We had ‘ Stay Home’ plans on Saturday and as it was actually sunny and dry ( Of course there had to be gusty winds too, courtesy of Storm Kathleen! ) we took Hugo up The Castle Keep, which has recently been undergoing ongoing repairs, and is now back open again.
Clitheroe Castle 🏰 is often described as ‘ England’s Second Smallest Castle Keep’ though to be honest, however much I look online, I cannot find any information regarding the actual smallest. Let’s just say, Clitheroe has a tiny Castle!The 12th Century Norman Keep stands on a limestone outcrop and has commanding views over the historic market town of Clitheroe and towards Pendle Hill. It is surrounded by 16 acres of parkland ,which include a bandstand, cafe, labyrinth, children’s playground, skate park and war memorial.
Heading up to the Castle Museum buildings. Daffodils and primroses. The Castle Keep. The landmarks infamous ‘ cannonball hole’ is presently boarded up…Inside the keep. Nope you couldn’t live here! This photo does not show how wild it actually was up there! Moments after taking this photo I was blown Mary Poppins style into the clouds. Honest! Pendle Hill & Clitheroe.
We next took shelter in the Stewards Gallery situated next to the museum buildings. At the moment the gallery is hosting a photography exhibition called Diamonds In The Landscape, which celebrates 60 years of The Forest Of Bowland as an AONB. The free exhibition continues until the end of April and dogs are welcome inside.
Attempting to get Hugo to pose for a photo doesn’t always work! Some photos in the exhibition. A more successful Hugo photo shoot. 😋
Continuing our town tourism adventure, we decided to go for a drink at Holmes Mill which contains one of the largest bars in Britain ~ Bowland Beer Hall.
Leaving the Castle. 🏰Leaving the Castle.Inside Bowland Beer Hall.
Because we live close enough to Bowland Beer Hall for the beer to be pumped across to our living room ( well, in theory! ) we very rarely pop over, just the two of us, preferring to save our trips for when we are with visiting friends and family. 😋 The Holmes Mill complex has lots going on including an Everyman Cinema, Duck Pin Bowling Alley, Hotel, Bistro and Food Hall.
Outside Holmes Mill.Enjoying a cider. Holmes Mill. We continue drinking inside.
It was still very blustery outside and when one of the table umbrellas decided to launch itself into the sky, we quickly moved indoors. We then ended up enjoying more drinks whilst sitting in a cosy nook by the bar. So that was us being tourists in our own town. It became quite the Saturday Session! 😁 I even bumped into a fellow blogger, Sophie who blogs at So Beau . She was with her lovely family in the mill and was very gracious, despite being spotted by a slightly tipsy reader. 😙😃
Easter wknd was spent at the caravan ,so on Sunday we decided to head over Hartside and into Northumberland. We had wanted to visit the ancient market town of Hexham for a while. In hindsight Easter Sunday was perhaps not the best day to explore, as most of the lovely independent shops were deservedly closed. Hexham has many old historical buildings to admire including Hexham Abbey and Hexham Old Gaol. No doubt we will return !
Outside The Old Gaol which is England’s oldest jail ( now a museum) , dating from 1330, built using stone from nearby Roman ruins at Corbridge. Looking onto the Market place. Market Place. Independent Cinema ‘ The Forum’.
Hexham Abbey.
Over the years the abbey has suffered from raids by the Vikings and the Scotts. The abbey has been rebuilt many times over it’s long history. 17th Century Hexham House ( now luxury apartments) look out over the Abbey grounds.A rather nice Hot Chocolate from Wentworth Cafe , by the main town car park.
Next we drove five miles to the the lovely village of Corbridge and parked on the free carpark by the bridge over the River Tyne. It’s then a short walk over the bridge into the village with its cobbled streets and wealth of independent businesses. I must say I was totally charmed by Corbridge, there is much history here, the original settlements Roman Ruins are close by. A few of the local shops and eateries were open, it’s a delightful place to browse for goodies.
The Bridge over the River Tyne was built in 1674. Quirky gallery just over the bridge. The Angel of Corbridge may just be Northumberland s oldest Inn. Wil and Hugo resting at the Market Cross. A cute looking Pet Shop. We stumbled upon a micro bar in a 14th Century Pele Tower. The Pele was a fortified vicarage until the 1700s. It also serves up a rather refreshing Crimson Rhubarb Tea. We found a wonderful book shop Forum Bookshop situated in an Old Chapel. I love the ‘ Blind Date Books’ idea. Buy a mystery book wrapped in paper & string. Each book comes with a clue to it’s genre and a bookmark. Oh what will my book be? All is revealed! My mystery book, is indeed a bit of a murder mystery. Riverside Walk.
We finished off our visit eating the picnic we had brought with us and walking along the side of the Tyne, which seemed very popular with dog owners.
Both Hexham and Corbridge are on my return to list, now that we have discovered them. Have you ever been to them?
There’s a Lonning that runs between the villages of Melmerby and Gamblesby in the Eden Valley. Lonning is a word for Lane in the Cumbrian dialect, I rather like the name.
This Lonning gives off a rosy hue. Wellies at most times of year become caked in a clay coloured mud. The stone walls look almost pink and in Summer resting butterflies bask in their warmth
Here’s a recent outing in early Spring. The sun was shining, though the morning was a cold one. A soundtrack of chirping tree sparrows and chatty yellowhammers filled the air.
Along the Lonning. Still a wintery tree. Distant view of a Lakeland mountain ‘ Blencathra’ aka Saddleback.Blackthorn in blossom. Intriguing sign. ❤️The lane becomes a stream. Yellowhammer singing. Beautiful horses. A camp is set up. Heading back. Daffydowndillies.Waiting for me?
Apparently there are many lonnings criss crossing the Cumbrian countryside. Do you know of any ?
I have wanted to visit Bowland Wild Boar Park with our dog Hugo for quite a while now. This rural attraction in the Forest of Bowland is not that far from home and although I have been before, it was with a friend and her 1 year old son 15 years ago. How time flies!
I started off my time at Bowland Wild Boar Park looking around for Wild Boars. Sadly I didn’t spy any real ones, they may have been off somewhere digging in tree roots or wallowing in mud. I did however admire a rather nice Wild Boar Statue.
Happily there are plenty of other animals to meet around the park. You can buy special food to feed the goats, deer and llamas, many of which are only too happy to indulge your presence for a bit of grub. 😊
Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on lead. Luckily Hugo is quite a calm gentleman when it comes to meeting farm friends. He wasn’t very sure of the geese but I think he quite liked the goats. There are various walks and trails around the 65 acre site, plus dogs are allowed on some of the farm rides too. Unfortunately there is a No Dogs sign in the cafe, meaning an outside bench for us if we had wanted a snack.
It is families who will get the most out of a visit to Bowland Wild Boar Park. Children will love the petting zoo and reptile house, the play areas, feeding the animals and being taken out on a tractor & trailer ride. It is nice though, that the family dog can join in too.
Admission £12 adults, £12 children 3-15, free children 2 & under, Dogs free, £20 family ticket.
I think Bowland Wild Boar Park is somewhere fun to take the kids and the dog during the Easter Holidays. Enjoy.
Just a short amble in the centre of the British Isles today. Or one of them! 😁
We in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley like to think that the tiny village of Dunsop Bridge is the closest civilization to the geographical centre of the UK. Though interestingly Halt whistle in Northumberland also claims the same.
Dunsop Bridge lies within the beautiful Forest Of Bowland AONB and there are miles of stunning countryside to explore by foot, by bicycle, with your dog, with a pair of binoculars. Such a peaceful gorgeous place.
We parked on the pay and display car park in the village and walked a few yards before turning right just after Puddleducks Cafe. The concrete path takes you up into the Dunsop Valley and you can walk for some miles without getting muddy feet. Its an excellent pram walk and tramper trail too.
As our labrador is still on shorter walks only, we didn’t walk too far into the valley. He definitely enjoyed his dips in the stream though and we spied so much wildlife including pheasants, partridge, dipper, tree creeper and goosander. There are sheep in the fields, so it’s always best to be mindful of livestock when doing this walk.
Last time I visited Dunsop Bridge, the cute cafe was serving take-out only, so it was good to see that Puddleducks is up and running as a proper cafe again. A roaring fire greeted us inside and their breakfast baps went down a treat.
There are lots of great walks to be done from Dunsop Bridge. I’m sure we will return to the centre of the British Isles soon.
We were lucky enough to have a wknd of fine bright weather ( hurrah!) , the perfect opportunity to head North to the caravan for the night.
Setting off bright and early, we stopped off at the Hot Snacks Van at Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale for breakfast. So good !
Everything looked fine at the van ,so we headed out to NT Acorn Bank at Temple Sowerby for a walk amongst the snowdrops. I’m glad I got to see those ‘ Fair Maids Of February’ in all their glory, before snowdrop season is over. The lovely wild daffodils are starting to flower there too.
Fresh wild garlic leaves. Crocuses.
The sun had felt quite warm in the early afternoon , we noticed that the high fells were covered in snow though. By the evening I was certainly glad of the toasty roaring fire in The Shepherds Inn, Melmerby.
View of Cross Fell from the A686. Shepherds inn. Prime spot.
The next morning was a frosty one. After leaving the van we visited relatives, then stopped off somewhere, where I hoped we might catch a glimpse of a Red Squirrel 🐿️.
Frost in Melmerby.Sitting room at the van.
In fact , apparently you are practically guaranteed to see Red Squirrels scampering around woodland in the grounds of the Shap Wells Hote l. Situated in a secluded valley on moorland in-between the busy M6 and the A6 , the hotel and the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group keep an eye on the population here, which seems to be doing well.
Shap Wells Hotel.
There is a woodland trail straight from the carpark and well, we weren’t the only people looking for the Tufty red scamps.
Everyone was rewarded with the sight of at least 4 different animals, some leaping across the stream. They didn’t seem too bothered by our presence and it was amazing to see one, never mind so many.
The beautiful Red Squirrel population in Northern England hangs on precariously. Where I live in Lancashire,seeing non native Grey Squirrels ( introduced from America by the Victorians) , is the norm. But witnessing any in Cumbria fills me with dread. The Greys can pass on a highly contagious Squirrel Pox disease ( they are strangely not affected by it themselves) to the Reds, desimating surviving colonies in one foul swoop. I hope these little beauties carry on being safe.
It is 50 years this year since HAPPA (the Horses & Ponies Protection Association) relocated from London ‘ Up North’ to Shores Hey Farm in Burnley’s scenic Thursden Valley. Their mission includes rescuing equines suffering from Neglect, Abuse and Abandonment , offering them Love, Safety and Rehabilitation and finding them new forever homes. The Rescue Centre can hold up to 40 to 60 horses.
I visited on a wet week day in the February Half Term Holidays with my Sister and Niece. Most of the horses and ponies, plus one donkey called ‘ Jack Frost ‘ were warm and dry in their stable blocks, which did mean we got to meet quite a few of them. Each stable has an information poster setting out the animals story and goals for the future. Centre staff were busy taking the horses out for exercise, a couple at a time.
The surrounding countryside at Shores Hey Farm is in great walking country, so it would definitely be a good place to take Hugo my Labrador. The Centre is actually very pet friendly and dogs are allowed on leads around the stables and field tracks and in the onsite cafe.
We decided to have lunch in the cafe which is a warm and inviting space. However it was extremely busy and I do recommend booking if you visit in the school holidays or at weekends. I enjoyed my cheese & pickle sandwich with crisps & salad and my niece and I shared ‘ the most’ delicious Eton Mess meringue. All purchases contribute to the charitys funds, so it is fab that the cafe is so popular!
I bought a £6 entry ticket online ,which admits up to 6 people. The Centre is great value for money , often holding events and running kids activities. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting.
Since making Cumbrias Eden Valley a weekend getaway base back in 2019 ( hurrah for redundancy! ) ,we have visited quite a few of the attractions that this lovely area has to offer, always accompanied by a certain black labrador, of course. 😊
It is the River Eden that flows through and shapes the valleys countryside, offset by rugged limestone pavement and rosy sandstone villages. The North Pennine fells, Ullswater and the river itself provide ample opportunity for great walks with the dog. Eden is a wonderful area to explore with a canine companion.
Castles.
Many of the Lake Districts Castles are to be found in the Eden Valley. It was the forward thinking and formidable Lady Anne Clifford that set about restoring several of these relics of the past back in the seventeenth century. These days most are ruins once again, be it scenic ones. Dogs are welcome on leads.
Brough Castle.
Brough Castle. Standing on the site of a Roman Fort, Brough Castle in Church Brough dates back to the 1200s. With it’s strategic position ,the Castle was often involved in attacks from Scottish marauders. Later in the 1600s the building was accidentally ravished by fire after a big party! Then it was given a new lease of life when landowner Lady Anne Clifford completed restorations. Today the ruins are free to walk around and a dog friendly tearoom/ice cream parlour adjoins the grounds.
Brougham Castle. Like Brough Castle, Brougham Castle is located on the site of a Roman Fort and is looked after by English Heritage. The medieval ruins stand proud on the banks of the River Eamont and once helped protect England from Scottish invaders. Owned by the landowning Clifford family, the castle was inherited by Lady Anne Clifford after a lengthy battle to become heir. In the 1600s it was virtually unheard of for females to inherit land and estates, never mind restore and improve them as Lady Anne did. Brougham Castle was where the great lady died in 1676 aged 86. A gift shop and display of Roman artifacts can be found here. Entry £5.90 adults, £3.90 children, under fives free.
Lowther Castle.
Lowther Castle & Gardens. There have been castles at Lowther since medieval times, home to several Earls of Lonsdale. The striking gothic ruins that stand today were actually once an imposing residence and only date back as far as the 19th Century. But ‘ The Yellow Earl’ , the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, had a Spend, Spend, Spend! policy and Lowther Castle was abandoned in 195 7 , stripped to a shell to pay off years of mounting debt. Happily today Lowther is an ongoing restoration project & thriving tourist attraction with extensive grounds, gardens and exhibition gallery. Dogs are welcome everywhere ( except the adventure playground) ,including the Shop and Tea Room. Entry £14 adults, £10 children 3 to 15 yrs.
Pendragon Castle. Pendragon to the South of Kirkby Stephen is one Castle that we haven’t visited yet. The romantic medieval ruins are said to have been the home of Uther Pendragon, the father of King Arthur. With it’s scenic backdrop of Edens fells and peaceful location on the banks of the River Eden, Pendragon Castle is situated on private land, but accessable to the public. And indeed it was once a residence of Lady Anne Clifford. No entry fee.
Penrith Castle.
Penrith Castle. The red ruins of Penrith Castle are the first building you may see on arriving here by train. Located opposite the railway station, Penrith Castle looks out over the market town of Penrith and is free to look around. In it’s day the castle offered protection from Scottish invaders and was home to Richard III before he became King. An adjoining park gives ample opportunity for exercising the dog and it’s a short walk into town.
Stately Homes & Gardens.
The Eden Valley is home to several country houses with gardens and/ or grounds that are pawfect to look around with a four-legged friend.
Acorn Bank.
Acorn Bank. The National Trust looks after the gardens, wider estate and water mill at this lovely sandstone property dating back to the 17th century. We often bring our Labrador here for a walk around the woodland ,which is especially beautiful in the Spring. However it is the pretty walled gardens that are Acorn Banks crowning glory, unfortunately though dogs aren’t permitted. Happily the courtyard cafe is dog friendly and on working water mill days dogs can accompany their owners to witness the mill in operation. Entry £4.50 adults, £2.50 children. Free to members.
Brougham Hall.
Brougham Hall Dating back to the 14th Century, Brougham Hall near Penrith is an ongoing restoration project after being saved from dereliction in the 1980s. Now home to a community of craftspeople, Brougham hosts a number of artisanal shops including Graces Forge, Interlude Ceramics, Liz Jones Art and the Black Cat Gin Distillery. There’s a cosy dog friendly cafe too on site. Free entry.
Dalemain Mansion. Although this beautiful 17th century Country House doesn’t allow dogs in the gardens or on house tours, don’t discount it as somewhere to visit with your four legged friend. I particularly like to walk there through parkland from the nearby village of Dacre and enjoy a slice of ginger & marmalade cake in the dog friendly courtyard cafe. There’s usually the chance of observing the resident herd of Fallow Deer and you may even spot a Red Squirrel. Dalemain is famous for it’s annual Marmalade Awards!
Hutton-In-The-Forest.
Hutton-In-The-Forest. Of the manor houses mentioned, Hutton-In-The-Forest is probably the most dog friendly. The attractive residence near Skelton ,with its medieval pele towers and baroque central facade is surrounded by beautiful walled gardens. The gardens , estate and tea room all welcome dogs and the house runs a selection of events outdoors including Potfest in the park, Vintage car ralleys and Dog shows. Gardens entry adults £8, children free.
Stone Circles.
Long Meg & her daughters.
The Eden Valley is home to a number of ancient Stone Circles & Standing Stones. I found information on a few of them here. The most impressive is Long Meg & Her Daughters near Little Salkeld. It is said that the real Long Meg and her daughters were turned into stone for wildly dancing on the Sabbath. The mystical stones date back to the early Bronze Age and are one of the largest Stone Circles in England. There is a small car park nearby.
Nature Reserves.
Meadows, ancient woodlands and grasslands in the Eden Valley are home to wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, birds and other wildlife. Here are a few Nature Reserves you can visit with your dog.
Although there are an abundance of bog and heath at Cliburn Moss near Penrith, much of the site is covered in Conifer Woodland, making for a pleasant circular woodland walk. Look out for Lesser butterfly orchid, Bog Bilberry, Woodpeckers and Red squirrels. Small parking area near entrance.
I love this beautiful upland meadow reserve, home to a herd of grazing Belted Galloway Cattle. Take in the hay meadow as you enter the reserve, thick with wildflowers in early Summer. Then head out on the short trail over wetland to the summit of Eycott Hill, for great views of the Lakeland fells. Eycott is near the village of Berrier and has a small car park. Keep dogs on leads near livestock.
We have yet to visit Smardale Gill near Kirkby Stephen, but it is definitely on my places to visit list. This reserve is on the site of a disused railway and features species rich grassland, limestone quarry and woodland. There are way marked paths & trails and two car parking areas. Smardale is home to the rare Scotch Argus Butterfly, various wildflowers including orchids and Red Squirrels. The striking structure of Smardale Gill Viaduct can be seen too.
Waterfalls.
Cumbria and The Lake District feature several beautiful cascading waterfalls including some in the Eden area.
Aira Force. Photo from the NT website.
Aira Force. This picturesque waterfall is probably the most famous of all Lakelands waterfalls and lies within the National Park and the Eden Valley. Looked after by the National Trust, Aira Force can be viewed on a 1 mile loop trail that takes in scenic woodland, Aira Beck and Gowbarrow Park. Water bowls are dotted around the park and in the dog friendly Tea Room. Car parking £5 or free to members.
Rutter Force.
Rutter Force. How lovely is the vista of Rutter Force , it’s falls dreamily cascade into Hoff Beck. Adjacent to an attractive sandstone watermill not far from Appleby, Rutter Force is such a scenic spot and especially so viewed from the footbridge over the beck. Tiny parking area nearby or why not happen upon the falls on the riverside walk mentioned in the link.
Lake Steamers.
A great dog friendly way to explore Ullswater is via the Lake Steamer service that links pretty lakeside villages , hop on and off hikes and magnificent Lake District scenery. Ullswater Steamers have been running on Ullswater for more than 160 years and at present there are 5 beautiful heritage boats in service. All steamers have open & sheltered outside seating areas, indoor saloons,licenced bar & toilet facilities. Dogs are also welcome in the pier houses at Glenridding & Pooley Bridge. Ticket prices vary depending on the length of your trip. Dogs travel for a pound.
All aboard the Ullswater Steamer.
Sculpture Trails.
We are slowly ticking off visiting the Eden Benchmarks Sculptures along the River Eden. Unlike the Bowland Climber who fairly whipped through them, took some wonderful photos and blogged about the Eden Benchmarks here. There are ten to find altogether starting from the Edens source at Mallerstang and ending at Rockcliffe, where the river flows into the Solway.
There are actually three heritage railways in The Eden Valley and they all let dogs travel for free on their locomotives. Our Labrador Hugo has so far only ridden on the South Tynedale Railway , a 2ft narrow gauge line, which runs from the North Pennines market town of Alston to the village of Slaggyford , over the border in Northumberland. Heritage Railways are run by lovely volunteers and are great attractions to visit with your dog.
One of the most picturesque railway journeys in England is of course The Settle To Carlisle Railway, which meanders through remotely beautiful parts of the Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley. Dogs are welcome and travel for free. We must do a trip with Hugo in 2024.
Lovely Places To Eat & Drink.
Decisions! Decisions! The Eden Valley is home to so many dog friendly cafes & pubs, that it’s just impossible to mention them all here. I’ve decided to include some of my own personal favourites and add a couple of places that are on my ever expanding ‘ to go to’ list.
Because The Eden Valley is so close to The Lake District National Park, one would be forgiven for heading there to the lakes and fells. However Eden itself is wonderful walking country and doesn’t suffer the crowds of Lakeland. Two of the valleys towns ‘Alston’ & ‘Kirkby Stephen’ have achieved ‘ Walkers are Welcome’ status. Here are just a tiny taster of walks you can enjoy with a four-legged-friend. As ever, be mindful and follow the countryside code and always keep dogs on lead when around livestock.
Melmerby Fell.
Fell walks.
To my shame we’ve only managed one fell walk! But we have done it twice..The hike on the photo is Melmerby Fell on a gorgeous April day in 2023. Not a soul in sight!
If you like your fell walks Eden has plenty, most are part of The North Pennines range.
Ladies Walk Edenhall ~ I have definitely mentioned this short circular route on blog posts, but never got round to doing a full post. It’s one we do alot with Hugo from the pretty village of Edenhall, through woodland, along the River Edenand back, passing cornfields in the Summer months. Hugo loves splashing about in the river and the woodland is cooler for him on a hot day.
We’ve known about the existence of The Black Labrador , a former 16th Century Coaching Inn, for a few years now. And it’s taken us far too long to visit with our own lovely Labrador ! We remedied that one weekend in January.
Hidden away down country lanes in Cumbria”s beautiful Lyth Valley, the pub is a friendly eatery with real ales on tap, two roaring open fires and a light and modern dining extension.
The Black Labrador. Pub Sign. Posing.
After encouraging Hugo to pose for a photo outside ( can you tell that Wil is holding up a treat?) , we headed indoors past an assortment of walking sticks for sale and a welcoming wood burning stove. Having booked over the phone ( I’m glad we did as the beaters from a pheasant shoot and their working dogs almost filled the place!) , we were shown to our table by a friendly member of staff, who offered Hugo water and gave him a dog biscuit.
Sticks for sale. Roaring 🔥 fire. Dining extension. Photo from the Black Labradors Facebook page. Spot the labrador.
The menu offers a good selection of dishes made from locally sourced produce and we were happy with our choices. 🙂
Wils Tempura King Prawns. My Cartmel Valley Pigs in Blankets. Wils Gammon with egg & pineapple and chips. My Lobster & Crab Ravioli.
Lunch was delicious 😋 and afterwards we moved onto one of those comfy sofas by the fire for a coffee. Who could resist! Well I’m saying coffee. I actually ordered an affogato, with a Lyth Valley twist. The area is famous for it’s many damson trees ( apparently the blossom in Spring is stunning) so mine came with a shot of damson gin.
By the fire. Affogato dessert.
In a previous life The Black Labrador was actually called The Punch Bowl, but because there is also a Punch Bowl pub in the next village, the current owners decided to rename the pub as a homage to their two pet black labs. An excellent idea i think!
We enjoyed our visit and hopefully we will return in the Spring or Summer, maybe find a local walk such as the one up nearby Scout Scar.
Let me know if you’ve ever taken your Dalmatian to the Spotted Dog or your Moggie to the Cat & Custard Pot. Would love to know. 😁🐶😺
A New Year and I imagine, new walks! I have also been looking back at walks I’ve done over the years ,especially those with a specific point of interest. Join me as I look back on walks to find…….
Snowdrops & Acconites at Dalmain in Cumbria.
Snowdrops. I don’t know about you, but the sight of snowdrops in January and February gives me such a lift. These dainty looking ( and very hardy) harbingers of Spring pop up alongside rivers and carpet woodland. Since Victorian times they have become a symbol of purity and hope. Quite a few stately homes and parks organise snowdrop walks ( usually in February ) , so it’s a good idea to check online if there are any nearby.
Two years ago we found swathes of snowdrops at Dalemain in Cumbria . Last years display at NT Acorn Bank was beautiful too and Eunice from Life In The Mouse house blogged about her walk around the grounds of Lytham Hall In Lancashire . Let me know if you have seen any snowdrops yet in 2024.
Anthony Gormley statues on Crosby Beach.
Naked Men. I think I am long overdue another visit to Another Place. 😊 This is the name of the Antony Gormley art installation on the sands of Crosby Beach near Liverpool, featuring 100 cast iron statues of the artists own naked body. Dotted along 3 miles of coastline and looking out to sea, the statues have become an iconic landmark since their arrival on these shores in 2005. My post is quite old now but here’s a promising looking Walk I found online.
Cotton Grass, Little Mell Fell near Ullswater.
Bog Cotton. Find a fell, any fell ,and you may just be lucky enough in early Summer to find yourself surrounded by Cotton Grass blowing in the breeze. The Wildlife trust describes this vision of loveliness as ‘ like someone has thrown a giant bag of cotton wool balls across the landscape’ , they are not wrong! We did the short hike up Little Mell Fell in the Northern Lakes last year. Check out The Hiking Household for this family friendly walk.
Swanside Packhorse Bridge, Chatburn, Lancs.
A Packhorse Bridge. Don’t you think there is something magical about an old Pack Horse Bridge. Packhorse bridges were built from the 17th century onwards to allow packhorses transportation over rivers and streams. They are often found deep in the countryside along old droving routes. The one above in The Ribble Valley features on my blog from 2021 Weekend Wanderings.
Meanwhile check out Michael’s blog Down By The Dougie for his post about Ashness Bridge in the Lake District and Devon & Cornwall blog Treks & Tors for lots and lots ( and lots) of bridges. 😁
Bluebells in Flakebridge Woods, Cumbria.
Bluebells. Is there a more beguiling sight in late Spring than a violet haze of beautiful bluebells carpeting the woodland floor. Our native bluebells are an indicator of ancient woodland , a symbol of fairy enchantment (some say fay folk ring the bells before meeting up) and they give off a divine fragrance too. I have loved walking through bluebell woods in Barbon , Whalley and Flakebridge . But where to in 2024….
Perhaps I can seek out the best Bluebell Woods via The Woodland Trust website.
Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales.
Waterfalls. I do love a good Waterfall Walk and the UK has plenty of them. And there are varying names for the word Waterfall too. Around the country you may come across falls, forces, fosses, snouts and spouts! One of my favourite waterfall walks is The Ingleton Falls Trail in The Yorkshire Dales ,which passes 8 waterfalls of varying sizes. Another walk I enjoyed in the Dales featured Stainforth Force above.
So perhaps the best waterfall walks are in Yorkshire? Melodie from Our Lake District Escapades would disagree, here’s her post about Aira Force in the Lakes.
Mandarin Duck, Strid Wood, Bolton Abbey.
Autumn Colours. Come September and October, our woodlands become spectacles of colour, reds, yellows, orange and gold. The male mandarin duck above sports his striking ( quite autumnal shades, I feel) all year round , his photo is here because he looks especially dapper against an autumnal backdrop. I saw mandarin ducks, other wildlife and autumn colours on a spooky walk at Bolton Abbey back in 2018. For information about the best walks to admire the season in all its vibrant glory check out this country file article. 🍁
Trig Points. Many of the bloggers I follow love their walks, especially those that go up a hill! I can’t say I’m really one of those bloggers, however even I feel a sense of satisfaction when I’ve huffed up a fell and am rewarded by far reaching views. The concrete pillars known as Trig Points were erected by the Ordnance Survey , quite often at the highest point of a prominent hill, though I believe there are a few low level trigs too.
Are you a trig bagger? At the moment some friends of ours are seeking out all the Trig Points in Lancashire, there are over 100. Who knew!
Meanwhile here are a few bloggers trig point walks. Bowland Climber on a quest to find the Nicky in Nicky Nook. The Glasgow Galivanter hikes uphill to meet the Three Brethren and Ruth of Walking Away bags a trig atop Periton Hill.
Alice Nutter Statue in Roughlee, Lancashire.
Witches. If like me, you live in the shadow of Pendle Hill , you may have walked in the footsteps of 12 people, all accused of witchcraft in the 17th Century. The accused became known as The Pendle Witches and were led on foot through the Pendle countryside to be put on trial in Lancaster. Most were found guilty and hanged. Very insufficient evidence and mass hysteria contributed to their demise, and today most people would agree that those convictions were unsafe and erm, codswallop. Still, Pendle Hill remains a beautiful yet mysterious place full of witchy walks such as this Pendle & Clarion House walk.
sunshine and celandines 