|
BB2006
: Frustrated by the Sun?
Thursday
6th February 2020
It
might seem very strange in mid-winter to
be frustrated by sunshine but that proved
to be the case today.
.jpg)
We
had planned to travel to Brotherswater to
climb up to examine Caudale Quarry and then
continue to John Bell’s Banner on the top
of Caudale Moor, a route by which I had
never travelled before. After crossing
over Stony Cove Pike we would descend by
what sounds like “Past Your Bottom” but
that is not how it is spelt; again, a route
not previously experienced.
However,
come the day the mountain forecast was for
fog, not just mist, all day long. Helvellyn
might poke its head out above the clouds
but not the lesser fells.
That
didn’t worry me too much. We had the
hardware and software to cope with fog and
if all went wrong and we couldn’t see hands
before faces, there was a wall at the top
that could have led us safely down to the
Kirkstone Inn. Provided, I reminded
the boys, that we keep each other in close
sight at all times.
However,
the consensus was that there was not a lot
of joy in going to see new places but not
being able to actually see them when we
got there. Masochists, Bryan and SAS
only. Instead, we opted for a low
level circuit on the tracks around Sour
Howes and Sallows with maybe the possibility
of climbing one or both in the unlikely
event of the fog lifting.
I
don’t know what had gone wrong at the Met
Office. I just hope the same mistake
has been made about the prediction of 80
mph winds this coming weekend.
It
was clear at the Dubbs Reservoir. Yes,
there was some low cloud in the Troutbeck
Valley and also on the fell tops but not
much of it. It was lifting to reveal
a bright, clear day.
.jpg)
We
had no hesitation in leaving the Garburn
Road track to climb Sour Howes and likewise
to continue round the rim to Sallows and
lunch. The frustrating thing was that
we could clearly see Caudale Moor, like
most of the rest of the Lake District, in
full sun. There would not have been
any problem.
.jpg)
Or
to spin it round the other way, there would
have been no opportunity to practice bad
weather navigational skills (which, of course,
Bryan- currently in Patagonia or somewhere
down there with Terry- would have considered a much
better activity for us).
There
was a cold breeze blowing but, when as we
descended via Scour Rigg.....
.jpg)
....
above the Kentmere hamlet, things were almost
summer-like.
.jpg)
The
return to the car, parked at the start of
the Dubbs Road, was a gentle stroll along
ancient lanes, passing some fine houses
en-route. Two in particular caught
the eye.
The
first, a large white house, had a flag flying
in the garden. Unfortunately the breeze
wouldn't let it flutter kindly enough for
me to get a decent picture. What is
that flag?
The
second, an even larger and grander house,
High Borrans.
.jpg)
Now
North Tynesides Council's outdoor education
centre, it was built in the 1880s as a sporting
lodge for a wealthy Liverpool shipping family.
In 1935 it was bought by Sir Arnold
Somervell, the owner of K Shoes of Kendal.
During the Second World War High Borrans
was used to house evacuee children from
the North East. It was subsequently
bought by Tynemouth Borough Council to be
used as an outdoor education centre. If
you want to know more about the story of
the house, you might like to buy the book-
High Borrans - A History. On
the other hand, if you feel £55.99
is a bit over your budget, just click on
High
Borrans.
.jpg)
No
red squirrels today as we walked along Moorhowe
Road to the car, unlike last time Margaret
and I were there (GLW1806).
.jpg)
What
had threatened to be a rather formidable
and challenging day turned out to be a pleasant
stroll in the sun. Caudale Quarry
will just have to wait for another day.
I think we can cope with that sort
of frustration.
Don,
Thursday 6th February 2020
PS
The same flag is flying at a house between
Sandside and Milnthorpe. See photo
on the right. Please can someone identify
it?
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
