Literary Granddaughters

Jessica goes out playing with her friends, usually popping in and out of the house, but on this occasion she had been out for ages. Her mum got worried and went out to check on her...

She was found with two friends and J K Rowling. One of them said "we're sitting here reading because it's such a peaceful place to read."

Meanwhile, cousin Isabella was reading up on the difference between silicon and germanium fuzz pedals and how they affect your guitar tone!

Then she went on the swings.

Sarah had gone to visit friends, leaving Michael with the task of preparing Isabella's lunch, the menu for which was 'salmon, spinach and lentil puree, and carrot with a lemon yogurt dip'.

She looked happy about that.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 61: 11 May 2015)

After a very pleasant night drying out in the Slaters Arms in Cannich, and at Kerrow House B&B, we proceeded to the Balmacaan Forest, where a plan to camp in a spot that I had previously passed and deemed to be 'idyllic', was foiled by an excess of water. 

Eventually we got to a point where we decided to camp, rather than cross a fast flowing river - by Loch nam Meur at NH 390 245. 

At least we didn't have to go very far to get good water, and next day, after the storm had subsided, we were able to leap across the river without the need to take our boots off.

Saturday 17 April 2021 - Jenny's Birthday Walk from Youlgrave

Richard and Jenny chose this venue - one of their favourite places, and Sue and I and Sue W (Phil is out of action with an Achilles problem) were those honoured to accompany them today under the 'Rule of Six' constraints.

We made our way from the car park past the Farmyard Inn, which would be seen to be heaving with people when we returned later, and descended to a bridge over the heavily managed (by way of weirs and ponds) River Bradford. Then it was uphill for quite some way, past bright yellow Marsh Marigolds, and a dipper that posed just a bit too far away for a decent picture. Grey wagtails and nesting coots were also making themselves very obvious from the river bank.

After a while we reached an enclosure, the wall around which has been subject to a novel form of repair.

A little further on - a wild camper's dream, lovely filtered water in abundance from a spring. You might even expect to find a water bottling business hiding round the corner!

We re-crossed the river via the stones pictured below, on which the following inscription has been carved:

"Consult the genius of the place in all that tells the waters or to rise or fall"

Soon afterwards, Sue spent ages setting up this self-timed photo that was cleverly photo-bombed by a dog walker.

A beautiful tree-lined path led up towards the hamlet of Middleton.

 

Elevenses were taken at a lovely spot in the sunshine above Long Dale, to which we then descended.

Another small enclosure bore three decorated rocks, two of them with symbols and birds, and the one in the foreground exhorting these most pertinent words: "We meet to create memories and depart to cherish them".

The march through Elton Common is on a very straight, and neatly gated, path through nascent crops. As on the previous day in the Wirral, I wondered what this path would be like when the crops are fully grown?

The graveyard of All Saint's church in Elton was chosen as a suitable lunch spot, where Phil took a break from stripping and joined us for a leisurely stop.

After that, the route to Robin Hood's Stride was adorned by meadows full of glossy petalled Lesser Celandine.

Beyond the Stride, the sight of a nearby stone circle reminded us that this place is full of antiquities.

Near Hollow Farm, the clock struck 3 pm and we paused for a minute, in time with cricketers across the valley, to mark the death of Prince Philip, at the good old age of 99.

Soon afterwards, a cleverly carved gatepost offered us a nod of approval as we passed by.

 

On the descent to Alport we visited a memorial in a field which reads "Behold the man - John Roger Harrop - 1942 - 2019 ... Gone from our home but not from our hearts". We assume he is buried inside the enclosure that's in front of the massive headstone.

Beyond Alport, the River Bradford, at one point managed sufficiently for an area to be deemed appropriate for swimming, rises slowly back to Youlgrave, passing at one point a cliff that looks suitable for climbing.

Back at the car park - a birthday presentation in honour of Jenny's garden.

Here's our route, superbly navigated by Richard, with occasional interference assistance from Sue W - 19 km with 450 metres ascent.

What an excellent day out. Thanks for inviting us.

Friday 16 April 2021 - Around Thornton Hough (Wirral)

For our second walk of the day, the six of us re-located en masse to the free car park at Brimstage Hall Craft Centre, before setting off to check out walk number 29 in Jen Darling's 'West Cheshire and Wirral' book.

After admiring Brimstage Hall's peel tower, and trying to imagine frightened villagers in by-gone days pouring boiling water from it over their attackers, we walked a short way along Brimstage Road to reach an old black and white signpost to Thornton Hough (above)'

What a pleasure it was to be able to stroll along firm field paths, completely free of the mud that we have endured in recent weeks, under a strong sun on a perfect day for walking.
 

Some of the field paths were very narrow. It'll be interesting to go back when the crops are high. 

Other paths were wide enough for a coach and horses, and you could even imagine Lord Lever's coach and horses making its way down this beautiful tree lined avenue, towards his residence at Thornton Manor.

Whilst we don't usually bother with such trivia, the presence of Judith, who collects 'stuff', and Keith, who is a 'bagger' of just about anything 'baggable', and the fact that they were both assiduously following our progress on their digital maps and had spied an item of interest just off our route, triggered an excursion to seek out a trig point and 'Flush Bracket'? They took some finding, but Judith and Keith eventually stood next to their target, flushed with success having flushed it out from the undergrowth through which they'd approached it.

A pleasing view across the fields towards Bebington greeted us from the trig point. "I live just over there" announced Judith. This is very much her 'home turf', where she can be seen from time to time tracking down pipelines that are accessed by mysterious gates into pathless fields.

Blackthorn, noted on previous recent walks, remains in full bloom. I couldn't resist a couple of snaps.

Green alkanet is also in flower hereabouts.

I should record Keith's disappointment on reaching Thornton Hough. As previously noted, he's an assiduous 'bagger', but having failed to gain the necessary support, it was with great reluctance that he eschewed a visit to bag the Seven Stars hostelry. We left this landmark sadly unticked, and moved on in the hope of refreshments at the end of the walk.

 

It's an easy walk back to Brimstage from Thornton Hough, en route passing a small but perfectly formed stand of Scots pine trees.

The 'old iron' kissing gates described in Jen's 2007 edition remain in place, unlike many of the wooden stiles on this walk.

Jen's most recent (2007) edition of her book refers to stiles that are reached via sandstone steps. Most of the stiles have now been replaced by wooden or metal kissing gates, or in some cases just by gaps. This next picture shows a stile having been replaced, but the sandstone step remains, now sadly obsolete.

Back at Brimstage Hall Craft Centre, it was a delight to be able to lounge  in the outside courtyard in warm spring weather with coffee and cake. Lots of coffee and cake. Too much in fact. Between us we managed to order seven drinks and seven cakes, so Sue later received a large and very tasty piece of lemon drizzle cake.

Wow, whoever pruned that tree must have been in a fit of aggression!

Here's our 5 km route - a very pleasant short circuit from an excellent tea room.

Thanks for coming, everyone, and it was especially nice to see Judith and Philip. I hope the good weather continues.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 60: 9 May 2015)

After a day in which we climbed six Munro summits and tops along the north Mullardoch ridge, we descended to an excellent campsite at 735 metres - at NH 172 351. The tumbling stream pictured provided a contrast with the previous night's complete silence, but we slept well again.

Note that my lightweight rucksacks had all perished by the time of this Challenge, when I reverted to the stalwart and rather ancient Karrimor Jaguar with broken pocket zips. It's still going strong.