Andy Mitchell

It's great living in the North, where we're spoiled for choice when it comes to stunning views. Low Force and High Force are two of my favourite spots. We recently had a walk at Low Force, and despite the lack of rain, the waterfall was still looking impressive. For somewhere called "Low" Force, it certainly packs a punch!

The Brusselton Incline in County Durham was part of the original Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway to use steam locomotives. Opened in 1825, it used a stationary steam engine and ropes to haul wagons over the hill, helping move coal from the Durham coalfield to the Tees. It carried both freight and passengers before closing in 1858. Today, parts of the route, stone sleepers and the former engine house still survive, making it one of the most important railway heritage sites in the area. And, because even Durham hills don't give anything away for free, the railway needed ropes and a steam engine just to get over the top. 😄

  The internet is full of noise. Social media rewards the loudest voices, news cycles move at breakneck speed, and thoughtful reflection can often get lost in the rush. That's one of the reasons iChaplain.uk is worth exploring, even if you do not have any faith. At its heart, iChaplain is a blog that explores life through the lens of Christian faith. Yet many of the questions it wrestles with are universal. Articles regularly touch on themes such as hope, resilience, community, purpose, uncertainty, belonging, and how we navigate life's challenges. These are questions that matter to everyone, regardless of their beliefs or worldview. What makes the site particularly interesting is its reflective approach. Rather than chasing headlines or adding to the endless stream of online arguments, the blog encourages readers to slow down and think more deeply about the issues shaping their lives and communities. The tradition of chaplaincy has long involved supporting people from all back...

  Who knew being bombarded by brass could be so enjoyable? Fantastic bands, smiling faces, and enough musical talent to blow the roof off. A brilliant day out. #DurhamBrassFestival

 I flew my drone pointing towards Bishop Auckland and the retail park on a beautifully sunny day, with rapeseed fields so yellow they looked like nature had cranked the saturation slider to 100%.

A walk around Low Burnhall, Durham that felt less like exercise and more like a lifestyle choice. Glorious sunshine, a solid hit of vitamin D, and a welcome break from the mundane bits of life. A gentle wander along the river, plenty of green, and a few unexpected sculptures thrown in for good measure — the sort that make you pause and nod thoughtfully, as if you understand art. River Wear River Wear All in all, proof that fresh air fixes most things, walking counts as productivity if you talk about it afterwards, and this is a walk I would highly recommend.

"The Original World Cup" Statue by Nigel Boonham in West Auckland County Durham is the sort of place where the hills look you dead in the eye and say, “Aye, we’ve seen worse,” before immediately pelting you with sideways rain, sunshine, hail, and a rainbow, all before you’ve finished your cuppa. It’s a county built on perseverance, grit, and the occasional moment of “Wait… seriously?” One example of grit that deserves its own statue made of pure determination? West Auckland winning the Lipton Trophy. Twice. This mighty tale begins beside the River Gaunless, a name that literally means “hopeless,” as if the Vikings took one look, shrugged, and said, “Aye, good luck with that, pet.” It’s the sort of name that sounds like it should come with a leaflet and a support hotline. And yet, right next to this allegedly hopeless river, something spectacular happened. West Auckland, a village with enough heart and humour to make even the Gaunless reconsider its name, sent out a football t...

Lake Windermere (Bowness-on-Windermere) There’s a certain  irresistible pull to Lake Windermere on a still day. The kind of pull where the entire lake looks like it’s been politely asked to freeze for a photograph, and, like anyone who’s ever awkwardly posed for a group picture, it has complied immediately. Well, almost. The tourist tour boats remain the lone rebels, chugging along with the unstoppable commitment of a bus driver who refuses to be ahead of schedule. Everything else? Perfectly still. Dozens of private boats sat motionless, as though they were deep in meditation or had simply forgotten what their engines were for. The water was smooth enough to offer its own opinion on your hairstyle, though it was kind enough not to. It was funny, really. All that potential for movement just… sitting there. Like a group of people who’d planned a big night out, got dressed up, and then collectively decided they’d rather stay in, order a takeaway, and question their lif...

Richmond Castle Wall Last weekend we took another wander around Richmond in North Yorkshire, because when you find a place you like, you just keep going back until it practically starts greeting you by name. It was a proper leisurely stroll too, the kind where you nod knowingly at familiar streets as if you’re locals (even though you still check the map now and then, just to avoid confidently walking in the wrong direction). As we ambled along, the great outside walls of Richmond Castle appeared once again, standing there with the same impressive confidence as always, looking far more put together than we did after 45 minutes of “gentle walking”. The castle stood there with the quiet confidence of something that has survived far more than any of us would care to imagine. Weather-worn, dignified, and only slightly crumbling (in the charming way), its walls seemed to say, “I’ve been through storms, sieges, and coach-loads of tourists, what’s your excuse?” And, strangely enough, those a...

View of Elvet Bridge Here’s an iconic view of Durham City, looking out towards Elvet Bridge. We walk past it most days on the way to the car. It’s a beautiful sight during the day, but it becomes something truly special at night. It’s so easy to take for granted the beauty we see every day. As the saying goes, when it’s gone, it’s gone and that’s when we miss it. In a world filled with so much brokenness, it’s easy to get pulled into the despair of it all and find ourselves asking, is there more than this? As for me, I’m choosing to look for the beauty in what’s right in front of me each day, and to focus a little less on the despair. Keep looking up!

We had the loveliest morning out in Teesdale today. The snow was crisp, clean and brilliantly white – a rare little gift for February. There’s something wonderfully refreshing about looking out over a snowy landscape; it makes everything feel still, calm and just a bit magical! What made it even more striking were the flashes of green peeking through where the snow had either melted or never quite settled. Those soft contrasts between winter white and fresh green gave the whole valley a layered, almost painterly look. And after weeks of gloomy skies, the sun finally decided to make an appearance. The light bounced off the snow and shone across the fields, making Teesdale feel alive again. You might think it’s grim up north, but honestly, it couldn’t have been further from the truth. The place was absolutely glowing. A simple morning out, but one that lifted all our spirits.