September: The First Morecambe Poetry Festival

A tea time visit from a Roe Deer.

September, it turns out, was a very busy month, with some notable highlights, so I have a few more posts to come. But I thought I would mention the poetry festival first. I didn’t take any photos, unfortunately, so I’ve used the opportunity to throw in some other September odds and ends.

A double rainbow from Aldi’s carpark, just around the corner from work.

Our comedy show in Brooklyn and the Latin band we saw in Saranac Lake stood out as high-spots in our New York holiday and I resolved to make the most of any cultural opportunities which came my way closer to home. So when I saw posts about a poetry festival in Morecambe I bought tickets for both the Friday and Saturday evenings. Given that the line up included Mike Garry, Lemn Sissay, John Cooper Clarke, Henry Normal and Linton Kwesi Johnson, all of whom I’ve seen live before, mostly many years ago when I lived in Manchester, it wasn’t a difficult decision to make. They were all brilliant, as was Joelle Taylor, who was new to me. This year’s festival is scheduled for the end of September again and the line-up so far includes Carol Ann Duffy, Roger McGough, Brian Bilston, Jackie Kay and Henry Normal again. Very exciting! I need to buy a ticket.

A regular Monday evening appointment with the sunset from the car park by the wind-farm on Caton Moor, after dropping of S at Explorers in the Lune valley. This is a film, but you’ll have to click on it to watch on Flickr.

The festival will once again be based at the Winter Gardens, which I see has just secured a substantial grant for more refurbishment. With that and the Eden Project North and a host of cultural events through the year, things seem to be on the up and up for Morecambe. I lived and worked there for many years and am really chuffed to see it has a potentially rosy future.

Another sunset shot, with clouds over the Lakeland Fells.

Not a September thing, but I think I forgot to mention that in June TBH and I saw Daniel Bye and Boff Whalley at the Duke’s Theatre in Lancaster in their show ‘These Hills are Ours’. You may remember that I was involved with them in a project of the same name a while ago. This show doesn’t relate to that, but is about a madcap scheme to run from Lancaster to Kinder Scout to celebrate the Mass Trespass. Highly recommended.

This film is not of the show, but is about a tour in Devon, during which Dan and Boff ran between venues, in mostly foul weather, and is worth a watch.

The Copper Smelting Works chimney near Jenny Brown’s. TBH were still getting out for our local walks.

Blencathra by Doddick Fell.

In the early part of the descent.

August Bank Holiday Monday, the final day of my long, eventful summer break, and TBH was keen to get out and climb a hill. We settled on Blencathra. We were very lucky and managed to find street parking in Threlkeld.

In the early part of the ascent – Doddick Fell ridge on the skyline.

The sun shone intermittently and it was even quite warm for a while. We were heading around the base of the hill, aiming for Sharp Edge, but when we reached Scaley Beck there was a steep little rock step to negotiate, down into the beck and I didn’t like the look of it, so we turned back for Doddick Fell instead.

Looking to Clough Head.

Dor Beetle – with tiny mite piggybacking on it’s head.

Great Mell Fell.

On the path which skirts the edge of the access land.

We’d not climbed far up Doddick Fell when some unforecast drizzle materialised. Just after we’d stopped for lunch!

Early lunch stop in the drizzle – showers over Clough Head.

Hall’s Fell Ridge, Hallsfell Top, Doddick Gill and Doddick Fell.

Doddick Fell turned out to be a marvellous route up Blencathra. I suspect all of the many ridges are worth a look.

A little further up Doddick Fell. Rather splendid.

Looking down Doddick Fell to Clough Head.

Looking down Doddick Fell.

Almost there.

Looking down Doddick Fell from the top of the ridge.

Scales Fell and the Pennines beyond.

Hallsfell Top.

Sharp Edge and Scales Tarn.

Sharp Edge pano. (Click on this, or any other pictures to see larger images on Flickr.)

Gategill Fell and Derwentwater.

The Skiddaw massif. Criffel in the background?

Blencathra pano 1

The views from Blencathra were superb. What’s-more, it wasn’t busy at all.

Looking over Mungrisdale Common to Great Calva and Knott.

Blencathra pano 2.

Blencathra pano 3

Blencathra pano 4

Looking back up to the top.

We’d had another spell of sunny weather, but, as we started to descend, a band of ominous black clouds swept in from the East.

Clough Head, The Dodds ridge and Thirlmere.

It was very dramatic and I took no end of photos of Clough Head and the Dodds as the black cloud breezed over them.

Clough Head, The Dodds ridge and Thirlmere.

Brooding skies, Derwentwater and the hills beyond.

We took the Blease Fell path down – one I knew to be easy-angled, pleasant walking.

An easy descent on Blease Fell.

Almost down.

Last time I was up Blencathra, I was in the cloud the entire time, so this was a very welcome change.

August Bank Holiday Hutton Roof

Farleton Fell catching the sun.

Farleton Fell dominates the view from our kitchen, and from our garden, especially, as here, when it’s catching the sun and everything else is shaded by the clouds. Perhaps that was what prompted TBH and I to head that way for a short walk? Or perhaps not, since we opted for Farleton Fell’s neighbour Hutton Roof. Frankly, it’s hard to recall the decision making process at seven months remove. My own fault I know, for getting so far behind.

I do know that I’m very fond of this path, which climbs through the trees adjacent to a low limestone edge.

The hills above Kirkby Lonsdale and Ingleborough.

I’m also very fond of the views from Hutton Roof, especially the view of Ingleborough. So much so that I took loads of photos in that direction on this occasion, to add to the many I’ve taken on previous visits.

Pano – Ingleborough and the Forest of Bowland.

TBH by the trig pillar.

Looking towards the Lakes.

Warton Crag and the Bay.

On our descent, looking towards the Forest of Bowland.

Just a short walk, but one which delivers stupendous views for very little effort. We had bigger plans for the morrow, the last day of my holiday.