Footpath Surveys In Whicham Parish

Last Thursday we started a new batch of footpath surveys, this time in the south west corner of the park just north of Millom. We parked at Kiskin looking across at Black Combe (which we have to survey) It was a lovely, sunny day with great views to the fells. We don't get to the coast much on our walks so a good change these low level footpaths, & the dogs enjoy a dip in the sea.

We are on the Cumbria Coastal Way, this the bridge where it crosses the River Annas & the parish boundary between Whicham & Bootle.

Zooming in on Barrow in the distance the BAE Systems Marine ship building hall, which is the largest building in Europe.

Sheep in the fields

Closer to Black Combe here

The tide was slowly going out as we walked along the cliffs

We followed the coast & then cut inland to Whitbeck

Red Hot pokers still in bloom here

And this hydrangea

We then walked inland back to Kiskin on what we soon discovered was the worse footpath we had ever walked in terms of deliberate obstructions & damage, don't think the farmer welcomes walkers here. Andy noting down the problems with this stile

The next stile rather overgrown

More like being back in Oxfordshire as we walk through this field.

Barbed wire obstructing access to this stile

And then all over the stile when we get to it

This fence isn't on the map & obstructs the right of way

We made it back to the car having completed 7 footpaths (nearly a quarter of the parish) & noted as many problems as in the whole of Ennerdale!

High Rigg

Today although the weather wasn't brilliant we managed a Wainwright fell. We drove over to Legburthwaite to ascend High Rigg. This is looking NE towards St Johns Common, we were just below the mist line all day thankfully. Walking along the reasonably featureless summit plateau High Rigg (357m) (think the camera was at a slight angle!) Back down lower again & walking south along the Eastern flanks

We hadn't worn the dogs out as they wanted to chase sticks

Across the valley to Bram Cragg

A Week Down South

Last week we were back down south visiting family and friends. Our first stop was in Redditch to stay with Andy's daughter Jessica & her fiance Dan. We took the dogs for a walk in the nearby Rough Hill Wood A bench carved into the shape of a man The next day we travelled to Oxford to stay with Andy's mum, we went for a walk on Port Meadow which was a bit drier than when we were last there in February

An old college boathouse

A disused railway turntable

Walking back to Margaret's flat on the canal towpath

A rather brave cat taunts the dogs

We spent an afternoon at Julies where Abbie & Kieran showed us their skills on the trampoline

Julie

We then had a game of baseball

Nearly Bess...

Kieran having a wrestle with Crag.

The next day we met up with Lisa, Stuart & their dog Katie for a walk along the Thames

We walked from Eynsham Toll Bridge to the Trout at Wolvercote, where we saw the damage to Godstow bridge caused by a hit & run motorist the week before

Back at their house Crag was fascinated by Stuarts fish

Or last walk of the week was from Worminghall to Ickford (where Karen once lived in the house in the centre of the picture)

Ickford Church