Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: erosion

A set of photos taken a few weeks ago on a day out to Whitehaven and St Bees Head with Sal. We went to St Bees first hoping that it would be quiet and thankfully it was. We were able to get a nice little walk in before the beach started to get too busy. We just walked across the bay on the sandy beach and then came back along the cliff top which has suffered a lot of erosion over the years.

The path back ran precariously close to the edge in places and you could clearly make out where previous sections had already fallen in to the sea. The ongoing erosion on the coastline had resulted in it receding 65 feet (20metres) between 1946 and the present day.

The sea thrift and coastal buttercups were in full flower on the cliff tops and were situated at such an angle as to give some great photo opportunities so sorry if I have overloaded this blog with them but I think they do look pretty and may possibly not be there then next time I visit.

We both love Whitehaven, even though the main town itself is very run down these day but then again where isn't, especially on the west coast of Cumbria. Its saving grace is it's Marnia and harbour area, where an excellent cafe is to be found. I haven't posted any photos of Whitehaven as I think I have already posted everything there is to see in previous blogs. In fact I think I only took one and that was the obligatory shot of the lighthouse; it was enoug to simply wander about with Sal and just relax.

Rocky Shoreline

St Bees Head

Rape Field, St Bees Head

St Bees Bay

The Cliff Path

Erosion on The Cliff Path

Looking out to sea

Sea Thrift

Coastal Erosion

Sea Thrift

St Bees Beach

This spring has been very dry and the water level in the River Wharfe has suffered because of this. True to form though, on the day I chose to visit, I got drenched twice and finished off the walk in a hail storm! One good thing about the low water level was that it had revealed the eroded limestone bed of the river which made for a very interesting series of photos.

The stretch I visited was from Linton Falls up to Grass Wood and then back which is only a couple of miles each way and not too far at all but it does feel far enough when the rain is pelting down and you are only wearing an everyday type of jacket with a hood which is about as effective as a chocolate fireguard!

If I'm being honest, I do quite enjoy walking in the rain. I like the sound the raindrops make as they hit the leaves on the trees or as they drop in to the river and then afterwards everything smells so clean and fresh. Plus it tends to keep the crowds away.

I did get about ten minutes of brightness when the sun made an attempt to break through and I was fortunate enough to be in the Ghaistrill's Strid area where the limestone bed is at its most eroded. As the final ten photos show, the place looks more like an alien landscape than a river bed and I should imagine it is a dangerous place to be when the water is high and flowing fast.

Another visit is definitely planned for when there is a bit more water about, maybe autumn when the leaves are turnng.