Wasdale ©Andrew Locking

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Wasdale ©Andrew Locking Wasdale ©Andrew Locking ©Andrew Wasdale Wasdale Wasdale, in the far western Lake District, the early 1300s, there were four recorded Wasdale is one of the most significant is a valley of extremes. England’s highest vaccaries, or commercial cattle farms, valleys in the National Trust’s Lake District mountain, Scafell Pike, looks down on in Wasdale and by 1547, there were portfolio and it now owns and protects England’s deepest lake, Wast Water. 19 farms listed in rent records. Today, a number of farms and some 6,677 But it’s also a place of contrasts. The Wasdale is one the Lake District’s key hectares of land. The Fell and Rock high, jagged fells that belong to the valleys for rearing the hardy Herdwick Climbing Club also donated 3,000 acres Borrowdale Volcanic Group abruptly breed of sheep. The annual Wasdale of land to the Trust, including the iconic give way, as the valley runs south Show and Shepherds’ Meet is one of the fell of Great Gable as a memorial to the west, to a gentle, wooded, pastoral main events of the Herdwick farmers’ fallen of World War I. In the late 1970s, landscape including large country year. Other than charcoal production in The National Trust, The Friends of the houses, gardens and parkland. The the local woods and a small amount of Lake District, the Youth Hostel Association scene opens out further as the valley mining on Irton Fell, farming was, and still and other local groups and individuals runs into the estuary where the rivers is, the main economic activity here. came to together and managed to Irt and Mite meet the sea. successfully overturn a proposal by Cultural tourism to Wasdale was limited British Nuclear Fuels to increase the There’s a brooding drama to Wasdale, in the 18th and 19th centuries because abstraction of water from Wast Water. with the imposing bulk of Great Gable, of its far westerly location, but the more Kirk Fell and Yewbarrow at its head and adventurous were starting to come here Despite its more remote position, the spectacular sight of The Screes for the early sport of rock climbing. This Wasdale is perhaps one of the best plunging into the glacial U-shaped began to develop in the late 19th and known and well-loved valleys in the valley lake. early 20th centuries, encouraged by Lake District thanks to its spectacular key figures such as Walter Parry Haskett landscape of lake, screes and high The earliest surviving traces of human Smith and the Abraham brothers of mountains, which form the basis of the activity in Wasdale date back to Keswick. Haskett Smith’s ascent of the Lake District National Park’s logo. Mesolithic times. Neolithic stone axe famous Napes Needle on Great Gable workings have been found high up on in 1886 was a landmark in the popularity Scafell Pike and evidence of Bronze Age of rock climbing in the Lake District. settlement exists on the valley bottom. The Wasdale Head Inn at the head of Early medieval and Norse finds have the valley became a thriving centre for been made elsewhere in the valley. By walkers and climbers, and still is today. lakesworldheritage.co.uk #WeAreTheLakes.
Recommended publications
  • My 214 Story Name: Christopher Taylor Membership Number: 3812 First Fell Climbed
    My 214 Story Name: Christopher Taylor Membership number: 3812 First fell climbed: Coniston Old Man, 6 April 2003 Last fell climbed: Great End, 14 October 2019 I was a bit of a late-comer to the Lakes. My first visit was with my family when I was 15. We rented a cottage in Grange for a week at Easter. Despite my parents’ ambitious attempts to cajole my sister Cath and me up Scafell Pike and Helvellyn, the weather turned us back each time. I remember reaching Sty Head and the wind being so strong my Mum was blown over. My sister, 18 at the time, eventually just sat down in the middle of marshy ground somewhere below the Langdale Pikes and refused to walk any further. I didn’t return then until I was 28. It was my Dad’s 60th and we took a cottage in Coniston in April 2003. The Old Man of Coniston became my first summit, and I also managed to get up Helvellyn via Striding Edge with Cath and my brother-in-law Dave. Clambering along the edge and up on to the still snow-capped summit was thrilling. A love of the Lakes, and in particular reaching and walking on high ground, was finally born. Visits to the Lakes became more regular after that, but often only for a week a year as work and other commitments limited opportunities. A number of favourites established themselves: the Langdale Pikes; Lingmoor Fell; Catbells and Wansfell among them. I gradually became more ambitious in the peaks I was willing to take on.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Get Round Wasdale When You Probably Shouldn't by Lauren Jeska
    How to Get Round Wasdale When You Probably Shouldn't By Lauren Jeska What a year it's been! After some promising runs in faces at the road provide a welcome boost, and then it's January and February, everything started going wrong, the steady climb to Seatallan, thankful as the air cools and come the start of April I couldn't run at all due to away from the valley. Near the top I'm chatting to serious fatigue problems. The recovery process was another CVFR runner, Linda Murgatroyd. After the slow, and even in June training runs seemed to go badly checkpoint I leave her behind, and as it's a clear day find as often as they went well. I'd cut my race plans for the the best path over towards Pillar. Looking back to see year down to the English Championships, and had a where she was, I can only see a few runners behind me Wasdale entry - so, to go for it or not? Still undecided, I before the line, ominously, stops. For the first time the reccied the route with Ben and Louise. Some energy thought of cut-off times enters my mind. There's not drink revived me from the inevitable energy-crash much to be done about it (I don't even have a watch!), (inevitable even at a slow reccying pace!), convincing and I keep up a reasonable pace but don't start rushing me I could get round on race day, maybe not fast but I'd or panicking.
    [Show full text]
  • An Iconic Landscape Why Is This Dramatic Landscape Such a Lake
    http://www.discoveringbritain.org/connectors/system/phpthumb.php?src=co- ntent%2Fdiscoveringbritain%2Fimages%2FNess+Point+viewpoint%2FNess+- Point+test+thumbnail.jpg&w=100&h=80&f=png&q=90&far=1&HTTP_MODAUTH- =modx562284b1ecf2c4.82596133_2573b1626b27792.46804285&wctx=mgr&source=1 Viewpoint An iconic landscape Time: 15 mins Region: North West England Landscape: rural Location: Overbeck Bridge, Wasdale, Cumbria nearest postcode CA20 1EX Grid reference: NY 16780 06797 Getting there: Wasdale is accessible by road from the south-west, via Gosforth and Nether Wasdale Keep and eye out for: St Olaf’s church, a tiny building that is easy to miss Barely a day goes by that this awesome valley doesn’t present a different face to the visitor. It can be dark and menacing, light and inviting, inspirational, relaxing, exciting, over-powering and heady with the tang of wild places…and sometimes all those things in just one day! Stroll to the edge of the lake, Wast Water, to gain a hint of the powerful natural forces that have shaped this place and an inkling of why this setting served as the backdrop to some of the greatest pioneering rock climbing achievements... Why is this dramatic landscape such a Lake District icon? Arguably the wildest and most dramatic of the Lakeland valleys, Wasdale is a masterpiece of creation, fashioned by the Ice Age glaciers that carved deep U-shaped hollows in the hard volcanic rocks of this part of north-west England. Although the Ice Ages began about 2.4 million years ago, they lasted until about 10,000 years ago and it was this latest period of intense cold that caused the striking features we see here.
    [Show full text]
  • Lakes Big Swims Trip Notes
    ` Lakes Big Swims Trip Notes TRIP OVERVIEW The Lake District is home to over 80 lakes, meres, waters, and tarns making it a great location for open water swimming. On this short escape, we offer the opportunity to do some longer swims on what we think are four of the best lakes in the area. The days are packed as we swim the entire length of Derwent Water and Wast Water and swim across Grasmere and Ullswater. This trip is a fabulous opportunity to spend a few days not only exploring the different areas of the Lake District from a swimming perspective, but also experiencing the uniqueness of each lake. Swimmers will be escorted by experienced swim guides and qualified canoeists during all swims. Our accommodation is located on the shores of the water at Grasmere, right across the road from Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage. WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR? This trip is a combination of lake length swims as well as some long width crossings. Most swims are between 4-5kms, so the trip is best suited to those who fancy these types of distances. Although challenging, these swims are some of the most spectacular anywhere in the Lakes. LOCATION SUMMARIES Wast Water Wast Water is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all the lakes and the deepest in England. Surrounded by the mountains of Red Pike, Kirk Fell and Great Gable, the peak of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain is our target as swim the length of this Water. Derwent Water Derwent Water is fed by the River Derwent with a catchment area in the high fells surrounded to its west rise by the fells of Cat Bells and to its east, the fantastic viewpoint of Friar's Crag, jutting into the lake.
    [Show full text]
  • Complete 230 Fellranger Tick List A
    THE LAKE DISTRICT FELLS – PAGE 1 A-F CICERONE Fell name Height Volume Date completed Fell name Height Volume Date completed Allen Crags 784m/2572ft Borrowdale Brock Crags 561m/1841ft Mardale and the Far East Angletarn Pikes 567m/1860ft Mardale and the Far East Broom Fell 511m/1676ft Keswick and the North Ard Crags 581m/1906ft Buttermere Buckbarrow (Corney Fell) 549m/1801ft Coniston Armboth Fell 479m/1572ft Borrowdale Buckbarrow (Wast Water) 430m/1411ft Wasdale Arnison Crag 434m/1424ft Patterdale Calf Crag 537m/1762ft Langdale Arthur’s Pike 533m/1749ft Mardale and the Far East Carl Side 746m/2448ft Keswick and the North Bakestall 673m/2208ft Keswick and the North Carrock Fell 662m/2172ft Keswick and the North Bannerdale Crags 683m/2241ft Keswick and the North Castle Crag 290m/951ft Borrowdale Barf 468m/1535ft Keswick and the North Catbells 451m/1480ft Borrowdale Barrow 456m/1496ft Buttermere Catstycam 890m/2920ft Patterdale Base Brown 646m/2119ft Borrowdale Caudale Moor 764m/2507ft Mardale and the Far East Beda Fell 509m/1670ft Mardale and the Far East Causey Pike 637m/2090ft Buttermere Bell Crags 558m/1831ft Borrowdale Caw 529m/1736ft Coniston Binsey 447m/1467ft Keswick and the North Caw Fell 697m/2287ft Wasdale Birkhouse Moor 718m/2356ft Patterdale Clough Head 726m/2386ft Patterdale Birks 622m/2241ft Patterdale Cold Pike 701m/2300ft Langdale Black Combe 600m/1969ft Coniston Coniston Old Man 803m/2635ft Coniston Black Fell 323m/1060ft Coniston Crag Fell 523m/1716ft Wasdale Blake Fell 573m/1880ft Buttermere Crag Hill 839m/2753ft Buttermere
    [Show full text]
  • Netherbeck Horseshoe Including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike a Walk Proposed by Walking Britain
    Netherbeck Horseshoe including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike A walk proposed by Walking Britain This Lake District walk is strenuous including seven summits in what can be a tiring day. Good navigational skills are essential when visibility is poor. The rewards for the hard work are numerous and you will enjoy many wonderful lakeland panaoramas completing the walk. Walk No. 293081 Calculated time : 8h50 Difficulty : Difficult Return to the departure Distance : 10.79mi Yes point : Vertical gain : 4426ft Activity : Walking Vertical drop : 4419ft Region : Lake District Highest point : 2720ft Location : Wasdale Lowest point : 217ft Description (D)From the car park (grid ref. NY167068), head Southwest along the Waypoints Wasdale Road passing over Netherbeck Bridge. Continue along the road, with some excellent retrospective views to the Scafells, until you reach a S/F Start: Overbeck bridge car park road junction (grid ref. NY151053). Turn right here and follow the road until N 54.450429° / W 3.285381° - alt. 236ft - mi 0 just short of Greendale. Take the wide grassy footpath on your right that 1 Middle Fell leads eventually up to Greendale Tarn. Gaining height you eventually reach N 54.453697° / W 3.311667° - alt. 1873ft - mi 3.16 a point where the path forks as the gorge begins to narrow. Here go right 2 Seatallan and start the ascent of Middle Fell. N 54.463779° / W 3.328691° - alt. 2238ft - mi 4.57 (1)The onward path, rather feint in places, leads you onto the broad summit 3 Haycock ridge with a large cairn providing evidence of the highest spot.
    [Show full text]
  • Trusmadoor and Other Cumbrian `Pass' Words
    Trusmadoor and Other Cumbrian `Pass' Words Diana Whaley University of Newcastle Nobody ever sang the praises of Trusmadoor, and it's time someone did. This lonely passage between the hills, an obvious and easy way for man and beast and beloved by wheeling buzzards and hawks, has a strange nostalgic charm. Its neat and regular proportions are remarkable—a natural `railway cutting'. What a place for an ambush and a massacre!1 No ambushes or massacres are promised in the following pages, but it will be argued that the neglected name of Trusmadoor holds excitements of a quieter kind. I will consider its etymology and wider onomastic and historical context and significance, and point to one or possibly two further instances of its rare first element. In the course of the discussion I will suggest alternative interpretations of two lost names in Cumbria. Trusmadoor lies among the Uldale Fells in Cumbria, some five miles east of the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake (National Grid Reference NY2733). An ascending defile, it runs south-east, with Great Cockup to its west and Meal Fell to the north-east. The top of the pass forms a V-shaped frame for splendid views north over the Solway Firth some twenty miles away. Trusmadoor is a significant enough landscape feature to appear on the Ordnance Survey (OS) One Inch and 1:50,000 maps of the area, yet it is unrecorded, so far as I know, until its appearance on the First Edition Six Inch OS map of 1867. In the absence of early spellings one would normally be inclined to leave the name well alone, a practice followed, intentionally or not, by the editors of the English Place-Name Society survey of Cumberland.2 However, to speakers or readers of Welsh the name is fairly transparent.
    [Show full text]
  • The Western Fells (646M, 2119Ft) the WESTERN FELLS
    Seatoller FR OM Blakeley Raise THE BASE BROWN NORTH Heckbarley FR Honister GREY KNOTTS OM GREEN GABLE GRIKE GREAT GABLE Pass THE LANK RIGG BRANDRETH FLEETWITH PIKE SOUTH CRAG FELL FR OM BUCKBARROW HAYSTACKS THE KIRK FELL EAS IRON CRAG Black Sail Pass Whin Fell MIDDLE FELL FR T Stockdale Scarth Gap Mosser OM HIGH CRAG Hatteringill Head Buttermer THE Moor FELLBARROW W SEATALLAN (801m, 2628ft) (801m, asdale WES YEWBARROW HIGH STILE Smithy Fell CAW FELL e Head PILLAR 12 Green Gable Green 12 T Sourfoot Fell BUCKBARROW LOW FELL RED PIKE (W) Darling Dodd GREA SCOAT FELL F Loweswater G ell ABLE GREEN GABLE HAYCOCK STEEPLE Styhead Crummock T RED PIKE (W) Pass SEATALLAN SCOAT FELL MELLBREAK Oswen Fell MIDDLE FELL Black Crag Wa HAYCOCK BRANDRETH te BR BASE (899m, 2949ft) (899m, r STARLING DODD Burnbank Fell OW PILLAR SCOAT FELL W N LOW FELL Lamplugh ast RED PIKE (W) 11 Great Gable Great 11 Sharp Knott Wa Black Crag CAW FELL GREY KNOTTS te FELLBARR BLAKE FELL r HEN COMB PILLAR KNOCK MURTON Honister GREAT BORNE Fothergill Head Pass HIGH CRAG YEWBARROW OW FLEETWITH PIKE GAVEL FELL Carling Knott MELLBREAK HIGH STILE Looking Stead RED PIKE (B) BLAKE FELL (616m, 2021ft) (616m, Burnbank Fell Floutern Cop STARLING DODD Floutern Pass W asdale KIRK FELL Oswen Fell 10 Great Borne Great 10 GREAT BORNE GREAT BORNE Buttermer Head Ennerdale Gale Fell KNOCK MURTON STARLING DODD Floutern Cop e Beck Head Wa RED PIKE (B) te HEN COMB r HIGH STILE GAVEL FELL GREAT GABLE CRAG FELL HIGH CRAG MELLBREAK Scarth Gap GRIKE Crummock THE (526m, 1726ft) (526m, HAYSTACKS Styhead
    [Show full text]
  • RR 01 07 Lake District Report.Qxp
    A stratigraphical framework for the upper Ordovician and Lower Devonian volcanic and intrusive rocks in the English Lake District and adjacent areas Integrated Geoscience Surveys (North) Programme Research Report RR/01/07 NAVIGATION HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS DOCUMENT Bookmarks The main elements of the table of contents are bookmarked enabling direct links to be followed to the principal section headings and sub-headings, figures, plates and tables irrespective of which part of the document the user is viewing. In addition, the report contains links: from the principal section and subsection headings back to the contents page, from each reference to a figure, plate or table directly to the corresponding figure, plate or table, from each figure, plate or table caption to the first place that figure, plate or table is mentioned in the text and from each page number back to the contents page. RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RESEARCH REPORT RR/01/07 A stratigraphical framework for the upper Ordovician and Lower Devonian volcanic and intrusive rocks in the English Lake The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used with the permission of the District and adjacent areas Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/2004. D Millward Keywords Lake District, Lower Palaeozoic, Ordovician, Devonian, volcanic geology, intrusive rocks Front cover View over the Scafell Caldera. BGS Photo D4011. Bibliographical reference MILLWARD, D. 2004. A stratigraphical framework for the upper Ordovician and Lower Devonian volcanic and intrusive rocks in the English Lake District and adjacent areas. British Geological Survey Research Report RR/01/07 54pp.
    [Show full text]
  • New Planning Applications Within the Lake District National Park Week Ending: 22 May 2010
    New Planning Applications within the Lake District National Park Week Ending: 22 May 2010 7/2010/5206 District: South Lakeland Application type: Full Applicant Name: Mr D Ferguson Location: The Homestead, Ghyll Head, Bowness-on-windermere, Windermere, LA23 3LN Development: Conversion of The Homestead back into 2 dwellings (The Homestead & Gill Cottage) Parish: Cartmel Fell TIC: Date valid: 21-May-2010 Case Officer: Ben Long Grid Ref: 339363 492798 7/2010/5207 District: South Lakeland Application type: Listed Building Applicant Name: Mr D Ferguson Location: The Homestead, Ghyll Head, Bowness-on-windermere, Windermere, LA23 3LN Development: Conversion of The Homestead back into 2 dwellings (The Homestead & Gill Cottage) Parish: Cartmel Fell TIC: Date valid: 21-May-2010 Case Officer: Ben Long Grid Ref: 339363 492798 7/2010/5274 District: South Lakeland Application type: Full Applicant Name: Adventure Peaks Ltd Location: Former Youngs premises, Lake Road, Ambleside, LA22 0DB Development: Change of use from shop to shop and climbing wall, open up new door Parish: Lakes TIC: Date valid: 18-May-2010 Case Officer: Ben Long Grid Ref: 337651 504236 New Planning Applications within the Lake District National Park Week Ending: 22 May 2010 7/2010/2119 District: Allerdale Application type: Full Applicant Name: Mrs A Foggitt Location: 8, Skiddaw Street, Keswick, CA12 4BX Development: Replace existing cracked and damaged skylight at rear with new conservation style velux Parish: Keswick TIC: Keswick TIC Date valid: 18-May-2010 Case Officer: Nick Thompson
    [Show full text]
  • 'Wasdale Head'
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2015 Wasdale head Evans, David J A ; Brown, Victoria H ; Roberts, Dave H ; Innes, James B ; Bickerdike, Hannah Louise ; Vieli, Andreas ; Wilson, Peter Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-139517 Book Section Published Version Originally published at: Evans, David J A; Brown, Victoria H; Roberts, Dave H; Innes, James B; Bickerdike, Hannah Louise; Vieli, Andreas; Wilson, Peter (2015). Wasdale head. In: McDougall, D A; Evans, David J A. The Quaternary of the Lake District: Field guide. London: Quaternary Research Association, 213-238. THE QUATERNARY OF THE LAKE DISTRICT Field Guide Edited by Derek A. McDougall & David J.A. Evans 2015 Cover Photograph: Stony Cove Pike, looking towards Brothers Water and Ullswater (D. McDougall). Produced to accompany the QRA Annual Field Meeting based at Blencathra Field Studies Centre, 21-24 May 2015. QRA contribution to The Geological Society’s Year of Mud. © Quaternary Research Association, London, 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed by: Adlard Print & Reprographics Ltd., The Old School, The Green, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, NG11 6HH. Recommended reference: McDougall, D.A. and Evans, D.J.A. (eds) (2015) The Quaternary of the Lake District: Field Guide.
    [Show full text]
  • Tour of the Lake District
    Walking Holidays in Britain’s most Beautiful Landscapes Tour of the Lake District The Tour of the Lake District is a 93 mile circular walk starting and finishing in the popular tourist town of Windermere. This trail takes in each of the main Lake District valleys, along lake shores and over remote mountain passes. You will follow in the footsteps of shepherds and drovers along ancient pathways from one valley to the next. Starting in Windermere, the route takes you through the picturesque towns of Ambleside, Coniston, Keswick and Grasmere (site of Dove Cottage the former home of the romantic poet William Wordsworth). The route takes you through some of the Lake District’s most impressive valleys including the more remote valleys of the western Lake District such as Eskdale, Wasdale and Ennerdale, linked together with paths over high mountain passes. One of the many highlights of this scenic tour is a visit to the remote Wasdale Head in the shadow of Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. Mickledore - Walking Holidays to Remember 1166 1 Walking Holidays in Britain’s most Beautiful Landscapes Summary the path, while still well defined, becomes rougher farm, which is open to the public and offers a great Why do this walk? on higher ground. insight into 17th Century Lakeland life. Further • Stay in the popular tourist towns of Keswick, along the viewpoint at Jenkin Crag is worth a Ambleside, Grasmere, and Coniston. Signposting: There are no official route waymarks short detour before continuing to the bustling • Walk along the shores of Wastwater, Buttermere and you will need to use your route description and town of Ambleside.
    [Show full text]