Author Archives: admin

Dalton Safari Zoo

Dalton Safari Zoo is free this month so my sister, Ness and I paid a visit. I’ve not been for about eight years. I have never liked animals in cages, but this zoo has made a good effort in disguising this by using perspex and creating more natu...

Blea Tarn, Eskdale by Steam Train

A short walk up to Blea Tarn in Eskdale with my sister, Ness, using the Ravenglass to Eskdale Steam Railway. A circular walk of four miles and only 1000ft of ascent. I have not visited Blea Tarn since I was on a ecology field trip as an undergraduate...

Brass & Bells: Ulverston to Urswick

A busy Saturday! Playing for the Ulverston Charter Day late morning, then ringing bells at Kirkby in Furness and Great Urswick in the afternoon. ...

Tarn Hows & Black Crag with Fr. John

The forecast for our last walk together was rain and gales, so we decided on a lower, shorter walk. John hasn’t walked any southern fells, so we walked up Black Crag via Tom Gill waterfall and Tarn Hows, starting from Glen Mary NT car park, by...

Greystones to Barf with Fr. John

John and I had decided to walk four grassy Wainwrights: Greystones, Broom Fell, Lord’s Seat and Barf. I parked my car at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre and we drove John’s car to Spout Force car park (free), a couple a miles further up the...

South Walney Nature Reserve with Fr. John.

Fr. John came down to visit us on Walney Island, so in the morning I took him down the south end of the island to the Nature Reserve. The circuit is three and three quarter miles long and takes a couple of hours, more if you want to spend time in the...

St. Bees to Whitehaven Cliff Path with Fr. John

Fr. John met me off the train at St. Bees’ station and we drove down and parked at the beach. We were going to walk the cliff path to Whitehaven, then catch the train back to St. Bees. The walk was 7 miles and would take about four hours. It wa...

Alcock Tarn with Fr. John

I had arranged to meet Fr. John in the lay-by at Grasmere, at 9am. We usually meet up for a few walks every year. He had left darkest Surrey at 3am for his annual walking holiday in the lakes. He would be staying in the presbytery at St. Joseph...

Barrow Town Hall Tower Tour

On Wednesday afternoon the St. James’ bell ringers went on a tour of the bell tower of Barrow Town Hall, organised by ringer, Sue. I have done Town Hall Tours before when I accompanied my students from school, but I have never visited the tower...

Blencathra & Mungrisdale Common

On Friday Ged, Kas and I drove to the Blencathra Center at Threlkeld in order to climb up to Blencathra. Blencathra is comprised of five separate fells. Today we would ascend via Blease Fell, a route that I have only used once, to descend by. We woul...

Walking the Cumbrian Mountains

Jo Sweeney’s photo diary of Lake District Fell Walks