Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

"It has to be a man made wall surely, but how did they build it over the edge of the cliff and down the face."

A quote from one of your posts a little while ago regarding a drystone wall on a cliff face .

The answer is " they didn't "

When you get a cliff like that you start at the botton and build UP the clif !

By doing this you have a stable base to work ( the wall you are building) from and what you end up with is a vertical stack of stones against the cliff face .
If you get the chance to have a close look at one of these vertical walls you should be able to see exactly how it is done .
A wall on level ground has the major axis of the individual stones parallell to the base of the wall - as the base of the wall changes from level to vertical the orientation of the stones gradually changes from parallell to the base to right angles and when you get to the top it reverts back. This gives you a firm base to stand on when working and also makes the stack more stable. Every 10' or so there will be a notch cut into the cliff face and longer stones inserted and incorporated into the wall to "Key" it to the face.

Hardknott Pass Roman Fort

This is a good one to have a look at if you are interested in things Roman !
The foundations of the walls gates and buildings are all intact and give you a good idea of the layout of a typical fort and also makes you wonder about the work involved in building it. While you are there spare a thought for the poor buggers dragged from the sunny Med and stationed up there in mid winter !
At the time the fort was called MEDIOBOGDUM and guarded the supply road to and from the nearest port GLANNOVENTA (Mancaster/Ravenglass) on the Esk estuary and their main administration depot at GALAVA (Ambleside)

Wrynose Pass

Many years ago I took my kids ( 7 & 9 years old )and a couple of their friends ( and two dogs ) I must have been bloody mad ! - for a week in the lake district and we went up to Wrynose Pass. As we were going up the kids - and the dogs- were very quiet for a change .
Turned out they were watching for Rhinos !!
Took a lot of explaining that one especially as I was home after a contract in Tanzania and they had seen all my Serenghetti photos !!!

Still not got my PC (all the above was from memory!) but when I get back on it and access to database I have a load more comments ( if you want them ! )

It makes perfect sense when it's pointed out. Thanks for that.

You have some great tales Happyman, obviously you have enjoyed a full and extremely interesting life to date. Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge and some of your 'escapades' on here. It always makes for good reading.

Indeed the more you put on the better.

Once again thanks a lot for the input you give, it's appreciated and it's bloody good.





It's a brilliant feeling when you stand in places like this and really take in the surroundings.

Simply thinking about people treading these same lands over thousands of years, it's a nice sensation in a manner of speaking. People such as yourself who have obviously studied the 'messages' must be left with a really great sense of satisfaction.

You can look at a photograph such as the one above and almost imagine a small tribe of stone-age people walking through these lands. The water cascade would have been a great attraction to them I would imagine



Take a look at us now.




Portable caves and all the mod cons.

[Happyman]

Originally Posted by Mathos

It's a brilliant feeling when you stand in places like this and really take in the surroundings.

Simply thinking about people treading these same lands over thousands of years, it's a nice sensation in a manner of speaking. People such as yourself who have obviously studied the 'messages' must be left with a really great sense of satisfaction.

You can look at a photograph such as the one above and almost imagine a small tribe of stone-age people walking through these lands. The water cascade would have been a great attraction to them I would imagine



Take a look at us now.


Portable caves and all the mod cons.

You have it right in one !
Although this thread is about UK it still rings true almost anywhere in the world - must admit 90% of this sort of historical and landscape reading in the sponge thing called my brain is mainly about a place that I haven't lived in for more than a month or two in 40+ years !!!
Just proves the old saying " What goes into your memory first comes out last !!!"

This thread has stirred things up!!!

Love the portable cave reference

I will keep them coming as and when I get back into my regular routine - OK ?

Cheers

[Mathos]

I mentioned the 'Heinz Dog' in a photograph recently, having a drum for his obvious day kennel. Here it is, it's all he needs in adverse weather conditions I suppose.



This was interesting as well, A barn really bulging with fleece from the sheep.

Tremendous amount of wool in there. I was surprised to see so much at this time of the year as well.




It might have been a second cut, I don't know enough about the 'shearing of sheep'.





Sensational view here as well. The other road you can see on the right hand side of the photograph leads to Blea Tarn and Great Langdale, if my memory serves me right.


There's quite an interesting page and additional information on this link as well.

The Cumberland Hotel, Alston in Cumbria. For bed and breakfast and ...
The Cumberland Hotel for bed and breakfast accommodation - weekend breaks or ... Blea Tarn can be seen on your right. Turn right at the end of the road and ...




It's only when you stand in these places and imagine how bleak they must be in the depths of winter, that you appreciate how dangerous it is to be caught out here without the appropriate clothing and additional gear. Numerous people have lost their lives in The Lake District over the years that I am am familiar with.



We couldn't help but notice and be aware of the various places along the roads that were in urgent need of attention and repairs as well.

Certainly not a great deal to be done, but with the road being so narrow and undulating it would be better done sooner, rather than later.






You wouldn't want to be running out of tea, milk and sugar if you lived out here, that's for sure.




Plenty of water though.



A fantastic spot though. Really special.

[Mathos]

Happyman Wrote:-

You have it right in one !
Although this thread is about UK it still rings true almost anywhere in the world - must admit 90% of this sort of historical and landscape reading in the sponge thing called my brain is mainly about a place that I haven't lived in for more than a month or two in 40+ years !!!
Just proves the old saying " What goes into your memory first comes out last !!!"

This thread has stirred things up!!!

Love the portable cave reference

I will keep them coming as and when I get back into my regular routine - OK ?


Cheers

Look forward to them...

Cheers.

[Mathos]

Happyman also wrote:-

Bit of background
Before I left UK in 1964 I was out of work for 6 months - waiting for a delayed contract to start .
A keen motorcyclist and having a Honda trail bike ( 50% road / 50% off road type)
I put a map of all roman roads, forts, settlements superimposed onto on a similar map of all registered Bronze and Iron age hill forts in one saddlebag and a bivvy and a few t shirts in the other and set off to see as many as I could !
Did from the West country to Hadrians wall !!!
Happiest 6 months of my life - down farm tracks on the course of roman roads- across fields and fells when they ran out and picked them up again when they reappeared, always camped overnight in hill forts and roman camps.
Couldn't do that nowadays though with all the rules about bridleways, British Heritage sites etc etc
Had plenty of time to think and observe, amazing what a ciggie and a shot of whiskey brings to the surface of your mind at sunset alone in a place that was a hive of activity 1 or 2 thousand years ago !!!

Well thats it - just wish that there was another history freak in Phuket that I could share with !

In a nut-shell..

Amazing.

[sabang]

Luvly thread Mathos- I catch up with it every week or so and remind myself of the beauty that is in England.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by sabang

Luvly thread Mathos- I catch up with it every week or so and remind myself of the beauty that is in England.

Thanks sabang, it's good to know who has been reading. The figures are quite good but I do wonder from time to time, who may or may not be reading the same.

Couple of real English garden photographs I took today, I was doing a series of jobs outside. Fantastic day it was too. I burnt a few leaves, I like the aroma from burning leaves, it's totally unique.




But hell. I get some leaves between now and the middle of December or so, it's great to be surrounded by trees, but the falling leaves all seem to find their way onto my patch.




Sunshine was really great too.

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by Mathos

When were you last in the area?

Last there probably about ten year ago. About 20 year ago was up there quite often as me brother was Head Chef in the Wastwater Hotel at the head of Wastwater Lake. Must try to dig out and scan the old pics that I have.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Propagator

Last there probably about ten year ago. About 20 year ago was up there quite often as me brother was Head Chef in the Wastwater Hotel at the head of Wastwater Lake. Must try to dig out and scan the old pics that I have.

Nice, Wastwater is quite unique, it's also the deepest Lake in England, possibly Britain, it would be nice to see your photographs too.

Thanks.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Propagator

Last there probably about ten year ago. About 20 year ago was up there quite often as me brother was Head Chef in the Wastwater Hotel at the head of Wastwater Lake. Must try to dig out and scan the old pics that I have.

I do have some photographs of the Wastwater Hotel Propogator, but I have not been able to locate the same at present.

I found some really nice information regarding the same and the area on The Net and have placed them below, hope you enjoy the memory cells being refreshed.

It's a very unique and beautiful location.

Wasdale Head
Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 187086




The Wasdale Head Hotel and slopes of Yewbarrow.
Photo by Tony Richards.
Wasdale Head is a small HAMLET in the Lake District National Park. It is located at the "head" of the valley of Wasdale, and is surrounded by some of England's highest mountains: Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar.
The Wasdale Head Inn, originally a farmhouse was enlarged by Ritson in 1856 to house overnight guests. There were other alterations over the last century, but the Inn still retains many original features, including a collection of climbing memorabilia.
For many centuries it has been a starting point for walks and climbing trips into the mountains. Today, it is the recognised starting point for the ascent of Scafell Pike as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge.
Behind the Wasdale Head Inn is a stone arched packhorse bridge. Once both smuggling and trade routes led from the Inn over the Black Sail, Sty Head and Burnmoor passes. Now walkers take advantage of the trails.




The ancient packhorse bridge behind the Wasdale Head Hotel.




And with Great Gable behind. Photo by Ann Bowker.





The Scafells and the head of Wastwater from Bell Rib
Photo by Ann Bowker.





Wasdale Head from part way up Stirrup Crag and the little St Olaf's Church
in the Yew Trees, (upper centre right). Photo by Ann Bowker
The ancient field patterns at Wasdale Head, and St Olaf's Church, which has a reputation of being the smallest church in England (in the yew trees, centre right).
The hamlet claims to be home of the highest mountain (Scafell Pike), deepest lake (Wastwater), smallest church and biggest liar in England. The latter claim is based on a former landlord of the Wasdale Head Inn, who proclaimed himself as such.





Wastwater and Wasdale Head from the viewpoint cairn south of Kirk Fell summit
Photo by Ann Bowker.





Wasdale Head from Great Gable. Photo by Ann Bowker.









The photograph below is one taken by Flobo, last week.

[Mathos]

Some of the places were quite amazing it's possible to see how much care is taken here to protect the banking from water erosion with the stone walls, which have been well maintained.



These 'packsaddle' type bridges are magnificent.



Sorry this is slightly blurred.

Amazing view though.




I think if a caveman popped his head up around here, it wouldn't surprise you at all.

Slightly different angle and view from one placed on here earlier. This one is perhaps the better of the two photographs.





We finished the day off by the coast and this scene was superb in so many ways

Hope it doesn't make my friend Happyman too homesick.

Can't deny the beauty of the same though.




The 'fisherman or angler' was the chap on the left. He had two rods baited up with big fat juicy worms.

He was enjoying good conversation with the chap on the right.





It looked a great way to be spending an evening.

[Mathos]

I still have quite a bit more to place up on the thread with regards to Wrynose, Hardknott and Wastwater.

I'll get back to them though.

There will obviously be bits and pieces from other trips to place on here, they can be held over for a really bad weather day, when we are not able to make a day out.

It was almost like that this morning.

Early start for me, I was up about 6.45 am and after the shower etc about 7.40 am had to drive to Chorley, then Blackburn and back home for about 9am. The weather was horrendous.




It was bouncing off the patio, and the weather reports/forecast for the day, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Cheshire were abysmal. The Peak District looked most inviting, but that was going to suffer until the afternoon, it then stood a chance of clearing up somewhat.

It was a lousy day weather wise though.



The roads, motorways especially were ridiculous. Traffic ground to a virtual halt on the M61. I detoured via the M62 towards Denshaw and it probably might have been a good idea to spend some time around the villages of Saddleworth and then move about.

Hindsight!

I thought it would be a simple task to make a heading for Castleton in the Dales, it wasn't.

We got there eventually, but it was a stormy, heavy rainy day right up to reaching Castleton. We were delayed, there were a few bumps along the way. Nothing serious so far as we could see, but never the less. Messy.

Stop the waffling Mathos and get some photographs up.

Yep.. OK.

I thought maybe an asteroid might have done this a few million years ago or whatever.




Well something made it look like that.

Perhaps it's simply a case of a piece of the land having been worked as a quarry for the stone.

I reckon Happyman will be able to let me/us know what happened here.

This drew my attention as well.



It certainly didn't look natural.


We stopped the car up here at Mam Tor, it was blowing a very, strong gale force wind and that is no exaggeration.



I think it was quite a shock to us, just how strong the wind was, the rain wasn't so bad at the time we stopped, but the drop in temperature was surprising, it was very cold indeed.

Some very interesting links here:-


National Trust | High Peak Estate | Mam Tor

Mam Tor stands guard at the Western end of the Hope Valley, its dramatic ... The footpath along the ridge from Mam Tor to Losehill is one of the most ...
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w.../w.../w-east_midlands-places-peakdistrict-map-mamtor.htm - 41k - Cached - Similar pages


Hope Valley | Peak District Towns and Villages | Staffordshire ...
Mam Tor, the 'Shivering Mountain' heads the valley. ... To the north of the valley a walk from Mam Tor to Losehill along the ridge dividing the Hope and ...
Hope Valley | Peak District Towns and Villages | Staffordshire | Derbyshire | England | UK - 33k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from www.cressbrook.co.uk »


Very interesting.

This was nice too.



A Vauxhall, about a 1924 model I think.

[Mathos]

The Hope Valley is a very striking place, Winnats Pass and the numerous caves in the area are exceptionally interesting and beautiful places indeed.



I have placed a couple of links here for this evening.

Hopefully I can get more time tomorrow night to do more entries on here.

Right now, I'm knackered.

Winnats Pass, Castleton, is a collapsed limestone cavern
Winnats Pass, Castleton, Derbyshire, is a long collapsed limestone cave system which now forms a steep sided and craggy valley.
Peak District Attractions and Places to Visitwinnats.php - 28k - Cached - Similar pages


A couple of interesting additions here too.


Winnats PassThis impressive limestone gorge is said to be haunted by a young couple called Clara and Henry who were murdered whilst eloping.

The pair were ambushed one night in 1758, robbed and killed, their bodies were found years later buried near a barn. Their remains were re-interred in Castleton churchyard.

It is said that years later a miner who was on his death bed confessed that he and four of his friends had committed the crime. He suggested that all of the perpetrators had met a sticky end.

AND

Mam Tor is an Iron Age hill fort standing at over 520 metres above sea level. The fort has defences which cover an area of 1100 metres, consisting of a single rubble bank which is re-enforced in places with dry stone walling. The bank has a ditch on the outside and would probably have been protected by a wooded palisade when occupied.

There are two entrances to the site both approached by narrow passageways, one in the South and One in the North. Bronze Age round houses have been discovered within the hill fort.

The tor stands as a focal point in the landscape and can be clearly seen from miles around. Map ref: SK 128 837Directions: The tor is unmissable from Castleton being the highest hill top in the area.

A little more very good information links with regards to the locations we visited today.


The Devil's Arse - Peak Cavern : Set in the middle of the ...The Devils Arse, or Peak Cavern. Set in the middle of the picturesque Peak District, step into the unique world of Peak Cavern.
The Devil's Arse - Peak Cavern : Set in the middle of the picturesque village of Castleton in Derbyshire - 5k - Cached - Similar pages



Nice photograph I took of the Castle at Castleton. Interesting place and I'll put some more info on in the next few days.



We were out for ten hours plus today, that's not counting the time I spent on the road between 7.40 am and 9 am. Road conditions, weather, driving and small incidents give you a battering at times.



Sleep is required.

[Happyman]

Originally Posted by Mathos

I



I thought maybe an asteroid might have done this a few million years ago or whatever.




Well something made it look like that.

Perhaps it's simply a case of a piece of the land having been worked as a quarry for the stone.



This drew my attention as well.



It certainly didn't look natural.


We stopped the car up here at Mam Tor, it was blowing a very, strong gale force wind and that is no exaggeration.











A Vauxhall, about a 1924 model I think.

The first Pic looks to me like an ancient ( talking about millions of years here) sinkhole.
The rocks around it look like some sort of igneous ( hard - granite or summat) rock that when the earth was being formed pushed its way through either limestone or some other softer rock.
This was eroded or dissolved over the millinea and left the hard rock where you see it today.

The second pic- not sure !
Are you referring to the hill in the background or the small ravine by the wall ?

Mam Tor

You really missed out here
On top of Mam Tor is one of the best Iron age hill forts in the north of England!!!!
Also one of the best Hang-gliding sites up that way as well !!!

Last pic !
You do all these trips in that I presume?
Can see it now - you with a flat hat on backwards and goggles and your lady in a broad brimmed hat with a dust veil !!

Back to your Wastwater pics.
It is not tidal !
The "beaches" that you see are caused by the water level dropping during the non raining times when the atomic power station at Seascale draws enormous amounts of water from the lake for cooling purposes!!!

Still on laptop so cant give absolute definitive info on things though - have to rely on memory !!!

A friend has a spare external hard drive and hopes to download my database for me so I can plug it into this Micky Mouse thing !!!


cheers

[Happyman]

Bit of background
Before I left UK in 1964 I was out of work for 6 months - waiting for a delayed contract to start .
A keen motorcyclist and having a Honda trail bike ( 50% road / 50% off road type)
I put a map of all roman roads, forts, settlements superimposed onto on a similar map of all registered Bronze and Iron age hill forts in one saddlebag and a bivvy and a few t shirts in the other and set off to see as many as I could !
Did from the West country to Hadrians wall !!!
Happiest 6 months of my life - down farm tracks on the course of roman roads- across fields and fells when they ran out and picked them up again when they reappeared, always camped overnight in hill forts and roman camps.
Couldn't do that nowadays though with all the rules about bridleways, British Heritage sites etc etc
Had plenty of time to think and observe, amazing what a ciggie and a shot of whiskey brings to the surface of your mind at sunset alone in a place that was a hive of activity 1 or 2 thousand years ago !!!

Well thats it - just wish that there was another history freak in Phuket that I could share with !

[penelope]

I grew up on the Haslingden Moors - and went to Darwen Grammar School as was.

I have lived in Cheshire for most of our married life though, although we go back to Blackburn regularly. In-laws live all around there.

I love the Yorkshire Dales though....and I have some good pics if I can figure out how to upload them. I'll try.

DD - said

'I seem to look at these houses now and think they are too small and don't have enough windows, but generally in the UK it is too cold to have full length windows for a room or a floor.

DD - I know we are behind the times - but some people do have double-glazing and central heating and big windows, in England. Not me though, my house is Georgian with Victorian Bay Windows - no double glazing - drafts are healthy!!!

[penelope]

[penelope]

[penelope]

OK that's enough from me!

[ChiangMai noon]

nice pictures penelope.

where are they taken.

don't worry, we have some members that still can't upload photos after 43 years.