Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Saturday 26 June 2010

Tuesday 22 June 2010 – Whitbarrow East and Lord’s Seat

A beautiful summer’s evening drew us to this spot for the third time for our traditional mid-summer’s evening walk.  It used to feature Coniston Old Man, but old age and infirmity has seen us slump in recent years to lower heights.  Having said that, it’s five years since we last enjoyed this route.

Sue and I left home in plenty of time to reach the turn off shortly after Levens before 7pm.  We enjoyed a luxurious picnic as a squad of mountain bikers arrived, donned what can only really be described as suits of armour, then set off gently down the road.

As is normal this summer, we enjoyed an exclusive evening stroll, starting at Raven’s Lodge, from where the Lyth Valley was bathed in sunshine from the cool shade of our tree-lined path.

The view towards Levens from near Rawsons

At Rawsons, we were spied upon eerily from a dark building.

Rawsons

These woods always seem to be bustling with activity at this time of day.  We watched a young badger rummaging in the undergrowth, whilst a woodpecker tapped furiously in a tree high above us.

It’s an excellent time of year for wild flowers, and we spotted what we think is an Early Marsh Orchid, flourishing in the damp ground.

Early Marsh Orchid

After quite a while spent on pleasantly shady woodland paths on a warm evening, we emerged eventually onto sunlit Whitbarrow Scar, to see the posse of mountain bikers pass along our near horizon on their way to Lord’s Seat (all of which appear as small dots on the horizon below).

Whitbarrow Scar

We don’t have any problem with these bikers, even if there may not be a legitimate bridleway across here.  There was nobody else around, the ground was firm, and there was no evidence at all of their passage.

They had moved on by the time Sue and I reached Lord’s Seat, where there’s a faded plaque in honour of Canon GAK Hervey (1893-1967), founder of the Lake District Naturalists Trust (this link is the closest I could get to what the Trust has now evolved into – but further research may reveal more).  There are stunning views across lakeland from here, with the Coniston hills prominent and the Langdales just a bit more distant.

Lord's Seat Lord's Seat

Our traverse of the Scar continued amiably over the crusty limestone pavement, with views to nearby Arnside, fronted by its long railway viaduct and the Kent Estuary.

Arnside, the Kent Viaduct, and Arnside Knott

The sun was slowly dropping behind the mountain horizon, and we lingered at the cairn at 198 metres to appreciate the view.

Sunset

Then it was a pleasant descent over limestone then through woodland to the huge bedding plane of the old quarry floor at White Scar.  We always think this would be a fine venue for an outdoor concert, but the local wildlife may disagree.

The walk is about 9 km, with 300 metres of ascent, and takes about 2.5 hours.  An excellent summer’s evening or afternoon (or even morning) stroll.

Some route details for this fine outing, prepared several years ago, are here.

Enjoy!

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Lord’s Seat

Lord's Seat - 22 June 2010
Sue and I enjoyed a stroll up Whitbarrow last night. The image shows Sue atop Lord’s Seat, with the moon behind her and Arnside in the distance.

A fuller report will follow shortly.

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Goats’ Cheese, A Canal, and A Blog

Goats' Cheese Or is it ‘Goat’s Cheese’?

See here for more!

Meanwhile, austerity on the canal has led to barges being forsaken in favour of a cheaper form of travel.

Summer on the Canal

But it’s summer, and that means Lilo and Trish have been in touch for advice on their next Alpine trip (always a pleasurable task).

TGO Challengers may be familiar with this pair, whose world is now being broadcast here, if rather sparcely at present – perhaps they need some gentle encouragement by way of comments.

Lilo