Years ago, I went on a ‘stag weekend’ for a university friend (nothing debauched but a walking weekend). I just had to catch a train to East London to meet another uni friend who then drove up to the Lake District (via another pickup in Oxford). Looking back, I realise what a huge drive that was! By the time we arrived at the campsite it was dark – and raining. I remember the awe I felt the next morning when I stepped out of the tent and found myself surrounded by the lofty hills of the region.

I’m up again this week for a few days to attend the Keswick Convention. It is the grand-daddy of British Bible weeks, having started in 1875. The previous Bible weeks I’ve been on have all been camping experiences on various showgrounds. Once you get on site, you have a wristband to wear and that is what gets you access to the events. Keswick is much more relaxed. We’ve got a holiday cottage and we can just roll up to the events; no entry fees or wristbands to worry about.

Week three doesn’t properly kick off until tomorrow evening though so, having arrived and settled in today, we get a chance to go a wandering tomorrow and enjoy some more of this amazing landscape.