Author: Fhithich
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“Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?”
I’ve run in the hills and the countryside all my life. Tearing around with the intention of getting back as soon as possible. Work and family life meant an efficient use of available time. But the upshot of retirement and covid are more relaxing outings. I am quite happy just sauntering around aimlessly looking at…
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Arkengarthdale in the Yorkshire Dales
On the last day of November twenty years ago, an iconic piece of legislation, The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, came into force. Since then we have enjoyed being able to legally enjoy a walk or run across open access land: up and down hills and mountains and across moorland. There are many…
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Red sky in the morning …
A proverb which everyone knows. For sure, bad weather is on the way. Even Shakespeare had it sussed. A verse in his poem ‘Venus and Adonis‘: Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d, Which to his speech did honey passage yield; Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken’d Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the…
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Just another dreich day
This is descending into Raisdale from the col with Scugdale. Just beyond the tree, the track becomes a well-defined holloway called Mill Lane. It used to be a ‘green lane’ and popular with off-road motorcyclists and motorists and was suffering from horrendous erosion. But, since downgraded to a Public Bridleway, it has recovered nicely, although…
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Aireyholme
An earlyish start for a walk back home from Pinchinthorpe and once again, setting out in the dull and gloom and thick cloud. Almost home and out pops a sunbeam, a phenomenon which in naval slang would have been termed a ‘Jacob’s Ladder‘. And the sun shone on Aireyholme Farm, and the fields south and…
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The holly and the …
Need I go on? You must be so familiar with the Christmas carol. Holly, traditionally a masculine plant compared with the feminine ivy, although holly is what is called dioecious, meaning that individual trees are either male or female. Flowers occur on both male and female trees but only the female trees have berries and…
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Mount Snever Observatory
To modern ears, the word ‘observatory’ is associated with telescopes and distant stars but the Mount Snever Observatory was built with the intention of viewing nature in all its glory. The 35 feet high belvedere tower is a somewhat austere structure, built in 1838 by John Wormald of Oldstead Hall to commemorate Queen Victoria’s coronation…
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Bankside Farm
A bit of a ‘lucky dip’ walk today. Generally dull and gloomy, with the occasional brief sunny spell. One such spell occurred when I was climbing out of Kildale towards Capt. Cook’s Monument on the Cleveland Way. Above the pasture field known as Ley Close, Bankside Farm and its neighbour Bankside Cottage reflected the apricity.…
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South Gare Fishermen’s Association
An early walk on the beach this morning at South Gare, almost deserted with the sun breaking through the clouds. A few telltale plumes of smoke from the fishermen’s huts give away their occupancy. There have been recent assurances that the 101, 12ft square huts will not be demolished when the steelworks site is redeveloped.…
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Now that’s what I call a green lane …
… but not what most folks usually associate with the term, an off-road route for motorbikes and 4wd vehicles. Actually, the term ‘green lane’ has no legal significance. An unsurfaced route for vehicles would be a ‘byway open to all traffic’ or a BOAT. This is, in fact, a Public Bridleway providing access rights for…