BB1512 : The Limestone Part of the Link

Thursday 2nd April 2015

One of the less well known Long Distance Walks is the Limestone Link.

Mike was very concerned, thinking I had lost my marbles in contemplating a 36 miler seeing as he, and others, had to be back home by 4 p.m..  If that weren't bad enough, we first had to drive to the Cotswolds for the start.  And then return from the Mendips.

Fortunately, the Limestone Link I had in mind is the rather shorter and even less well known Cumbrian one, stretching only 13 miles from Arnside to Kirkby Lonsdale.

It's not all on limestone.  In fact, its first section from Arnside to Hazleslack can be exceedingly boggy as we found out on BB1403.  Also the stretch from Hutton Roof to Kirkby Lonsdale looked as if it could get a bit muddy.  But the bits inbetween are mainly on limestone which does tend to drain better than most surfaces.  

The Limestone part of the Cumbrian Link, therefore, seemed to be a good solution for finding somewhere reasonably dry underfoot after all the rain we have suffered in the last few days and permitting an early finish.  

Unfortunately, we could find nowhere to park at Hazleslack so had to add a bit on, beginning from Carr Bank.  That just meant we had to walk a little bit faster.

The first feature was Hazelslack Tower which I have passed several times before but never noticed its guardian pigs.

The path led us through Underlaid Wood to Fairy Steps which seemed narrow than on previous visits.  Or am I getting cuddlier?

The section from Slack Head to Hale was quite new to me and made slightly more difficult to navigate due to the rotten state of several of the fingerposts.

Don looks at the sign post and it falls over!  MIke repairs.

You get the distinct impression that someone doesn't want you there. Fortunately the way markers improved as we got deeper into the attractive woodland growing over an impressive set of clints and grikes.

At Hale we found a house outside which was a plaque that surpised us.  It is dedicated to John Taylor 1808 - 1897.  The text tells us that he was a "Prophet, seer, revelator, and the third and only English-born President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

  Formation geese

Tony checks out the fishing

We crossed the valley to Holme and emerged on the A6070.

Arriving at Holmepark Fell, we stopped for lunch and debated whether or not to leave the official route and visit Farleton Knott.  In the end we decided that we didn't have time so pressed on towards Hutton Roof via the surprisingly Germanic sounding Uberash Plain (Überraschung is German for surprise).  This was a pleasant section on a lightly wooded path with clear views over to The Howgills, Middleton Fell and down to Ingleborough.

Ingleborough

The walk concluded with the descent through the limestone cliffs via the wonderfully named Blasterfoot Gap and down to the village.

I can recommend this Limestone Link. Next time- the Cotswolds to the Mendips?

Don, Thursday 2nd April 2015

Lady Anne's Crypt Opened

The BBC quoted The Rev Sarah Lunn, team Rector for the Heart of Eden team ministry, as saying: "There's been a sense of reverence throughout all of this important work. When all the work is completed we will of course conduct a special service for the reburial of any disarticulated and ancient bones."

For further information about Tony's interest in this remarkable lady see:
BB1211 & BB1422 plus shorter items in BB1305 , BB1326 & BB1407

Greetings from Panboche

Terry reported on Sunday 29th March:  

We have just completed the 7th day of the trek and legs & heart are doing well - but not sleeping great!

The trail has been hard and tomorrow we are tackling the Ama Dablam base camp. The route is 3 hours up and mostly on snow.

The views have been absolutely spectacular and will send one to follow - if wifi permits!

It did permit, see his photo of Ama Dablam from the Monastery in Tengboche (below right), although he still has not been able to update his blog Everest Base Camp and Much More.

Thanks to Wikipedia from which the information below was gleaned.

Pangboche is located about 3 kilometres northeast of Tengboche at an altitude of 13,074 feet (3,985 m). It is base camp for climbing nearby Ama Dablam.

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1512 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

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.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.
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Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see Which Wainwright When?
This may or may not be up to date!

For the latest totals of the mileages, heights and Lakeland Fells Books Wainwrights see: Wainwrights.
Ditto warning!

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BOOTboys 2015

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