BOOTboys

BB1935 : Trick or Treat?

Thursday 31st October 2019

All Hallows Eve. Trick or treat?

Time constraints, for me at least, ruled out a long, high day, much to the relief of the others who didn’t fancy being tricked by 40 mile an hour gusts of wind. At least we would be treated to some fine weather- quite a turnaround from the awful forecast of a few days previous.

Loughrigg was the chosen destination but now that the clocks have gone back you really need to think through what the angle of the sun will be at various times of the day and the shade effect on the terrain. Sometimes the direction and strength of the wind is in trick mode versus the sun conclusion. Anti-clockwise from the Rothay Park Bridge, Ambleside, was the solution.

We ambled up the leisurely path that winds up to the caves.

I related the tale of Margaret and I being appalled at someone seemingly disturbing the peace and quiet of the hills with a ghetto blaster only to discover that it was actually a choir rehearsing delightfully in the lower cave. Magical. One of the greatest treats I can recall on the hills. No choir this time but the upper cave was explored as per usual.

Loughrigg Terrace is a delightful place to walk at any time of the year and, thanks to the autumn colours, the views didn’t disappoint. Quite a treat.

The climb to the summit is a different matter. It is steep and has one of the earliest attempts at making a stone staircase up the fells. Some of the slabs are trick steps made for much longer legs than mine!

It was busy up there, not surprisingly given the day and the views. However we were now in strong cold wind territory. We moved on for our lunch stop. A group of cyclists came by. We treated them to some valuable information by asking if they were aware that they were not on a bridle path. It turned out that they didn’t realise. They thanked us kindly for the advice, picked up their bikes, slung them over their shoulders and gratefully strode off up the hill.

Our next target was Lily Tarn but not before climbing the small tops at the south end of the fell, offering an unparalleled view of the northern end of Windermere.

Another treat.

Actually Lily Tarn is a misnomer. There is a very small tarn nearby that is full of water lilies but none to be seen where the name says there should be!

Nevertheless, it too is a treat. A delightful tarn. So nice, in fact, that I can’t understand why Terry seems to have totally given up the treat of skinny dipping. Although I wouldn’t call that sight a treat.

All that remained was the pleasant descent back to the cars. Unfortunately I had to dash off so can’t report what the others then did for trick or treating but I have a pretty good idea!

Don, Thursday 31st October 2019

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A Circular Ramble With Wings

A further instalment of Terry's Lewisian adventure:

The forecast was for sunshine so it was time to put on my shorts and boots and head for Carloway (Gaelic: Carlabhagh) and and new route.

Parking the car next to the Blue Pig gallery, I set off down the narrow road to Borghastan (sounds like an ex Soviet country). It was interesting to see the stacks of peat outside some of the crofts, all ready to provide winter fuel.

Pretty soon I was on a track and up to the headland, providing great views over Carloway Pier.

Climbing over the next hillside I could see clearly the remains of the township of Laimisiadair. This settlement was abandoned in 1796 as part of the Highland Clearnces. A shameful chapter of history when the islanders were ‘cleared’ off the land to make way for sheep, which proved to be more profitable for the landowners.

Further on along the coast I could now see the lighthouse. I’d never seen a square one before, whatever happened to tradition! It looks more like a Tardis.

Looking out to sea I could see the green island of Craigeam, further west Seana Chnoc and even the silver sands of little Bernera.

Every turn of the coast provided amazing views of steep cliffs and pounding waves. Fortunately it wasn’t too windy, so I could get close to the edge - it would give Beverley the screaming abdabs!

Another mile or so and I could see my next landmark, the Blackhouses of Garrenan.

In addition to being hostel type accommodation and a museum, there is a cafe, so of course I had to have a brief stop for a coffee (and cake, naturally).

The remaining walk would be 15 mins up the road back to the car. However just as I rounded the hill after Garrenan, I saw a man in a high vis jacket with a very large owl on his arm. We stopped to chat and Iain (friends in minutes) said come over to see my other birds - we were meters away from his garden where he had 6 other birds of prey all sitting on posts. Before not too long I had a Harris Hawk on my arm....

It was typical warmth and friendliness of the islanders and I finally left promising to drop In for a coffee next time I was passing. His young Spectacled owl was a cutie.

Back to car and a reading of 6.9 miles and more great memories of this brilliant island.

Terry, October 2019

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Comitibus:

Comitibus: Don, Terry, Mike, Martin, Stan, Tony

Map: OS 1:25k

STATISTICS	BB1935 : Trick or Treat?
Date:	Thursday 31st October 2019
Features:	Loughrigg
Comitibus:	Don, Martin, Mike T, Stan, Terry, Tony
Distance in miles (Garmin):	7.3
Height climbed in feet (OMN):	1,625
GPX track	BB1935.gpx

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