The Westmorland Gazette | Walks

A nostalgic Windermere meander

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:30:00 +0000

THIS was my last walk for 2011 and I planned it first as I was reading through an old diary which I had written in 1961. I had just been talking to Sam Hannah who was a film maker concentrating on the old country crafts. I had given him one of a collection of old photographs which I had collected. One was of the old Row Boat ferry, which crossed Windermere at the Ferry House Hotel. This building is now the laboratories of the Fresh Water Biological Association. The route of this stroll leads through woodlands, which I can remember was once full of charcoal burners pitsteads and working huts. It is hard to believe these days that the Lake District was then an Industrial area. There were iron furnesses all over and they all used charcoal as fuel. I loved this walk because I really was walking through the middle of Industrial History.

A walk from Hawkshead

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:10:00 +0000

I have taken the route below from a delightful pamphlet, one of three, produced by the Dry Stone Walling Association, Cumbria Branch. Parts of the route will be known by many walkers; all of it is charming but muddy in parts so be prepared. The leaflets are on sale in most bookshops and are priced very reasonably. They contain the route and also a wealth of detail, illustrated as well, of the wonderful stone work to be enjoyed in this part of the county. I have not added a lot of the detail they give in my walk because the leaflets tell it all. All the examples of the stone work are a joy to look at and finding them is fun.

On track around Goatland with the added bonus of the steam railway

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

In January I planned a really nostalgic walk.

Superb views on Elterwater walk

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:50:00 +0000

THIS walk takes you from Elterwater almost to the head of Great Langdale. The views are superb in both directions. As it is rather long and hard going in short stretches you might prefer to make it into two walks, parking first at Elterwater and returning when you reach the New Hotel and then on your second walk parking opposite the hotel and continuing on up the valley.

A fine stroll around Buttermere

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:40:00 +0000

Two of those who have influenced my love of strolling in and around Cumbria have been Bert Whalley and Wainwright. It was Bert who first got me interested in photography and his view over Buttermere and Haystacks is spectacular. I once interviewed Wainwright for television and he told me that his favourite mountain was Haystacks.

Around Cockermouth - one of my favourite towns

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Cockermouth has always been one of my favourite towns, and like everybody, I was sad to see how it was devastated by the floods. What is good to see is how the Cumbrian spirit has risen above the waves. The more visitors which come, the quicker the town will recover, so go and follow this walk but don’t forget to bring your wallet and spend some brass in the town.

Black Crag and a walk to blow away the 'cobwebs'

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0000

This is a lovely walk to blow away the ‘cobwebs’ and relieve the pressure of writing all those cards, buying and wrapping presents, and worrying if you’ve bought enough food. Much of the walk is dry underfoot and the views are superb. At first I missed the trees, but once becoming accustomed, I enjoyed the open fell slopes. Nature will soon hide the ‘litter’ on parts of the old plantation floor.

Around St Bees

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:40:00 +0000

For more than 50 years St Bees has been one of my favourite walks because it is so full of history plus wonderful coastal scenery. It was also the first place that I turned to study the natural history of seabirds. I still cherish a photograph taken in the 1950s of cliffs during the days of black and white photography. I still get a sense of nostalgia each time I look at old black and white prints. The 300-feet high cliffs, however, look a treat in the autumn as the sunlight strikes the red sandstone rocks. In the spring and summer the cliffs are full of seabirds including puffins, guillemots, gulls and other species. In the summer and autumn the area is a paradise for botanists.

For Mary's 500th walk - a lovely ramble from Elterwater

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:40:00 +0000

This is my 500th walk for the Westmorland Gazette; a short and lovely one. This gentle ramble, starts from Elterwater, soon to stroll quiet, almost untrodden, paths over glorious low countryside. Some of the paths are new to me, which is a great pleasure in that the Lake District can still surprise and enchant.

'Abbey ramble' around Byland

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:20:00 +0000

Finding walks around old abbeys has always fascinated me as I feel I am walking through history. In the last year I have walked around Cartmel Priory, Wetheral Priory and Shap Abbey. This week I have ventured a little further afield and have visited Byland Abbey in North Yorkshire. I did this the day that the clocks changed and so I made an early start.

Magic sight of Ullswater

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:50:00 +0000

The autumn colouring of the beech trees along the shore of Ullswater is unbelievably beautiful. Year after year I try to catch this magic sight on a walk along the water’s edge and generally I am too early or too late. This year I made it – I hope you will too.

Rydal Water walk is great day out

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:30:00 +0000

I was lucky that as October drew to a close I made the most of a pleasant day walking at Rydal following heavy cold rain and had a great day out.

Take a walk in open countryside and woodland from Furness Abbey

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0100

A second walk from Furness Abbey Park in the small car park in Abbey Approach, just north of the Abbey Mill coffee shop, grid ref 220715.

Spot the fallow deer on a stroll around Dallam

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:40:00 +0100

Whatever has happened to the weather of 2011? I enjoyed this stroll on October 1, one of the hottest days on record. I had been planning this walk for some time because this is the time of the year to study the behaviour of the fallow deer, which is typified by the huge palm-shaped antlers of the stags. There is some argument whether the fallow deer was introduced by the Normans who loved their hunting.

Stanley Ghyll and the glorious waterfalls

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Park at Forge Bridge over the River Esk, grid ref 149995, Eskdale. If approaching from the south-west (over Birker Moor or from the coast road) the fairly large parking area lies on the left of the road. Before starting the walk you might wish to take the steps through the wall to see the Esk hurrying under its bridge and on down the valley – the green sward beside it is a lovely place for a picnic.