Tag Archives: Mining History

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

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

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

A Long Slow Walk Through Durham City

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

Walking with 80 banners, 50 bands and the Durham miners . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Durham Miners Gala, History, Life, Politics, Ranting, Walking | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Swindale – and this is Alvar Lidell . . .

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

Swindale has grit, bog, remoteness and bed linen. It’s a valley with attitude but no railway wagons . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Hiking, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railways, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

The Circles that You Find . . .

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

A final trip back into the Bronze Age in search of rock carvings . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Bronze Age, Cup and ring carvings, Environment, Geology, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Stone Circles, Walking | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

Kentmere – In the Footsteps of the Forgotten

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

Looking for history in the abandoned quarries of the Lake District Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Life, Mountains, Quarrying, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Farewell to Meall a Bhuiridh, Creise . . . and Fiunary

Posted on September 16, 2011 by

It all started with an LP cover – and thirty years later, that song still haunts me on moor and on mountain . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Geology, Highland Clearances, Hiking, History, Mountains, Quarrying, Walking | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments