Author: Fhithich
-
“They say this is the finest view in all England, my liege”
So Robert the Bruce’s groom may have remarked as the Scottish King contemplated the view on the afternoon of 14th October 1322. Probably – not “Yer bumās oot the windae” the King replied. Definitely – not. But it is quite likely this spectacular view could have indeed been seen by Robert the Bruce. On a…
-
Tiers of a Clown
Ah, one of the songs from my teenage years. In fact, it could be a contender for the Motown section of my desert island discs. The phrase is used to describe a person, traditionally Pierrot the sad clown, who appears cheerful and lively but, underneath the makeup, is emotionally distraught. Like the pun? Maybe I…
-
Quagmires, Sphagnum moss and WW1 wound dressings
If you find yourself stuck fast in an area of seemingly stable ground that suddenly gives way underfoot and leaves you becoming engulfed and unable to go forwards or backwards, you’ve probably found yourself in a quagmire. Obviously, there may be current political parallels but this is about quagmiresĀ in which the predominant vegetation is Sphagnum…
-
Waites House Farm, Westerdale
On 13th January 1858 the Teesdale Mercury carried a report: “SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION – An instance of spontaneous ignition among alum shale has lately occurred in the parish of Westerdale in the North Riding. At a certain point in Westerdale Head the process of jet mining has been carried on for some time past, and a…
-
Fast Castle
This is a part of the country I just didn’t know existed. We’re usually dashing past on the A1. But it’s a fascinating coastline, rugged, unfrequented with few paths. Fast Castle looked interesting, perched on an inaccessible promontory called Castle Knowe. It was built in the 14th-century, destroyed and rebuilt in the 16th but in…
-
Bass Rock
I must confess, I have never set foot on the island. But it looked so white in the October sunshine and clear air I couldn’t resist a photo. The whiteness comes from the thousands of gannets and other sea birds that live on this gigantic lump of basalt. Look closely and you can make out…
-
Cove
Painful memories. Eleven months ago I had a slight tumble off the sea wall opposite. In the centre of the photo, there is a blue notice board with an orange life ring that I must have fallen past, although I didn’t have time to read the warnings about the dangers of falling off. No permanent…
-
The Cleveland Way at Codhill Plantation
A day for saying farewell to a good friend and a personal reflection on an early walk. Jon Williams was my training partner during those years we both lived in Guisborough during the 1970/80s. Many times we pushed each other across the boggy Codhill Slack on the final climb up to Highcliff Nab. Of course,…
-
Brandy Well
John Fairfax-Blakeborough in his 1912 book with “Life in a Yorkshire village” writes: Speaking of superstitions reminds me of a traditionĀ that the water in Brandy Well, half way up Carlton Bank, has most wonderful curative properties, and thatĀ a wish made here when drinking, is pretty certain to beĀ fulfilled. The well is by the road side…
-
It’s looking a bit black over Bill’s mother’s
So me mam used to say. A Nottinghamshire expression. But who was Bill? Some say Kaiser Wilhelm II. Some say Shakespeare. This was from Carr Ridge, looking like it’s raining over Stokesley. Not sure if this is the shower that drenched me twenty minutes ago or a new one approaching. Open Space Web-Map builder Code