tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54229967554236997212024-03-06T01:00:42.069+00:00Walk Checkers NotesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-45254697611460051132019-06-13T19:46:00.003+01:002019-06-13T19:57:18.258+01:00Luxury Fell Walking, Victorian style - Trekking up to Easedale tarn for tea!<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back
in 1866, Robert Hayton, a Grasmere businessman, had a brilliant idea.
He'd open a small tea shop, in a scenically beautiful position beside
the water, and hire out rowing boats so that visitors would not only
be able to partake of refreshments, but also enjoy a spot of trout
fishing during their holiday. There was just one small snag. The
teashop would not actually be in the village of Grasmere, or beside
the lake of the same name. It would be at the end of a two mile pony
track, 900 ft up on the fell-side, at Easedale Tarn, to the west of
Grasmere. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Over
20 labourers carried the materials needed to build the hut up the
fell side. How long it took them to construct the substantial stone
building is not known, but it was open for the summer season, and
soon became famous amongst early tourists for tea, sandwiches and
cake. To add to the attraction, there was boat hire for those wishing
to fish on the tarn. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
existence of the tea hut shows how popular the excursion up to
Easedale Tarn was in mid Victorian times. In an age before walkers
regularly tramped their way up the hillside, a constant stream of
visitors made their way along the track that led up the fell-side
from Easedale Road to the tarn. Rather than walk, many would hire a
pony and guide for the trip. The ride offered not one, but two
natural attractions: the cascades of Sour Milk Gill (see short video below), and the tarn
itself, with its impressive backdrop of Tarn Crag.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz73jZqPgVPeONnbHQDNqFp_rQqJcvL45WlrvWfTbP0jbm9Z6EfkXOF68N0ESRsW7smhTx37SGzILYZchIAZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
success of the tea hut offers an indication of the way in which the
Lake District tourism industry developed during the Victorian period. The
advent of the railways had led to an increase in visitors, but there
were no attractions of the kind that modern tourists enjoy. Victorian
Grasmere had few shops. There were no museums or art galleries. In
addition, the summer holidays of wealthy tourists were considerably
longer than nowadays. There were no weekend breaks. Visitors stayed
for at least a fortnight, or more. Many would take up residence for
the entire summer, accompanied by an entourage of servants to ensure
all home comforts were provided. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For
most, the purpose of their visit was to escape the hustle and bustle,
and more importantly, the pollution, of the cities. Relaxing amidst
stunning scenery, breathing the fresh, clear air and drinking natural
water that was deemed to be amongst the purest it was possible to
get, was seen as being invigorating for the mind, body and soul.
Although few would have considered venturing out onto the fell-side
on a regular basis, the opportunity to visit a unique beauty spot was
not to be missed, especially if, on arrival, afternoon tea could be
readily obtained for a modest charge. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4gqJycGFDas6m8S_6jrOLOy1shFYLa4zsTrnISRtwj39isCIgS9cqIingUqdWUYKabRKt0cznC7p6xE2C9tD_7M4qht6cYaVoIHTnF-pLWLxh0j1s41xWeMZlJqHK0VsotkB0Q6WJRE/s1600/easedalehut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A late Victorian photograph of the Easedal Tarn tea hut, as featured in Walks Around Grasmere, a Jonathan Craig Guide" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="712" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4gqJycGFDas6m8S_6jrOLOy1shFYLa4zsTrnISRtwj39isCIgS9cqIingUqdWUYKabRKt0cznC7p6xE2C9tD_7M4qht6cYaVoIHTnF-pLWLxh0j1s41xWeMZlJqHK0VsotkB0Q6WJRE/s400/easedalehut.jpg" title="The Easedale Tarn Tea Hut" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Easedale Tarn tea hut, photographed in the late Victorian period. Although not large, the structure was substantially built in order to protect those inside from the elements. The site of the building can be accurately ascertained, as it was built adjoining a large rock, which formed part of the outside wall. Although the building no longer exists, the rock remains in place beside the path. (see picture below)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
lack of any form of heavy boots or weatherproof clothing was not seen
as a problem. Most wealthy visitors would not be walking, but
transported up the fell by pony, although it has to said that their
servants were expected to tramp up the fell behind them. All the
necessary arrangements required to protect them from inclement
weather would be provided by their guide, who would personally
guarantee not only their safety, but their absolute enjoyment of the
excursion.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
Easedale tea hut is just one example of the ingenuity of the local
population in exploiting the tourist market. Although rarely as busy
as a modern day cafe, it opened each summer, serving both tourists
and, in later years, fell walkers, until the start of the second
world war. It enabled those early tourists to sample the delights of
the Lake District fells in relative safety, whilst ensuring that
their daily comforts were not disturbed by their trek onto the fell-side.
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In
the late Victorian era, and on until the First World War, the
attitude of tourists became more adventurous. The two mile pony trek
up to Easedale Tarn was no longer sufficient to satisfy their needs.
Instead of being the final objective, the tea hut became a stop
en-route to higher destinations. However, that was not the reason for
it's demise. In an age before the thermos flask, it remained popular
as a stopping off point. It was ideally situated for a welcome break
before heading over to the Langdale Valley. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZMzo4qWdHiec5r5aTGwP9Jj9lXocCURdTtvlxKIBcJUwwaPwinCxADl8j4-OY6d1ItHnExEjWg6miZnGUxmtN0muqy8vG3eaSdeI-3OC53DGXns3zFSrm_C_qAEB6f6ynqWCHUhcYmE/s1600/easedaleblog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Easedale Tarn, with Tarn Crag as a backdrop, from the site of the Easedal Tarn tea hut, as featured in Walks Around Grasmere, a Jonathan Craig Guide" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="939" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZMzo4qWdHiec5r5aTGwP9Jj9lXocCURdTtvlxKIBcJUwwaPwinCxADl8j4-OY6d1ItHnExEjWg6miZnGUxmtN0muqy8vG3eaSdeI-3OC53DGXns3zFSrm_C_qAEB6f6ynqWCHUhcYmE/s400/easedaleblog2.jpg" title="Easedale Tarn" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the tarn towards Tarn Crag, from close to the site of the old Tea Hut. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
number of walkers may have been drastically reduced following the
outbreak of war in 1914, but the stone built tea hut continued in use
for another 25 years. It closed for business at the end of August
1939, never to reopen. Over the years it fell into a state of
disrepair, and by 1958, when Alfred Wainwright published his guide to
the Central Fells, it was little more than a draughty ruin. Since
then, much of the stone with which it was built has been utilised by
local land owners for wall and footpath repairs, and now just a few
stones scattered around are all that is left. A large rock, which
once formed part of the main wall, and a patch of summer nettles, are
all that mark the spot upon which it used to stand. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYKHGbH15FhQxkIuo8wVoRhw1Z8G_dKZe9JnOJbHgJf2AvYZI8l6639v8d3_WIPT-DAOvl7Dx7xZl65wRH7fgo9omQ8R4vRcHgcN2fLbH-BRdSEEomyhnOTZZFTHqCpw4jtrOppyd6_Q/s1600/easedaleblog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The large rock that is the only remaining section of the Easedal Tarn tea hut, as featured in Walks Around Grasmere, a Jonathan Craig Guide" border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="948" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYKHGbH15FhQxkIuo8wVoRhw1Z8G_dKZe9JnOJbHgJf2AvYZI8l6639v8d3_WIPT-DAOvl7Dx7xZl65wRH7fgo9omQ8R4vRcHgcN2fLbH-BRdSEEomyhnOTZZFTHqCpw4jtrOppyd6_Q/s400/easedaleblog3.jpg" title="Site of the old Easedale Tarn tea hut" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that remains of the tea hut. The large rock formed part of the outside wall. A bed of nettles inhabits a small area of ground that was once a small garden, featuring daffodils in spring, and a range of flowering plants during the summer months. The modern path follows the route of the old pony track.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
tea hut may be no more, but the pony track still exists, albeit as a
modern footpath. As in Victorian times, many walkers see it as the
destination of a summer afternoon stroll up the fell-side, whilst for
others it is simply a place to stop for a short rest, and maybe a
snack, before tackling the climb up over Blea Rigg to the mountains
beyond. What's certain is that the setting is no less beautiful than
it was on the day that Robert Hayton and his group of builders set to
work on building the tea hut. As with much of the Lake District,
society may have changed, but the beauty of the mountains, and their
power to relax and revitalise, remains very much the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The video below shows the route up to Easedale Tarn from the top of Easedale Road, in Grasmere. It features views of the valley, as well as Sour Milk Gill, and tells the story of the Greene family, who farmed on these hills at the started of the 19th C and whose lives were torn apart by tragedy. From there we move on to the Tarn itself, before heading back to Gramere via the path up Far Easedale. We hope you enjoy it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The walk up to Easedale Tarn from Grasmere is featured in the Jonathan Craig Guides <a href="http://www.lakes-breaks.com/guideshop/jcgraswalks.htm" target="_blank">'Walks Around Grasmere' book, which is available online here..</a> </span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-51290562337727615132019-05-24T23:40:00.004+01:002019-05-25T10:54:02.830+01:00A walk through the quarries on Coniston Old Man.Pick a Day. Any Day will do, although a weekday from March through to November would be preferable. You need daylight to get the best views. Drive to the village of Coniston, turn up the hill, past the Sun Inn, where Donald Campbell enjoyed his last pint, and keep going. It is a narrow road, especially so after the last junction, the one that leads to the old station yard. (Yes, for those that don't know, there used to be a railway at Coniston, and it is linked to where we are heading).<br />
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A quarter of a mile up the hill you come to a gate, and beyond it the most informal car park in the Lake District. An old quarry, with a level surface, serves as the semi official car park, marked on OS maps and used for many years, but there are not many spaces and if you don't get there early then all will be taken, especially at weekends. If that happens you will have to do what the majority of people do and park beside the track that leads away from the gate and over the fellside. In fact, regular visitors sometimes ignore empty spaces in the car park and head up the track anyway, bagging their favourite spot before it is snatched.<br />
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The track has an official title; Walna Scar Road. It runs along the side of the Old Man of Coniston, over Walna Scar, and down into the Duddon Valley. Nowadays it is the start point for one of the most popular walks in the Lake District, but long before fell walkers came to the district the tracks hereabouts were used for very different purposes. Coniston, you see, was not a tourist village. In days past it's fortunes were very much linked to what was underneath the mountains as opposed to what was on the surface. 150 years ago, the boots marching up the fellside belonged not to fell walkers, but to the working men, women and children of Coniston.<br />
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Miners and quarry workers made their way up the fell on a daily basis. Not just men, but until the late Victorian period women and children as well. At one point over 600 people were employed on these fells on a daily basis. Copper ore and slate were their goal, and had been for the previous 300 years. Exactly when copper mining started in these hills is not known, however, it is fairly certain that by the 1560's German miners, brought to England by Elizabeth I, had uncovered rich veins of ore. By the mid 1800's the mines were thriving.<br />
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One problem had always been shipping the ore out of the area. Coniston has never been an easy place to get to by road, and moving the heavy loads out was fraught with difficulty. A wagon down to the lake shore, a barge to the southern end, then another wagon to get the ore to the coast. That is a lot of loading and unloading. Until the Railway came in 1858, that is. 4 years later, the line was extended to the copper mines, such was the amount of Ore that was being hewn from these hills.<br />
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However, the link between the railway and the mines did not last long. Shortly after the Coniston line was extended to the quarries, the price of Copper began to drop. Production declined, and some of the deepest shafts were allowed to flood as continually pumping the water out was a costly business. By the turn of the 20th century, the mines were all but finished. They continued until the start of the first world war in 1914, and then production ceased. Limited workings were re-commenced after the war, but there was little profit to be made, and mining ceased permanently in 1940. <br />
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The railway, copper mines and quarries may be no more, but their remains throughout the whole of this region are extensive, stretching from the workings on the side of Coniston Old Man to the slate quarries of Little Langdale. Key areas are Tilberthwaite and Hodge Close, Cathedral Cave, close to Slater's Bridge, workings on the Little Langdale side of Lingmoor, and Greenburn Mine, situated at the head of the Little Langdale Valley. For those with a keen interest in industrial archaeology it is a wonderful region to explore. However, if, like me, you are simply interested in the relics of a bygone era, there is still plenty to spark your interest on the climb to the summit of Coniston Old Man, which, with so much of interest on the ascent, is a wonderful walk at any time of year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDVoFi1GYpKG0t2AcqPPU4Y6IxT4t50dQwuLd9fmGqbAg3Mpsk9Hpa-S_PT8t9p68VOx3m609HMDOMMVXEOfKAxdMksXW_iy5qrIAazWVGLQTu2ByQvn8vDNfYywzfLUHj96I8kf9Qt4/s1600/old+man+of+coniston+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDVoFi1GYpKG0t2AcqPPU4Y6IxT4t50dQwuLd9fmGqbAg3Mpsk9Hpa-S_PT8t9p68VOx3m609HMDOMMVXEOfKAxdMksXW_iy5qrIAazWVGLQTu2ByQvn8vDNfYywzfLUHj96I8kf9Qt4/s400/old+man+of+coniston+040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The well preserved remains of workman's huts and a latrine, almost 1,000 feet above the village of Coniston, on the wide track up to the summit of Coniston Old Man</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbpaVzXvv8eHf00yAX1Yraf1dE0llMFeb7YinDZSZ2EKyOVhrXfS5ea2dgjRwAMoPT7BgZLP_LxitthqqzVqDXb9JMAZ0p7AyttYWkQGvzPq-8Qp7Ml915WlFfPI_ZHQbt1yHcAhjlUY/s1600/old+man+of+coniston+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbpaVzXvv8eHf00yAX1Yraf1dE0llMFeb7YinDZSZ2EKyOVhrXfS5ea2dgjRwAMoPT7BgZLP_LxitthqqzVqDXb9JMAZ0p7AyttYWkQGvzPq-8Qp7Ml915WlFfPI_ZHQbt1yHcAhjlUY/s400/old+man+of+coniston+043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little further up from the first picture, and more well preserved buildings are passed. In the past few years a certain amount of work has been carried out here to ensure that the buildings remain as safe as possible, however, exploration is certainly at your own risk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKaN1813jE2yrPQOa9nEH4mPEVTjyzkJrVhqWISbHTF5RDnd-dWYCkRaRLjwEO7SBL5d7DnzX2G3HjnwFOgLAn6uPqnjLEZf5E5IiH-sWCVkO7V5Mu7hFHJmEhA4-8qmIQ-FvqWDd7d8/s400/old+man+of+coniston+048.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within a short space of time, this third set of buildings is passed. As can be seen, there is much interest in them from passing walkers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High walls and thick steel girders that are well over 100 years old are a key feature as we approach a fourth level of quarry buildings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With high numbers of walkers passing through this area, the path has been restored to how it may have looked 100 years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building may have gone, but the doorway remains.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sign urging fellwalkers to respect the integrity of the site and not remove artifacts. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the iron artifacts that the sign in the above picture was attempting to protect, a set of railway points over 1,500ft up the side of the mountain. The trackway was an important part of the site, and existed well before the railway from Broughton to Coniston was built. This particular set of points probably dates from the middle part of the 19th century.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remains of heavy lifting gear, situated close to the set of points in the previous picture. It was part of the winding gear for the railway. There were no locomotives, the trucks being moved by a mixture of winches and gravity.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low Water, which is situated above the quarries and mines, some 1,000 feet below the summit of Coniston Old Man. It is a natural tarn, but at some point was dammed to raise the water level in order to provide power and a water supply for the quarries below. After the quarries closed the dam was removed. A little further north is Levers Water, a larger tarn which was also dammed to provide water for the quarries and also Coniston, some 1500 feet below. Unlike Low Water, Levers Water has retained its dam. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Low Water from the well used track up to the summit of Coniston Old Man. We've left the quarry workings behind now, as we head for the summit another 500 feet above. However, it is the case that many people who start out from the Walna Scar Road never reach this far. Their interest is not in reaching the fell top, but in exploring the quarry and mine working remains, which are amongst the best preserved in the North of England. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-69162965508709560852017-03-26T21:14:00.001+01:002017-03-26T21:16:07.779+01:00A late winter wander around lovely Loweswater<div class="maintext">
At just a mile
long, and half a mile wide, Loweswater is one of Lakeland's smallest
lakes. I also happen to think it is one of the loveliest. I well remember the first time I set eyes on it. It was during a family holiday in 1970. It was our first visit, and we were touring the area in the family minibus. Having visited Buttermere and been entranced by it's beauty, we took the road to the coast, where we were staying. Crummock Water passed by the window, resplendent with it's backdrop of mountains, the names of which I had yet to discover, and once the end of the lake was reached I settled back to enjoy the the rest of the journey, thinking that there were no more lakes to see that day. When Loweswater suddenly appeared to our left, it was a such a delightful surprise that I demanded we stop and have a look around. My plea fell on deaf ears. The rest of the family had decided that we had seen quite enough lakes for one day, so we drove on by, and all I could do was promise myself to return one day to fully investigate it's charms.<br />
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It was three years before I was able to fulfil that promise, and I think that my opinion of this lovely little lake was truly formed on that day. The weather was perfect, a deep blue sky, complete with little white cotton wool clouds drifting lazily along on a gentle breeze. I clambered up the lush green pastures of Darling Fell, to the north of the lake, looked down on it's clear blue waters, and decided that this was probably one of the most perfect places in the world. It was so peaceful, so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, that it was imbued with a level of tranquillity that was rare even in the Lake District. Yes, that day I fell in love with Loweswater. I've been besotted with her ever since.<br />
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Loweswater is less frequently visited than other lakes, mainly, I think,
because it is small and a little off the beaten track. Close by are the ever
popular lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water. They are the City and United of the Lakes, surrounded by impressive mountains, with a huge fanbase, and visitors galore. The village of Buttermere, situated between the two, has more car parking spaces than residents. By comparison Loweswater is very much a local league lake, flanked by fells that even Wainwright could not get enthusiastic about, and apparently not worthy of a pay and display with information board. Yet that is one of it's greatest attractions. There is a round the lake footpath, which because it features
virtually no hilly bits at all, is suitable for the very youngest fell
walker. Holme Wood, on the lake's southern shore has both red deer and
red squirrels. They can be elusive, but the beautiful Holme Force, a
wonderful little waterfall set amongst the trees, is easier to find if you
know where to look. There is no need to scramble up the hillside to
reach it, a nice wide path leads right to it, but as there is no sign it
is easy to miss the turning to it.</div>
On previous visits I have enjoyed the charms of this wonderful lake in many ways, and for my latest visit in mid March, I decided to stay on the south side, walking along the shore through Holme Woods, before heading up the fellside to High Nook Tarn, and then following the footpath along the side of Burnbank Fell to the western end of the Lake. The day was completed by re-tracing my steps a quarter of a mile to enter the woods via a small gate leading to a narrow path that eventually meets a wider forest track. A short distance along this track the delightful Holme Force provides a pleasing end to the walk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What passes for parking at Loweswater. A large lay-by, one of two beside the minor road, and the small car park at Maggies Bridge, at the Crummock Water end of the Lake, are all there is, and I'm told that there is almost always a space or two available.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the only hill on the round lake walk. It leads up to Hudson Place, a small farm. It is not very steep or far, but has this wonderful roadside display of daffodils in mid March.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beyond Hudson Place the track swings left to drop down towards the Lake Shore, with wonderful views down the lake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half way along the Lake Shore and this bothy appears. Owned by the National Trust, it is available for hire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU-ill67lIOVjoNSsd6wzJybfthUrlVeRPCgV-1mJX5qqOXGMVF0dnpMluicmRwi-cOCQLWWidDf7gCas-DSD_NQpBi4H7TWzZAn2p4GeQYYbpopLfFLUP3UgLkmib6fHe6RT8-lbxs8/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU-ill67lIOVjoNSsd6wzJybfthUrlVeRPCgV-1mJX5qqOXGMVF0dnpMluicmRwi-cOCQLWWidDf7gCas-DSD_NQpBi4H7TWzZAn2p4GeQYYbpopLfFLUP3UgLkmib6fHe6RT8-lbxs8/s320/070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small beach outside the bothy has wonderful views across the Lake to Darling Fell and Low Fell. It also has full recreational facilities for those long summer evenings, in the form of a swing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iluppXdpiIFXaJie03YEyEExfkzKUbNDuUr8Lb1ItSjo_V1WMAQsZZk9VEC1MiA-tvJKMbanTIGsuc5H9SttcEB-p9UStu9A3AdDSBtJNpIoHjPoINAS9Oz61JR8xI06sBgECBrcRtw/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iluppXdpiIFXaJie03YEyEExfkzKUbNDuUr8Lb1ItSjo_V1WMAQsZZk9VEC1MiA-tvJKMbanTIGsuc5H9SttcEB-p9UStu9A3AdDSBtJNpIoHjPoINAS9Oz61JR8xI06sBgECBrcRtw/s640/071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across Loweswater to the unmistakable profile of Grasmoor, which overlooks Crummock Water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxa_MuM4p5stA_4wMC0RPZKXOBJdvFExmCKW5OWCe5FvbqvnCUPtrehiWUueSgbcURmjB88qR8PF6GRKr4feG_IOwRZ7kI03ng66KGX404YIOkILOgQoWd371b2txDzLgrSChV0YP7Zw/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxa_MuM4p5stA_4wMC0RPZKXOBJdvFExmCKW5OWCe5FvbqvnCUPtrehiWUueSgbcURmjB88qR8PF6GRKr4feG_IOwRZ7kI03ng66KGX404YIOkILOgQoWd371b2txDzLgrSChV0YP7Zw/s640/072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the other end of the Lake the track leads to Maggies Bridge, where there is a small car park, a signpost, and a lot of mud!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtr0_nqV9gslPw70kWNtSL1bhxYzfc_SnNyD5I1LgoNERAWTOxVUHLPkyt6lOiEkKVx8xv0Ng6D_9TiRwPtu1RxMxRr5xcdAP0YOEDNfP3C1g0n7xwWE36jlljfKGCKHP7HX_B4zRk8E/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtr0_nqV9gslPw70kWNtSL1bhxYzfc_SnNyD5I1LgoNERAWTOxVUHLPkyt6lOiEkKVx8xv0Ng6D_9TiRwPtu1RxMxRr5xcdAP0YOEDNfP3C1g0n7xwWE36jlljfKGCKHP7HX_B4zRk8E/s640/073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Maggies Bridge the farm track leads up to High Nook Farm, and beyond, the open fellside. To the right of the path is High Nook Beck, a lovely little stream running down the fellside towards the Lake. It joins the outflow of the Lake just below Maggies Bridge, and becomes the River Cocker, which eventually joins the River Derwent at Cockermouth. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBml8g_7EHQTej23SkUNLB3g-d8lv1b9Jk6XP9mv7XuZxB2PJfkxI0cZkB5HfRbDQ7VwEZHdhnBzHBv5NGYSCAC8eKl7k3hHsg3nZYpFuMlqQ2FEeHg2MrmTT_hN22LRdQeNmYunPkaWs/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBml8g_7EHQTej23SkUNLB3g-d8lv1b9Jk6XP9mv7XuZxB2PJfkxI0cZkB5HfRbDQ7VwEZHdhnBzHBv5NGYSCAC8eKl7k3hHsg3nZYpFuMlqQ2FEeHg2MrmTT_hN22LRdQeNmYunPkaWs/s640/079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back across the fellside from the path beside the beck. Grasmoor is prominent, and Crummock Water can also be seen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWG6mveuZFfm_k_tvkejhPOnb9c3bs245XO8jm9ndvDOxd2g72kFKRHjS2qpxi3-eUoq3okIiIEZHiQaOgGysiwLZ8iceP7R2GVIst2gayJ9VO2wqpRqz5kdY0vUPAFawDlY-I5mKdw/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWG6mveuZFfm_k_tvkejhPOnb9c3bs245XO8jm9ndvDOxd2g72kFKRHjS2qpxi3-eUoq3okIiIEZHiQaOgGysiwLZ8iceP7R2GVIst2gayJ9VO2wqpRqz5kdY0vUPAFawDlY-I5mKdw/s640/080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Nook Tarn, a lovely little water which drains into High Nook Beck. My walk does not pass by the tarn, but it is in clear view and a narrow footpath, boggy in winter, leads up to it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8y4SUGHDlsmbN-tFY9gfGP9wg78XPmnnEr7OhbgZPCqSnHOwzsdne5klAOfbjyTwV1gZsw0LQL8BItPJ2WqYiEnjR8PjmFx8qc30YqZzOXHQXyEaw7I23UUZyNhjiR60NML5cYjw2cs/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8y4SUGHDlsmbN-tFY9gfGP9wg78XPmnnEr7OhbgZPCqSnHOwzsdne5klAOfbjyTwV1gZsw0LQL8BItPJ2WqYiEnjR8PjmFx8qc30YqZzOXHQXyEaw7I23UUZyNhjiR60NML5cYjw2cs/s640/082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The path swings right, crossing High Nook Beck by a narrow bridge, then climbs the flank of Burnbank Fell. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuGpNoZxJaFyU93_cCc3glUvfkIhGKW1_DIdT4ubd_Selm29WpfSF-F2rEZuA9Z1HhSJOt0hh8c8F2lpBU4eRXCXlIh5bd4WnHCvbEcbaHAZChtYXGYuGh5ALuHkqgX1PsxzJCe3L-ZA/s640/085.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little further on and despite gaining height, the trees of Holme Wood start to conceal the view. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuGpNoZxJaFyU93_cCc3glUvfkIhGKW1_DIdT4ubd_Selm29WpfSF-F2rEZuA9Z1HhSJOt0hh8c8F2lpBU4eRXCXlIh5bd4WnHCvbEcbaHAZChtYXGYuGh5ALuHkqgX1PsxzJCe3L-ZA/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNzWVDqK6AaRSw5l_CbMFqD-Ecw8_fF_lcbjgSij348M7Lu4NOvOjT9a6N87-gwaMl7jv5lhrIt7TU_0hGh0l4iJQO1flaBCNLC_vYb12l9gV2m8nJHsZ8cKFNaaEU6eSulkWsPFe8pQ/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNzWVDqK6AaRSw5l_CbMFqD-Ecw8_fF_lcbjgSij348M7Lu4NOvOjT9a6N87-gwaMl7jv5lhrIt7TU_0hGh0l4iJQO1flaBCNLC_vYb12l9gV2m8nJHsZ8cKFNaaEU6eSulkWsPFe8pQ/s640/086.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The highest portion of this path, and also the highest point of the walk, is also the most disappointing. The view is totally hidden by trees, with the flanks of Burnbank fell blocking the view in the other direction. There is about half a mile of this lack of scenery to endure.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UbAEjG-jifh5PfNHi2tAVE9hcHlR4c78Wkj1f7C771y-pFupkq3cratkCCVhxeJ03VDpZ-Cx64v769mOdkgsqMvJuus1pmkZxczLBosWxl0JboC1J8uVA3oI9vbmtxWCIAVIq-arZAU/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UbAEjG-jifh5PfNHi2tAVE9hcHlR4c78Wkj1f7C771y-pFupkq3cratkCCVhxeJ03VDpZ-Cx64v769mOdkgsqMvJuus1pmkZxczLBosWxl0JboC1J8uVA3oI9vbmtxWCIAVIq-arZAU/s640/097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other end of Holme Wood and the trees are left behind. The view appears, and it is worth waiting for.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDSY9TmrGfLAyHpKkSJMfgtUTc1De5zCPYqy2vcHhKK8qdMo-8cv4FaWqtsAds4aNSV3pBuTloNvLs4jwk3jH8jjhFhUaARGaG2nOlqyPxws3qf5VqjJTjLKctr5Q_vN8EV8_rpEiR50/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDSY9TmrGfLAyHpKkSJMfgtUTc1De5zCPYqy2vcHhKK8qdMo-8cv4FaWqtsAds4aNSV3pBuTloNvLs4jwk3jH8jjhFhUaARGaG2nOlqyPxws3qf5VqjJTjLKctr5Q_vN8EV8_rpEiR50/s640/102.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The head of the lake. This end is closest to the coast, and conventional thinking dictates that the small stream there will flow away from the lake towards the sea, but it doesn't. Loweswater is unique in that the water from the lake flows towards the centre of the Lake District as opposed to away from it. Crummock Water is lower than Loweswater, and the water from Loweswater flows into Crummock. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSkznvUMacEHTFbGzJTWev-sHaU1UU3Su3zjyfO8NbXgYTlV47rwkxRGOSW0K_bbHVtXQWeAgATqyV8E6YebOEPp_JtpduQPrF7T3IrOXL6pan2-pHK1zwrV3Z8Pkr-HK7NPZOStv0Pc/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSkznvUMacEHTFbGzJTWev-sHaU1UU3Su3zjyfO8NbXgYTlV47rwkxRGOSW0K_bbHVtXQWeAgATqyV8E6YebOEPp_JtpduQPrF7T3IrOXL6pan2-pHK1zwrV3Z8Pkr-HK7NPZOStv0Pc/s640/106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backtracking is something I'm not keen on, but on this walk there is far greater reward in going back for a quarter of a mile rather than carrying on along the path that skirts Burnbank Fell. On the way back Holme Beck is crossed for the second time. This is the view looking downstream as it heads down the slope towards the lake. I shall meet it again shortly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNtx2hR87AFbzzGwPClIt_kX9vEwRyx60lfmqSVp26OxmbSd9XBydIW_sFXrFoJ_dnbIPQxqlD3J1g7paH_zHPwac5932ec_sD50Re2BIDv6HET097g1tauMR6E71aZ-PJUFYCTuL2-A/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNtx2hR87AFbzzGwPClIt_kX9vEwRyx60lfmqSVp26OxmbSd9XBydIW_sFXrFoJ_dnbIPQxqlD3J1g7paH_zHPwac5932ec_sD50Re2BIDv6HET097g1tauMR6E71aZ-PJUFYCTuL2-A/s640/110.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've turned left into the woods and followed a narrow track down to a junction with a much wider track, then turned left, to follow the wide track down the slope, athletically hurdling this fallen tree on the way, as you do.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEFqMf1rgEXfUu5DWVRLdudOeRQqQhZsxoLqSjEOFjXEoF0TnTh7QcJyeRRm7dp6qgpIwKwTQ6-3HZ05USv-fsxgi4RFK2oZEry5TTtNj1Y0_M8sG4C2FNStfLURxLvoGaRKi_lbswRw/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEFqMf1rgEXfUu5DWVRLdudOeRQqQhZsxoLqSjEOFjXEoF0TnTh7QcJyeRRm7dp6qgpIwKwTQ6-3HZ05USv-fsxgi4RFK2oZEry5TTtNj1Y0_M8sG4C2FNStfLURxLvoGaRKi_lbswRw/s640/113.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is not long before this beautiful little waterfall appears on the left. Before getting to it there is little indication of it's existence. It is the aforementioned Holme Beck, cascading down through the woodland. The falls are called Holme Force.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2Aa8aWQattdD3Me6tBtnkcFOct6SBkGNnkKoo3O6IvSNi-tU8PJAai-QM0iBJS12tlZGLAOyHYe6mtbqNYMqtdmwOsVwz6HoyEj60BiV8IBms8_8y79Ulo_p4ov3Aj0sfzWV_Lrr1_4/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2Aa8aWQattdD3Me6tBtnkcFOct6SBkGNnkKoo3O6IvSNi-tU8PJAai-QM0iBJS12tlZGLAOyHYe6mtbqNYMqtdmwOsVwz6HoyEj60BiV8IBms8_8y79Ulo_p4ov3Aj0sfzWV_Lrr1_4/s640/116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower pool of Holme Force. It is not big, but it is beautiful, and a real treat to enjoy towards the end of the walk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvj8Clew4Cb9lhxAlFqCcIJsKtBkJWdG9rYFhoAu6boeTqJb05j-FpREsF4vQSB1IPx8yq3RSzkICKaGXiDPA4sbmE24bV37sMMqte2q5SqWQ97ehf2d6iKgFoW9gVGZUYcrjqWjLbCg/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvj8Clew4Cb9lhxAlFqCcIJsKtBkJWdG9rYFhoAu6boeTqJb05j-FpREsF4vQSB1IPx8yq3RSzkICKaGXiDPA4sbmE24bV37sMMqte2q5SqWQ97ehf2d6iKgFoW9gVGZUYcrjqWjLbCg/s640/120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to Holme Force from the main track through the woods is not easy. The track it is on, although wide, runs higher up in the woodland, and not used regularly. To add to the navigation problems, there is no sign to the falls. These two trees are all that mark the start of the path from the main track through the forest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xIjud1faQ_yrQOHlCws2t4KxOWffwFRAJih_9V6gDv243NoKzKLA6xx2XdBBubwNDsdWgFprPLahEmoBYmGXHynF9KbLpZWx6qw2g2kWgb5bCSElPWkn9NQKWB95k4WA9ATDbAjZ7c0/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xIjud1faQ_yrQOHlCws2t4KxOWffwFRAJih_9V6gDv243NoKzKLA6xx2XdBBubwNDsdWgFprPLahEmoBYmGXHynF9KbLpZWx6qw2g2kWgb5bCSElPWkn9NQKWB95k4WA9ATDbAjZ7c0/s640/121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fine view to end the day. The car is about 250 yards away, and the sun has come out. It is been a super walk, in weather that was better than forecast. </td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-18874672370895058722017-02-04T21:49:00.001+00:002017-02-04T21:49:06.327+00:00A little Winter wander on LingmoorLingmoor, in Langdale, draws me back time after time. So when looking for a fell walk to fill a few hours on a cold and showery Saturday in February with two good friends, it was an obvious choice. Overnight snow on the fell tops added to the splendour of the scenery, whilst the heavy shower cloud hung menacingly over the central fells, giving them a mean and moody look. <br />
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We started in Elterwater, at the National Trust car park, and headed towards the quarries via the river. This first half mile is very pleasant, and helps to get the muscles nicely warm before the main climb starts. From across the quarry the Langdale Pikes were bathed in sunshine, capped with a light dusting of snow, and surrounded by menacing looking cloud, all adding to the atmosphere of the day. Despite it being Saturday, the quarries were not silent, winning the slate is clearly not a Monday to Friday 9 - 5 job.<br />
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From the quarries it is a 1/2 a mile walk along first a bridleway, and then an old quarry track, to reach the old quarry spoil heap overlooking the village of Chapel Stile. I've been here many times before, of course, but what was different about today was the backdrop. Despite heavy cloud all around, there was a bright clearing of blue sky and the sun was glinting on the snow covered mountains of the Fairfield Horseshoe. The Blue Sky did not last.<br />
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From the spoil heap, we then headed up the quarry track as it skirts the fell, before turning sharp left to follow the path up the fell to a green gate with a built in stile.<br />
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From the gate, we turned right to follow the line of the wall. This wall runs close to the top of the fell, and the path follows it for most of that distance. Behind us, as we climb, the views of Windermere are superb, even on a day such as this.<br />
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Half way to the top we are hit by a sharp rain shower. Hail, rain, and strong winds blow in from over Wetherlam. It gives us an exhilarating ten minutes, and the added bonus of this rainbow. It is not a common view on the fells.<br />
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With the rain quickly clearing through, we are treated to superb views across the fell towards Crinkle Crags, Pike O Bliscoe and Bowfell, all of which were shrouded in cloud. <br />
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Meanwhile, looking north over Great Langdale we can clearly see Pavey Ark and the flat looking top of Harrison Stickle. The occasional gap in the cloud throwing sunlight on one area of fell, whilst others remain in dark shade.<br />
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The summit of Lingmoor is Brown Howe, so called because it is clad in a mixture of bracken and heather which for much of the year gives it a brown appearance. It also has this stunning view of the Langdale Pikes<br />
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Still at the summit, this superb view down Great Langdale to Chapel Stile can be seen. Seat Sandal, Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike are in the distance, while the summit of Helvellyn is covered in cloud.<br />
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Our route back is via the flank of the fell, passing by the old quarries that dot this region. From the top we drop down the steep slope, following the line of an old wall, that has been supplemented at the top by a wire fence, to this stile over the wall. From here there is a fine view up Mickleden, with the Band visible to the left, and the summit of Bowfell shrouded in cloud.<br />
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We could cross the stile to drop down towards Blea Tarn, but that is for another day. Instead, we turn left, along a barely visible yet boggy path, towards an abandoned quarry, a great lunch stop.<br />
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From the quarry we continue along the flank of the fell, passing by other quarry workings. There are several small workings on the side of the fell, with abandoned buildings and spoil heaps the only sign of their existence. In the background, the summit of Wetherlam enjoys a brief interlude from the cloud, before being shrouded in mist again.<br />
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Another abandoned quarry working on the fell side. The small quarrymans hut has what appears to be a chimney at one end, with a gap for a small fire beneath. I cannot have been the best work in bad weather.<br />
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As we continue along the fell side, dropping gradually as we go, the views to the south over Little Langdale are superb, with Little Langdale Tarn prominent in the valley below.<br />
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The path drops down the fell side, towards a wide track that will lead us back to Elterwater. It is quite steep in parts, and rocky and wet underfoot. A certain amount of erosion control work has been undertaken otherwise it would be considerably worse.<br />
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Looking across the valley bottom, towards Wetherlam, with Little Langdale Tarn looking dark and foreboding. The water in this tarn always has a grey look to it, even on sunny days. I'm lead to believe that this is due to the local geology. A dull day like today does not help though.<br />
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A friendly Herdwick greets us at the bottom. Apart from a couple of sheep on the road to the quarries at the start of the walk, this was the only farm animal that we encountered all day. However, we did see numerous birds, including Buzzards and a very cheeky robin. Trouble is, I was too slow to get a picture of them.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-20511373045436968172016-10-30T23:14:00.000+00:002019-06-26T11:49:40.057+01:00Alcock Tarn, or 'A fellwalkers guide to Victorian plumbing'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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June 2016. A near perfect day weather wise, and as it turned out the ideal day for shooting a video of the walk from Grasmere up to Alcock Tarn. The views are so good on this walk that a clear day with sunshine and fluffy white clouds is essential. But this shoot has an added bonus. I have a couple of production assistants (first class, unpaid) to help me out. My good friend Nicola and her son Michael. Nicola is a bright and busy single mum who loves to get out on the Lake District fells whenever she can. Michael has a very enquiring mind, and is developing an interest in history, as well as all things artistic, including videography. It was a chance for them to experience a very different day on the fells, and to also see what goes on behind the scenes on one of my video shoots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQPVcmtK5Z3Aep0glT_8_oRVh28FOOKWS7bwM7KaQLOpiGXhFIoSTCW9zHHGenthyla9IiRoWr-18iMprmJUGppBxRSyzxozJ2_MIriyTRjAD4iuvnUi3_WSvtoxeByuiOA6Dy3IOEgA/s1600/Snapshot+16+%252828-10-2016+08-32%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alcock Tarn, on the western side of Heron Pike, overlooking Grasmere in the English Lake District" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQPVcmtK5Z3Aep0glT_8_oRVh28FOOKWS7bwM7KaQLOpiGXhFIoSTCW9zHHGenthyla9IiRoWr-18iMprmJUGppBxRSyzxozJ2_MIriyTRjAD4iuvnUi3_WSvtoxeByuiOA6Dy3IOEgA/s400/Snapshot+16+%252828-10-2016+08-32%2529.png" title="Alcock Tarn" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alcock Tarn</td></tr>
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Alcock Tarn is on the western side of Heron Pike, overlooking Grasmere. On the face of it it's
a nice walk through the woods and then up the fell side to a pretty
little mountain tarn. But things are not all
they seem. This is not just a
scenic walk, and believe me, it is very scenic, it is also a
stroll through the world of Victorian plumbing, and one of the very best examples of hidden history in the Lake District. So it makes not only the perfect subject for a ten minute video, but also was ideal for a fell walking enthusiast and her history loving son. This is the story of our day. The pictures are low resolution stills from the finished video. If you want to see that, scroll down to the bottom.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YizsH4DKdZpJQE1EqU-T_dgRUE43-KWpuXsIfWGl69dUqmqpGf29oP-CGoZ1jylloEu6wXB8phka4hZtGrI1dpALVz0rlv6SVA_2iZwoXOjUVW16WBcTflO7wONbLdRH79UrsmamUzg/s1600/Snapshot+3+%252828-10-2016+08-28%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="St Oswalds church in the village of Grasmere in the Lake District" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YizsH4DKdZpJQE1EqU-T_dgRUE43-KWpuXsIfWGl69dUqmqpGf29oP-CGoZ1jylloEu6wXB8phka4hZtGrI1dpALVz0rlv6SVA_2iZwoXOjUVW16WBcTflO7wONbLdRH79UrsmamUzg/s400/Snapshot+3+%252828-10-2016+08-28%2529.png" title="Grasmere Church" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Oswald's Church Grasmere</td></tr>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We started from
the church in Grasmere, close to Wordsworth's Grave, and headed out
towards his old house at Dove Cottage. Once there we headed up
the old road towards White Moss Common before turning left to follow
the path up to Brackenfell Woods. Up to that point the walk had been at a normal pace, with a couple of short stops to take establishing shots. We soon reached the seat just before the entrance to the woods, and the first major stop for filming, a piece to camera about the plush 18th and 19th century villas visible on the other side of Grasmere. It was at this point that the benefit of having a production assistant really paid dividends. Normally, I work alone, so have to spend time setting up the shot and ensuring all the camera settings are as they need to be. But not today. </div>
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With script in hand, Nicola took to her new role as though she'd been doing it all her life, whilst Michael put himself in charge of the camera. I'd already done the settings, so all he had to do was actually push the red button. Even so, saying the word "action" gave him a feeling of being in control. <br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2LCGxlbphec4UJTLVBSgToJ2uFqjRj1VKwX0Pp6v8m2PoYT8_nADl3RQ8Mzw_9NY8BgBGesrC1cHopfVWtnVnRU-XzXd6r2FJCr4gmuTVprmmt8RftzPk6k6DcOPgpuc6pqGSiyHJg4/s1600/Snapshot+6+%252828-10-2016+08-29%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The entrance to Brackenfell Woods, Grasmere" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2LCGxlbphec4UJTLVBSgToJ2uFqjRj1VKwX0Pp6v8m2PoYT8_nADl3RQ8Mzw_9NY8BgBGesrC1cHopfVWtnVnRU-XzXd6r2FJCr4gmuTVprmmt8RftzPk6k6DcOPgpuc6pqGSiyHJg4/s400/Snapshot+6+%252828-10-2016+08-29%2529.png" title="Brackenfell Woods" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading into Brackenfell Woods</td></tr>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With this first filming stop complete and the footage checked, it was time to head up into Brackenfell Woods. This route is along a wide sweeping path which follows the line of an old pack horse route, but that is
not the reason it is so wide. Pack horse routes were narrow, often little more than the width of the horse and pack. Similar in fact, to a normal footpath today. This path is considerably more substantial, and was clearly constructed for much wider traffic. The answer to the question of why it is so wide is very simple. What is now Brackenfell Woods was, in Victorian times, a landscaped garden, complete with woodland trails, waterfalls, artificial streams and, to facilitate ease of access, a wide carriageway. This allowed the owners to convey their guests to the top of the garden by
carriage from where they could stroll back down, admiring the various
features as they went.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRhmXCyKQycyvlGfyjXRppj7XgUdKQMXtqDDU6zPbn39rFp5x99l4p5VrmXjYTxpDv2DndSowQzMQahjg6YsV-eXcfZPwh53XU0sjEvJVE1ZUaOmGcLGW3yumP3dp0EUp_q8cleVyXnM/s1600/Snapshot+7+%252828-10-2016+08-29%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The remains of an ornamental pond in Brackenfell Woods, Grasmere" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRhmXCyKQycyvlGfyjXRppj7XgUdKQMXtqDDU6zPbn39rFp5x99l4p5VrmXjYTxpDv2DndSowQzMQahjg6YsV-eXcfZPwh53XU0sjEvJVE1ZUaOmGcLGW3yumP3dp0EUp_q8cleVyXnM/s400/Snapshot+7+%252828-10-2016+08-29%2529.png" title="Ornamental pond in Brackenfell Woods, Grasmere" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remains of an ornamental pond, dating from the days when Brackenfell woods was a garden.</td></tr>
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It was late morning by the time we had finished filming on the path and woodland, and as we proceeded to climb the fell, carrying the camera and tripod in the heat of the day up the steep slope was beginning to take it's toll. Michael decided that his mother and I were just too slow, and raced on ahead, leaving us to struggle on behind. We arrived at Grey Crag to find him sitting smugly on the stone viewpoint admiring the view. There was another filming stop here. Not to show the views from Grey Crag, which are very good by the way, but for me to make a confession on camera. You see, I've been telling tourists little fibs for some while now. It was time to come clean. Progress was then halted by the laughter that followed as Nicola and Michael could hardly believe what I had just come out with. (If you want to know more, you'll have to view the video).<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWy4weMyrrgSRvxtorSw_G9FTpCfbCtBOfAWJrEpHNZob39vpeHlwxtYuhYuaJnuilSChj_GIBRa-JwuLNv39O3GlwlvLXGOS96HmaCS25tZVvTKkXzUtGesl2pjiJgX4lgKuBROpT4/s1600/Snapshot+14+%252828-10-2016+08-31%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alcock Tarn on the western side of Heron Pike, overlooking Grasmere in the Lake District" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWy4weMyrrgSRvxtorSw_G9FTpCfbCtBOfAWJrEpHNZob39vpeHlwxtYuhYuaJnuilSChj_GIBRa-JwuLNv39O3GlwlvLXGOS96HmaCS25tZVvTKkXzUtGesl2pjiJgX4lgKuBROpT4/s400/Snapshot+14+%252828-10-2016+08-31%2529.png" title="Alcock Tarn" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alcock Tarn, which was formerly known as Buttercrags Tarn</td></tr>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lunch was taken at Alcock Tarn. Not only was it a chance to enjoy a break, but also a paddle. I may take my video making seriously, but it is also a day out with friends, and there is a certain amount of fun to be had. So having fought against a bracing wind to deliver the story of how this tarn is not all it seems, and having made the occasional error necessitating at least 4 takes, it was time to relax and enjoy the sunshine. All good things come to an end however, and the time to leave came too soon. The second half of the video, and arguably the most demanding, remained to be made.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVE0a5InI-8j3mE2SjlpihGbMBSswbEHOHUc9a0DkwpgtrRzhtqX79KWGCEsM0_gDKehcu3uWXNcLHQngo0CsaGtkkZlgXqKPZONM-QRNFE1KqAwt_GJ_RnzjOVvyRdb3iFgJaKhdqno/s1600/Snapshot+18+%252828-10-2016+08-32%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVE0a5InI-8j3mE2SjlpihGbMBSswbEHOHUc9a0DkwpgtrRzhtqX79KWGCEsM0_gDKehcu3uWXNcLHQngo0CsaGtkkZlgXqKPZONM-QRNFE1KqAwt_GJ_RnzjOVvyRdb3iFgJaKhdqno/s400/Snapshot+18+%252828-10-2016+08-32%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Alcock Tarn</td></tr>
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Having assistance has great advantages. The shot of me leaving the tarn, taken from one of it's many viewpoints, would not really have been possible had I been working on my own. The time taken to set up such a shot, as well as executing it, would make it prohibitive. But with Nicola and Michael keen to add their input the shot was captured in less than 10 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieSC3vwlmuR0hzbNUX9B4tJMjVeCxfQ98LJ4cPw3IebtnR-1-NM1nZaSwtURIX3pkKMnbk3Z3z9avkHCnvsUSR6KZHsJRHWG6gFUtJBsqWBQczqY0VO7P4L3UaWi7QzdGKgxSqWWtQWU/s1600/Snapshot+19+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieSC3vwlmuR0hzbNUX9B4tJMjVeCxfQ98LJ4cPw3IebtnR-1-NM1nZaSwtURIX3pkKMnbk3Z3z9avkHCnvsUSR6KZHsJRHWG6gFUtJBsqWBQczqY0VO7P4L3UaWi7QzdGKgxSqWWtQWU/s400/Snapshot+19+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading off down the northern edge of the fell, a steep and rocky slope.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We didn't return by the outward route. This is a circular walk, and although the descent is steep, and rocky in parts, it is very scenic, with stunning views north west up Easedale and towards Steel Fell. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AUxvzSBOG7DVj_ukBkE_SjiRXyPoo5EZPfkqiXP3V17hyphenhyphennppyDBr8XBO_TDoSh5e3rOHYLf2TEjjFB2slxZ4FIFU0wu29S2Pf_s5d6hP01dgldgO3z9yz3Gi6P24Cj3Cl85uQ2Uid-8/s1600/Snapshot+21+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AUxvzSBOG7DVj_ukBkE_SjiRXyPoo5EZPfkqiXP3V17hyphenhyphennppyDBr8XBO_TDoSh5e3rOHYLf2TEjjFB2slxZ4FIFU0wu29S2Pf_s5d6hP01dgldgO3z9yz3Gi6P24Cj3Cl85uQ2Uid-8/s400/Snapshot+21+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thirlmere to Manchester Aqueduct</td></tr>
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At the bottom of the slope is the Thirlmere to Manchester aqueduct, the longest gravity-fed
aqueduct in the country. It supplies water to the city of Manchester from Thirlmere, which is just 3 miles north of here. It has a fascinating history, yet most people pass by without paying it any attention. Telling the story of the Aqueduct was to make an interesting final segment to the video, but first we had to get down to it. The normal way would be to follow the path to the bottom of the fell, cross the bridge, then turn right to follow the stream up to where the Aqueduct crosses it. But in June 2016 there was no bridge, it having been washed away by the winter floods caused by 'Storm Desmond'. (Incidentally, such was the damage caused by that one storm, with over 350 mm of rain falling in just over 24 hours, that the replacement bridge was a long way down the pecking order when it came to repairing the damage. It was spring 2019 before a new bridge was finally put in place.)<br />
<br />
With a camera and tripod to carry, I didn't want to get down to the bottom of the fell only to find no way across. So the decision was made to make our way down through the bracken, which thankfully had yet to reach full height. Michael volunteered to lead the way, acting as some kind of jungle explorer as he hacked his way down the slope. He loved every minute of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmpv1qIOEF03JpZtNoMeZChmfQXUj6FPcFKXS2IeJrGhOvHtrvvcgHnV767lgR7a3ardLXa7yyfMi4bGRJE-GdD552ErTFQgkqsxL0xR5pqA0iuHfKe0UJ_m4BKRC9su7J7u58gLHDTg/s1600/Snapshot+22+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmpv1qIOEF03JpZtNoMeZChmfQXUj6FPcFKXS2IeJrGhOvHtrvvcgHnV767lgR7a3ardLXa7yyfMi4bGRJE-GdD552ErTFQgkqsxL0xR5pqA0iuHfKe0UJ_m4BKRC9su7J7u58gLHDTg/s400/Snapshot+22+%252828-10-2016+08-33%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the Aqueduct turns out to be about a foot deep in rubble from the December flooding</td></tr>
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First job when we got to the aqueduct was a check for ticks. It turned out to be a good decision as Nicola had one on her leg. Luckily, it had not sunk its jaws into her, so brushing it off was easy. We also found that she had a nasty case of greenfly! It all added to the fun of the day, but as you all know, it could have been different. Ticks are nasty little creatures and if they burrow into your skin and start to feed on your blood there can be bad health consequences as they can carry Lyme Disease. It is always worth a quick check when you've been through high bracken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm662_gNa9q_3Jugbas_o56z_ns5GnVep_6ZY7jepcl62xPslkx90984YLVsYEjHfrQi_zxBW4uStqzroqILXmN8_9RaU96VXflDISM3zDncEILfPN2OHOekP_Sg8CiBsgUESqhP8lOkU/s1600/Snapshot+23+%252828-10-2016+08-34%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm662_gNa9q_3Jugbas_o56z_ns5GnVep_6ZY7jepcl62xPslkx90984YLVsYEjHfrQi_zxBW4uStqzroqILXmN8_9RaU96VXflDISM3zDncEILfPN2OHOekP_Sg8CiBsgUESqhP8lOkU/s400/Snapshot+23+%252828-10-2016+08-34%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Aqueduct crossing Greenhead Gill</td></tr>
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Telling the story of the Aqueduct and it's construction took longer than I envisaged, mainly because it was a complicated script that contained facts and figures that needed to be delivered correctly. Not only that but I also had a sound problem as the nearby stream was fast flowing and the noise from it threatened to drown out my voice. So I took double shots. One set with pieces to camera, and another set without me in them, or with me just looking at the Aqueduct or into the stream, the idea being that if the pieces to camera were not usable, I would have enough footage to accompany a voice over. Nicola was excellent at this point, ensuring that I got the words right and prompting me when necessary. Michael, meanwhile, continued to make an enthusiastic and first class cameraman.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ6XC5phsVXXgHiG-t4BC4OdRXE-GqF5nue0kbj7mZwY0dk-YT4HQjXmGIbptBNatwToHT3PCuA1T1dzAnR_jxVFpMtPPmSx0H-PwGvH1aqqXw9p8YFw8Jc9OCB7oGRSyUmJiPQvSLWI/s1600/IMG_4373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ6XC5phsVXXgHiG-t4BC4OdRXE-GqF5nue0kbj7mZwY0dk-YT4HQjXmGIbptBNatwToHT3PCuA1T1dzAnR_jxVFpMtPPmSx0H-PwGvH1aqqXw9p8YFw8Jc9OCB7oGRSyUmJiPQvSLWI/s400/IMG_4373.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a paddle</td></tr>
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With all footage in the can, it was time for a break, a drink, and another paddle. I always think that on a hot day on the Lakeland fells, a towel and a clean pair of socks is a good thing to pack. The feeling of cool water on the feet is as refreshing as any drink. We sat reviewing some of the footage we had taken, although in truth we had checked it at the time of shooting, but it was a nice way to re-live what had been a lovely day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-9PJWbOeY4wZo6vTqYHd1-yNNfPIIC0a_hghN8OzGiy8X1PxuNe6NnvastARNVNCx-fN91f6hJBFqm-y4210b8bDYl9V9E4fHD5vBMcUc4Q8NiBcA1Ix41osTOOi3tBr3IOoPfR9F5s/s1600/Snapshot+25+%252828-10-2016+08-35%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-9PJWbOeY4wZo6vTqYHd1-yNNfPIIC0a_hghN8OzGiy8X1PxuNe6NnvastARNVNCx-fN91f6hJBFqm-y4210b8bDYl9V9E4fHD5vBMcUc4Q8NiBcA1Ix41osTOOi3tBr3IOoPfR9F5s/s400/Snapshot+25+%252828-10-2016+08-35%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The riverside walk in Grasmere</td></tr>
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From the bottom of Greenhead Gill we enjoyed a nice
stroll back to the main road, then across the fields to Grasmere. I'd decided to finish not by road, but with a walk along the river
back to the church yard via the daffodil garden, which turned out to be delightful. Just 4 days later, the video was published on You Tube. Another benefit of having an assistant with me was that I was able to organise the walk and filming in order of shot, which made editing so much easier. Some nice jaunty music rounded the video off nicely, and I have to admit that I was very pleased with the result. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-51326404709984498602016-10-27T09:19:00.003+01:002016-10-28T15:45:04.494+01:00It will definitely be alright on the night.Over the course of this year, I have accumulated a lot of video footage, and along with it, a few out takes, or 'bloopers' as they have come to be known. There was a time when I used to delete out takes whilst filming. That is, after all, the beauty of digital. I can instantly review and assess the footage I have so painstakingly taken, to see if it is good enough to be considered for the final video. Sometimes there is no need to assess it, I just know it is not right. Such as when I stumble or fall over on camera. Or fluff my lines.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes those words will not come.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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There was one simple reason for deleting such scenes on the spot. Space. Video takes up a lot of memory, and there is nothing worse than a 'card full' message when you are close to the end of a days recording. Carrying a spare card is the answer, of course, and I have always done that, but downloading clips that are not needed to the computer always seems to be a waste of time, especially when they are then instantly removed. Better to keep things uncluttered from the start. So unwanted shots have always been deleted. Until last April.<br />
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I was making my Loughrigg videos, a feat of forward planning of which I was quite proud. The idea was to film on two days, one set of shots from the Langdale and Grasmere side of Loughrigg, and the other set from the Ambleside end. These would then be combined to make two separate productions. I did it this way to ensure continuity, an idea that backfired quite spectacularly as the weather intervened. Day 1 was cold, dry and clear with a dusting of snow on the tops. Day two was warm and humid, and the warmth brought out the foliage. From looking drab in it's winter coat the landscape was transformed in just a couple of days. Then, near the end of day two, the cloud set in. And I made a mistake that I did not have time to delete.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strolling down to Blea Tarn. But what happened next?</td></tr>
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Upon getting home I decided not to delete the mistake, but to put it on Facebook. I thought others may enjoy it as it made me laugh. I expected a moderate reaction, a few comments, and that was all, but it was soon clear that there was an appetite for the sight of me getting it wrong. Ever since, out takes have ceased to be taken out. Instead they are being compiled into a short, but hopefully amusing video that should be ready for the festive season. So, if you like seeing me make a fool of myself, watch this space, or better still, subscribe to my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jonathancraigguides" target="_blank">You Tube channel.</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-27598979640730913342016-10-11T20:50:00.001+01:002016-10-12T15:52:01.361+01:00The Lakeland Fell that is all over BritainLingmoor is a 3 mile ridge of moderately high ground that separates Great Langdale from Little Langdale. But the chances are that even if you have never been to either of the Langdale Valleys, or even set foot in the Lake District, you will have seen fragments of Lingmoor. They are to be found all over Britain as well as further afield. A friend of mine came across some in New York!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lingmoor Fell</td></tr>
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So why should tiny pieces of this small lakeland fell be scattered so widely? The effects of glaciation perhaps? Or maybe a prehistoric volcanic explosion? The answer is a little more simple than that. It has to do with a man named Thomas Farynor.<br />
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Few people have heard of Thomas Farynor, but most are familiar with the events that occurred in the kitchen of his house in the early hours of September 2nd 1666. If you are still struggling, maybe I ought to reveal that Mr Farynor and his family lived in Pudding Lane, London, and it was in his bakery that the Great Fire of London started.<br />
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The Great Fire of 1666 was not the first conflagration in the capital, nor was London the only city to suffer the fate of destruction from burning. It didn't, as might be supposed, signal a change in the law to prevent the kind of conditions that led to the rapid spread of the fire. There was no need to change the law in favour of building houses from stone instead of wood, and roofing them with either tiles or slate, instead of thatch. Such laws already existed. What was needed was a change in attitude of those in authority.<br />
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No law can ever be effective if it is not enforced, and the attitude of those in charge of London in the 17th century can best be demonstrated by the Lord Mayor, Sir Thomas Bloodworth. It is tempting to wonder why Mr Bloodworth had been knighted, since his ineptitude in the face of catastrophe was astounding. His knighthood clearly was not for decisiveness or quick thinking, because he looked at the fire, dismissed it as trivial and went back to bed.<br />
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No, Bloodworth's knighthood had little to do with his abilities as a leader of men, and everything to do with money. He rose to prominence as a result of a successful trading career, a fact which gives further indication as to the priorities of the day. He was not alone. Much of London's population was engaged in some kind of trading or manufacture. Houses were cramped together, with trade being carried out on the ground floor, and living quarters above. The streets were polluted with waste, and there was little regard for safety. Fires were commonplace, and deemed an inevitable hazard, to be dealt with on a community basis when they occurred.<br />
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The Great Fire was clearly the wake up call that the city required, and when London was rebuilt in the years after the fire, more attention was paid to ensuring that the long ignored building regulations were adhered to. Other places followed suit. Laws were properly enforced on a nationwide scale. Which is where Lingmoor fell in the Lake District comes in.<br />
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Lingmoor, along with the fells in it's vicinity, has extensive reserves of good quality slate, perfect for the manufacture of roofing tiles. The only problem for the early quarry owners was transporting the finished product to other parts of the country. For the first 100 years or so of their existence, the slate was shipped out over Wrynose and Hardknott Passes to the port of Whitehaven via pack horse, a slow and laborious method of distribution that resulted in production being barely able to keep up with demand. Then came the railway age, and with it a golden period in the slate roofing tile industry. Production soared, and as more and more quarries were opened up, so whole settlements grew in prosperity and importance. The villages of Chapel Stile, Elterwater and Little Langdale thrived.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned quarry building on the side of Lingmoor Fell, with Crinkle Crags and Bowfell in the background.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Any fell walker familiar with Lingmoor knows that the area is littered with the remains of the slate quarrying industry. From spoil heaps to abandoned buildings, the evidence that this was once a thriving industrial landscape is there for all to see. But not all the workings are abandoned. On the North Eastern flank of the fell, close to the village of Elterwater, the jack-hammer has replaced the chisel. Modern lorries now do the work of a hundred pack horses. Production of slate tiles is in full swing, and the demand is as high as ever. From kitchen worktops to polished floors in office block entrance halls, Elterwater slate is still a popular building material the world over.<br />
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This video of the walk from Elterwater to Brown Howe, the summit of Lingmoor Fell, actually goes through the modern quarry. Filmed on an unusually hot day in September 2016, it shows how the modern landscape has been shaped by the quarrying industry, and how both tourism and quarrying live and thrive side by side in the 21st century.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-17611570522374635252016-10-07T22:22:00.003+01:002016-10-07T22:22:40.515+01:00When a packhorse bridge isn't a packhorse bridge.The village of Little Langdale is very much a two road town. A tiny collection of cottages, one inn, a couple of farms, and one of the most famous bridges in the Lake District. Slaters Bridge spans the River Brathay close to Little Langdale Tarn. From its appearance it would not be unreasonable to believe that it is one of the best surviving pack horse bridges in the region. A monument to the days when trains of pack horses, laden with a wide range of goods from wool to cooking implements, precious metal to food, made their way through the mountain passes, linking tiny farming settlements like Little Langdale with the coast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slaters Bridge, Little Langdale</td></tr>
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But as with much of the Lake District things are not all they seem. It is true that Slaters Bridge resembles a pack horse bridge in many respects. It is narrow. Pack horse bridges did not need to be any wider than the horse. It also has very low parapets, a key feature of the pack horse bridge. Having low parapets served two purposes. It allowed safe passage of the packs the horse was carrying, as very often the horse and pack combined was actually wider than the bridge; and it also prevented the bridge being washed away in times of flood. So far, so good.<br />
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It is when you consider the position of the bridge in relation to the ancient roads and trackways that it becomes obvious that it was not built with pack horses in mind, at least, not the kind that ferried goods over the mountains. It is about a quarter of a mile upstream from the known pack horse route. And it crosses the river in an area that floods readily, making all year access to it difficult.<br />
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The clue to the true purpose of this bridge lies in its name, and its proximity to the slate quarries on the south side of the river. Slate quarrying in these parts dates back to the middle part of the 17th century, and the introduction of stone or clay tiles as a roofing material. The events that triggered the growth of the quarries occurred some two to three hundred miles away, in towns and cities like London, Northampton and Warwick.<br />
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Most people have heard of the Great Fire of London, but the capital was not the only centre of population to suffer the fate of total destruction by burning. Overcrowding, poor waste removal and early industry combined to turn the wooden houses of many towns into potential tinderboxes. The introduction of stone built buildings, with slate or tile being used as the roofing material, did not stop individual properties from catching fire, but it did prevent the fire spreading out of control and the whole town from being engulfed.<br />
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In the latter part of the 17th century the quarries thrived, and Slaters Bridge came into being. In keeping with local tradition it was built in the same style as a pack horse bridge. There was no other requirement. It needed to be no wider than the width of one horse, nor did it need to have parapets. It served just two purposes. The first was to enable the men working the quarries access to their working environment, and the second was to allow the carriage of the horse drawn sleds that were used to convey the slate to the dressing sheds in Little Langdale.<br />
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It says much for the durability of the basic design, as well as the materials with which is was constructed, that over 300 years later it is still as sturdy as the day it was built, and although the traffic it is required to carry is less demanding, it remains a well loved, and more importantly, well used relic of the Lake District's industrial past.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-996137258566943752016-10-07T16:17:00.000+01:002016-10-12T09:22:31.620+01:00Lest we forgetOne of the prettiest places in the Lake District is Loughrigg Tarn. It's peaceful waters attract many visitors, for all sorts of reasons. Some simply linger beside the water's edge, enjoying the peace and watching the plentiful wildlife. Others come to fish, or canoe, and some, like the couple that I saw whilst walk checking this week, come to swim.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loughrigg Tarn. Peaceful and inviting.</td></tr>
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Now it has to be said that this particular swimming trip was not an impromptu affair. Both swimmers were adorned in wet suits. They clearly knew what they were doing, which is important because although the waters of tarns like Loughrigg look inviting, hidden dangers lurke beneath the surface.<br />
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Beside the shore of Loughrigg Tarn is a cross, upon which is the inscription " In memory of John Stanley Skelton. Drowned 4th June 1960 whilst on holiday with Cowley Boys Grammar School". There is nothing ambiguous about the message here. The cross serves two purposes, one to commemorate the tragedy that unfolded here during a school trip, and the other to sound a warning to all those who might wish to venture into the lake to cool off.<br />
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One of the more interesting characters of Lake District folk lore is Jenny Green Teeth, (sometimes called Ginny Greenteeth, depending upon the region and dialect). Jenny Green Teeth is a witch that lives in various tarns in the region, most notably those small stretches of water which are generally covered in weed during the summer months. Jenny lives on pond weed, but has a particular liking for young children, which she devours with relish whenever she gets the chance. She lives on the bottom of the lake, and cannot be seen from the surface, but if young children venture into the water then Jenny grabs hold of their legs and drags them under the surface. Once she has a child in her grasp there is no escape.<br />
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It is not only children who are at risk. Adults, particularly the elderly, who are foolish enough to venture away from the shallows have been known to suffer the same fate. Jenny Green Teeth may live on pond weed, but she is certainly strong enough to drag a fully grown person to a watery grave.<br />
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In the north of England, the legend of Jenny Green Teeth is based on the need to make children aware of the dangers of Duckweed, which carpets the surface of small ponds and tarns, making them particularly treacherous to the unwary. However, as the memorial at Loughrigg Tarn shows, it is not only small, duckweed covered ponds that represent a danger.<br />
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Open water swimming is becoming more popular in the UK. Events like the Big Swim on Windermere have attracted large entries from people of all abilities. But, rather like those that take to the Lake District fells, open water swimmers need to have a healthy respect for the environment in which they carry out their hobby.If they do, then they are guaranteed a huge amount of pleasure, as the vareity of tarns and rivers available to them is unrivalled.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-47517784264609924522013-09-26T15:08:00.000+01:002016-10-16T12:36:06.058+01:00The golf course hidden amongst the bracken.Walk checking on my Ambleside walks book started in earnest last week. This is a rewrite of a book first published in 2005, and regularly updated ever since. It is sold by <a href="http://www.rothay-garth.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rothay Garth</a>, a large guest house in Ambleside. A contribution to <a href="http://www.lamrt.org.uk/" target="_blank">LAMRT</a> is paid for each one sold.<br />
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Checking the walks in the book on a regular basis keeps them as accurate as possible. This may be the Lake District, but the fact is that walking directions can quickly become out of date. Bad weather or erosion control work often sees paths re routed, whilst forestry operations can soon render directions through the forests totally useless.<br />
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Monday saw us visiting Stock Ghyll Falls.This is one of the easiest walks in the area, as well as being amongst the most popular. In 2012 I made a short film of the walk, which can be viewed here .....<br />
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Tuesday saw us heading up to Loughrigg. We were not alone. It seems half the tourists in Ambleside had decided to make the most of the fine weather by heading out on to the fell. As is my way, I spoke to quite a few, and was surprised to learn that only one knew that there used to be a golf course on Loughrigg Fell. When told, some refused to believe me, whilst others expressed surprise that the terrain was suitable.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view across the old first green, with the fells of the Fairfield Horseshoe an impressive backdrop</td></tr>
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But exist it did, and for the best part of 50 years it provided a great deal of pleasure to locals and visitors alike. It was situated on the path that leads from Miller Bridge to the Summit of Loughrigg Fell and if you look very carefully the remains of the course are clearly visible today. Most prominent is the old Club house, which upon closure of the course was bought and converted to a private residence named "Pine Rigg". It stands proudly beside the track, just past Deer Hows, marking the start of the course, it's seven acre garden, including the first tee, still immaculately maintained.<br />
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The main part of the course was on the opposite side of the track. Dotted around the vicinity of the course are a series of flat, bracken free areas. Thin reeds grow in among the grass, denoting a high amount of water just below the surface. These are, or were, the greens. Continuous cutting and rolling of these areas caused subtle changes beneath the surface of the soil. Once abandoned, they did not revert to their previous state, remaining free of both the bracken, and the long grass that populated the rest of the fell.<br />
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The club opened in 1903 as a small, 9 hole course, barely little more than a pitch and putt. But it soon gained favour with both locals and wealthy visitors, and by the twenties had been enlarged. It still had just 9 holes, but they were both longer and harder than before the first world war. An indication of the degree of difficulty faced by those post war golfers is to be found in a comparison of the course records of the time. In 1906 the professional course record was 37, with the amateur record just one shot higher at 38. This was beaten just a year later with a certain CH Stephens going round in just 35 shots. The best anyone could muster on the new, more challenging layout after WW1 was 38. The course record for two circuits was 65.<br />
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The golden years for the golf club were the twenties and thirties, when club membership easily topped the 100 mark, and visiting non members paid half a crown a day to play. After the second world war the club started to decline. New members were becoming harder to find, and with less visitors wanting to play, the club struggled through to 1956, when the decision was made to close the course. The old clubhouse was sold off and the tees and greens left untended.<br />
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This video, shot at the start of May 2016, shows the walk up to the summit of Loughrigg via the Old Golf Course.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-81968401694546633102013-04-10T17:12:00.002+01:002013-04-10T17:12:04.708+01:00A reminder of SummerIt is almost a third of the way through April and we are celebrating the fact that today there is wall to wall sunshine and a temperature of - wait for it - 8 degrees. Compared with March that is positively balmy, but this time last year the landscape had already started to come to life. The daffodils and crocuses had given us a fine show, the first of the bluebells were starting to appear, and the scenery had that fresh, spring feel to it. Today the Lake District is still wearing it's winter coat. The snow capped mountains look lovely, but how we all long for the fresh green leaves to appear.<br />
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I took advantage of the weather this afternoon to do a walk that is a joy at any time of year, - Holme Fell, with a return via Tarn Hows. However, instead of publishing the pictures of today's walk, I've delved into the archive and dug out some pictures from a previous visit over the same route in August 2007.<br />
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We started from the car park at the bottom of Tom Gill, just beyond Yew Tree Tarn on the A593 Ambleside to Coniston Road. To avoid the road, the first part of the walk is through an adjoining field, and at the other end one of the locals decided that we were not allowed to go any further!<br />
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After tough negotiations during which I had to give up part of my sandwich, we were allowed to pass, and crossed the road to Yew Tree Farm.<br />
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From the farm we headed along a farm track, before going through a gate and then following a path along the side of the fell. After a short distance this rock (below) was reached. Not being a geologist I have no idea why it stands here. My worn out old copy of Pearsall and Pennington's excellent book on the Lake District has no mention of it. An amateur geologist friend of mine claimed it was due to erosion causing a large lump of rock to break off the crags above and roll down the fell side. I'm not so sure about that, so answers on a post card please<br />
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Just beyond the rock, we get a lovely view of Yew Tree Tarn, which is a popular spot for passing motorists to stop and admire. We waved, but no one waved back!!<br />
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Not far past the rock the path bears left and starts to climb the wooded fell side. Before long we come across a beck and follow the line of it up the fell. It's not too steep and luckily carries barely a trickle of water. After reaching the top of the slope we bear left again to clamber up the craggy fell to the summit, where a superb view of Coniston Water awaits.<br />
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One very noticeable feature of this trip was the abundance of wild heather, coupled with a lack of sheep. The two are linked, since the sheep are more than happy to munch away on the heather, however, the absence of sheep on the fell at this time is an indication that when left alone the heather recovers nicely.<br />
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From the top of Holme Fell, Coniston Water is not the only key landmark to be seen. To the north lie the Langdales, with the pikes prominent on the horizon.<br />
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We are not returning via the same route. Instead we are heading down the fell towards Hodge Close Quarry, where we can join up with the Cumbrian Way for a short distance. Being a couple of total sissies, we keep well away from the edge! Out of camera, a party from an outdoor pursuits centre are abseiling down the old quarry walls. From the sound of it, they are having no end of fun.<br />
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There's a bit of road walking now, along a minor road leading to a farm, and offering superb views of the fells over the wall!<br />
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We soon reach the main A593, and cross over to take the short road up to a gate leading to the track to Tarn Hows. This is not only a popular route for walkers, but also mountain bikers, who like to test their skills on the rocky path. Today however, despite it being the middle of the holiday season, there is no one else in sight.<br />
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Tarn Hows is not so peaceful, with families enjoying the fine August weather. That having been said, there is plenty of space for everyone, so it is not difficult to take a picture that makes it look as though we have the place to ourselves.<br />
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From Tarn Hows we head down a footpath following the line of Tom Gill, the beck that drains the tarn.<br />
Nowadays this is known as "Glen Mary", after the wife of James Marshall, the man who first developed Tarn Hows by damming the stream at the top of Tom Gill to make one large tarn from three smaller ones. It is reputed that John Ruskin was responsible for persuading Marshall that the name Tom Gill was not suitable for a place of such beauty, and suggested the name "Glen Mary" instead. Whether the story is actually true or not remains open to speculation. Marshall died in 1873, not long after Ruskin moved to Brantwood.<br />
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Midway down the slope is "Glen Mary" waterfall, which, because the flow of the beck is controlled by the dam at the tarn, always seems to have roughly the same amount of water flowing over it.<br />
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From the falls, it is a short distance down the hill to a bridge at the bottom, and beyond, the main road, the car park, and a freshly brewed cup of tea.<br />
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Roll on Summer!!! <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Windermere, Cumbria LA23, UK54.380685 -2.906785000000013554.343689499999996 -2.9874660000000137 54.4176805 -2.8261040000000133tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-83331815937650393732013-02-12T11:36:00.001+00:002016-10-31T09:34:47.085+00:00A Scientific Cure for Wardrobe Damp.Autumn is well under way, soon winter will be upon us, and in preparation I've been doing some research on t'internet. I entered the words "damp in wardrobe" and came up with some remarkable facts.<br />
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Why "damp in wardrobe" I hear you ask? Well the simple fact is that all over the country wardrobes are being plagued with damp, and it seems that the problem gets worse in the winter, and is especially troublesome around Christmas time. Many people have experienced it. They hang their day to day working clothes up on 23rd December each year, and then on the 2nd of January get them out again to wear, only to find they have shrunk. Damp can be the only cause. Unless ....<br />
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My search took me on a journey, as they often do, and I ended up finding out the best way to banish the scourge of winter damp and ensure that your clothes fit as well in the Spring as they did last Autumn. And it is not to simply buy another, brand new, damp proof wardrobe.<br />
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We are talking weight here, and evidently it is not so much what we eat, but how we use the fuel our food gives us, that causes excessive growth in the waistline region. Put simply, during the winter many people simply are not active enough.<br />
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Two things are to blame. Work, and play. More people sit down to work than ever before. Computer screens are stared at, 'phone calls taken or made, and vehicles driven. And very often a whole day is spent sitting down either working or eating.<br />
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After work we come out to play. On long summer evenings that might entail getting out and about, but in winter, when it is cold and snowy, it is a different matter. Televisions are sat in front of, nice warm cinemas are visited, restaurants are eaten in, and when we are tired and hungry after a hard day at work and a struggle home in the cold, it is all too easy to get a takeaway. Then it is a comfy sofa, in front of the fire, with a nice curry, or whatever takes your fancy, and a few hours in front of the telly.<br />
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As a nation, a lot of what we do is done sitting down, especially in the winter, and it is not doing us any good. It is time to get off our collective bums and become a bit more active. But how? Join a gym?<br />
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Actually, it turns out that you don't need to splash out a few hundred quid on a gym membership if you don't want to or can't afford it. Most gyms offer good value for money, and they will get you fit as long as you go regularly, but not joining one will not condemn you to a life of obesity. The point is that all you actually need for a relatively healthy lifestyle is a good diet and to be physically active. And one of the best ways for you to stay physically active is to go for a daily walk. If you get yourself wrapped up warm, putting those gloves and scarf that Auntie Doris gave you for Christmas to good use (admit it, you have three pairs already, you never thought you'd use them, did you) you can enjoy the best that the British countryside has to offer all year round, and the best news of all is that, by and large, it is free.<br />
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It turns out that the reason why walking is so good for you is that it helps you to not only stay physically fit, but also mentally fit as well. A brisk country walk will get the heart pumping, but it can also help to relax and soothe the mind. It can help you to deal with the stresses and strains of everyday life. And if the scenery you are walking through is particularly good it can really lift your mood and help you to beat the winter blues.<br />
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But don't just take my word for it. Have a quick look at the walks on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jonathancraigguides" target="_blank">You Tube channel</a> web and then imagine yourself walking beside me through the Lakeland landscape. It may not be the same as actually being here, but if it inspires you to go and seek the finest views where you live then it will have done it's job. Close to most urban areas there are landscapes with their own natural beauty just waiting to be explored, usually for FREE. And walking through them comes with the added bonus of actually being good for your mind, body and soul. How cool is that!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-72367334747478479862012-08-25T12:41:00.000+01:002019-05-23T21:51:22.387+01:00Drawing inspiration from the tellyThere is no getting away from it. This year the Lakeland fells have been quieter than normal. Only just last week, in the middle of the holiday season, I set off down the Langdale Valley and actually managed to walk from Side House to Elterwater without meeting another person. True, it was raining, but this is the Cumbria Way, after all, and there is usually someone about, even if it is only a local walking their dog.<br />
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Lingmoor was also eerily quiet, although it is not unusual to have the fell all to oneself. But looking down the valley from Side Pike I was struck by just how quiet it was. Through the mist I could make out the outline of one solitary walker plodding up Mickleden, and wondered whether he or she was heading for Bowfell, or going over the the pass towards Borrowdale. The rain had stopped, the mist was clearing, and there were plenty of cars on the road, but walkers were in short supply. <br />
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Actually, as I tucked into my apricot jam and sausage sandwich (don't ask!) I started to imagine that the silence of the fells was a result of something I had missed. Everyone was, I decided, somewhere else. Somewhere that I should also have been, attending an event I had forgotten. Trouble was, I couldn't remember what it was. But I started to become convinced that over the fell in Borrowdale, hundreds of walkers were gathering to celebrate the majesty of the Lakeland Fells at a walkers convention that I knew nothing about.<br />
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It was a logical explanation, and as I plodded down towards the camp site I had almost convinced myself that I was right. Until, after 4 hours on the fell, I met a couple going the other way. They were not tourists out for a walk, but fellwalkers pursuing their love of walking. Both are commonplace, but you can tell the difference. Fellwalkers don't tend to be wearing new gear, and they carry maps and compasses. Actually, some tourists don't wear any proper walking gear at all, as anyone associated with the Mountain Rescue service will tell you. However, I digress.<br />
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I stopped to pass the time of day, as you do, and during the course of the conversation a theory as to why the fells were quieter than normal this year was put forward. Quite apart from the rain, the recession and a certain sporting event taking place elsewhere, the lack of people on the fells could also be put down to the Julia Factor, or rather the lack of it.<br />
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The Julia to which I am referring is, of course, Julia Bradbury. She still adorns our television screens on a regular basis, but not walking around the Lake District. And there is no doubt whatsoever that being featured on mainstream television does have an effect on the numbers of people taking to the fells. I well remember walking up Castle Crag the week after that fell had been featured on "Wainwright's Walks". OK, I will admit that it was a nice day, but even so I was surprised to find well over forty people on the summit enjoying the sunshine and views. Not only that but there was a steady stream of people heading up the fell as we were heading back down. By contrast, Catbells, which is normally very popular, but had not been featured on the telly the week before, was strangely deserted.<br />
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Coincidence? I don't think so. Just look at the effect that the Olympics has had. The Saturday after the games ended sports clubs up and down the country reported an increase in the number of people wanting to join. They'd watched the games on the telly. Now they wanted to get involved. And whilst some will no doubt give up as soon as they get out of breath, others will go on to become future champions.<br />
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In the nineteen thirties Alfred Wainwright was inspired to walk the fells after climbing Orrest Head and seeing the whole of the Lake District laid out before him. In 1970 I was inspired to walk the fells after climbing Black Combe, the bulky hill that lies on the South West corner of the National Park, and discovering that "another world", lay on the other side of the mountain.<br />
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Nowadays, it seems, hundreds of people get their inspiration by tuning in to BBC4 of a Friday night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-35401809047057284782012-08-02T12:09:00.000+01:002016-10-31T09:31:44.763+00:00Nuneaton here I come!!!!The news last week that Nuneaton is now part of the Lake District gave me good cheer. I've got relatives who live in Nuneaton. I can visit them of a Sunday afternoon now that it is a stone's throw from Windermere.<br />
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For those slightly confused by the above, allow me to explain. Last week, that esteemed travel web site "Trip Advisor" made a bit of a mistake with one of it's maps and gave the impression that Nuneaton was in fact, the gateway to the Lakes. It's an easy mistake to make, after all, there are huge similarities between the two. Both are quite close to the M6 and both have hills, although it is a fact that the hills in Nuneaton are not very high, or topped by cairns, but who cares about a mere technicalty like that?<br />
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Nuneaton also has 18 lakes. That's 17 more than the Lake District. And they are surrounded by trees, contain fish, and you can hire a rowing boat. Unfortunately, they are a bit short of Meres, Tarns, and Waters, but you can't have everythng. <br />
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It has a rich literary history though. George Eliot was from Nuneaton. And he was a lady, just like our very own Beatrix Potter, who may have actually been to Nuneaton, but nobody really knows for sure.<br />
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The town has several other famous sons. Like Ken Loach, the film director and Larry Grayson, who never shut that door on the town. <br />
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Now, the Lake District Hospitality Association, another esteemed organisation, has joined in by granting Nuneaton honorary Lake District Town status, thereby making the repositioning of Nuneaton official. It is no longer an Internet gaffe. It is now part of the Lake District. Evidently, someone in Nuneaton held a party to celebrate.<br />
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It would seem that quite a few people who live in Nuneaton have actually been to the Lake District on holiday. Now they won't have to. They can stay at home, enjoy the wonderful scenery and then truthfully tell their friends that they holidayed in the Lakes. And those of us that live in the Lakes can pop over to Nuneaton to do a bit of shopping, so watch out Kendal and Penrith, there's a new kid on the block. <br />
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It is also good news for house owners in Nuneaton, as prices are set to soar with new buyers flooding into the town to buy up cottages as second homes. This will also have a positive effect on the town's traffic problems, reducing the number of cars on the road and thereby doing away with the need to upgrade the one way system. And Christmas shopping in Nuneaton will now be a doddle as all the tourists will have gone home.<br />
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Nuneaton's tourist attraction will also find itself extremely busy as bus loads of Japanese descend on the town to photograph it from every angle. The Nuneaton Post Card Emporium will be taking on extra staff shortly.<br />
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Yes, it is good news all round for Nuneaton, in all but one respect. The good people of that fine old Warwickshire town are going to have to get used to the rain. And if they think that this year has been wet, they are in for a surprise when they experience a really good Lake District Summer.<br />
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And now I need to buy a new map, and get to work planning next years edition of "Walks around Nuneaton"<br />
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Watch this space!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-88538045675960193882011-11-04T17:57:00.000+00:002011-11-04T17:57:18.660+00:00How the call centre man got his nameAfter a couple of weeks confined to the office sorting out all sorts of material for inclusion in our new walking pages, which are being updated throughout the winter, I have got used to the fact that many of the operatives who work in Indian based call centres call themselves by an English name when quite clearly they are not English.<br />
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I am also reliably informed that in order to help them better communicate with the people they are supposed to be selling to, call centre workers are shown English television programmes such as Eastenders. Not only do they watch, but they are encouraged to adopt the christian names of characters. Very often, if seems, a group of workers will be formed into a team, and everyone in that team will adopt the name of a character from the same television programme.<br />
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Clearly this may cause them more problems than they might think. If a guy calling himself "Alfie" rings you from Mumbai to try to persuade you to change power supplier he is hardly likely to inspire confidence, especially if a day earlier a woman called "Kat" also rang from the same company.<br />
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This week we have had three calls into our office from the same telesales team in India trying to persuade us to change our mobile phone contract. Nothing wrong in that, I suppose, and the people who rang were perfectly nice, hard working individuals. But I cannot help but feel that they may stand a better chance of success if they just introduced themselves by their own name. There is, after all, absolutely nothing wrong with being called Amir or Mallika, so why hide their own name in favour of John or Jenny. I for one would be far more likely to respond to someone calling themselves by their own name, or at least one that sounds like it could be their own name, rather than something that I am fairly certain has been adopted for the purpose of trying to gain my confidence, but which is quite clearly false.<br />
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The three calls to our office this week, all selling the same product, are a good case in point. On Monday we were called by John, on Wednesday it was Virgil, and today we were called by a chap calling himself Parker. I could not resist engaging him in conversation with regard to his name and after a short while did indeed ascertain that he and the other members of his team have adopted names used by characters in "Thunderbirds". Which means that in all probability there is a guy ringing people up to sell them a new mobile phone contract who is quite happy to tell you that his name is Brains and he can save you money on your mobile phone calls.<br />
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Any women on the team may also be in for a hard time when they introduce themselves. Penelope may well get away with it, but I for one cannot wait for the day when the person on the other end of the phone announces, "hello there, my name is Grandma."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-64810108760654496392011-09-27T14:41:00.000+01:002016-10-31T09:29:12.872+00:00It didn't turn out too bad after all!OK, my aforementioned video complete with voice over has been on You Tube a while. Just in case you missed it, here it is.<br />
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All in all I am quite pleased with the outcome. OK, so it is a long way off being a Hollywood blockbuster. The camera shakes have not gone away and I have learned one very important lesson about that:- just because you use a tripod it does not mean that the camera will always be steady. Even so, practice makes perfect.<br />
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As for the dreaded voice over, well actually I am quite pleased with it. I only use basic equipment, so no audio compression or anything like that, but even so it has not come out too bad. As one reviewer has already told me, it is the words and how much enthusiasm you put into speaking them that is the most important thing.<br />
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So the decision has been made. It is out with the captions and in future all our videos will have a voice over, unless I decide that a bit of Mozart or the like is more appropriate.<br />
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I am just starting to look at Octobers calendar and work out which walks are worthy of being turned into a video. I don't have the time or resources to do it for each one, so a careful choice will need to be made. Up to press it is going to be Grasmere and three others, two short, and one longer.<br />
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I'll keep you posted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-10444145897572253832011-09-20T15:29:00.000+01:002016-10-31T09:26:17.909+00:00Why do we hate the sound of our own voice?!!!!I've just finished doing something that I have never done before. Recording a voice over for a video. You would think that would be an easy job, after all, all I had to do was talk for 6 and a half minutes. OK, so it is reading a script and I did get told off for not following the script and also for not putting enough emphasis into my voice, but even so it should have been a doddle.<br />
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Which begs a couple of questions:<br />
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1 Why did it take 1 hour and 45 minutes? It is not as though I am recording an album. Our recording equipment is basic to say the least, but the microphone works fine, the sound is being recorded digitally, so no hiss or anything like that. The thing was, try as I might I just could not seem to get the words out properly.<br />
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2 Why did doing it make me nervous? I've done public speaking. I've got up and made speeches and not had so much as a hint of nervousness. Never a stumble, totally flawless. And yet sit down in a room with headphones on and no one else there, and as soon as the little red light comes on I feel like a condemned man being led from his cell to the gallows. It is the last place I want to be, the butterflies in my stomach have turned to frogs, very active frogs, and I cannot hold the script without shaking. As for getting my words wrong, well we won't even go there!!!!<br />
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The answer to these questions is, I think, very simple. I hate the sound of my own voice. And the fact that it is being recorded, with every stutter and mistake being saved for posterity, just makes matters worse. I am not alone. I know lots of people who hate the sound of their own voice. Which is a tad irrational if you think about it. After all, we spend hours talking to others without thinking about how our own voices sound. Never once when holding a conversation with someone have I thought "I hope my voice sounds OK". I've adjusted the volume, or maybe put a bit of emphasis into what I was saying, or even added an accent for effect, but the overall general sound of my voice has never been a consideration for me.<br />
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The answer, I'm told, is to relax, be natural, forget that the voice is being recorded and just be yourself. I was told by my wife, she who guides me in all things and is seldom wrong, to think about it rather like I might think about going on a date. Don't be nervous, be natural, be yourself. That's all well and good, but it is 37 years since I last went on a date, and then I was too frightened to speak. Not that I told her that. I think she just thought I was a bit shy, although she's long since discovered that is not the case.<br />
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So I tried today, I really tried, to do a good job. The result I find slightly comical. My voice has a slightly over the top edge to it. In fact it sounds a bit false, like one of those fifties travel programs. Anyway, judge for yourself, because the video is now on You Tube, and I've embedded it below. And depending upon the reaction I'll decide whether to do any more with voiceover, or stick to putting captions on the bottom of the footage.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5422996755423699721.post-89397814501031192682011-09-12T12:48:00.000+01:002016-10-30T00:13:05.055+01:00I got Wainwright lost!!!!!The Belsfield Hotel overlooks Bowness Bay, and is a place that looms large in my life. I met my wife in the Belsfield Hotel, whilst working there in the early seventies. I worked there for four years and during that time met a number of celebrities, including one Alfred Wainwright. Yes, that's right, THE Alfred Wainwright. Not only did I meet him, I managed to get him lost.<br />
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I don't know the exact date but it was sometime in the mid seventies. He was guest of honour at a Country Landowners Association luncheon, in fact, the CLA were presenting him with an award for his services to the countryside. As he approached the dining room he asked the head waiter what time the room was booked until. The head waiter, a very likeable Mancunian by the name of Brian, had never been asked a question like that before. He'd sometimes been asked what time a function was due to end, or what time the meal would be served, but never how long the room was booked.<br />
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Brian's answer was that the room was available all afternoon if they wanted it, to which AW replied, "I hope it doesn't go on that long, I was banking on an hour and a half at the most." And then he made his entrance. Brian turned to me and said "keep an eye on him, and make sure he's OK, I don't want him running off before the do ends."<br />
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To be honest AW was not as we had been led to believe. Once in the room he was quite open, chatting and laughing with his hosts, and he accepted his award with grace and made a short but amusing acceptance speech.<br />
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At the buffet table he was quite blunt, enquiring about whether the food had been "mucked about with" and opting for the Quiche Lorraine when told it contained nothing but eggs, milk, bacon and cheese. And after the buffet he actually came over and told us that he enjoyed it.<br />
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Towards the end of the function he came up to me and asked directions to the lavatory. Anyone who knows the layout of the Belsfield Hotel will be aware that from the dining room you head to the lounge, turn right, go straight past reception then on to the end and turn right again just before the stairs. The loos are on the left. So those were the directions I gave him.<br />
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A couple of minutes later I was in the kitchen when the housekeeper appeared,, followed by AW!. She guided him through the maze of chefs, out of the door that leads to the managers office, (or at least it did then, I am told that the kitchen layout changed in the eighties) and on to the toilets. Then she returned to speak to me.<br />
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AW had been on a bit of an adventure. He managed to get past reception, but instead of turning right and then left at the end of the corridor, he turned left, and then right. He then walked through a door to find himself in a conference room full of salespeople. The MD of the company running the conference was just giving his keynote speech and was no doubt surprised to find AW wandering in on proceedings.<br />
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One of the delegates put him right, but still AW did not reach the loos. He actually walked straight past them, through a door outside the managers office and ended up at the counter of the linen room, whereupon he was rescued by the housekeeper.<br />
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Needless to say, I got all the blame. AW chastised me for giving him the wrong directions, and then criticised the hotel for not having proper signs on the doors.<br />
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Anyway, if you pop into the Belsfield for one of their excellent meals, or book a break there, and go to the loo, remember that you are following in the footsteps of AW himself. Just try not to get lost!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0