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Monday 27 August 2012

A Walk on the Wild Side ....

In my last post, I showed you Piel Island from a distance, so when my little sis suggested we go on a guided walk last Saturday, I jumped at the chance! I had walked to Piel over the sands as a child, when I used to go cockling with my Dad, but that was many moons ago.


The day was a bit grey, with dark clouds overhead, but the guide, Walney local John Murphy, (last year's mayor of Barrow), told us it was perfect conditions for a walk over the sands ...


We made our way onto the sand, but first had to get through some grey, slimy mud ... John said there was always at least one person who fell in the mud ... no, not me ... Helen, my little sis! She leapt up like a startled gizelle got up rather quickly, before I had the chance to photograph her! Here you can see her muddy jeans ... nasty sister Claire! I dug out my ancient crocs, because didn't fancy sweltering all day in wellies and could take them off when it got slippery ...


It's about half a mile across the sands to the island, and it is advisable to go on a guided tour, as you would be taking your life into your hands going it alone, having to deal with dangerous riptides and treacherous quicksand ..


 we followed the tracks of landrovers for the most part ... these are from islanders and campers to the island ...


John gave us a running commentary all the way over, on vegetation growing on this bleak, north-westerly coast ... samphire, beloved by posh restarateurs, growing in abundance ...


tidemarks ...


and the island gets closer with each step ...


Believe it or not, this is one of several cars that didn't make it to the other side and got swallowed up in sinking sand!


Nearly there!


And a look back at the way we've come ... Walney Island in the distance ...


Now we're on the island, and this is the row of cottages, two of which are inhabited all year round ...


 And the view towards Roa Island, where me an Millie visited the lifeboat house last week ...


 and the rear view of the cottages.  These were built for the pilots who guided boats and ships onto the island ...


And Piel Castle, still maintaining a feeling of majesty and strength, despite falling into ruin ...


and the beach surrounding the island ...


Seaweed and driftwood ...


Multi-coloured pebbles, rocks and shells ...


Teasels, growing wild ... so called because they were used in the cotton industry, to 'tease' the knots from the cotton ...


A rare Yellow Horned Poppy, which can only grow on 'vegative shingle', or shingle which sustains growth of  plantlife ...


Sea kale or sea cabbage, immensely nutritious and delicious ...


Mussel shingle ...


And back to the castle.  I'm not going to tell you the history of Piel Castle because I can't be bothered  wikipedia does it so much better than I ever could!


What tales of derring-do ...


piracy ...


shipwreck ...


smuggling ...


murder, treachery and skullduggery ...


could these ancient walls tell?


The outer moat above, now overgrown with grass and brambles ...


 How the castle once looked ...


Another amazing view through an archway ...


And the castle ramparts, sadly now unaccessible to the public, though I distinctly remember climbing these as a child with my brother and cousin, oblivious to the shouts of our mothers, sitting on their picnic blanket far below! ...




Parts of the castle, fallen into the sea ...


Happy campers!


And the welcome sight of the pub, The Ship Inn, rest for weary travellers ...


Island wildlife ...


Nice day for ducks!


Could this trapdoor once have been a smuggler's secret?


And the 'throne' ... each year a knight is appointed by the King of Piel Island.  He sits on the throne, but in doing so, must be prepared to buy everyone present a drink!


The arrival of the ferry, linking Piel with Roa Island ...


and Helen sitting in the rain looking very wet (can't believe she ironed her jeans and straightened her hair before our trek!) ...


The journey back to civilisation ... by now it was absolutely throwing it down, but somehow this didn't spoil anything ...


Feet sinking in quicksand, so just threw caution to the wind and went barefoot in the rain! Very liberating ...


and back to dry land, absolutely drenched but exhilarated after having a great day out, communing with nature and learning lots about local history and heritage ...


Hope you're all enjoying August Bank Holiday ... it's abolutely freezing and tipping it down here ... typical August Bank Holiday weather! It's Millie's birthday today, the weather was lovely when she was born, but my eldest Oliver, was born on August Bank Holiday Monday 26 years ago and Hurricane Charlie made his presence known that day!

Whatever the weather, have fun!

Love Claire xxx


Wednesday 22 August 2012

The sun has got his hat on ....

I got up early yesterday morning, and was very productive in the non-procrastination department ... did a job  I'v been putting off since the beginning of April ... filed my tax assessment online! Very boring but necessary, and actually only took an hour! Felt like a reward was essential, so rounded up my Darling Daughter and headed out for lunch and an afternoon in Ulverston.


After lunch, we drove to Ulverston, parked the car and walked down the leafy lane into town, passing local curiosities on the way ... Toll Gate House


a painted on window ...



and a glimpse through a back gate, to reveal a stunning front door ...


The 'pepperpot' on the hill ... when I was a child and we'd been away for the day, or on holiday, the first sighting of this monument always signalled that you were almost home ...


The lovely, cobbled main street ...


complete with new shop, since we last visited ...


very patriotic! ....


Lovely, summery displays ...


A seasonal view of the teashop I took you to in March ...


 The lovely 'junk' shop, filled with painted furniture and lots of vintageness ... sadly closed today!


The clock tower above the bank, that chimes every hour ...


and the lovely 'Sting In The Tail' filled with lots of fun and games, and eccentricities that you remember from childhood ...


All packed into a really, lovely, old building ...

 Elegant townhouses ...


 Picturesque pubs .... and back to the car, and home via the scenic route over Birkrigg Common ...
Wild and wonderful ...


Which way shall we go? ...


Chicken just roaming free ... she even stopped what she was doing and posed for me!


Strutting peacocks, but not prepared to put on a show for us! ...


Sheep enjoying the sunshine ...


And a magnificent view of Morecambe Bay ...


Well, it would have been rude not to, wouldn't it?


Rainsclouds overhead, so back to the car ...


and along the coast road to this long causeway ...


Skeletons ... what tales could these relics from the past tell?


Sign for ferry across to Piel Island ... don't think was safe today though!


and the bleak Piel Island, with its majestic ruined castle, pub and row of cottages, passed down through the years ... this island is the stuff of Enid Blyton ... smuggling, hidden coves, picnics with lashings of ginger beer!


We walked across the bridge to the Lifeboat Station, the pretty row of houses looking out to sea ...


Millions, posing by the lifeboat ....


One of the crew?


Gatehouse, which I think is now unoccupied, but what a fabulous place to live, and what a view, framed through the archway ...






and Piel Island again, viewed from the shore ...


Back to the car, and just had to show you this ... we always called it the house with 11 chimneys ... but it has 12! My Dad always said it was built by a local businessman and the chimneys were added for each of his 11 (12!) daughters ... would love to know if this is true ...


Back home and my little Bellis Perrenis plants (fake!) bought from Sting in the Tail ...


And today, back to the gloomy, grey weather where these are making me happy and reminding me of A Grand Day Out!


PS: I haven't forgotten about my promised Giveaway ... news soon, must stop procrastinating!

Enjoy your day ...

Love Claire xxx