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Bassenthwaite Lake
Is this the biggest lake in the Lake District? A trick question of course. For every schoolboy knows there’s only one lake in the Lake District. All the others are either waters or meres. Of which there are 16 or 17 depending on how you count Brothers Water. For some reckon that’s a tarn. But…
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Tour of Britain uphill team time trial
Watching the Tour of Britain uphill team time trial, 14 km from Cockermouth to the summit of Whinlatter Pass. This is on Scawgill Bridge, and the British Cycling Team has about 3½ km left to the finish. The team has six riders, their time will be taken when the fourth rider crosses the line although…
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The Girt Dog of Ennerdale
Today there are many graphic images of farm animals having been mauled by out of controlled dogs. This is not just a modern phenomenon. On 12th September 1810, a dog was shot near Rowrah at the bottom end of Ennerdale. It had been on the rampage all that summer eluding many hunts and attempts to…
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Wasdale Head
A view that never fails to fascinate me, especially on such a glorious day. Wasdale Head, an oasis of lush, higgledy-piggledy fields. No design went into them. I am above Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow. Everything is much greener and wetter than when I was last on these fells in June. Wastwater must be at least…
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Muncaster Fell
I’ve never been up Muncaster Fell before, so this is a new one for me. A Wainwright bagged, a Marilyn bagged. Muncaster Fell is an elongated lump of granite, separating the valleys of the Eskdale and Miterdale. The highest point is Hooker Crag, a mere 231m high but offering fine views over the west Cumbria…
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Coppermines Valley
A small reminder of what man has done to the planet. Elizabeth I was Queen of England when mining for copper began in this valley above Coniston. Heavy mechanical hammers driven by huge water wheels crushed and broke the ore. A cacophony of bangs, rumbles and growls. Women and children picked over the rock separating…
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The Pudding Stone
And so summer ends. Above the heavily scarred landscape of the Coppermines valley in Coniston is a small dry valley called the Boulder Valley on account of its numerous boulders, the largest of which is the Pudding Stone. A huge boulder that tumbled down millennia ago from the heights of Brim Fell. Some idea of…
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Coniston Hall
It’s eighteen years since I was last at Coniston Hall. A National Trust tenanted farm run as a campsite on the side of Coniston Water. Very little changed, still as popular. The vernacular architecture of the Lakeland chimneys still intrigues me. Open Space Web-Map builder Code
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Coal Tit
An early stroll in the sunshine with the dog. This little tit caught my eye, performing acrobatics on the downy seed heads of a thistle. It didn’t stay long before dashing off only to return a moment later; repeated this several times in the brief period I watched. Constantly on the go. I’m pretty sure…
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Potters Ridge
On Codhill Heights looking up towards Potters Ridge. A precarious cairn. One of a pair, both newly built. First time I have seen them. The moorland is part of the 3,460 acres of grouse moor owned by the Baron Gisborough whose farms received £89,278.37 under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2016. Open Space Web-Map…
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