Otherworldly Images

Descending Alum Pot, in the Yorkshire Dales, via Dolly Tubs pitches in the right conditions can give the opportunity to capture some interesting even otherworldly images...

Stoneycroft Ghyll: Present & Past

We were back in Stoneycroft Ghyll again yesterday, we've been there quite a lot this year!

Yesterday we entered the ghyll at the traditional starting point of the metal plate and did everything, including the so called "canyoning" section, right down to the road bridge. It was a great day out with a great group of folk, some of whom we've got to know very well over the years & have become good friends. I always enjoy Stoneycroft and in particular the less well traveled section from the normal get out down to the road. The pictures below give a taste of what can be experienced there.

As is the norm the ghyll was busy, I couldn't begin to estimate the number of people that must descend it each year? 

Walking past the various mining remains that can still be clearly observed I reflected on how few of those who visit would believe the industrial heritage of the now "idyllic" Stoneycroft Ghyll. Ian Tyler suggests that Stoneycroft Mine: "... is perhaps one of the most important mine sites in the county; it is still shrouded in mystery and a site worthy of a visit..." The ghyll was first mined in what I would refer to as its lower reaches, near to the bridge, for lead by the early German miners. Around 1680 the engineer David Davies sank an engine shaft in the stream bed, however, the elements prevailed and heavy rains burst the dams he created tragically drowning the miners downstream. Mining did not  re-commence until the mid-1800's; a 22' water wheel was constructed amidst extensive engineering. The project did not last and mining ceased again after less than ten years. There is more on this in the excellent: "The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide" by Ian Tyler.

Its hard to imagine Stoneycroft as a hive of industry today, to an extent & unlike Snowdonia I feel the present perception of the Lake District is somewhat blinkered to its relatively recent alternative past... a good thing or a bad thing?

A Week This Summer

The first full week of July 2015 has been a great week in the outdoors, broadly speaking its been very similar to each week since the beginning of March! There have been a rich & varied range of activities and we've had the pleasure of spending time with a truly diverse bunch of people from every walk of life.

The mainstay of our work always has been and always will be our "Community Programme" Saturday saw us enjoying an extended day underground in the Yorkshire Dales. It was physical, muddy but full of everything that makes Yorkshire's underground environment such a special place. We abseiled into a large surface pot hole; crawled through passages caked in a clay deposited during the last ice age and looked up in awe at enormous subterranean caverns.

Sunday was another day underground, this time on a freelance basis, with a group of young people from Northern Ireland so it was back to the Yorkshire Dales on a fine sunny day. The water levels were low as we caved ahead of a forecast change in the weather later in the day. None of the group had caved before, its always a real privilege to cave with folk who have never ventured into the underworld. The view over the karst landscape towards Pen-y-Ghent was as good as ever!

Monday could have been another day underground but on occasions at this busy time of year it really is necessary to get one or two "life" things done and a day spent in the office and around Carlisle was needed....

Tuesday, was a return to Lake District for some freelancing: archery and ghyll scrambling. Whilst a mild but very wet Wednesday began with a journey to the North East to work with a group of guys we see on a regular basis. The venue was the busiest Ellerton Water Park I've ever seen. The army, two schools and ourselves resulted in over a hundred water users on the day - there was still plenty of room and a very wet day both in & on the water was enjoyed!

It was back to the Lake District Thursday for a repeat of Tuesday's freelancing. Friday has been a day of preparation for tomorrows canoeing day with another group of young people from the North East, we are looking forward to it, ahead of more of the same next week!

Enjoying the Outdoors

Its a blessing, a real privilege to be able to spend as much time as we do living and working in the outdoors across the North of England and further afield. Recently after a day with a group of students from the North East on Ullswater we decided that rather than head straight for home we'd spend a little more time enjoying the south end of the lake.

The sun had come out and the water was calm, a short paddle saw us cross from Glenridding to the far side of the lake. The highlight though was an exploration, upstream, of Goldrill Beck. Ullswater itself had a hustle & bustle about it with a truly diverse range of craft navigating its waters. Goldrill Beck, however, provided an instant and stark contrast: a small group of kayaks in its lower reaches were the only people we saw. The trees that lined the banks were like a net curtain, shutting out the rest of the world save for the bright light that filtered through their green canopy. The reflections were such that it was difficult to discern where the water began and the trees ended - it was our created planet at its finest. We stopped for a while at a shingle beach for a moment of reflection, it was difficult to imagine the proximity of civilisation. The float back down the beck was equally as compelling, a gem in the middle of a busy summer.

An Evening In The Sun

The recent spell of warm weather is most welcome. On Wednesday, the hottest day so far in Cumbria, we were working underground all day at Nenthead with a group of adults from the North East. Emerging from the mine into hot sunshine soon led to conversation as to how we might be able to use the rest of the day, a journey home and quick turn round saw us heading out to a favourite local climbing spot - Headend Quarry.

It was a beautiful evening, still 21 degC at six thirty, with big views south into the Lake District and north across the Solway Firth.

We had the crag to ourselves and rigged a couple of climbs for top roping, nice and straightforward on warm rock.

Now I haven't done any lead climbing since Graham's fall & injury over 18 months ago. So the return to leading was very gentle! However, it went smoothly and it felt good to top out and climb out of the increasing shade into the bright sunlight at the top of the crag. Marion seconded the climb, hitch free, and at turned nine o'clock it was still warm in the sunshine. Save for three folk coming up to admire the view and take photographs we saw no one all evening.

Photo of the Month: May

Sorry its a bit late! May's photo of the month was taken by John Pear at this year's COAC Ellerton weekend.

Both open canoes & tarps are versatile pieces of equipment, John captured them both being used to good effect!

COAC Ellerton Weekend 2015

Cockerton Outdoor Activity Club (COAC), based in Darlington, have been visiting Ellerton Water Park for their annual canoeing and camping event since the late nineties - its a great family occasion! I checked back in my own canoe log book this weekend: my first visit to Ellerton was on 28th November 1993 (pre-COAC days!); the first entry that might align with a COAC weekend was in the summer of 1999, making this at least the seventeenth COAC Ellerton Weekend!

I don't recall writing about COAC previously in these pages. Founded in the 1990's by members of two Darlington Churches COAC seeks to use outdoor activities with much innovation as an independent extension of these Church's  youth and family work. The organisation has skills in the areas of: water sports, climbing, caving and archery in fact the first "phase" of this year's Ellerton weekend was an open canoeing session with a local Guide group. They run regular archery sessions in the village Church Hall; pool kayak sessions in the winter and a number of canoe river trips to name but a few events. COAC's identity is very much in being a local group, serving the community in which the organisation is based. The "club" is bound together by ties of relationship rather than an emphasis on organisational structure and hierarchy.

This year's Ellerton saw about 35 folk attend plus the above mentioned Guides and began with set up and fish and chips on Friday evening. There was the usual late night "option" of gathering around a blazing camp fire on what was a cool but dry evening.

Saturday morning dawned bright and fine as forecast and the day began with the first open canoe session on the water, with the Guides, at around 09:30. This overlapped with a kayak session for some of the younger element that was present and events were underway. Session followed session on the water with ages from under tens to over sixties enjoying a warm but breezy Ellerton day which even saw a bit of canoe sailing and a water based orienteering course. Ellerton is a vibrant place these days and we shared the water with divers, sailors and a multitude of open water swimmers. All that said its a real bonus for COAC to have a camping field to themselves for the weekend.

Saturday ended with a barbecue, which was excellent, and another night around the camp fire. The rain held off and restricted itself to overnight, allowing ultimately for dry tents to be taken down for everybody.

Sunday was windy and the usual "service" afloat was held, appropriately, with discussion of Jesus calming the storm! Throughout the course of the morning tents came down and farewells were said. 

This year's Ellerton had a very different feel to it, relaxed but purposeful, with a real sense of energy and determination - already looking forward to 2016!!