BB1334 : Muddy Boots Welcome

Thursday 3rd October 2013

Three cheers for the Wheatsheaf in Ingleton.

Why?

Well, the day kicked off with a debate about where to go when a day threatens rain, sooner or later in the afternoon.  Why not Ingleton?  If the top of Ingleborough is clear we can go up there and if not then have a stroll round the villages to the west.

Crina Bottom with Ingleborough vanishing

The visibility got worse as we climbed.  By the time we reached the top, it was vital to remain within close range of each other.  Visibility was very curtailed. Finding the route off was a challenge (not dissimilar to BB0725).  My GPS seemed to be playing up. Fortunately Stan with his instinctive navigation (it had to be instinctive as he had forgotten his reading glasses) took us the right way.

We headed on down, past Little Ingleborough, via the extensively paved Clapham route before realising that, to be sure of avoiding the incoming rain, we needed to traverse to pick up the less distinct path to Newby Cote, rather than continue on the longer route past Gaping Gill.  Another benefit was a shorter road slog.

For such a poor day, we were amazed at the number of folk we had seen out on the fell- all in groups. On the way up we found a group of trainee squaddies learning how to squeeze five people under an emergency cover.  

Several other groups that looked like similar youths emerged from the gloom near the summit.  Then on the return we passed a large group of young ladies on a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award trip.

It was frustrating as we walked along the Old Road that the weather seemed to have improved and Ingleborough was no longer in cloud.  However, the air became damp as we arrived back at Ingleton and the rain began during refreshments. The wisdom of not continuing to Clapham was confirmed.  Clothes (and bodies) would have become very wet; legs and spirits would have been severely drained. Boots even muddier. Nevertheless, we would eventually have found a welcome at the Wheatsheaf.

Why?

Because the inviting sign outside the door proudly boasts Muddy Boots Welcome.

They were.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Don, Thursday 3rd October 2013

Aah!  BLISCO

It seems I am not alone in speculating how Blisco got its name (see B1333).

Steve G tells me that he has always been intrigued by the name Pike O'Blisco as it sounded so out of kilter to other surrounding fell names. He adds that:

The oft consulted local expert Mark Richards says in his Great Mountain Days in the Lake District that its true name is  "Pike of the Howe of Blisc".

It would be interesting to know what his source is for this as old maps from the 1800s show it as Pike of Blisco.

Steve argues that as most Cumbrian Fell names seemed to be derived from Old Norse, a cursory glance at Wikipaedia suggests maybe it's a corruption of Býleistr (blist/blisc?)

Perhaps this is stretching it a bit but I suppose it would be nice to think it's named after a Norse Mythological Giant and also answers the Who (and) the What!

Another theory is that It derives from the ancient Anglo/Latino term O'bliscontosis, a herbal and mineral fusion believed to help ease the symptoms of bloated bladder.

Judge for yourself how far the tongue is inserted into the cheek.

Any other suggestions?

More Summit Plaques

Another interesting summit plaque reported by Bryan is set in the slate bench at the top of High Pike in the Northern Fells. You can read more about it at Wikipedia which also mentions a plaque on the summit trig point and a shelter made from a shepher's cottage.

Today we discovered a small plaque at the summit of Ingleborogh commemorating Erin's Walk 2009, presumably an event in memory of Erin.   

None of these mention the name of the hill so Bryan's contribution is not a direct response to Steve G's quest for plaques naming the summit.  It does serve to widen the debate, however.

Any more summit cairns of interest?

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1334 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - see: Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see: BB Log.

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me! Likewise written comment.  Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.  
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