Beautiful cloudless skies and anothe frost greeted us this morning. We were away fairly quickly (for us), driving via Ambleside to the car part in Tilberthwaite by Andy Goldsworth's Sheepfold. Our route took us along the road to High Tilberthwaite Farm and then joined the gravel track down through old slate quarries and Moss Rigg Wood. The Autumn colours were spectacular: gold, green, red, yellow and graceful silver birches were beautiful against the deep blue sky and blue-grey slate spoil heaps. We wandered down to elegant Slater Bridge in Little Langdale for photography and lunch. After lunch of cold pizza and hot chocolate we walked back and up to Cathedral Cavern in the Little Langdale slate quarries, named for the cathedral-sized main cavern which leads through to other smaller caverns and dark adits , tempting to explore. Generations of quarrymen had blasted slate out of here leaving a huge central pillar to support the roof. After splitting for roof and flooring, the slates were transported down to Coniston for distribution. Although I had already photographed this amazing space I couldn't resist making more images of it.
Soon it was time to head back up the hill to Hodge Close Quarry. Yet another fabulous photographic location, this vast hole in the ground has a lake in the bottom that is purported to be as deep as the quarry walls above. As well as being a favourite haunt of photographers, it is also popular with scuba divers and rock climbers.
Heading down across fields took us back to High Tilberthwaite where we stopped to photograph the beautiful herdy sheep and chat with the farmer. Sadly he was leaving the following week citing careless and selfish tourists as the main reason. He complained bitterly of trains of landrovers and trail bikes destroying bridleways and leaving gates open. Saddened but comforting ourselves that we did try to be caring and respectful of this magnificent area we returned to the car.
Our final stop was a potter round Ambleside before returning to the van for rehydration and supper.
Sadly tomorrow we have to return to Grimsby but looked forward to visiting our brand new great-niece on the way.
Soon it was time to head back up the hill to Hodge Close Quarry. Yet another fabulous photographic location, this vast hole in the ground has a lake in the bottom that is purported to be as deep as the quarry walls above. As well as being a favourite haunt of photographers, it is also popular with scuba divers and rock climbers.
Heading down across fields took us back to High Tilberthwaite where we stopped to photograph the beautiful herdy sheep and chat with the farmer. Sadly he was leaving the following week citing careless and selfish tourists as the main reason. He complained bitterly of trains of landrovers and trail bikes destroying bridleways and leaving gates open. Saddened but comforting ourselves that we did try to be caring and respectful of this magnificent area we returned to the car.
Our final stop was a potter round Ambleside before returning to the van for rehydration and supper.
Sadly tomorrow we have to return to Grimsby but looked forward to visiting our brand new great-niece on the way.
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