Month: February 2015
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High Cup Gill
Across the Pennines to High Cup Nick above Appleby to see the Great Whin Sill, an intrusion of volcanic dolerite between limestone layers. Well I would have seen it if it had been clear. I managed to get this snap of High Cup Gill before I climbed into the cloud.
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Heather Burning
In all directions plumes of smoke can be seen on the moors on a good day at this time of the year. The gamekeepers are burning the heather. Grouse feed on heather. Young shoots provide the best nutritional value but grouse require taller heather for nesting and cover. To provide a managed supply of young heather patches of heather are…
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Westside, Bransdale
Volunteering with the National Trust today in Bransdale. Removing some old fencing. Bransdale is perhaps the most quietest and secluded dale on the North York Moors. At the moment as the road to Farndale is closed, access can only be gained via Helmsley. The National Trust owns 2,000 acres, mostly tenanted upland farms. Prior to 1934…
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Hob Cross, Tidkinhow Head
Situated on the ancient route from Guisborough Priory to Whitby Abbey, this boundary stone probably stood on the site of a medieval way marker or cross. It’s inscribed with the date 1798 marking the boundary of the estate of Robert Chaloner. Today it’s the boundary of Guisborough and Lockwood parishes. The 1.9m high stone is…
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Kirby Bank Trod
Part of a medieval pannierway connecting Rievaulx Abbey in Bilsdale with the River Tees. A major trade route, unique in North Yorkshire. Rievaulx had monastic granges at Normanby and Broughton supplying the needs of the abbey, and salt and fish were obtained from villages about the Tees estuary and along the coast. The route would have been well used by teams of…
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Ruin, Great Ayton Moor
A disused concrete water tank below the escarpment of Great Ayton Moor. Probably provided the water supply to the long demolished farm which about four hundred metres away. Aireyholme Farm and Cliff Rigg can be seen just left of centre. A good clear morning with a slight dusting of snow.
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Binsey
After two good days training in the Lakes with the North East Junior Orienteering Squad, horrendous weather was forecast for today. Headed to Binsey for an event hoping to finsh before the weather broke. Binsey is the most northernly Wainwright fell. An isolated 447m high hill a few miles north of Bassenthwaite Lake. Wainwright describes it as “the odd man…
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Tarn Hows
One of the jewels of the Lake District. Originally three tarns that were dammed into one in Victorian times.
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Great Tower Plantation
In the Lakes for the weekend. This is the high point of Great Tower Plantation, a small remnant of oak woodland used as a Scouts activity centre, looking north to Windermere, the largest of the England Lakes. All the high fells are in cloud.
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Paddys’ Hole
A small man-made harbour at South Gare at the mouth of the Tees. Named after the Irish navvies who built the South Gare from slag from Teesside’s blast furnaces.