BB2418 : What's for Lunch?

Thursday 30th May 2024

“Let’s go and see the Ospreys,” said Robert.  That sounded a good idea.  We knew there was a pair breeding at Foulshaw Moss and also that there was a viewing hide. I’d seen one such bird sat on its nest via its online webcam.  It would be good to see them in real life.

We parked near Raven’s Lodge, below Whitbarrow Scar....

..... then crossed the A590 via a track with its own underpass.  This led us to Stakes Moss, and along a path not much visited by humans.  We needed to cross the wide dyke.  Robert was confident there was a bridge but, when we reached it, clearly it had been a long time since anyone had actually used it and we certainly weren’t brave enough to try. 

Fortunately there was another one a little further on and we were then able to join the Cumbria Coastal Way (which, most unhelpfully, is not marked on the latest OS map).

As it was fenced off, we wondered if we might be allowed to climb onto the embankment wall.  There was a man mowing the grass with a machine perched at a remarkable angle. 

On closer inspection we saw that it had tracks, not wheels, and that it was being operated by remote control.  We asked if it was ok for us to climb onto the embankment and were told that as far as he was concerned it was.  In other words “I don’t own it so you can do what you like.”  We did and it greatly improved the vista as now we could see across the estuary. 

Also, it offered a fine viewpoint to stop and have a coffee.  We hadn’t brought food as we anticipated being back at the Hare and Hounds in time for lunch.

We followed the Coastal Way for quite some distance then branched inland to Ulpha where a rather splendid model aircraft was entertaining us. 

At Faraway, we turned to take a track to the farm.  Robert was convinced that it would take us through to the Ospreys and well it might had we been prepared to wade the deep bogs that the farm lady warned us about, although avoiding them added considerably to the length of the walk and the delay for food.

Again there was an underpass under the A590 though this one was traffic light controlled.  We emerged close to the Derby Arms and I confess I was sorely tempted to enter and eat there but we were on a mission.  After a mile and a half of unexciting road slog we had to cross back over the A590.  This time, actually using the tarmac.  It is a notorious road but fortunately a gap soon opened up for us.

Further down the lane, we reached the visitor centre and I confess that if they had a café I would have stopped to eat.  But they didn’t, so we paid and headed along the boardwalks to the Osprey View point where there were quite a few hopeful people.

A very helpful man was explaining the migratory habits- how the male and female flew, a few days apart, 6,000 miles to different parts of Africa, stayed apart for six months then somehow returned within hours of each other to the same nest.  The pair at Foulshaw had done this for eleven years.  It was known that they were the same birds as they had been ringed.

Today, the Osprey were not there- they were seeking food, lucky things.  However their chicks were.  The nest was 1 kilometre away but we could see them clearly.  There were two that had hatched just a few days ago.  Apparently there was a third egg but that was not expected to produce a live chick.  How could we see them so clearly?  Not with the monster telescope provided but on the man’s ipad which was linked to the cameras near the nest.  Bearing in mind that I had watched the nest in similar fashion at home the previous night, I was somewhat underwhelmed.

We returned to the A590.  I’d arrived first and fortunately crossed quickly and without incident.  The others had to wait for a gap.  Just as they set off to cross, a military jet flew over at what seemed about 50 feet and making a tremendous noise.  I was concerned that this might have distracted them mid-road and endangered their lives but fortunately not.

As per our plan we returned to the Hare and Hounds where I was looking forward to our now rather late lunch. 

It had been a pleasant walk, especially along the estuary, in weather that was far better than forecast with the added bonus of meeting Martin at the pub.  We asked for the menu.  Unfortunately, our adventure had taken much longer than expected.  It was now after 3 pm and they had stopped serving!  Never mind, what more lunch does a BOOTboy need than a couple of jars and a packet of crisps?

Don,  Thursday 30th May 2024

Relive

To Relive Robert's take on our adventure (with a different set of photos), click on the picture below.

Comitibus:  

Stuart,        Terry,        Robin (+ Holly),        Robert,        Don

Map:  Hug map level 9

A Quiz Question :

Our American correspondant, John B, thought that the BOOTboys might be interested in a quiz question posed recently by a BBC radio program.

Which Borough Treasurer's list might include the main thoroughfare of any town, the companion of Mr Smith and Mr Jones, something you might attach to the collars of felines, and (very nearly) where orphan Anne Shirley grows up?

Any suggestions as to whom it refers and the contents of the list?

STATISTICS

BB2418 :  What's For Lunch?

Date:

Thursday 30th May 2024

Features:

Foulshaw Moss

Distance in miles:

10.3

Height climbed in feet:

170

GPX track:

BB2418.gpx

Comitibus:

Don, Robert, Robin (+ Holly), Stuart, Terry

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