Distance 2 miles
Weather Overcast Company Kinny & Dinty I would not normally consider a walk of two miles worthy of inclusion in my records but it was a pleasant stroll and I think the photos are worth looking at. The only downside to the day was when I dropped my new camera into the river. Distance 9.3 miles
Weather Fine & Sunny with a light breeze. Company Solo For the next couple of weeks I will be a 'billy no mates' because my usual bike & boot buddies are unavailable for different reasons. However I enjoy walking on my own so that is not a problem. Today's walk is another old favourite to the Mulgrave estate and the old castle. Actually there are three castles on the site besides the one I visited. The first was 'motte & Bailey' castle dating from the 6th century of which only the motte remains hidden in the woods. The second castle built in 1120 has somewhat murky past and was eventually destroyed in 1647 after being twice besieged during the civil war. Since then the ruins have been 'romanticised' on one one occasion and in the late 1990s a certain amount of reconstruction and conservation was carried out. The new castle is a crenellated Manor house built in about 1700 by Catherine Darnley, an illegitimate daughter of King James the second, It is now the home of Lord Normanby (Lordy to the locals) and as I have never been invited to tea I have never had the pleasure of seeing the inside Distance 6.2 miles
Weather Overcast with occasional cloud (of midges). Raining for last half mile. Company Mal & Terry The last time I walked on Blencathra was in August 2007. At that time I was well overweight and totally unfit. In fact, if it had not been for my companion at the time, I would have turned back long before I reached the top and when I did get there I had a severe attack of cramp. In spite of that I really enjoyed my day out and since that time I have wanted to repeat the walk but never had the opportunity until yesterday. It was a long day for us, leaving Whitby at 7-30 am & driving to Barnard Castle to pick up one of our party (Terry), and then on to Mousthwaite Comb where we left the car and began our walk. Although we only walked six miles or so it was well worth the journey, the only drawback being the midges which descended on us for their lunch while we ate ours. Distance 6.1 miles
Weather Warm & sunny Company Solo Today was my last chance to break in a pair of new boots before I go on what should be the most strenuous walk I have undertaken for some time. On Friday (13th) a small group of us a driving over to the lake district to climb Blencathra. It should be good day out and will be a good work out as part of my training program. My route today was an easy walk from Whitby, along the permissive footpath alongside the railway line, returning by the causway and over Caedmon School field to town. I then made my way to the end of the West Extention before retracing my footsteps to the Battery and home along the beach. Distance 3.5 miles
Weather Bloody Awful most of the time Company Solo My origional intention was to walk from Honister & up to Inominate Tarn & Haystacks. I drove as far as the slate mine and when I saw the conditions I chickened out and decided that a low level walk would be a better idea. I parked the car at the institute at Rossenthwaite intending to do a circuit up towards Grange before turning back along Broadslack Gill and on to Seatoller before retuning to the car.Within a short time It was evident that I was in for a soaking so I cut my losses and after ascending Castle Crag, I made my way back to the car by the shortest route. OK, so I'm a wimp |