Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: March 2020

Staying Local

Well how life has changed since my last blog. We have now entered lockdown because of the virus which means we can only leave our homes for exercise and food shopping. I did start off just doing walks around the village and mainly at night when there would be no one around. This soon got boring and was starting to do me more harm mentally than good so I decided to head out into the semi-rural area of the village where I hadn't really walked for the past 25yrs.

The only way which it had changed was with the building of the modern estate of 98 houses at the end of my road. Instead of going straight on to the path I had to walk around the monstrosity as it was still being built and had a fence surrounding it. Once past, I was in open countryside and had far-reaching views up to Queensbury and behind to Thornton and Allerton. I could slightly vary the route if I wished but not by much.To avoid any road walking, I usually retraced my footsteps once I reached the road back in to Clayton.

I suppose it helped to keep me sane and I did enjoy it but it wasn't the same as walking in The Dales and Lakes. I met many horses, saw some lovely sunsets and had the occasional friendly chat with fellow walkers which helped to keep the spirits up.

Also the weather was very kind as we had the best spring I that can remember. Lots of dry sunny days gave an opportunity to get the gardening done and also sit outside and enjoy it. I was just glad that I had retired as I was informed by friends that the virus hit work quite badly and people were taken very ill.

Two holidays have had to be cancelled; one in Somerset and one in Wales and they have had to be re-scheduled for next year. Also it meant that I hadn't been able to have any contact with Sal except by computer and phone, which was quiet hard. Still I survived and there were many people who were in a much worse position than me so I count my blessings for that.

Social Distancing in The Dales

I think I went on this walk to The Strid from Barden Bridge the day that the lockdown was announced. I set off early deliberately to avoid any crowds as this area can be pretty busy and parking is usually at a premium but I hardle saw a soul. A few more cars had arrived by the time I got back and there were a few more people but there was no problem avoiding them.

Its a simple walk which just follows the banks of the River Wharfe to The Strid near Bolton Abbey and forms part of The Dales Way walk from Ilkley to Bowness on Windermere. The Strid was an eerie place, I don't think that I have ever been the only person there before.

The reason the Strid is so narrow is because the waters simply change orientation. Instead of flowing in a wide horizontal course, the waters begin to flow vertically in the tight gorge created by the natural rock. This change in orientation has created a deceptively deep channel (30ft) and powerful current, even carving out some area beneath the shore rocks to create a void where debris (and people) in the water can be trapped. Many people have lost their lives trying to jump across its narrowest point.

I returned the same way until I reached the aquaduct over the Wharfe which brings water from the reservoirs at the head of Nidderdale down to Bradford. Once crossed, the path just followed the river back to Barden Bridge.

That was to be the last time that I'd be in The Dales for a fair few months. It is now May and the lockdown and social distancing are still in place. I do sometimes worry how long it will be before we have the confidence to return to these places we love and, when we do, will social distancing be ingrained in to our being. If it has it will be a very sad indeed.

Barden Bridge

Riverside Tree

River Wharfe

Barden Aquaduct

The Strid

River Wharfe

River Wharfe through Strid Wood

Strid Wood

River Wharfe

Strid Wood

Flooded Fields near Barden Bridge

River Wharfe at Barden Bridge

A Highland Winter Wonderland

My weekend away all too quickly came to an end but what an end it turned out to be. I awoke to clear blue skies so got packed, had my breakfast and checked out of the hotel as quickly as I could. First stop was Glen Nevis. Once the sun has risen above the head of the Glen it us useless for photography so I knew I only had about an hour. GI managed to get some nice shots of the River Nevis and also some good wintry close-up shots of the morning sun hitting the tops of The Mamores before having to move on.

Then it was back in to Fort William and to Glen Coe. I stopped off at the Visitor Centre for a coffee and then rose up through the Glen. Once again the sun was directky in front of me so no photos were taken in the Glen itself. It was only after I'd strarted to drive across Rannoch Moor that I noticed the fabulous view behind me. Pulling in to the first laybe I crossed the road to the edge of the moor and took some spectacular photos back towards the Three Sisters and The Buachaille Etive Mor hills.

The sun was beginning to melt the overnight snow so I quickly carried on to The Black Mount area of the moor. Climbed up to the viewpoint over Loch Bà for some photos and then walked along the road to the edge of Lochan nà Stainge with its fantastic views over The Black Mount. I sat there for ages waiting for the ripples to die down on the Lochan so that I could get a reflection of the hills and lochside tree. I was eventually rewarded with some of the best photos I've taken in this area.

Within a few miles the ground level snow had all but disappeared so I decided not to waste any more of my time and just carried on back to Cumbria, only stopping on the way for a couple of coffee breaks.

Little did I realise on my drive back that in the space of a couple of weeks, I would be iscolated in my own home due to the Covid-19 virus. In fact, if Britain had followed the rest of the world (which it should have done), I would not have been able to make this trip.

As I write this blog at the beginning of May, nearly 30,000 people have died from it in the UK and there is no sign of the lockdown easing anytime soon. I have also had to cancel my two week holiday in Somerset and rearrange it for next year. I have a week booked in Wales in July and I'm not very confident on going there. I don't think this blog is the place for my thoughts on the so-called governmeny of ours and the useless waste of space of the man who is supposidly our Prime Minister, hopefully they will all be held to account one day.

These are strange times we are living in.