Sandside Quarry

Saturday 9th May 2020 ( day 45 of Lockdown) - Sandside Quarry -  2+ miles

So 45 days in with Lockdown. I have walked and climbed my home stairs every day except for one. I have averaged about 3 miles, but I walk hard and nearly always include steep ascent on the limestone tracks around Arnside Knott and I am still finding previously unwalked paths. At the start I did ten reps up and down the stairs at home but about a week ago I increased to twelve.

Today the car needed an airing so I drove 1.5 miles to the track leading up the flanks of Sandside Quarry.

After taking photos of the quarry and limestone pavement I tried to follow a previously walked track south. After two hundred yards it was blocked by a new deer fence and I had to go back. I then noticed another track going north I had not previously set foot on and followed. That was also barred by a deer fence. I went back again and  found yet another new path going south again., then doubled back to go north over Haverbrak Hill.

There were notices saying the woods were  cleared and fenced to create and protect habitat for some butterflies, but surely this is self defeating? As one creates a habitat for a particular species how many habitats of others do you destroy? I sometimes wonder if these quasi conservation people know what they are doing - there were many trees that had been felled - I understand in my simple way that trees are essential for the continued health of the environment but felling seems to be rampant all over the place these days.

Further on I re-visited the ruins of a WW2 Observer Corps post that I thought I had posted about a few years ago - I found the photos but not the post. It was of personal interest to me because my father, being deaf was unable to be in the conventional services in WW2 but served throughout at an Observer Corps post on Otley Chevin in Yorkshire. The purpose was to spot and report enemy aircraft.

I emerged from the trees onto the summit of Haverbrak Hill. I have a shortlist of the three best viewpoints in my area and this is one of them. Before dropping down the hillside to minor roads to get back to the car I spent a while taking all this in. The fields drop away steeply leaving you perched on the edge looking down to, and up the Kent estuary coming towards you twisting and turning with the main channel frequently altering course and endless variations provided by our high tidal range, and all this with the Lake District hills on the horizon with huge rolling white clouds and blue skies above.

Click photo to enlarge

Setting off up the track flanking the sides of Sandside Quarry.

Looking down into the quarry. The scale is much more impressive than the photo indicates. All was quiet today with dormant machinery having a rest.

A splendid example of limestone pavement.
I remember being accompanied by Bowland Climber on a walk up here and his fascination with this feature.

One of the tracks blocked off by new deer fencing but all attractive and colourful with the dappled sunshine - it was a joy to be out and exploring again.

The abandoned Royal Observer Corps post.

The Kent estuary from Haverbrack Hill - one of my top three viewpoints in my home territory.

Click to enlarge. Note my wanderings due to blocked paths. The Kent estuary viewpoint is at the point where the path emerges from the woods north of the Observer Corps buildings.