Fell Foodie – Saved by the Fells
Fell Foodie – Saved by the Fells
The Cumbrian fells have always had a profound effect on those who brave them. For some, they offer clarity; some people find peace among the mountains; and for some, like Harrison Ward, better known as the Fell Foodie, they become a remedy.
If you don’t live under a rock, then you will likely have heard of or seen the Fell Foodie either on TV, in local and national newspapers, or across social media.
Six years ago, Harrison’s life was heading in a very bad direction. With mental health struggles and alcohol as a crutch, he was spiralling into a dark hole, and after his relationship came to an end, he made the choice to take charge of his life and decided it was time to start the difficult climb out of his situation—literally!
Harrison explained: “I had a happy childhood, but when I hit adolescence, I found myself feeling really low, insecure, and alone. At that time, mental health struggles were not really talked about like they are now, and I just ‘got on with it, as I suppose many people have for generations. When I turned 18, I found myself working behind a bar, and that’s where I discovered alcohol. The alcohol allowed me to get out of my own head, but it quickly became a crutch, and I eventually found myself relying on it. I was drinking 20 pints a day, weighing around 22 stone, and smoking a lot. After one drunken night and a few big mistakes, my relationship with my girlfriend broke down. It was at this point that I knew I had to make some big changes.”
He quit his bar job, left the city he had lived in for seven years, threw his last packet of cigarettes in the bin, and headed home to Cumbria. It was here that he finally came clean to his family and friends.
He said, “After spending so long keeping this big, dark secret, I finally decided to share my struggles with those closest to me. What I received from them wasthe big turning point for me. I was given so much love and support; they all rallied around me, and that was when I realised I wasn’t as alone as I thought.”
A short time after being home, Harrison’s friend, Ryan, encouraged him to tackle his first fall. Blencathra is no easy feat, but by the time he hit the summit, he was hooked.
Harrison said, “Ryan came to my house and said, Come on, we’re going for a hike. Bearing in mind that I had never climbed a fell, despite growing up in Cumbria, I had never really thought about actually going out and enjoying the area myself; it was just there. So there I was with no appropriate clothing, no boots, overweight, and suffering the effects of coming off alcohol cold turkey!
We went and bought some boots and stood at the foot of Blencathra, staring up at this huge fell, thinking, How on earth am I going to climb this? I managed to just take it step by step. I was exhausted, but it was really reflective of what I was going through psychologically at the time, and I think something in me knew I had to make it to the top, and I did!”
Once they hit the peak, his friend turned to him and said, “Right, Helvelyn next week, yeah?” This was the beginning of Harrison’s journey to becoming The Fell Foodie!
During his first year, he managed to shed 7 stone, started running, and even entered a marathon. The Fell Foodie was born when Harrison started taking up his passion for food again, taking homemade meals out on walks with him. Others would look on in envy as they reluctantly unwrapped their soggy ham sandwiches. A friend then suggested actually cooking the food while he was out.
“I bought a camping stove and started taking ingredients and pots and pans with me, and it just snowballed from there. Before I knew it, I was cooking for Dame Mary Berry! It’s all happened so quickly!”
There are no boring ham sandwiches and packets of crisps in his packed lunch. Harrison enjoys the comforts of delicious, hot, mountain-cooked meals on his hikes. Armed with his stove, knife, and chopping board, he creates restaurant-quality food right there on the farm. He documents his adventures on social media and has gained a great presence online. He now gives talks and demonstrations all over the country in schools and at festivals.
Harrsion’s life has been turned around, and six years from where he began, his physical health is better, his mental health is better, and he is doing something he loves, taking his two passions, food and fells, and he now has a cookbook on the way. He said: “It’s been a fantastic journey, and I’ve really found myself through it all. I don’t touch alcohol now, but I don’t feel the need to anymore. Of Course, I still have struggles, but I now know how to talk and what I need to do to feel better.”
Harrison’s book will be out in October, named Cook Out; it will comprise over 80 recipes that can be enjoyed outdoors and will be available in all bookstores.
To learn more visit Harrison’s website
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