UK readers, please watch the new BBC series, "Mountain" which began on Sunday 29th July at 9:00pm.  It's a series about Britain's mountain areas, shot in High Definition, and presented by Griff Rhys Jones.  It's so good to see the BBC continues to produce high quality television programmes.

It's already been repeated once, and no doubt it'll come out on DVD evetually.

In particular, you MUST see this Sunday's episode, 5th August BBC1, 9:00pm, because this particular one is set in the English Lake District.

Comedy mock-up courstesy of Geordie Gasman.

What's the big deal?

The August 5th programme covers some fantastic biking areas - see similarity between the photo here, and the photo in the article just below.  This is where I take my "Best of Three" bike tours.   We go to Wasdale (pictured), with Great Gable in the background, and we ride over the fabled Hardknott Pass.  These are fell-walking places, popular with lovers of the Great Outdoors - and also many bikers.  I had a strong hunch that next Sunday's programme might actually allude to some of the biking attractions in the area.  However, having now read the book of the series, I fear this element may have been overlooked.

Never mind.  It's a damn good programme none-the-less;  Griff and his compadres visit some of the best places in Great Britain.  In episode one, they went to Scotland, and stayed at the Slichagan Hotel, Isle of Skye - excellent place!!  I took a Japanese biking group there.  The TV crew visit the Lakes (as discussed already), the Yorkshire Dales  - including the Tan Hill Inn (where my bike groups go), and the Derbyshire Peak District.  North Wales (Tryfan) will also feature.  Again great biking places.

However, you can visit these places without having to yomp up the actual mountains - just join one of my "Best of Three" trips in September 2007 or April / May 2008.

STOP PRESS - there's no mention of biking in the book, but....