RECOGNISING THE VITAL AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION OUR ALUMNI MAKE
Jade, Class of 2024, MA Literature, Romanticism, and the English Lake District, graduated not only with her degree but as a published author. Jade wrote ‘The Wordsworth Way: A Literary Walking Guide’ linking Glenridding to our Ambleside campus and celebrating the life and work of William Wordsworth. The Wordsworth Way received international press and has inspired many visitors to the region. Jade is now a trustee for the Friends of the Ullswater Way as well as a travel designer and author.
A creative writer who turned her love of landscape into a career
Born in 1993 to parents Kathryn and David, Jade grew up in Preston, alongside brother Josh. The family run a long-standing fruit and vegetable business. As a quiet child, Jade’s passions were sport, literature, history and the outdoors. She traces her love of literature back to her grandparents, who collected newspaper coupons to buy her a set of Golden Age children's stories, a collection of 30 books that sit on her bookshelf today. Her love for the Lake District started early too, when on family holidays her dad would playfully push her up steep hills, and her mum would educate her on the villages they passed through.
Jade studied English at Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2015. She spent the next eight years working in various customer service roles, before training as a swimming teacher. Looking for a new direction, she saw an advert for the MA in Literature, Romanticism and the English Lake District at the University of Cumbria. After chatting to Programme Leader Dr Penny Bradshaw, Jade realised the course was for her, and in 2023, she started her studies at our Ambleside campus.
What followed was a masterclass in determination. Jade lived off campus, whilst working three jobs, and dedicating time to her own creative writing. Fueled by a personal drive, Jade pushed through an incredibly demanding year.
Despite her packed schedule, Jade refused to sacrifice her time outdoors. Describing herself as a 'curious traveller,' she is deeply inspired by the people who walked the paths before her. For Jade, exploring the Cumbrian landscape is intertwined with her creativity. Walking in the footsteps of the region's great writers allows her to connect place, history, and literature.
While studying on the ‘Cultural Heritage and Literary Tourism’ module, Jade designed a brochure for a new walking trail which celebrated the life, legacy and work of William Wordsworth. She was introduced by her tutor to the Friends of the Ullswater Way, a charity dedicated to celebrating the valley's history and cultural heritage. They were so impressed that they commissioned her to write the full official accompanying guidebook for the trail. The workload was immense, but Jade threw herself into it. She walked the paths multiple times, recording voice notes to map and test the trail. She spent hours diving into archives and working with curators to study original manuscripts and select historical artwork, overseeing the entire production from concept to delivery. It was a massive collaborative undertaking and Jade found herself working alongside major regional organisations, including The Friends of the Ullswater Way, Wordsworth Grasmere, the Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria Tourism, and local councils.
For Jade, it was a profound honour to connect poetry with place. She designed the guide to encourage curious travellers to walk in Wordsworth’s footsteps, read his work in situ, and spark their own creativity. The project grew into a major success, gaining national coverage in The Guardian, The Independent, Cumbria Life, and on ITV Border, leaving a lasting legacy that now helps thousands of visitors every year appreciate the rich history woven into the landscape.
Jade graduated in 2024. The Wordsworth Way was officially launched with a celebration in Ambleside on 7 April 2025, coinciding with Wordsworth's 255th birthday. Our Ambleside campus is where the Wordsworth Way ends, which is especially poignant for Jade as it is where her own personal journey began.
Jade’s incredible work on the project led to an invitation to become a trustee for The Friends of the Ullswater Way, a volunteer role where she is helping to shape future projects to help the region.
When she started her degree, Jade never imagined she would graduate as a published author, let alone turn travel writing into a career. Through her own proactivity, patience, and determination, Jade has now landed a role as a professional travel designer. Today, Jade, her partner Lewis and their trusty dog Finley, who accompanies her on all her walks, are happily settled in a quiet Cumbrian village. She spent years following the well-worn steps of literary greats, but in the process, Jade beautifully carved a unique path of her own.
Find out more about the Wordsworth Way here and buy a copy of Jade's book here.