GLW1607 : Norber Erratics

Sunday 3rd July 2016

At teacher training college many years ago, Margaret's specialist subject was geography, a topic in which geology plays a not insignificant part. I thought therefore that she would be interested to see the Norber Erratics which have featured three times on BOOTboys walks- BB1134, BB1212, BB1617.

Presented, thanks to Emma, with a day excused from Granny duty we decided to pay them a visit. With us were Ian and Cynthia, back in training for the next long distance walk- The Windermere Way which we all hope to start soon.

The threat of rain had passed by the time we drove through Austwick and parked on Thwaite Lane.

A gentle rise across the fields leads onto the open fell with a steeper but short climb up to the area of the glacial debris known as erratics.

Non-indigenous boulders were brought down by the glaciers and deposited on the lower hills which are of different material.

Millennia of rain have washed away the soil and rubble, leaving behind some unusual rock structures standing on top of the limestone ground.

We wandered around the area looking at the various formations.

I have discovered from previous visits that sometimes you find some really interesting ones, other times the ones you see are not that spectacular. Today was sadly more towards the latter category than the former. Interesting but not many with the VERY factor.

Once erraticated, we continued along Long Scar where in the distance we could see the massive limestone pavement and the precipitous Moughton Scars drop to the valley.

This was our turning point where we dropped down to Crummack and the track that eventually returned us to the car.

We stopped at the Game Cock Inn in Austwick, a pub I have raved about before (BB1617). Once again there were delicious treats on the bar- this time brilliant Yorkshire puddings with various fillings- smokey ham in mine. This is a place I have wanted to take Margaret for one of our brief "escapes". Judging by the tasters, the food must be fantastic and it seems a great place to stay after a day out on the hills. However when I made enquiries previously, none of their five bedrooms had en-suite facilities and we are beyond the age of happily traipsing down public corridors in the middle of the night when nature calls. Not anticipating any change, I asked if any of their rooms now had their own bathrooms. No was the answer but they will have by January.

Guess where we will be heading as soon as we can in the New Year!

Don, Sunday 3rd July 2016