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From Roseberry’s Shadow to Durham Gaol: The David Cobbold Saga
In those turbulent days of the 1930s, in the quaint village of Newton-under-Roseberry, there existed a shop of equally quaint nomenclature – “Ye Olde Village Shoppe.” Now, I am sure, there might well have been other shops in that village, but the tale I’ve uncovered revolves around none other than the proprietor of the said…
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Dipping Toes and Donning Macintoshes: A History of Sea-Side Bathing
Numerous folk were having a refreshing dip at Saltburn this morning, seizing the opportunity presented by the autumn sun’s warm rays and the surging waves. The surfers had donned their wet-suits, which bestowed upon them some protection against the chilly clutches of the North Sea. One fellow strolling back along the shore confessed that it…
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Kildale’s Telecoms Mast Dilemma
The picture doesn’t quite portray the hurricane-like gusts, making it a struggle to stay upright. Another rain shower is looming, chasing away the previous one in no time. I’m up on the moor behind Park Nab, looking across Kildale. On the distant skyline, at its highest point, stands Captain Cook’s Monument. But something’s amiss with…
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Woolly Wanderers on Roseberry Common
On Roseberry Common, a flock of sheep takes refuge from the rain and blustering wind amidst the sterile shale remains of an old jet quarry. A hundred and fifty years on, Mother Nature’s still struggling to reclaim the spoil left behind from the hunt for that fossilised wood of the Monkey Puzzle tree, deposited on…
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Donna Cross—from Medieval cross to a legal feud
On the col between Cold Moor and Cringle, one almost stumbles across the stump of Donna Cross hidden amidst the bracken. A boulder, rooted deep in the earth, serves as its natural base, with a socket in which a stone is wedged. This stone, however, is not believed to be a part of the original…
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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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