This short and easy walk starts and finishes at the Inn at Whitewell in the Hodder valley, it shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours and, although it can be a bit muddy at a couple of spots, is fairly easy going. It’s a popular place in the summer so can be very busy on sunnyContinue reading “Northwest Walks, a short walk around Whitewell”
Category Archives: #Yorkshire
Limekiln Landscapes; the Legacy of Bowland’s Limekilns
Hidden away deep in the Forest of Bowland, sagged and slumped under the weight of time and overgrown with mosses, ferns and lichens, lie relics of a once great industry; the manufacture of Quicklime. These unassuming structures, now mostly reclaimed by time and nature, were once vital to the agricultural and economic life of theContinue reading “Limekiln Landscapes; the Legacy of Bowland’s Limekilns”
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the name of the day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The word ‘shrove’ is the past tense of the English verb ‘shrive’, which describes the means by which to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and penance. On this day, Catholics are encouraged to go toContinue reading “Shrove Tuesday”
Admiring the Barns and Walls of Northwest England
The Northwest of England is home to some remarkably beautiful landscapes, shaped over millennia by traditional farming practices. It is a part of the world famous for its ancient drystone walls and barns, built from the bones of the land and woven seamlessly into its very fabric in such a way that manmade and naturalContinue reading “Admiring the Barns and Walls of Northwest England”
Skiing for Sheep, Chapter Two
On the western flank of Pendle, in a rather peculiar location that I can only surmise was chosen for its spectacular views, is one of the Ribble valley’s most unique and venerable sports venues, Pendle Ski Club. At the time of this story (1995) we were members and used the facilities quite a lot. (WeContinue reading “Skiing for Sheep, Chapter Two”
Skiing for Sheep, Chapter One
In January 1995 a snowstorm hit the North of England causing chaos in some parts of the region. Six people lost their lives in the ferocious blizzards, which were much earlier and more severe than forecast, villages and farms were cut off and thousands were stranded unable to make their way home. At the timeContinue reading “Skiing for Sheep, Chapter One”
Dalehead Chapel
Dalehead Chapel or St James’ is a very picturesque and sylvanian-appearing church set in Gisburn forest on the road from Tosside to Keasden, its present construction dates from the 1930’s when it was moved and rebuilt from its original location serving the village of Stocks-in-bowland which was flooded to make Stocks reservoir. It was originallyContinue reading “Dalehead Chapel”
The Common Stonefly
The Common Stonefly, Diura bicaudata, (Diura meaning ‘day’ and bicaudata meaning ‘two tailed’) is a common insect in the rocky cloughs and streams of our uplands. It belongs to the order Plecoptera (from the Greek, ‘pleated wing’), which is an ancient order of insects originating at least 250 million years ago. There are 34 speciesContinue reading “The Common Stonefly”
Northwest Nature and History 