These Boots....

Amazing Adders at Foulshaw Moss

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 13:30:00 +0000

September in Cumbria commenced on a beautiful sunny Sunday and a quick visit to Foulshaw Moss to see if there were any Ospreys still in residence seemed like a lovely way to pass an afternoon. The carpark was unusually full when we arrived; evidently quite a few people had the same idea we did!
We decided to wait for the crowds to disperse before checking the Osprey viewing area and instead we headed along the path at the top end of the carpark, which leads into a small wooded area. This proved to be a serendipitous choice for almost as soon as we set foot on the walkway we spotted a beautiful copper coloured female Adder basking in the afternoon sun.

A couple of feet away was a male Adder. He was well camouflaged in the dried bracken and so was a little more difficult to spot.

The Adder is the UK's only venomous snake, although its bite is rarely fatal. They are shy creatures and would always try to escape if disturbed, rather than attack. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, young birds, frogs and lizards, of which there are many at Foulshaw including this rather unusual green coloured one.

The Common Lizard is variable in colour, but is usually a brown/grey with darker spots and stripes.

Froglets and Bog Bush Crickets jumped this way and that; disturbed by our footsteps on the boardwalk.

Foulshaw is also home to Slow Worms, which despite looking like snakes are actually legless lizards. They feed on slugs, snails and worms and are often found in damp long grass. We were lucky to spot this pregnant female out in the open, as they normally hide away under logs, stones or corrugated iron sheets. They are often found in allotments and gardens, where they avail themselves of the warm and protective habitat that a compost heap provides.

Various Dragonflies were enjoying the early Autumn sunshine.

Other weird and wonderful creatures such as this Noon Fly put in an appearance.

A Fox Moth caterpillar scurried past.

Signs of Autumn were all around and the heather was in full bloom.

We didn't see any sign of the Ospreys; they appeared to have departed on their long journey to West Africa, where they spend the winter months. The sky began to darken as a heavy rain shower moved closer and so we headed back to the car before the heavens opened!

Thanks for visiting; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Greenodd to Haverthwaite on a cold and frosty January afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:30:00 +0000

The River Leven as it flows into Morecambe Bay at Greenodd

Slippery paths and frosted fields

Skittish flocks of Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare enjoy the winter sunshine but prove a bit difficult to photograph

A tranquil seat on the riverbank

A not so tranquil low flying jet

Cold reflections

Egret and Redshank peacefully search for food on the ebbing tide

Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man with a dusting of snow

Simpson Ground, Staveley in Cartmel

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 12:30:00 +0000

Millerbeck Light Railway

Fell Ponies

Simpson Ground Reservoir

St. Mary's Church, Staveley in Cartmel

Garlic galore and nesting Nutties in Millwood

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Tue, 15 May 2018 10:56:00 +0000

The wild garlic is in full bloom in Millwood. After a long cold winter it is so lovely to see fresh spring growth on the trees and the hint of a carpet of Bluebells to come in the next few weeks. The colours at this time of year are intense, as if Mother Nature has turned the vibrancy button up a few notches.

The woods were alive with birds busily collecting food for their young.

Mrs Mallard standing sentry over her three ducklings.

A Song Thrush fledgling patiently waiting for its parents to bring food.

A pair of Nuthatches had set up home in one of the many nesting boxes in the wood and were working hard to bring insects to their nestlings.

One out, one in!

We could have watched these gorgeous little birds all day!

Hopefully we will see their young when they fledge.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

A boat trip to the Isle of Muck

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Thu, 04 May 2017 08:30:00 +0000

We set off from Stag Cottage bright and early to catch our boat, the Laurenca II, from Laga Bay about an hour's drive away. As we drove along the shoreline of Loch Sunart once more, we spotted an Otter on the water's edge. We took that as a very good sign of a great day to come!

Soon we were leaving the jetty at Laga behind, heading out into the Loch.

Glorious blue skies and sunshine with Mount Resipol in the distance.

Common Terns were busy choosing prospective nest sites amongst flower studded rocky outcrops.

Seals were lazily basking in the sunshine.

We headed over to Bloody Bay on the nearby Isle of Mull, to see if we could spot the White-tailed Eagle eyrie. This blurry shot is about as close as I could get with my camera. After watching us for a while the Eagle took off and soared nonchalantly back over to the mainland, in the direction from which we had just come. I'm sure he was laughing at us.

An hour or so later we arrived at the pretty little harbour of Port Mòr on the Isle of Muck, the smallest of the Small Isles group. Muck has a permanent population of about 40, mainly living round the harbour. The island has been owned by the MacEwen family for over 100 years.

Out of necessity the residents are self-sufficient and rely on seasonal tourism to supplement their income. Recent financial ventures include driven grouse shooting and open sea salmon farming.
After sampling some tasty home made soup and bread at the friendly tearoom, served up by the wife of the Laird, no less, we set off for a short walk across the island.

A small graveyard on an adjacent stony hillside.

Rum, with Skye in the distance.

Eigg

After taking in the scenery and visiting a nearby seal colony it was time to stroll back to the harbour to board our boat again, ready for the return journey to Laga.

The Laurenca II bobbed against the jetty in the sunshine, awaiting our return.

Back on board and heading to the mainland we had a great view of the Small Isles behind us, with Skye in the distance.

Muck, Rum, Skye and Eigg

Our boat trip had been advertised as a whale watching trip, with whales, dolphins and porpoises often being seen in the area. We had almost given up hope of seeing anything when suddenly a Minke Whale surfaced close to our boat!

The Skipper cut the engine and we drifted for several minutes while the whale swam around and under the boat several times. Talk about exciting!

After completing his inspection of the boat, the whale reappeared at a distance, heading in the direction of the Isle of Mull. We waited a few minutes longer until it disappeared from our sight and continued our journey back to Laga, feeling very lucky indeed.

Returning to Laga Bay the skipper pointed out a herd of wild goats living on a small islet.

Our final nature experience was a colony of Shags and Cormorants nesting on the rocky cliffs at the edge of the Loch.

All in all we had a fantastic day with knowledgeable crew from Ardnamurchan Charters. The weather was perfect and seeing the Minke Whale was the icing on the cake.

Thanks for visiting my blog; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Click here to find out more about Ardnamurchan Charters

Click here to find out more about the Isle of Muck

Exploring the north shore of Loch Sunart

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Wed, 03 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Bound to the north by the Sunart district of Ardnamurchan and to the south by the Morvern district, Loch Sunart is a 19 mile long sea loch, parts of which are leased for the purposes of fish farming.

There is a local legend about a doomed love affair between a Celtic chieftain and a local girl. The Chieftan's mother opposed their marriage and turned the young girl into a swan to thwart the couple. Tragically the young man accidentally killed the swan while hunting and when he learned of her true identity he killed himself to join her at the bottom of the loch. Since then swans have supposedly been not been resident although I can't confirm if this is true!
Garbh Eilean
There is a multitude of other wildlife however, and a great place to observe it all from is the Garbh Eilean bird hide near the small village of Ardery.The hide overlooks the shoreline and Garbh Eilean (Rough Island) sits just offshore.

Common seals bask on the rocky shore at low tide.

A large and noisy heronry has become established on an adjacent island.

We had read that this was a good place to spot Otter and we called in each time we were passing by during our week's stay. We were out of luck sadly but Garbh Eilean is a lovely place to visit all the same. It's a good idea to wear something warm though as the hide is quite exposed to the wind coming off the loch.

Dun Ghallain
Dun Ghallain -“Fort of the Storms”- is a sheltered lagoon between Laga Bay and Salen. There are the remains of an Iron Age fort nearby, and the anchorage was used by the Vikings over 1000 years ago.
A circular walk through Scots pine and lichen covered oaks leads down to the sheltered bay, where we spent a blissful couple of hours in the sunshine just enjoying the perfect peace and quiet.

Ben Resipol in the distance

Common Terns

The arrival of a Hercules plane flying low over the loch was a surprise!

Sàilean nan Cuileag
Sàilean nan Cuileag -"The Bay of Flies"- is a natural harbour formerly used to export goods, such as charcoal, oak bark and brushwood. The Vikings are said to have used the small harbour to overwinter their boats. The short walk circles an ancient burial mound as it descends through native oak woodland to the bay.

Someone had been busy carving toadstools from some of the fallen trees along the shoreline.

Sàilean

The village of Sàilean (Salen), lives up to it's Gaelic meaning of "small inlet" as it hugs the bay of the same name on the north shore of Loch Sunart. The surrounding woodlands of birch and oak were the basis for a thriving bobbin making industry in the 19th century. US and Canadian Commandos prepared for the D-Day landings in this area of the loch, amongst others.

Salen Bay

On our drive back to the cottage we spotted this beautiful Buzzard, perched near the roadside. Luckily the roads in Ardnamurchan are relatively traffic free, enabling us to stop and take a few photos.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Click here for the next Ardnamurchan blog post

Ardnamurchan Point and Lighthouse

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Tue, 02 May 2017 10:30:00 +0000

Ardnamurchan Point is often referred to as the most westerly point on the British mainland. This is not strictly correct, as the rocky outcrop of Corrachadh Mòr, almost a mile further to the South, pips it to the post by some 40-50 yards. However, Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, which stands sentinel over the Point can claim the "most westerly lighthouse" title.

The 36 metre tall tower was built in 1849 using granite quarried on the nearby Isle of Mull. Designed by Alan Stevenson, uncle of the author Robert Louis Stevenson, the lighthouse is still fully operational, albeit now unmanned and controlled remotely from Edinburgh.

Towering 55 metres above the rocky coastline, the lighthouse commands a spectacular view with the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna on the near horizon with the Isle of Skye also visible on a clear day. The former lighthouse keeper's cottage is now available as holiday accommodation.

Rum, Eigg & Muck from Ardnamurchan Point

The route to Ardnamurchan Point from Strontian involves a 35 mile journey on single track roads which seems to make it feel somewhat longer, I have to say. The views along the way however, more than make up for the tiring drive.

Herds of Roe and Red Deer dot the hillsides.

A White-Tailed Sea Eagle soared above our heads; an amazing sight to see!

Back at Stag Cottage the nocturnal visitors continued to come for the food we put out.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos & video.

Click here for the next Ardnamurchan blog post

On the shores of Loch Shiel, Ardnamurchan

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Mon, 01 May 2017 08:30:00 +0000

Setting off from the small car park at Polloch, we followed a forest track which runs alongside the river Polloch to where Loch Doilet connects with Loch Shiel. The track climbs gently until it reaches a lookout point, giving spectacular views in every direction.

Loch Doilet just visible in the distance

All around us the melodic rippling song of Willow Warblers could be heard.
Listen.....

The path to the viewpoint circles around a small hill on which evidence of the archaelogical history of Ardnamurchan can clearly be seen, in the form of rock formations known as Moine.
Moine rock was formed from sediments exposed to high temperatures and pressures within the earth's core. When the reslulting molten lava cooled these amazing rock formations were produced.

Loch Shiel

Descending from the viewpoint we followed the path down to the shoreline of Loch Shiel, where we came across what was apparently the wreck of an old wooden mail boat, forgotten and slowly disintegrating amongst the trees.

Soon we rejoined the forestry road which stretches all the way to Glenfinnan, at the head of the Loch. The 16 mile route is popular with cyclists, having only the occasional logging truck to contend with, traffic wise. We walked for several miles along the road, hoping for a glimpse of the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the distance. The views were stunning, however the Viaduct remained hidden behind the distant hills.

Meadow Pipit

Peacock Butterfly

Eventually we decided to retrace our steps and return to Polloch as the road was very hot and dusty, especially when one of the logging trucks roared past!
Later that evening, back at cosy Stag Cottage the "usual suspects" showed up for their supper.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos and video.

Click here for the next Ardnamurchan blog post

Ariundle Oakwood to Strontian Lead Mines

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Ariundle Oakwood is part of the ancient Sunart Oakwood and is located about a mile from the small village of Strontian. It is classified as a temperate rainforest, comprised mostly of broadleaved trees which receive heavy annual rainfall.

Setting off from the Ariundle car park, the wide track followed the course of the River Strontian, the banks of which were studded with Marsh Marigolds and Cuckoo Flowers.

The Cuckoo Flower is so nicknamed as its appearance generally coincides with the arrival of the bird of the same name. Indeed, there were numerous Cuckoos calling endlessly from dawn until dusk during our week long stay in the Ardnamurchan area, despite reports of their being in serious decline in other areas.

Eventually we crossed the river by a wooden bridge, having first enjoyed our flask and sandwiches on a conveniently placed seat!

The craggy outline of "Sgurr Dhòmhnuill" (Donald's Rocky Peak) came into view further down the Glen.

The track now led to a boardwalk through Oak and Birch trees, interspersed with Hazel, Rowan and Scots Pine.

Climbing gently we passed through a large metal gate into a fenced off area, put in place to prevent the trees from being grazed by deer. A short time later we passed through a second gate and emerged onto open moorland.

From here the path petered out somewhat but we headed upwards diagonally, towards a rocky outcrop at the top of a hill. On reaching this we were suddenly looking down into a small but steep ravine, within which were a stream and several rocky waterfalls.

Keeping the ravine to our right we soon found ourselves amongst the spoil heaps of the former lead mines where over 600 miners once worked. Lead from these mines was used to make ammunition for the soldiers fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. French prisoners of war were transported to the area to work in the mines.

The mineral Strontianite, from which the element Strontium was first isolated, was discovered here, taking its name from the nearby village.

Our path now started to descend, back towards the ancient Oakwood.

Reaching the car park we decided to visit a nearby tea room for a well earned cuppa. The Ariundle Centre proved to be a bit of an Aladdin's cave, having within it a tearoom (which sold proper tea, made with tealeaves), an all day meal service, a takeaway service, accommodation and offering local craft courses.
Click here for more information about the Ariundle Centre

Back at Stag Cottage later that evening, the garden had plenty of visitors again!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Click here for the next Ardnamurchan blog post

Stag Cottage Ardnamurchan; a little piece of Heaven on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 16:00:00 +0000

After an unhappy series of personal events in the first few months of 2017, a long planned and much postponed visit to Scotland was just what we needed to get away from it all and recharge our batteries. Stag Cottage, tucked away beneath soaring pine trees at the end of Loch Doilet, proved to be exactly the right place.
Our trips to Scotland have invariably been wet and dismal, weatherwise, and as we set off sure enough down came the rain! Stopping for lunch at Inverbeg on Loch Lomond, we wondered if we would be in for a full week of wet weather, as we had on our previous trip, to Skye. As we headed towards the ferry at Corran, for the short crossing to Ardgour, the skies began to clear and the sun peeked out at last.

On reaching the village of Strontian, the route to Stag Cottage then climbs steeply upwards on a winding unclassified road, by the side of which Red Deer graze unconcernedly.

Reaching the top of the hill there is an equally steep downward descent towards the Glenhurich Estate. A sudden breathtaking glimpse of Loch Doilet appeared before us.

Finally, we had arrived.

Within an hour of our arrival we saw our first Pine Marten, albeit briefly, scurrying along by the perimeter of the garden. The local Siskins seemed very pleased with the peanuts we put out for them.

After quickly unpacking, we had a stroll beside Loch Doilet towards Polloch. Peace, quiet, birdsong. Peace, peace and more peace. A single car passed us, other than that we saw only nature.

Stag Cottage is tucked away below the tall pines on the right of the photo.

Returning to the cottage we were delighted to see a Pine Marten feeding on the peanuts we had left out earlier. The cottage looked very welcoming in the pink light of sunset.

As darkness fell, we set up our Trailcam to see if we could capture footage of any night time visitors. As you can see it was a busy night!

The following day dawned bright and sunny and word must have spread about the replenished supply of peanuts, jam and sandwiches on offer on the picnic bench in the garden!

This Pine Marten was our most frequent visitor. We could identify different individuals by the unique markings on their chests.

This one was a little more shy and hid at the edge of the garden, waiting for the first one to bring the picnic!

The Pine Martens had a definite preference for jam, however I only put it out once as when I saw how this one demolished the whole lot in one go, I thought it seemed all the sugar in jam might not be a good idea for a wild animal. Probably peanut butter sandwiches are not the best thing either? There were no crumbs left though, that's all I can say about that!

Honestly, I could have spent the entire week just watching these gorgeous little fellas. The nearby oak woods were calling however. More of that in my next blog post.
Thanks for visiting; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

More about Stag Cottage and booking options here...

Click here for the next Ardnamurchan blog post

One For Sorrow at North Walney Nature Reserve

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:30:00 +0000

An interesting and unique art installation has appeared at North Walney Nature Reserve. 'One for Sorrow' is described by its creators, Art Gene, as a "non-civic war memorial".
During WWII, Walney Airfield was a designated Air Gunnery School and over five thousand airmen were trained there. It remained in use after the end of the war, as air-gunners were retained for post-war Bomber Command.
The numbers 1-7, engraved with lines from the traditional nursery rhyme associated with Magpies, have been affixed above the remains of the building which once housed machinery used to raise and lower targets.

Adjacent to the number one is a plaque bearing a touching message.

Around the other side of the wall a different style of artwork is on display.

A little further along the path, the entrance to the nature reserve has a new gate on which, from a distance, it looks as if a flock of birds has alighted. Closer inspection reveals it to be more work from Art Gene. Cast iron birds painted in army camouflage continue the military theme and a second plaque completes the tribute.

I really liked the sentiment behind this art installation. I do wish the numbers were clearly visible from the path though, rather than having to scramble up on top of the banking to get a proper look at them. Maybe that's the point; perhaps they're meant to be hidden, as the gunners were. I'm not overly keen on the birds either, but I guess that's the nature of "art"; everyone has different taste.

More information about the history of Walney Airfield here and also here.
More information about Art Gene here.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

How Tun Wood

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 11:30:00 +0000

How Tun Wood, perched above a former quarry, was planted by local residents to mark the Millenium. The wood is planted with native species such as Oak, Ash, Alder and Hazel, amongst others.

Despite the ever present cold wind blowing off the Irish Sea, the trees are sturdy and straight. How Tun Woods is developing into a beautiful mature broad leaved woodland.

Daffodils and Crocus carpet the floor beneath the trees.

Some of last year's Crab Apples remain on the tree, even as this year's buds are forming.

A circular stone dias has been placed in an open grassy area, giving views out over the Irish Sea to the west and northwards towards the Lake District.

Velvety brown Pussy Willows, shiny yellow Celandines and pink tinged Black Poplar catkins bring a welcome splash of colour and a promise of new life.

A mossy nest from last year is revealed amongst the bare branches of a shrub. I wonder what type of bird raised its chicks in it?

A stepped path descends adjacent to the wall of the local cemetery, emerging in a grassy area popular with dog walkers. This whole area was formerly a sandstone quarry. It is thought that Cistercian monks built nearby Furness Abbey with stone from here. In later years sandstone quarried here was used in the construction of many important local buildings.

When I was a child the area was used as the local rubbish tip. We would spend hours rummaging around in there, which might sound strange to some! We made our own entertainment "in those days", let's just say. You would never know a rubbish tip had existed on the spot now though.
The quarry is now a haven for wildlife including Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Foxes. Several species of pine have been planted at the base of the quarry and birdsong fills the air as you walk along the path which ascends once more to How Tun Wood.

On a clear day the Isle of Man is visible, however on this occasion there was a slight mist out to sea. The former slagbank, now a reclaimed grassy area, overlooks Walney Airfield and the Irish Sea, with its army of wind turbines.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos!

Ulverston Canal; a haven for nature in an industrial landscape.

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 10:30:00 +0000

There's a surprising amount of wildlife to be found near industrial sites and Ulverston Canal is a good example of this. In the past this 1.25 mile stretch of canal has been the location for many types of industry such as charcoal burning, hoop-making, shipbuilding, paper manufacturing as well as gas, chemical and rail engineering works. Nowadays most of the western side is occupied by the huge GlaxoSmithKline complex, while the path on the eastern side provides a pleasant and very popular short walk.

Several metal totems designed by local architectural sculptor Chris Brammall have been installed along the path, illustrating aspects of the history of the canal.

Sir John Barrow monument overlooks Ulverston from the summit of Hoad Hill, from where we have previously seen Roe Deer in the fields below. These two little beauties were barely discernable against the brown of the dead foliage behind them.

The weather alternated between cold and foggy and bright sunshine with vivid blue skies, as we headed down the canal path.

The railway line crosses the canal as it leaves Ulverston and heads towards the viaduct across Morecambe Bay.

A Kestrel swooped low over the adjoing field, bringing its prey onto the roof of a nearby barn to eat.

On the opposite side some remnants of former industrial buildings can still be seen.

I think this Cormorant was pretending he hadn't seen the sign!

A couple of Canada Geese were keen to see if we had any food for them.

Alder cones and catkins in the hedgerow; bullrushes along the edges of the water.

A Buzzard watching warily from his perch near Canal Foot.

Blackbirds, Thrushes and Fieldfares were busy stocking up on winter berries.

Reaching the end of the footpath at Canal Foot, the remains of the former lock gates can be seen. Turning around the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay opens out in all its glory.

Little Egrets, Wigeon and Red Breasted Merganser are among the many birds to be found on the shoreline.

And finally... who could resist sitting here and taking in this stunning and peaceful view?

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Fabulous Fungi in Millwood

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 21:32:00 +0000

Mother Nature seems to throw everything she has left in her power into the final weeks of Autumn. A last fanfare before settling down for Winter. The woods are hushed now; our footsteps muffled in the deep, damp piles of leaves carpeting the ground.

Before the last page of Autumn is turned and we are confronted with Winter's bare cold face, we are treated to a final burst of colour as dozens of fungi take centre stage.

There was so much green algae in the pond it looked as if the Moorhen was swimming in pea soup!

I'm really going to miss the beautiful colours of Autumn. Roll on Spring!

Thanks for visiting my blog; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Levens Park and River Kent

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Located directly across the road from historic Levens Hall, the Park is part of a former medieval deer enclosure, its natural beauty contrasting with the formal layout of the gardens surrounding the Hall. The Hall and formal gardens are open to the public; opening times and other information can be found here...

We entered the Park by the footpath on the north side of the bridge, where steps lead down to the riverside. The Park was landscaped by French gardener Guillaume Beaumont, who planted many specimen trees.

Across the River Kent can be seen the remains of a disused pump house with a sluice gate nearby. Black Fallow Deer roam freely amongst the trees.

Following the course of the river, the path eventually reaches a boundary wall. Stepping over this we crossed a meadow, exiting into a farm lane.

After carefully crossing a busy stretch of the A591, we accessed a footpath which presented us with some lovely open views and a glimpse of Sizergh Castle, as we crossed the fields towards Heaves Farm.

Ascending the hilly field opposite Heaves Farm, we were greeted by the unusual sight of hundreds of grassy mounds as far as the eye could see. Apparently these are Yellow Meadow Anthills, the ants living underground and the mounds providing ventilation for the nests.

A stone wall encircles a grove of trees at the top of the hill and a very conveniently placed stone bench provided exactly the right place to sit and enjoy a flask of coffee.

Suitably refreshed we made our way down the hill towards Sizergh.

The path emerged behind the Strickland Arms, a traditional English pub with a good selection of food and drink, should you require refreshment at this point! Our route now took us past the entrance to Sizergh Castle, which is on our "places to visit" list. On this occasion we continued walking, this time passing underneath the A591 and walking alongside the River Kent once again, as we head back to Levens Park.

Re-entering the park we walked along the "Mile of Oaks" planted by Beaumont. Originally the Hall would have been approached by carriage along this route.

Care has been taken to maintain this avenue of oaks by replacing trees that have died, planting new ones inside the stumps of the rotten ones.

A herd of rare-breed Bagot goats, originally brought to England by the Crusaders, wander through the park.

More beautiful trees line the path leading back to the bridge where we started our walk.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Click on the photos to view full size. I hope you enjoy them!

Golden Days

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 11:30:00 +0000

Sometimes this blog sits on the back burner for a few weeks; sometimes it sits there for months! Sometimes there are so many things you have to do that it's difficult to fit in the things you really want to do. That being said, there are those times when you should allow yourself the luxury of just putting your coat on, going outside and closing the door, leaving behind your never ending to-do-list. Don't worry, it will still be waiting for you when you get back!
Autumn, particularly when the leaves are such glorious red and golden shades, is too beautiful a season to miss out on. You don't need to go far either; a walk down a tree lined suburban street can be a delight at this time of year. Your local park is guaranteed to be putting on a dazzling autumnal display, as mine was yesterday.

The park covers an area of approximately 45 acres and remains largely unchanged from the original layout, designed by landscape architect Thomas Hayton Mawson, in 1908. In 2005 the park benefited from some financial investment and several areas were redeveloped. Improvements included a new bandstand, pavillion and cafe.

The former Park Keeper's house is now utilised by an Arts group.

The flower beds are meticulously tended all year round, with many seasonal displays to enjoy. The rose garden was full of delicious scents and colours.

Overlooking the park at its highest point is the Cenotaph, which commemorates those who lost their lives in WW1, WW2 and also the Korean War.

In recent years several commemorative benches have been placed around the Cenotaph.

As we were on our way out of the park we were amused to see a tail-less squirrel busily finding and burying nuts in readiness for colder weather, which is no doubt waiting just around the corner.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Late Summer at Leighton Moss

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 08:00:00 +0000

You may have gathered by now that Leighton Moss is one of my favourite places to visit, especially in late summer and early autumn. This year, as is often the case in mid-September, the weather has been beautifully calm, warm and sunny. The green reed beds of the summer months have begun to take on a multitude of golden hues.

Buzzard

Cormorant

At this time of year the birds always seem to me to be taking a bit of a break after working so hard to build nests and rear their young. The garden at home always goes a bit quiet and I picture to myself the exhausted parents taking a well-earned holiday minus the children!


Reed Warbler

Marsh Harrier numbers have been steadily increasing at Leighton Moss, with several successful nests this year.
A few choose to overwinter here instead of migrating to Africa.

There was a bit of a spat between a Marsh Harrier and the Buzzard. No harm done to either one though.

Colourful dragonflies whizz to and fro, never settling for more than a few seconds before they are off again, performing miniature acrobatic displays as they flip upside down to catch their prey in mid-air.

Otter spotting is always top of my list and I usually see at least one whenever I visit. This fella was enjoying his breakfast of eels, as you can see.

Down on the saltmarshes are wading birds such as Greenshanks, Ruffs, Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits..

Black Tailed Godwits

Avocet

Back on the main reserve, Red Deer enjoy the lingering warmth of late summer. The quiet before the storm of the Autumn rut. This year's fawns still have a few spots visible on their coats.

To my surprise a Moorhen was still busy collecting nest material. I've since learned that they can have multiple broods and that adolescent members of earlier broods help to feed and guard the younger chicks. There were indeed a couple of juveniles close by.

A juvenile Robin was sun-baking on the path, totally unfazed by my close proximity as I passed by.

Also completely unpeturbed by my presence was a European Water Shrew. This is only the second time I've ever seen one; both times at Leighton Moss.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

North Walney Nature Reserve, Cumbria

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 17:30:00 +0000

With its spectacular panoramic mountain and sea views, North Walney is among the best coastal nature reserves in the UK. The huge variation in its habitats, including sand dunes, dune heathland, hay meadows, tidal mud flats, vegetated shingle and salt marshes all serve to make the visitor feel as if they are in a truly wild and remote location.

The Coniston fells are to the north, the Isle of Man out to the west, across the Irish Sea.

A Kestrel hovers, looking for a meal, while a young Goldfinch poses for a quick photo.

Ragwort, although toxic to some animals such as horses, is extremely beneficial to more than 150 species of insect including bees and butterflies, providing a very important source of nectar and pollen. The orange and black stripey caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth can usually be spotted in huge numbers on this plant, although there seem to be far fewer nowadays than I recall seeing as a child.

Harebells, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Clover, Thistle and Meadow Vetchling are amongst many wildflowers which grow in abundance on the reserve.

The former industries of sand and gravel extraction have left behind deep holes which have since become permanent ponds and important habitats in their own right.

Black Combe in the distance.

This reserve, along with several others in Cumbria, is home to the rare Natterjack Toad. I don't think this little fella was a Natterjack, but I think he was a toad of some description rather than a frog. He could certainly move fast, hence the blurry photo!

Wild Thyme, Rosebay Willowherb and Yarrow provide yet more nectar for many bees and butterflies, including the Gatekeeper, Common Blue and Small Copper.

Dragonflies and Damselflies are also here in abundance, taking advantage of the midgies and mosquitos around the ponds.
I think these are a Common Darter and a Southern Damselfly, but I'm not an expert and therefore not 100% certain.

A Swan family with four Cygnets came to see if we'd brought them anything to eat; they were disappointed on this occasion.

Walney Geranium

Sea Holly

Puffball Fungus

Fledgling Stonechat

As we headed towards the dunes at the northern tip of Walney, Black Combe was bathed in sunshine, revealing its many dips and slopes.

Ubiquitous wind turbines on Kirkby Moor and many more on the horizon. Love them or hate them; there's no escaping them.

Burdock

Fox Moth Caterpillar

A Curlew going home to roost

Hobbit House?

Overtaken by the tide

Beach Fungi

Rounding the northern tip of reserve, the beach stretched away for miles with not another person in sight, which just happens to be my favourite scenario.

We sat amongst the dunes and ate a picnic as the sun went down.

Perfect.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Humphrey Head

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:45:00 +0000

Situated between the villages of Allithwaite and Flookburgh, Humphrey Head is a low rocky promontory extending for about one mile into Morecambe Bay. The Humphrey Head Outdoor Centre access road leads to a gentle uphill walk, reaching only 152 feet at its highest point.

Soon we were greeted by panoramic views in all directions. Looking towards Cark we could just make out the white shape of Hoad monument in the far distance while Arnside Knott came into view, as we passed the Outdoor Centre.

The shape of the Hawthorn trees gave us a clue as to the direction of the prevailing winds as we made our way to the Trig point at the summit.

Heysham Power Station lies to the South, across the broad expanse of Morecambe Bay.

Downhill to Humphrey Head Point, as it tapers off into Morecambe Bay.

Local folklore claims that Humphrey Head was the location of the killing of the last wolf in England. Tales from other areas make the same claim; I suppose we'll never know the truth. One version of the local story says that the wolf descended from the Lakeland Fells near Coniston, where it had been decimating flocks of sheep. When it attacked a local child the villagers chased it to the rocks at the Humphrey Head Point, where they killed it.

The scene was a much more tranquil one when we visited. Meadow Pipits were busy collecting grasshoppers for their young and dozens of rabbits barely gave us a second glance as we headed back along the eastern side of the hill, taking the footpath through a nearby wood.

Once through the woods the path led us back to the Outdoor Centre which we passed by, returning to the road below. A walk of a few hundred yards brought us to the western side of the hill, its limestone cliff face being the only sea cliff of any height in the area.

Intrepid climbers might be tempted to scale the cliff face to reach the natural arch, but should take heed of a warning carved into a stone below.

"Beware how you these rocks ascend. Here William Pedder met his end. August 22nd 1857. Aged 10 years"

We were lucky enough to see a family of Peregrine Falcons. The two chicks were learning the high speed acrobatic flying techniques of their parents, as they chased them around the skies trying to snatch the prey from their huge yellow talons.

After the flying lesson was over, the young birds were allowed to have their meal.

Watch a short clip of the Peregrine chicks chasing their parent in a bid to get food.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Janet's Foss, Malham, North Yorkshire

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:30:00 +0000

After leaving the spectacular setting of Gordale Scar and returning to the road we walked south for a short while until we reached a path which led us down to Janet's Foss, a small waterfall where Gordale Beck cascades over a limestone outcrop into a deep pool below.

Local legend has it that a Fairy Queen, Janet (also known as Jennet) lives in a cave behind the falls. "Foss" is from a Norse word for force, or waterfall.

Strictly speaking the area behind the fall is not a true cave. Calcium carbonate deposited from the flowing water onto moss growing on the rock surrounding the waterfall has created a screen of tufa behind which is the "cave" in question. There is another, larger cave to the right of the pool.

Traditionally used for sheep dipping, the deep pool at the foot of Janet's Foss is now a popular place for families to visit. Its close proximity to Malham means it can become extremely busy, especially at weekends. The clear cold water makes for a very tempting paddling pool for children and dogs. We were lucky to have the place almost to ourselves on our visit, enabling us to watch a Dipper busily searching the rocky crevices for insects while a Grey Wagtail looked on from a nearby branch.

Leaving the waterfall behind we walked through Wedber Wood, towards Malham.
The path runs alongside Gordale Beck and meanders through the dappled shade of ancient woodland. There is a decidedly magical feel about this area; it's easy to see how stories of Jennet the Fairy Queen might have originated in such a place. A fairy glade is an accurate description; or at least that's the feeling I had.

The air was filled with the aroma of wild garlic which was in full bloom when we visited in May.

Several fallen trees have been turned into Wishing Trees and have thousands of coins hammered into them.

Gordale Beck, dotted at this time with bright splashes of yellow Marsh Marigolds, runs alongside the path until it eventually emerges from the woods and passes through pastureland until it finally reaches Malham village.

As we approached Malham we could see the towering limestone cliffs of Malham Cove once more, in the distance.

As always, thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Gordale Scar, North Yorkshire

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Fri, 13 May 2016 12:30:00 +0000

After negotiating the clints and grykes of the limestone pavement above Malham Cove, we headed uphill for a short while along part of the Pennine Way.

Dropping gently downhill the path eventually came to the road where a refreshment van provided a very welcome cup of tea. We had a ten minute break watching a Mallard with its ducklings and a Meadow Pipit having a bath in the small stream by the edge of the road.

A short walk along the road brought us to Gordale Scar, a gorge formed during the Ice Age. Melt water created a huge cavern which eventually collapsed and formed the gorge and the waterfalls within it. Access to the gorge is via a stony path which dissects a campsite.

The approach gives little idea of the geological spectacle which awaits around the last bend in the path.

As we walked further into the gorge, towards the waterfall at its end, the 100 metre high walls seemed to close in around us.

It is possible to climb up the waterfall and continue upwards to Malham Tarn, as these people were doing. Alternatively you can retrace your steps, as we did, and walk back to the road where we headed for Janet's Foss, a beautiful little area of ancient woodland which will be the subject of my next blog post.
Click here to go to the next blog post
As always, thanks for visiting, I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Malham Cove, North Yorkshire

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Picturesque Malham, complete with its beck running through the middle of the village, is situated amongst the spectacular limestone scenery of cliffs, crags, and scars of the Yorkshire Dales. The village is surrounded by a farming landscape of ancient dry-stone walls, rivers, waterfalls, meadows and woodlands.
Malham has been a settlement for over a thousand years, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Traces of Iron age boundaries can still be found. Formerly the main employment was in mills and mines, now it is found in farming and tourism.

A section of the Pennine Way leads from the village to Malham Cove, a huge limestone amphitheatre formed after the last ice age by an enormous river that fell at this point as a cataract 80 metres high and more than 300 metres wide.
In December 2015 Storm Desmond brought so much rainfall that water poured over the cliff edge for the first time in living memory. See a clip here...

The cliff is extremely popular with climbers, their metal equipment looking somewhat out of place next to the precarious nests of a House Martins colony.

The cliff face is also home to a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons. There are, I believe, currently four chicks confirmed. In order to protect the birds visitors are asked to keep a good distance away from the nest site and the British Mountaineering Council has imposed a temporary, voluntary rock climbing restriction around it. I have a long zoom on my camera, in case you were wondering.

Access to the limestone pavement which lies at the top of the cove is by way of a flight of 400 stone steps on the Western side.

Some young climbers were trying out their skills near the top of the steps.

The view as you head upwards is worth the effort involved and the sight of the amazing limestone pavement which suddenly comes into view, is almost other-worldly. The area featured in one of the Harry Potter films, which might give some idea of its unique geological appearance.

Once at the top of the cove several walking routes present themselves. We headed for Gordale Scar, which will be the subject of my next blog post.
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Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed the photos.

If you go down to Millwood today...

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Sun, 08 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Spring has definitely sprung and the grass is riz in Cumbria! As for "where the birdies is"... well they've certainly been busy in my garden and were in full voice in Millwood early yesterday morning. The church bells ringing out from nearby Dalton St. Mary's adding a lovely musical accompaniment to their singing.

Tree Sparrows gathering nesting materials

Millwood is a sight for sore eyes at the moment, carpeted as it is with wild garlic, wood sorrel and bluebells galore.

All the birds are busy nesting at this time of year. Some young have already successfully fledged, such as the Blackcap family we saw flitting through the trees. I only managed a not so good photo of the female.

On our last visit we saw a dozen or more Mallard ducklings and I was happy to see that at least some of them had survived the dangers of predation that befall so many chicks.

A male Bullfinch put in a brief appearance, before flying off to where his mate was calling to him, out of our view.

The deeper we went into the woods, the more of a blue haze met our eyes. If you have a Bluebell wood nearby, give your senses a treat and take an early morning walk before this all too brief floral display is over for another year!
Thanks for visiting; I hope you enjoy the photos.

Claife Heights, Far Sawrey

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +0000

The high ground north of Far Sawrey on the western side of Windermere is the location of a meandering circular walk, incorporating six small tarns. Starting from the small National Trust car park just before the ferry house, the sun glistening on the water seemed to promise a good day ahead, weather wise.

A flight of stone steps lead upwards to Claife Station, a recently restored viewpoint originally built in the 1790s.

Starting life as a summer house for a local clergyman, the building later became a venue for the owners of Belle Isle, Windermere’s only inhabited island, to host parties, dance evenings and theatrical productions.
The windows of the drawing room were fitted with various shades of coloured glass to enhance variations in weather and seasons and the renovation includes some coloured panes to illustrate the effect of the originals.

Each window gives a unique view of Windermere in all its glory.

Leaving the viewpoint the path climbed steeply uphill through woods which are said to be haunted by the "Claife Crier". Believed to be the ghost of a medieval monk from Furness Abbey, whose mission was to rescue fallen women. He reportedly fell in love with one who rejected him and as a result he went insane, crying his anguish on the heights of Claife, which his ghost has haunted ever since.
Legend has it that a ferryman once heard the cry and mistook it for someone calling for a ferry, so he went out into the night to take the fare. When he returned, his hair had turned white and he never spoke again. Subsequently, the ghost was exorcised and his spirit confined to the quarry and is known as the Crier of Claife Quarry.

There were plenty of glimpses of the far shore of Windermere as we made our way upwards through Station Scar Wood; a good excuse to stop for a breather on the way up the hill!

At the top of the slope we joined the White Post trail and headed towards Far Sawrey.

The view opened out to a view of a snow dusted Coniston Old Man in the distance.

I did wonder if this might be the first tarn, but no, it was merely a frozen puddle. Shortly thereafter we did come to the first on the list, Scale Ivy Tarn, also frozen.

The path continued towards Far Sawrey taking us through a wooded area carpeted with fallen leaves and pine cones.

At regular intervals we had further views of Windermere through the trees; the earlier fine weather had given way to dark clouds making the water look very cold and grey.

Every now and then the sun would peep out from behind the clouds and light up the hills, showing off all their colours and contours.

The path continued to climb upwards towards the highest point on Claife Heights, High Blind How. Although the scenery all around is undeniably beautiful, the scale of deforestation in this area gave it a depressing air. Hopefully the area will be replanted with native tree species, rather than the ubiquitous conifers that have been removed.

Stickle Pike and Harrison Stickle loomed over the pine woods below, while the foot of the Lake stretched into the distance, with Morecambe Bay glinting on the horizon.

Up we went through the pine trees, where we heard the hooting of a Tawny Owl, to the trig point on High Blind How, 886 feet above sea level.
A Raven gave us a bit of a talking to from the top of a nearby tree, he wasn't impressed with our disturbing his peace.

Now we came to the small and slightly overgrown and frozen Brownstone Tarn.

From here we followed a forest road and then a bridleway, until we came in view of the third tarn on the walk, High Moss Tarn. This particular tarn was extremely overgrown, in fact it was difficult to see any water at all so I didn't manage to take a decent photo.
Continuing along the bridleway we now came out into open countryside, with tarns four and five in close proximity to each other. First was Scale Head Tarn, which has a stone dam at one end.

A short distance away was Wise Een Tarn, which was so tranquil and calm and had such a fantastic backdrop in the Lakeland Fells, that it was easily my favourite spot on the entire walk.

Not too far away was the sixth and final tarn on this walk, Moss Eccles Tarn. This picturesque tarn was owned by Beatrix Potter who donated it to the National Trust when she died.

From here it was a short walk to Far Sawrey, where you can visit Beatrix Potters home, Hill Top, which is open to the public as a museum.

We made our way back to Claife Station for one last look at the view.

As we watched several Swans on their way to roost, we spotted a low flying Hercules plane heading towards us. This was one of several planes and jets which had passed overhead througout the day, as the area is often used for military training purposes. The plane flew right over our heads and provided a thrilling end to our day.

Click here.... to see a short video clip of the Hercules.

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you've enjoyed the photos.

Allan Bank, Grasmere

noreply@blogger.com (These Boots) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Allan Bank is one of four National Trust properties which are former homes of the celebrated poet William Wordsworth. His birthplace in Cockermouth, Dove Cottage in Grasmere and Rydal Mount near Ambleside being the other three.
Built in 1805 on a rocky hillside above Grasmere village, the house was initially unpopular with Wordsworth who complained it spoilt his previously uninterrupted view from Dove Cottage, across the Easedale Valley. However, when Dove Cottage became too small for his growing family, the Wordsworths became tenants of Allan Bank where they spent several years. Frequent long term visitors were their literary friends Thomas de Quincey and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, amongst others.

Wordsworth took an interest in the planning of the gardens including the placing of seats at vantage points overlooking the stupendous views.

Winters were perhaps not quite so idyllic, with chimneys that 'blew smoke back into the rooms, covering everything with soot and filling Dorothy with despair'.

The Wordsworths left Allan Bank in 1811, moving briefly to the Rectory near St Oswald's Church, then finally to Rydal Mount.

Fast forward to 1915 when Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, one of the founders of the National Trust, bought the house. He retired there in 1917 and died in 1920, leaving Allan Bank to the Trust. The house was then occupied by tenants, until a fire in 2011 caused severe damage and the Trust came to the decision to open up the house to the public.

Visitors are in for a surprise as the house is unlike any other Trust property being only partially restored and completely informal. Tea and coffee can be enjoyed by a roaring fire in the library or sitting by one of the many windows looking out over Grasmere.

Activities are available in each room for those who wish to take part and visitors are encouraged to put forward their own ideas about how the restoration should proceed.

A small derelict building, possibly a chapel, marks the start of a short woodland walk.

Steep steps lead to a Victorian viewing tunnel which opens out to a veiw of Helm Crag; a little misty on this particular morning.
The path climbs up the steep slope behind the house, circling through woods which were full of birdsong when we visited.

A stone viewing platform perched at the top of the hill was one of Wordsworth's favourite places to sit and write, according to a very informative NT staff member who was working in the garden!

Grasmere comes into view once again as the path descends towards the house. There is a walled garden in this area, however on a cold day in February there is not much growing. At the top of the garden a seat provides a peaceful place to enjoy the sound of water tumbling down the rock face into a small pool below.

The path emerges onto a lawned area at the front of the house where visitors can sit and enjoy watching Red Squirrels taking advantage of the free food!

We found the perfect place to sit and watch these wonderful little creatures.

As you can imagine, we spent a long time watching the squirrels scurrying up and down the trees, taking nuts and burying them for later use. However, time was marching on and so we reluctantly left Allan Bank, taking a circular route to the rear of the property which led us back to Grasmere via Goody Bridge (incorporating a river crossing over stepping stones - not my favourite thing to do!) The weather had improved at this point, giving us a clearer view of Helm Crag and the surrounding fells.

Winter visitors, Redwings and Fieldfares giving us the beady eye as we passed under their lookout point.

A final glimpse of Allan Bank as we headed back into Grasmere, and of Helm Crag whose distinctive summit is locally known as "The Lion and the Lamb".

Thanks for visiting my blog; I hope you've enjoyed the photos.