family walk -fairy steps, boulder climb -Walk Away V15, Beetham,near Milnthorpe, Cumbria ,snow and -3c

me and Evie in the stocks !

links to Beetham,

http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/beetham.htm

http://www.heronmill.org/

http://www.northofthesands.org.uk/westmoreland/parish/9/beetham

A small shrine to Saint Lioba (or Leoba), built into a stone wall in the nearby hamlet of Slackhead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetham

this is an old gate post 

limestone pavement 

looks like a giant pine cone !

through the forest -I am in the distance !

This gives some information about the fairy steps 

http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/beetham-fairy-steps.htm

http://www.discovercumbria.co.uk/beetham.html

http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/cumbria/folklore/the-beetham-fairy-steps.html

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1073997

http://www.francisfrith.com/beetham,cumbria/photos/fairy-steps-1894_34132/

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=1407

http://lakesbloc.com/guides/fairysteps-guide.pdf

Note from Dad : this is not only a good walk but a famous climbing area for bouldering this has a V15(the difficulty of a boulder problem is described by the American 'V' grade system that runs fromV0- to V15)

description of a climb called Walk Away V15 - (sit start)  The middle of the wall is utterly desperate by the way !!! in fact the sit start is pretty grim ;)

Video of view from the top of the fairy steps 

looking  down the fairy steps 

looking up the fairy steps 

if you want to see the fairies you are supposed to fit through this without touching the sides but it is too narrow for dad !!

tree trunk cut for the  path 

 an old house we found 

Route taken is

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/fairy-steps-beetham-cumbria-303720/

Animals at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, Hale, Cumbria, in the Snow -4C

http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/lakeland-wildlife-oasis.htm

http://www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeland_Wildlife_Oasis

Links to Lakeland Wildlife Oasis 

Note from dad: we support the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis for their work they undertake in conservation we visit here often as we have a season ticket, 

lemur climbing 

funny bird 

it thinks we have some  food 

crested cranes 

red squirrel

hanging upside  down 

watching the Patagonian hares 

can you see the fruit bat 

video of the harvest mice 

link about the area 

http://www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk/

Spooky Wilderswood in the dark at -4 to -6 C, Winter Hill,Horwich,

Note from Dad :

Route early evening in complete darkness  -4c through to -6c with ice found on the path and rocks, we are also testing new high visibility clothing, new strobe safety equipment on a clearly defined path,  this area and route is known to me and Jake in both  poor weather conditions and at night, both Children have previously  experienced temperature's down to - 21C on a regular basis in winter when they lived abroad - basic family activities like going  to the supermarket from the car have to be done at -21C ,  Both Jake and Evie have multiple high performance layers on them to undertake this walk , we have online GPS tracking. we take our safety very seriously! Please be careful now the weather is getting colder and it is getting darker ,

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood

some of previous Blog posts exploring in this area 

this is my new coat 

the back of my new coat -we are testing the strobe lights and the increased reflective patches 

walking  through  Wilderswood

This photo is the same doorway (looking the other way )as the Photo below - the difference being one is at  night  you need to careful - things you are familiar with look very different at night 

remember this  photo with the sheep ?

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-lads-from-wilderswood.html

SPOOKY Wilderswood

ice on the path be careful 

me and Evie having a hot drink !

our route: 

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-303656/

Wilderswood Mill
http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Wilderswood_Mill.html

walking route's in this area
http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilderswood-and-winter-hill.html
http://www.middle-age-shred.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15988&start=0

Underneath this route ;)
http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders1.html
http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders3.html

One of our routes
http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-294070/

some of the Birds in this area -
http://www.manchesterbirding.com/horwichmoorssiteguide.htm

Good ideas for day time Heritage trails in this area
http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/publications.htm

History of Rockhaven castle - old house on this site before the wood
http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Rockhaven_Castle.html

Cranberry Moss, Bull Hill, Darwen, - Old mines,Quarries and Old Brickwork site ?.

Stone quarry
Note from Dad this was in line with the mines found later but no sign of any coal mine waste

on top of the quarry

looking towards the mines 

hot chocolate on top of a mine waste tip

can you see Darwen tower ? and me of course !

to collect water ? 

on top of a yet another  mine

mine entrances 

stone sleeper ?

to another  mine  -in line with the quarry

long stone - part of the mine ?

I love hot chocolate -see the bricks?  - another old mine 

another mine shaft

DANGEROUS BOG-KEEP OUT

Bull Hill Brickworks ?

brick kiln 

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/disused-turton-moor-collierybrickworks.html

see the picture of the Bull Hill Brick from this Kiln ?

two deer can you see them ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Roe_Deer

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/roe-deer

last of the mines we saw - we came across around 32 old mines -too many to inspect each one

more photos on my http://www.panoramio.com/user/4875445

reasons for this area being full of mines ?

"The Entwistles used to sink little pits on Cranberry Moss, They were what was called Darwen yard mines .just a  few yards deep, coals were bought up by windlass, and sent to Turton, there was  fighting amongst the men. Some of them were too lazy to go down for coal, but when it was brought up they would fight for its ownership"

http://www.blacksnape.co.uk/history/blacksnape.pdf

referance to Darwen yard mines

http://cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1251

Our route 

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-303478/

weather Cold  below 4c, High chill factor, Jake is now in winter grade clothing , we have changed Jakes socks to include a  waterproof /Breathable layer plus thermal layer, He has brand new Walsh PB's for increased traction.

Useful links 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Darwen

Information about the River Darwen which starts on Cranberry Moss

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1979-11-13a.1136.5

Bull hill maternity hospital

http://www.winnersh.demon.co.uk/Family_History/fhisch1.htm

reference to mining at Cranberry moss

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1261

fireclay accidents - mines on cranberry moss

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cmhrc/lom08lan.htm

reference to mine in this area