Make the most of autumn’s glories

10:20am Friday 10th October 2008

This delightful walk from Broughton-in-Furness first takes you along pleasing paths and tracks that use, or keep close to, part of the old railway track along which trains travelled to Foxfield from Coniston. Then footpaths carry on through ancient woodlands before some quiet road walking to Woodland church. The route returns through the peaceful valley, a joy to walk at any time of the year. But, just at the moment, with the vegetation and the leaves of the trees still lush after all the rain, they are superb as they begin to reveal their autumn colours. Park in the square at Broughton-in-Furness, grid ref 214876.

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‘Sunday best’ stroll

9:56am Friday 3rd October 2008

A year or so ago I was asked if I knew of a ‘Wainwright’ that a disabled doctor could attempt.

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Moors and other high places

10:18am Friday 26th September 2008

As I drive from Ulpha over Birker Moor I have often been intrigued by the path, high on the left, that makes large zigzags through the ubiquitous bracken up the steep slope of Brantrake Crags. Now the bracken is less aggressive and soon it will be fading and changing colour, making the ascent easier. This is a tremendous walk, rather challenging, but one that takes you through glorious deciduous woodland, up a rugged fellside, and over lonely pathless moorland. It returns through remote gentle pastures and then down a glorious gill to round off a great day. Park in the small car park near to Dalegarth Hall, grid ref 172003. To reach this, take a minor road off the A595 between Bootle and Ravenglass. If approaching from Eskdale Green, take a narrow right turn opposite the old school, just before Dalegarth Station, on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway line.

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Artistic views

9:48am Friday 5th September 2008

Choose a fine day to enjoy Silloth, a small quiet town with glorious views. It nestles on the Cumbrian shore of the Solway Firth, facing across the wide estuary to Dumfries and Galloway. On a still day, when the sea is calm, Criffel - Dumfries’s high hill - is pleasingly reflected in the glassy water. On a less than still day, wrap up warm and enjoy the waves breaking against the shore and the clean invigorating air racing inland. If possible, stay to watch a sunset, fine enough to be recorded for posterity by J.M.W. Turner, the landscape artist.

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Raise your eyes to the hills

10:40am Friday 29th August 2008

With its one narrow access road, the Kentmere valley remains unspoilt. It has distinct paths and deciduous woodland with some Scots pine. It has superb outcrops, huge boulders and many small streams, which you cross on well-worn stone slabs. The view of the mountains as you move into the valley is spectacular, but this walk does not seek to reach the heights but provides a delightful low-level walk, which is comparatively dry underfoot and is generally sheltered during windy weather. Just before you return, ahead of you lies Kentmere reservoir, extensive, high and remote. It is up on the slopes, above the tarn, that the River Kent rises and journeys through the Kentmere valley and on to pass through Kendal.

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Discover the glories of limestone country

9:30am Friday 15th August 2008

This is a good walk of contrasts. It starts from Settle and very soon joins a wide walled track out into the quiet undulating countryside to the south of the town. Low-level paths lead you on to the extensive deciduous woodland at Cleatop Park. Finally, more easy-to-walk walled tracks bring you to the foot of the dramatic limestone hills, above the town. Ascend these by more paths leading up through the spectacular crags to Victoria Cave. After descending on a good track, the return is made on a high-level path above the River Ribble. The river doesn’t enter Settle but, once free of the hills, divides the ancient parish of Giggleswick from the newer parish of Settle and journeys on. Park at Greenfoot car park, Settle, grid ref 810634. To access this, if driving south along the A65, leave at the turn off for Settle. Once in the pleasing town turn left just beyond traffic lights, into the market square, and bear right. Ignore the narrow lane climbing steeply and go ahead on the lower road to the car park, not marked on the OS map.

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Roughten Gill: A walk of contrasts

9:40am Friday 1st August 2008

This is an exhilarating walk whether you stride off the main track to explore the depths of Roughten Gill to enjoy its plummeting waterfalls, or if you give the gill a miss and return along the side of the river, a delightful diversion in its own right.

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Prehistoric walk

9:30am Friday 18th July 2008

The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.

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Early bird ramble

9:34am Friday 4th July 2008

p>Leighton Moss is England’s largest reed bed. It is located in a delightful wooded valley, its limestone floor covered with marine clay, overlaid with peat. Water from the surrounding hills drains into the valley and forms three main meres. About these grow the extensive reed beds which have to be controlled to prevent them encroaching upon the open water. The RSPB visitor centre has several bird-watching hides, overlooking the shallow meres, from where you might see bearded tits, marsh harriers, see or hear bitterns, and many more. Four of the hides are accessible to disabled visitors. The public hide gives you a welcome pause near the end of this walk. Park in the large car park opposite the Visitor Centre, grid ref 477751. If approaching from Kendal or Lancaster, the Visitor Centre is well signposted from the A6. There are good bus connections close to Silverdale train station or, of course you could take the train. The station is very close to the centre.

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Sir Alan Sugar: I got landing wrong

Updated 5:45pm Sunday 12th October 2008

He is used to making all the big decisions, but Sir Alan Sugar has admitted a wrong call when he crash-landed his plane.

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