Month: September 2023
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A Cup of Tea or a Pass: Deciding on ‘Este Jesus Cristo que Vos Fala – Livro 3’
On yet another driech day, the summit of Roseberry stood free of its cloudy cap, and there was a swarm of early risers climbing up. One couldn’t help but wonder if there was some sort of sponsored walk in progress. The other day, I stumbled upon an intriguing discovery – a book titled “Este Jesus…
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From Pyroclastic Flows to Lapilli Tuffs — Navigating the Langdale Pikes
On the first night back home in Cleveland, I awoke to a drizzle, low-hanging clouds, and, after a week in the Lakes, a slight feeling of dysphoria. My morning constitutional brought no relief as the weather remained dismal. So, I believe it’s only fair to share a photo taken a few days prior in Langdale…
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Mickleden, one of the two main tributaries of Great Langdale
Great Langdale, a lovely dale largely under the vigilant eye of the National Trust, holds in its embrace several imposing farms, an establishment of refreshment known as the New Dungeon Ghyll, and a haven for weary travellers in the form of the campsite. These riches, it is worth noting, were bestowed upon the Trust by…
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The view from the summit of Harrison Stickle.
But who was this Harrison fellow? Not too many Lake District hills bear a man’s name. I can only recall Robinson and Aitken’s Knott. Stickle, they say, hails from ‘sticel,’ meaning a steep slope. But let’s get back to the view. Far below, there lies Stickle Tarn. It was dammed and made bigger for Langdale’s…
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Blea Tarn: Wordsworth was ’ere
Decamped to Great Langdale and a brief recuperative stroll upon Lingmoor Fell, which offers this delightful panorama of Blea Tarn. This charming, shallow tarn rests snugly in the col between the two Langdales. In the distance, the commanding 762-metre high peak of Wetherlam stands tall. Notably, this tarn has stirred the creativity of some literary…
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A night under the stars
I find myself temporarily off grid, so my posts shall be rather scarce for a time. But lo and behold, gaze upon this splendid sight of the Scafell massif, captured after a night spent beneath the stars upon Esk Pike. My duty was to man a checkpoint for the Lake District Mountain Trial. Alas, a…
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Blakey Ridge and The Lion Inn: From Crutched Friars to Modern Hikers
A view across Rosedale towards Blakey Ridge. In the front, Florence Terrace, one of many rows of terraced cottages built to house the ironstone miners and their families. Rosedale’s population surged in the two decades between 1851 and 1871. Barely discernible on the distant skyline stands the Lion Inn. There are few inns more remote,…
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Codhill Quarry—A 19th-Century Legacy
Here on Codhill, on Gisborough Moors, is one of a pair of small sandstone quarries. Probably 19th-century. It couldn’t have produced any significant amount of rock, likely used for some dry stone walling over at Sleddale Farm. Really, there is not much else to say about this feature. Now, the day started off all hot…
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Woolly Olympics—High Jumps and Clever Ewes
“The sheep is said to be naturally dull and stupid. Of all quadrupeds it is the most foolish: it will saunter away to lonely places with no object in view; oftentimes in stormy weather it will stray from shelter; if it be overtaken by a snowstorm, it will stand still unless the shepherd sets it…
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Woke Showdown: National Trust vs. Restore Trust
Ah, Roseberry Topping, Yorkshire’s Matterhorn, one of those many places the National Trust looks after. Now, in 2020, the Trust issued a report, a bit of a mouthful, called ‘Addressing our histories of colonialism and historic slavery.‘ They wanted to tell about how their 93 historic houses are tied up with the British Empire, the…