Sheltered

Best place to be this morning was the quiet spot above the stream, sheltered from the strong winds but getting some sunlight from a quickly changing sky. A stag was briefly to be seen through the trees and the flock of thrushes was taking a rest from their aerial excitements.

Keep in Step!

The new sheep had been in occupation for less than a day. They were dropped off with no ceremony in a matter of a minute or two. The grazier's trailer was rattling along the track one minute, reversing to the gate the next and then back on its way as if a vital appointment awaited.

They are amusing when getting used to a new place, reluctant to explore on their own. This morning this resulted in a single file winding its way round Thistle Hill. So no more Herdwicks, but this lot are also white faced and fairly stocky. One wonders how hardy they are for a hilly site well away from the farm. The other new occupant is a ram. This may be a first and I wonder if SWT know about it.

Family Group

The three deer browsing this morning is a reminder of the family group seen two years ago. They were on Blacka Hill in some of the dreariest morning light seen so far. It must be a strong likelihood that the small one is the young one born here in the summer.

Partly Hidden

The village of Dore nestles cosily below Blacka Moor. When the mist helpfully veils the depressing bulk of King Ecgbert's School, Dore can look an inviting place. But if planning decisions are not challenged more effectively than to date it could easily become just another slice of urban sprawl. Recently the chief area of concern is the ease with which permission is granted for disproportionately large buildings on the site of much smaller ones that have been demolished.

Quiet Spot

The slopes above the high parts of Blacka Dyke on the north side are an excellent place to be in autumn. No paths go there and yet it's fairly easy to find your way through once the bracken has died back. From the terraced walk on the opposite side there are good views of the trees and the fiery colours of the dead bracken in early morning sun. Occasionally you get a sighting of a stag as this morning.


You also get to see where the water drops suddenly to the lower parts of the dyke.
Some large beeches are here setting the ground ablaze with their cast off leaves.

No path for man but deer have made their way through for some years to get to the more secluded woodland - a journey that means a leap over the barbed wire installed in 2005. There are signs too that cattle have followed their lead this year. Let's hope they found nothing to persuade them it's worth returning.

Looking Up

The paths are getting worse by the day as the long dry spell of early autumn becomes just a memory. Where the peat has been exposed by the cattle and the broadening continues all we can look forward to in the winter is more mud punctuated by welcome periods of drying frost. The group of renegade mountain bikers who've taken to riding over the hill probably enjoy the mud. Mountain bikers seem to divide into several groups, the two main ones being those who avoid the wetter areas by riding out to the side and causing further erosion and those who love the splash and spray sticking to the centre. The second lot, of course, cause more damage to the original route making it more likely that all other users will divert to the edges.

Better far to keep one's eyes on the sky and enjoy the sunrises which can be excellent value at this time of year.

Sky Dancing

The air remains full of large flocks of Fieldfares. Their constant movement is like the phases of an elaborate country dance. They add interest to a season deprived of the birdsong that appeals so much in Spring, but you wonder what is the purpose of all this energy sapping activity. Occasionally several birds sit out a session perhaps unable to find suitable partners or unhappy with those who have offered.

The wall at the Stony Ridge car park has been repaired surprisingly efficiently within a day by SWT - minus a length of coping stones that had been filched.

It's a pity it took so long to get round to it but this is well done so let's hope it shows a commitment to doing these bread and butter tasks well. There remain several sad looking examples of poor work during the last few years which should be put out of their misery, one of which is the bench below Lenny Hill. The lack of symmetry between the two supporting columns makes me feel uncomfortable each time I see it.