Author: Fhithich
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Roseberry and fireweed
Rosebay willowherb or fireweed as it commonly known because it’s the first plant to grow after a fire. Also called bombweed for the same reason in the craters left by the blitz. Its downy seeds are carried along in the slipstream of railways and cars. Fireweed is common throughout the northern hemisphere. It’s eaten in North…
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Cute and cuddly alpacas
At least I think they are alpacas. Could be llamas. Back on the North Yorkshire Moors and these two were quite curious of me as I ran down the lane in Lounsdale. Alpacas have been bred for centuries in the Andes of South America for their wool and meat. I have never seen alpaca meat for sale in the…
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Derwentwater
A classic Lakeland view. Derwentwater from Walla Crag. Keswick on the right, Lake Bassenthwaite in the distance. And in the foreground, following on from last weeks’s posting, Ling is in flower alongside the darker Bell Heather.
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Gatesgarth Bridge
A wet day in the Lakes and a trip up to Dale Head didn’t produce anything photogenic. Gatesgarth Bridge at the bottom of Honistor Pass on the Buttermere side reminds me of an earlier visit. October 2008 and I was sitting in my VW Polo at almost the same spot watching the water in Gatesgarthdale…
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Mickeldore
The “Great Pass”, a narrow col connecting two of the highest mountains in England, Scafell and Scafell Pike. The direct route up to Scafell requires the ascent of a small rock step called Broad Stand. It’s just of two metres high. In climbing grades it’s a mere Difficult. Not particularly hard but too risky for…
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Ruined Sheepfold, High Raise
On the slopes of High Raise looking down onto Stake Pass. That’s the High Raise in Wainwright’s Central Fells. There’s another one in the Eastern Fells. A generally dry with just the odd shower and swirling mist.
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Stone Arthur
Back over in the Lakes again. The second time in a week in the Grasmere valley. A humid with threatening skies. But the rain held off and a break in the cloud allowed the sun to shine on Stone Arthur. With a prominence of just two metres it can hardly be called a summit. Just a rocky knoll of breccia…
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Ringlet Butterflies
I came across this amorous couple this morning on Roseberry Common. Butterflies are usually so flighty they’re difficult to photograph but so engrossed were these I could get within an inch with my little camera set on macro. They’re Ringlets apparently, quite common.
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Bell Heather
One of three types of heather found in the UK, the others being Cross Leaved Heather and the very common Ling. Bell Heather, or Erica cinerea to give it its Latin name, flowers much earlier than Ling and a much richer colour. It favours drier conditions like cling to this sandstone crag in and old quarry on Great…
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The Traveller's Rest
While the north east basked in sunshine the Lakes were clouded in mist. By noon the 398m high Helm Crag was only just clear. According to Wainwright Helm Crag, or the Lion and the Lamb, is the only fell requires climbing skills to reach the summit. Below on the climb up to Dunmail Raise is the Traveller’s Rest,…