Comments for Because they're there... http://becausetheyrethere.com ...and a few more reasons for climbing mountains Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:24:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by Greg. http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-884 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:24:02 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-884 There’s a herd of red deer about as well. My dad used to see them during bad winters when he worked at Shap Granite.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-880 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:57:59 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-880 Wow. I didn’t know there were eagles in that area. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an eagle – even in Scotland. I’ll keep my eyes open next time I’m down Haweswater way. Cheers Greg.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by Greg. http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-879 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:54:18 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-879 Nice one McEff, Ive been to Swindale a couple of times. The last time was a real wet day and we only got as far as the waterfalls at the trough end before giving it up as a bad job. Just before turning around I looked up the crags and the eagle was soaring across the fell side . The only other time I saw it was through binoculars at Haweswater.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-878 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:54:52 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-878 Hi Scott. Yes, corpse roads. In valleys where no church existed, the coffins would be carted over the fell to the nearest church. There are various legends of horses bolting in thunderstorms and carrying coffins off into the mist, never to be seen again. I read a piece on corpse roads – or coffin routes – in Scotland quite recently on eBothy Blog here:
http://www.stravaiger.com/blog/?s=coffin
Thanks for the tip on the Glenshee railway. I’ve just Googled it and it is now on my list of things to see in Scotland – which is now so long I could wrap it round the house twice. Cheers, Alen

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by Scott http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-876 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:24:46 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-876 I did enjoy that. I think you’re right – desolate is the word, going by the photos. I’d never heard of a corpse road before, so that’s today’s new bit of knowledge!

Not come across any goods wagons on my travels, but there’s the remnants of what used to be a short section of private railway on the walk in to Glas Tulaichean from Spittal of Glenshee. It was built in the, er, olden days to take the posh hunting folk into the hills from the rather impressive stately pile that is now the Dalmunzie House Hotel.

I know that’s wrong on a variety of levels, but it seemed to fit in with the theme.
;0)

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-874 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:40:30 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-874 Stuff like that takes all the fun out of life, Alan. It’s like Waitrose selling cans of bubble and squeak. It’s not right. Certain things have come about through need and ingenuity. Recycling railway wagons as upland stores and shelters is one of them; recycling your Sunday dinner leftovers as bubble and squeak is another. I think you should start one of your campaigns, Alan.
Cheers now.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by alan.sloman http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-873 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:05:21 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-873 There were a couple of railway wagons on the Cheviots section of the Pennine Way when I did it in 1970. When I was there again in 2007 I noticed that they had been replaced by rather posh custom built shelters. It was a bit disappointing, really.

A great read again, Alen. :-)

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-872 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:14:49 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-872 PS. That’s a great picture you have of Sleddale Water, by the way. I’ve just taken a look.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-871 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:12:11 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-871 It’s funny that it is so quiet, Colin, because it’s an enchanting corner of the Lakes. Yet in the few times I’ve walked there – which must total no more than half a dozen times – I’ve bumped into only one or two people. And from these comments, it appeats everyone feels the same. I think we should perhaps keep quiet about it.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by Colin Griffiths http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-870 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:04:58 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-870 I love this corner of the Lakes, it’s still quiet and secluded. Sleddale (see http://colingriffiths.blogspot.com/2009/01/sleddale.html) and Swindale in particular are little jewels where farming life goes on amongst the older industrial relics and where there’s not much else, especially not tourists (like me!). A couple of Christmas’ ago, when it was really frozen I cycled from Shap over Sleddale to Swindale, well I say cycled, I ended up carrying my bike through deep snow in a howling gale – had a great time though and dinner never tasted so good afterwards! And those eastern fells are always good too, though I keep meaning to visit the nondescript hills around Shap – which I’m sure will reveal their own little treasures.

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-869 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:02:53 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-869 Hi Paul. I love that area of the fells, and it’s only in recent years I’ve got to know it better. I did what was more or less the Wet Sleddale Horseshoe last year. The southern side is very boggy. But if you like bleak it’ll suit you fine.
Alen

]]> Comment on Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . . by McEff http://becausetheyrethere.com/2012/02/21/swindale-and-this-is-alvar-lidell/#comment-868 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:58:38 +0000 http://becausetheyrethere.com/?p=4206#comment-868 Hi Danny. I just knew that if somebody already had some photos of old railway goods wagons it would be you. Cheers.

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