BB1515 : Seven Notes To Self

Thursday 30th April 2015

Note to Self #1.:  
When researching what time the bus sets off from your chosen stop, make sure it goes where you think it goes.

The 555 does stop for pick-up at Brettargh Holt at around 9:40.  However, contrary to my assumption, it does not go via Hale on the A6.  You need the 755 for that and they are few and far between!

Note to Self #2.:  
If the bus doesn't go where you thought it would, make sure you have a map that covers where it does go!

But I do- it's on my Garmin 62S.

Note to Self #3.:
Don't rely on your Garmin.

Recharged batteries were dead and had to buy new batteries. Then, for a while, it had a mind of its own as to what section of the map it wanted to show me.

Those are my excuses for beginning from an unintended start point, Holme, and then pursuing an inefficient route via Holme Mills before reaching Hale.

It was not without interest however; particularly the Holme Mill ponds and the houses on the back lane to Hale.

Holme Mill pond

The whole point of starting from Hale was to see what we could see of Beetham Hall, another ancient building connected to Lady Anne Clifford (a name familiar to regular readers).

There is a path through the field to the west of the hall but you need to cross over to get a close look.  

Beetham Hall

We met the owner of the attached house who didn't seem to mind us having strayed but would not allow us to go into the ruin, presumably due to the risk to life.  

A bit strange really given that he is a funeral director and was suitably dressed to secure a new commission or two!

In its day, it must have been quite some house or to be more precise, a fortified mansion.

Our route then led us into Beetham itself where, after being released from the stocks, we visited the old Church, St Michael and All Angels, taking advantage of its porch for a lunching point.

A plaque in memory of a vicar's wife who died in 1768 praises her for being "an easy and agreeable acquaintance..... worthy of her sex's imitation".  Sadly she died aged 29.

An old track led to the entrance to the Dallam Towers Deer Park, passing on the way the stumps of felled trees in some of which holes had been cut.  Why?  To help them rot down faster or to encourage insects?

In Milnthorpe I told Tony the mystery of my father, aged 17, who visited his cousin at "the house with the brass knocker on the road from the railway station".  For years, only knowing about the Libby's Level station, I had searched in vain and it was not until quite recently that I learned there had been train halt at Heversham on the erstwhile Arnside to Hincaster line.  I had searched on the wrong road.

Last time I looked seriously, I found four potential candidates with brass knockers. Today I only noticed one but is it the right one?

Note to Self #4: 
As you have said to yourself previously, check the 1911 census.

I think Tony was more interested in the allotments with their hens and geese.

I had planned that we should travel the bed of the railway line behind Heversham.  I thought this had been opened up a few years ago to be the Heversham Trail.  Indeed, I remembered walking it not that long ago (BB1237). However despite a bit of exploration we couldn't find a sensible way down to it and anyway it looked boggy and possibly blocked.

Note to Self #5:
Find out more about what the  Heversham Trail actually is.

In the course of the exploration we saw a rather grand modern house and a rather fine old car.

Instead, we walked into the village where there was another old church to explore, St Peter's.  Perhaps the most interesting aspect, other than the ancient trunk, was that we were there whilst two men were servicing the organ so we had the benefit of a short impromptu concert.

At the back of the churchyard is a gateway that leads you up onto Heversham Head, a great viewpoint over the estuary to the south, the Lakeland hills to the north-west and Ingleborough to the south-east.

Heversham Head Millennium  Monument, looking out to the Kent Estuary

Looking over to Ingleborough

My original plan was to complete the walk via Hincaster and Levens Park but the initial diversion had taken too much time (or leg power) so we opted instead for the direct route past Levens Hall to the Strickland Arms for the inevitable.

Levens Hall

And, on looking to switch off the Garmin, to discover that the second (and new) set of batteries conked out in Heversham.  It had switched itself off.

Note to Self #6:  
You have to tell it if you use standard batteries, not rechargeables.   

On return to Kendal, we had one more visit to make- to Collinfield- another Lady Anne house that she used when on her tours.  It's a fine old building but now tightly enclosed in a modern estate.  You need to know where it is in order to find it.  You are very unlikely to chance upon it. Which is perhaps why it no longer seems to be used as a guest house even though its good Trip Advisor ratings remain on-line.

Above is presumably the door over which it is written:

NVNC MEA, MOX HVIVS SED POSTEA, NESCIO CVIVS

Which I am told means:

Now it is mine,
Formerly it was theirs,
But afterwards I know not to whom it will belong.

We know not to whom it now belongs, nor for what purpose.  
Nor, it would seem, does Trip Advisor.

Note to Self #7:  
Next time you rely on Trip Advisor, make sure the accommodation is still in business!

Don, Thursday 30th April 2015

Nepal Earthquake Disaster Update

Southern based and therefor only an occasional BOOTboy, Tim, wrote in response to last week's item on the disaster:

As you know, I have been to Kathmandu twice and to Everest Base Camp.  I can only echo totally the comments of Bryan, Terry, Philip and Graham .

Philip has forwarded a Rotary report from which the following is an extract:

On April 25, 2015, massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale that rocked the Himalayan nation has affected all over the country, mostly affecting central region which includes capital city Kathmandu, and historical places like Bhaktapur, Lalitpur.

More than 7,000 persons have suffered injuries after being buried under the collapsed structure.

An NEOC official estimated that more than 6.6 million people were directly affected and over one million of them rendered homeless.

Most of the affected families are desperately waiting for the relief and response, although rescue efforts are under way, there were also report of lack of coordination among government agencies responsible for search and rescue operations.

People from the worst hit district namely Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Gorkha and Dhading have complained of delayed aid. As authorities have failed to reach many VDCs, the toll is expected to reach further.

Above 16,000 doctors, nurses and health workers are providing medical services to the injured from the hospitals and health camps. Most the hospitals are completely occupied, there are no further rooms for the casualties so the patients are transferred to the open grounds where special health teams are organised for the services. Likewise, people are worried to stay inside their houses due to the uncertain of the quake believing it will return again, so nearly all of them are residing in the tents in open area.

You can read the full document by clicking on Situation Report.

Nepal Earthquake Appeals include those of Oxfam and Save the Children.

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1515 .

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 and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.

I apologise if I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed
copyright.  Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.

Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.

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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