A Visit to the Lake District in June, Day 3

Not only do I enjoy reading the books of nature writer Robert MacFarlane on a personal level, I have also referenced him in my photography degree studies with the OCA.  It was with great excitement, then that we set off for Cockermouth and the National Trust's Wordsworth House where Word-Hoard was being exhibited.  Curated by MacFarlane it features a selection of words from his book Landmark which are illustrated by his parents' excellent photographs.  I shall be writing this up in my degree blog (link here) .  Suffice it to say here that it was excellent and well worth a visit.

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After feasting our senses on the exhibition we explored the garden which is also first class and were then ready for some lunch and a walk.  We returned to the car and then headed through the delightful lanes of the north-western Lakes for lunch above Buttermere, before continuing up to the summit of Honister Pass where we parked up in the slate quarry.  we were interested to see that parties of would-be via ferrataists were being bussed up to the Honister Crags to tests themselves on the UK's original Via Ferrata.  Via Ferrata, literally iron way is an adventure activity which involves climbing exposed cliffs with the aid of steel cables, ladders and bridges.  It is tremendously exhilarating and, although we have not done this one, we have done many in the Alps.  

Our route, however, took us above the Honister Crags and up to the summit of Fleetwith Pike, another Wainwright to add to the list.  As we climbed above the quarries and cliffs the views began to open up.  Across the hillside we could pick out the excellent contouring path of Moses Trod which winds its way across the fellside from the quarries of Honister to Wasdale Head where it could be transported to the port of Ravenglass.  The path was devised by the colourful quarryman Moses Rigg.  Slate was not the only thing he transported, however.  Hidden among his loads was hidden, illegally distilled whiskey which he smuggled for sale on his travels.  The remains of a hut high on Great Gable have been linked to Moses and it has been suggested that this is the site of his illegal still.

Great Gable stood taller than all of its neighbours forming a satisfying conical shape from this angle and once on Fleetwith Pike we were perched high above the Buttermere as if suspended.  The views were stunning.

Once back at the car it was time for a meal in The Travellers' Rest.  A brilliant day.

A Visit to the Lake District in June, Day 1 and 2

Keeping our caravan up on the edge of the Lake District means that we can get up here much more frequently than in the past and only 3 weeks since our last visit saw us driving up, this time via the M62 and the M6.  Generally I dislike this route for its roadworks and heavy traffic, but, as we didn't leave until 3.00 pm, I felt that it would save time.  It certainly did that.  We arrived not long after 6.00, a much quicker journey than normal.  Not only that, for once it was dry when we arrived and didn't have to set the van up in the rain.  Thomas came over and we enjoyed a lasagne for our evening meal and the odd pint of brown and frothy.

The following morning, however, the weather forecast proved correct with rain during the morning.  It's always nice to relax and chill out on the fist day, though, so we didn't mind too much and we got out for a local walk in the afternoon anyway.

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The Rewilding of Kelstern Airfield.

I have long been aware of Kelstern Airfield as a WWII heavy bomber base.  As long as I have known it, though, it has been returned to the plough.  Having said that there is still evidence left of military occupation and use in the remains of runways and the occasional building.  I am interested in how quickly nature reclaims man's infrastructure when it is abandoned.  This is evident in old buildings, old lock gates on the Louth Canal, disused and abandoned farm buildings and houses, disused quarries and stone walls.  What we mainly see is the way vegetation encroaches and then seemingly consumes the structure, but we also need to remember that insects, small mammals and birds also move in.  An example of this is the pair of grey wagtails that have nested and fledged young in the walls of the old Willow Lock on the Louth Canal.  Perhaps the ultimate in this 'rewilding' is the way that nature has reclaimed Pripyat, the city that served Chernobyl, since it's abandonment.  This all reminds us that we only share this planet and we are an ephemeral species; one day we will become extinct and if we do not learn to care for our planet this may happen sooner rather than later.  Perhaps we will be the first species to orchestrate its own extinction.  Our planet has a finite life, but it will be here long after our species has become extinct.

I am also believe that the land holds memories and particularly so in a place like Kelstern Airfield.  It opened in 1943 as a substation of RAF Binbrook.  100 Squadron C flight formed the nucleus of what was to become 625 Squadron operating the Lancaster Bomber mainly carrying out night raids against Germany.  The first operational mission was on 18th/19th October 1943 when 9 Lancasters bombed Hanover.  The last was on 25th April 1945 when 11 aircraft bombed Berchtesgaden.  

During the two years that the base was operational 3385 sorties were flown and 66 aircraft were lost each carrying 7 crew.  What memories and emotions must still remain here.

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Sandsend and Whitby

A large family day out to Sandsend and Whitby today for a children's beach day.  Sadly the weather didn't perform at its best, but it could have been worse.  We did enjoy a walk up on the old railway line and through the old alum quarries.

Sadly no Magpie fish and chips today as it has suffered a tragic fire and is in the process of being rebuilt.

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Walking in Bradley Woods

A walk with Jet.  I was keen to photograph the old chicken sheds as another example of nature reclaiming the works of man.

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