Another impulsive departure for a three hour weather window. I'm becoming impressed with the accuracy of our forecasts,
Wainwright says:
"...this is only really a very miniature fell. How are the mighty fallen, that we should be nowadays content with such! Remember when we used to trot up Great Gable? However, old age can't be helped (damn it) so..."
Well! It was no pushover at five miles with 600ft. of ascent, with a gale blowing and paths gloopy-slip-slidy with mud, and tracts of hard going through trackless heather and dead bracken. However, the views were rewarding, and this was certainly a worthwhile outing.
The summit has the remains of a wartime look-out post constructed from slabs of concrete with a rusted iron step-ladder which I mounted with care in consideration of the howling wind. Wainwright's drawing indicates a full roof, but half has now disappeared, goodness knows where considering its weight and size. I researched on the Internet but could find no more about this structure. My father served at a Royal Observer Corps post on Otley Chevin during the war with comfortable live-in arrangements manned by several men on a rota basis; I guess this Bigland structure was a spartan version for the same organisation.
Photography was compromised by high wind - I couldn't hold the camera still, but here are a few shots.
 |
| Union Jack (upside down - broad white should be at top) on the temporarily closed Swan Hotel which was flooded by Desmond so maybe that's the reason? |
 |
| Quirky private post box at bottom of someone's drive |
 |
| Gloopy paths |
 |
| A tricky stile, twas the same on the other side |
 |
| The look-out tower on Bigland Barrow |
 |
| Unnamed tarn near the summit |
No comments:
Post a Comment