Repeat Visitor

Here's our latest repeat visitor, but, as you can see, not universally popular!

It's been seen both morning & evening at both recent weekends. First indication was a disgorged waste sac of fur & bones left on a tree stump.

We are also playing host to dunnocks & blackbirds nesting & have seen willow warblers in the garden, but haven't seen their nest yet. And jackdaws in the neighbouring barn.

Royal Wedding

What a splendid day in every sense! The crowds in London obviously enjoyed the day.

Here in Clapham, a "Street Party" was held in the childrens play park, with loads of food, face painting for kids & communal singing. A scroll had been prepared listing all residents of Clapham, Keasden & Newby, and all children in the villages were presented with commemorative "Kate & William" mugs to mark the occasion.

A great day!

Spring evening

A glorious spring evening, cloudless, warm. Dragged, willingly up the hillside by dog, searching every clump of spindle grass for the inevitable rabbit. Neighbours are having their tea outside; another tending his racing pigeons; a friendly wave & "hello". Sheep scatter as we climb the stile & progress up the hill. The views are long & brilliant, the air fresh. In a great ring around are Ingleborough (north), Pen-y-Ghent (east), Pendle Hill (SE), Bowland Knotts (S), Caton Moor (SW), the sun glinting off the wide expanse of Morcambe Bay & then the hills of the southern Lakes disappearing into the haze. Aaaahhhh!

Some lovely local walks

The glorious weather of the last few days has given opportunity to get out & do some of the walks that we've been storing up for days like these.

Saturday: We had offered to give a guest a lift to a wedding reception at The Traddock Hotel in Austwick. Conveniently in time for a quick pint & bowl of chips at The Game Cock, the three of us (John Diane & Jack, our terrier) set off up into Crummackdale - lovely, peaceful valley between Norber & Moughton Scars. There were climbers on the cliffs, as we wandered along bridlepaths, past a quiet spot (Wash Dub - ideal for a picnic!) where there are a couple of clapper bridges across the beck.

On Monday we had thick blanket fog all day. Complete contrast on Tuesday, as fog cleared to a beautifully sunny day. We went to Horton & took a short wander down the Ribble (above) and back via the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe for a cuppa & cake & chat.

Wednesday: Di told her two males to "Go & climb Ingleborough - I want you out of the house!"

So we did! From the path up from Cold Cotes we cut across to the main path from Ingleton & up to the summit. 6 legs definitely better than 2 on the steep bits! Back home via Newby Cote - the closest path onto Ingleborough from home.

Thursday: Not quite enough time to do the walk we wanted to but in the same area. From the "Gated road" between Thornton-in-Lonsdale to Dent, & with splendid views up Kingsdale, a circular walk over the limestone scars at the southern end of Gragareth & back to the car via two tracks, Turbary Road & Tow Scar Road. The highlight of this was stopping in a grassy area for a break, lying back in the sun, no wind, & no sound other than the wonderful song of skylarks fluttering high into the sky. BLISS!

Lambing time!

Lambs are beginning to appear in the local fields and with the arrival of some wonderful weather, buds are bursting and the snowdrops are giving way to seas of yellow daffodils. It's been fantastic weather these last few days!

Catrigg Force

After several days of damp or wet weather, the sun came out last Sunday (between the showers!) - enough to tempt us out for a nice long walk with Jack, our Jack Russell. One of our recent guests had recommended this and others in the area and there was plenty of water falling over here!
Then just a short walk back into Stainforth & back home to tea & cake!

Stocks Resevoir

We got to Stocks Resevoir at last, having been defeated a couple of weeks ago by snow, slush & ice on the road over Bowland Knots.
There's a well marked circular walk around the resevoir of about 8 miles, from the main car park on the road between Slaidburn & Clapham. Yesterday, a thin skim of ice covered about half the surface, giving an impression of absolutely calm water & resulting in some beautiful reflections of sky & trees. A real shame we hadn't brought a camera! We have resolved to return in the spring & summer as there are wildflower meadows beside the lake and late autumn colours should be wonderful.
There is a hide not far from the car park for birdwatching. We saw cormorants, Cananda & Greylag geese & many species of duck.
There are informative maps of the circuit in the main carpark also showing several other waymarked paths & cycle tracks.