark moments of Hi.
the soul up that mountain. (Joanne laughing)
The thought of your gingerbread has been keeping me going.
Oh, good.
I bet you're for some, aren't you?
I certainly am.
Would you wanna come in
and see how it's being made?
I'd love to, can Molly come?
No, Molly will have to stay outside 'cause it's food,
but if you just put the lead on the fence,
she can have a drink of water.
Well, she is ginger, we don't want her going in the bread.
(Joanne laughing)
Come on in.
(dog whining)
Joanne Hunter's family have been baking the delicacy
on this site for three generations,
since taking over 80 years ago
from the original Mrs. Nelson.
But the traditional ingredients
and uniform remain unchanged.
What'd you think, yeah?
Oh, it suits you.
Great. Yeah.
Lovin' it, let's go.
Come on.
How did gingerbread, of all things, come to Grasmere?
Well, it was really because in the Victorian times,
all the spices and alcohol was coming over
from the Caribbean into Whitehaven on the west coast.
Yeah.
And then Sarah Nelson set up the business
in 1854 selling the gingerbread
Amazing. -: to the Victorian tourists.
So how'd you make it?
It's a secret recipe.
What d'you mean?
Well, the recipe's locked away in the bank.
Well, do you know--
I don't know the recipe.
Stop it.
(lighthearted, playful music)
With Molly still happy outside,
I am going to be trusted with one job.
This is a fine art.
Joanne's been wrapping gingerbread
since she was five years old.
(paper rustling)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, there.
Gee, whiz. (Joanne laughing)
So there you go.
Can I have a go at wrapping one?
Yeah, of course you can.
Right, right. -: There you go.
Say when. -: Yeah.
Okay, go.
I can't even get. (laughing)
Don't worry, Emma, there's a queue in the shop.
(laughing) I'm going as fast.
All fingers and thumbs,
this is like being in the generation game.
(Emma and Joanne laughing)
And almost as funny.
There we go.
Ah, well, not bad for a first attempt.
(Emma and Joanne laughing)
It is the eating I really expect to excel at.
Mm, that is absolutely delicious.
Come on, Molly.
Let us go to the lake and fill our boots.
(orchestral piano music)
It's easy to be overwhelmed by the beauty of this jewel
in the heart of Cumbria,
especially as the sun sets over Loughrigg.
And unless you're a poet,
it can sometimes leave you lost for words.
For Molly's first trip to the lakes, it's just been fab.
We've had a wonderful day
retracing William Wordsworth's steps
and understanding the inspiration
that he gathered from the area.
And I'm pretty certain that it's an area that myself
and Molly are going to return to again and again.
(tranquil piano music)
You all right, pup?
Come on, come on.
In Scotland, Barney and I are coming to the end
of our six and a half mile walk
along the Dumfries and Galloway coast.
Look, Barney, you can go crazy in here.
And this mile stretch along the beach
from Portling to Sandyhills
is a great place to indulge our love of exploring.
Oh, I'm kind of expecting someone
to jump out of the shadows.
Bluh, creepy.
And up ahead, we've spotted something even more intriguing.
The man behind this maze of swirling sand
is land artist, Jim Buchanan.
Look, Barney loves it.
Jim, talk me through what is going on here?
I'm creating a work of art.
I'm excavating a sand labyrinth
and then shortly it's gonna interact
with the incoming sea, which I think is very exciting.
Well, is that not heartbreaking?
No, it's part of the process
because I'm very interested in nature's rhythms.
With Barney off enjoying the beach,
time to get digging.
(Barney barking)
Now, I'm no artist, but it's an honor to help finish
this truly elemental creation.
Like a bold hieroglyphic,
it's inspired by ancient sites.
Yet it exists only in the moment.
I don't wanna point out the obvious,
but the tide is coming out.
It's just there.
Yes, that's right.
Right, okay, come on. -: It's racing in, so.
Okay.
I don't know why I'm saying, come on,
you've been at this for hours.
(laughing)
Come on, less talking, more digging.
(lively guitar music)
Barney's back to inspect our work
and we've just time to hotfoot it around our masterpiece.
I don't know if we're gonna make it, Jim.
Oh, it's coming.
Ahh!
(Jim laughing)
Yay!
(hands slapping)
Great job,
this looks amazing! Thank you.
No sooner complete, then slowly,
the waves engulf our sandy creation.
Our artwork vanishes, reclaimed once again by the sea.
(waves crashing)
And tomorrow, Jim will find another blank canvas
somewhere else along this inspirational stretch of coast.
(instrumental pop music)
The last leg of Barney and my walk takes us a short distance
to the sheltered beach at Sandyhills.
It's another loved place for dog walkers,
and there's plenty out today.
(dog barking)
And at the end of our adventures,
the perfect spot for me to get a dog's eye view.
Go!
Where is it?
Daft dog.
Go!
(camera clacking)
Today's actually reminding me of how rewarding life
with a dog can be because yes, they need you,
but in looking after them, you're looking after yourself.
You have to go for a walk, you have to take time out.
So Barney, you've taken me on a new adventure
and, yeah, he needed it.
But if I'm honest with myself, I think I needed it.
It's been a day well-spent, pup.
Thanks.
Come on, Barnacle Bill.
Don't drink the seawater, you crackpot.
(folksy music)
(gate clanking)
After our delicious detour, my black Lab, Storm, and I
are heading back downstream
on our three and a half mile walk
along the River Thames.
Ah, look, some friends.
Morning, how are you doing?
Hi, how do you do? -: Having a nice walk today?
[White-Haired Man] Yeah, yeah.
Looks like these guys have been in.
[White-Haired Man] They like the water,
they were chasing the ball.
It's a very good place for dogs to be social,
look at that.
[White-Haired Man] Oh, definitely.
So what are these?
I can't even tell what breeds they are.
That's Banjo, he's Jack Russell and Shih Tzu.
And him. Yeah.
He's a Irish fox terrier.
Very nice.
And he's a very naughty boy. (dog barking)
(Ben laughing) He gives me a lot of grief.
And I won't keep you up.
See you later. -: Bye, guys.
Bye-bye, bye. -: See you later.
Come on. (hands clapping)
(jovial music)
The great thing about this dog walk
is there's a chance to get in the water at every turn.
(water splashing) Oh, pull, pull, pull.
Good girl.
And Storm's confidence seems to be growing.
That was a bit deeper than you thought.
But she's not the only one enjoying a dip today.
(water splashing)
Look at those swimmers.
More and more people are venturing
into the silky waters of the Thames
as the popular Victorian pastime returns to vogue.
(water splashing)
Wild swimming devotees, Katia Vastiau
and Jeremy Laming certainly look ready to dive right in.
So tell what do people get out of open water swimming,
wild swimming?
Well, I think it's just that wonderful sense of freedom
that you don't really get when you're trapped in a pool.
And I suppose, Katia,
you get very close to the wildlife,
you're closer to nature here.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. -: And closer to dogs then,
am I right? (Katia laughing)
Look, there's dogs in the water.
Yeah, there's lots of dog here,
but no, we've got everything.
Grebes, ducks, it's really nice.
Can anyone go wild swimming?
Is it something you can just take your clothes off,
jump in the water?
You know, there's obviously a safety element
that you need to take account of.
We have other users on the water,
there's areas of the river that aren't particularly safe.
It's just about applying common sense, really,
and making yourself as visible as possible.
And going with a buddy, presumably, is a good--
Yeah, always swim with someone, yeah.
Never, never go alone.
You realize all this gassing, all this chatting
is just trying to
put off the inevitable Yeah, yeah, I know.
(Katia laughing) that I'm gonna have
to go in, aren't I?
What sort of temperature are we talking?
19?
That's okay. -: Yeah.
Roasting. -: I can deal with that.
(Katia laughing) I can deal with that.
I'll be back in a moment.
I'm no wild swimming novice,
and I've braved far cooler waters than these,
but even on a warm summer's day,
the first steps are always the hardest.
Okay, shall we do this?
Yeah.
Yeah, it does get a little bit cold.
It's nice, guys.
Yeah, very nice.
(people chattering)
For me, a slow and controlled immersion
is always best, but there's other more brutal methods too.
(water splashing)
(woman laughing) Oh, that!
(water splashing) (men laughing)
Ah! (water splashing)
Oh.
Yeah, there you go.
You coming in, Storm?
I was hoping Storm would give us a little moral support,
but she seems rather overwhelmed
by us less hirsute companions.
Come on.
Yay. -: Come on, good girl.
Good girl.
Come on.
Good girl, good girl, come on.
(mellow music)
Fans of wild swimming claim it
can boost your immune system and reduce stress,
which might explain its surging popularity.
But Storm's not so keen on the crowds
and makes hers a very quick dip.
(pelt flapping)
What a beautiful way of exploring the Thames.
I think you've won me over, guys.
The sun's coming out.
I can feel the weeds on my legs, but...
(swimmers laughing)
It's not so bad, this is lovely.
(birds chirping)
Hey, Storm, what's up?
What's up with you?
You Labradors, you can't hack it, can you?
(Katia laughing) Hey, you Labradors.
(joyful guitar music)
What an amazing end to our day by the Thames.
We've walked it, sailed it, and now we've swum it too.
I've been coming to the Thames ever since I was a young boy.
I've been lucky enough to explore it
all the way from its source to its mouth.
But coming back today with Storm
has reminded me what a perfect place this is
for both people and their dogs.
(inspiring orchestral music)