Category Archives: Industrial archaeology

Thirty Years On – Cwmorthin Revisited

Posted on May 22, 2013 by

From one side of a Welsh mountain to another – underground and overground . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Caving, Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Politics, Potholing, Quarrying, Ranting, Slate quarries, Walking, William Morris | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Forever Changing – Broad Majestic Duddon

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

A walk along the shifting sands of the Duddon estuary . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Second World War, Walking, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

I Must Go Down to South Gare Again . . .

Posted on March 22, 2013 by

Searching for the meaning of life on the beach at Teesside . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Hiking, Industrial archaeology, Life, Recycling, South Gare, Teesside, Walking | Tagged | 25 Comments

Only a Rosedale, I give you . . .

Posted on March 11, 2013 by

THIS set out to be a hike to the Rosedale iron mines – but I got tangled in a fox hunt and that’s far more entertaining. It was also a day of bewildering signposts, dazzling sunlight, heather fire haze and … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Hunting, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railways, Walking | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

A Blackpowder Blast From the Past

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

IUSED to blow up huge chunks of Cumbrian hillside for a living. I stopped doing it not through any regard for conservation or the environment, but because I’d noticed that none of my more senior colleagues ever reached retirement age … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Explosives, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railway goods wagons, Ranting, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Day Return to Bloworth Crossing . . . and Beyond

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

A walk along the mineral railways of the North York Moors . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Drove roads, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Railways, Walking | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Lakeland-by-the-Sea: A Walk With a Border Collie

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

WORDSWORTH penned 34 sonnets either celebrating or related to the River Duddon – according to the contents pages of my Wordsworth’s Poetical Works Volume V. I had intended to include a few verses here to introduce this piece, but having … Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Running, Walking, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Rookhope: A Reminder of Who We Are

Posted on December 7, 2012 by

WEARDALE is a Pennine valley that has the footprints of industry stamped all over it. It has no pretentions and shows no inclination to tidy itself up. That’s why it appeals to me so much . . .

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railway goods wagons, Railways, Ranting, Walking | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

High Cup – And the Rise and Fall of Belfast Sinks

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

Don’t ever, ever, ever, say the slog from Cow Green to High Cup is devoid of interest . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Barry Bucknell, Belfast sinks, Charles Darwin, Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Life, Mountains, Ranting, Walking | Tagged , , | 44 Comments

And Finally, Lujar . . . Finally

Posted on October 16, 2012 by

McEff climbs Sierra de Lujar. It’s his fourth attempt . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Geology, Hiking, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Walking | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

London 2: Casting Bells, Fighting Fascism, Hanging Pirates

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

A walk through the East End in search of the unusual – and a good pint . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Battle of Cable Street, Beer, Food, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Politics, Prospect of Whitby, Ranting, Walking | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Stainmore Summit: Signs of the Times

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

THE last train steamed over Stainmore Summit in 1962. I missed it. It’s not my fault – I was only five-and-a-half at the time. But if I hang around there just might be another along shortly . . .

Posted in Environment, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Politics, Railway goods wagons, Railways, Walking | Tagged , , | 22 Comments