Wilderswood , Crooked edge Hill ,Two Lads, Wallsuches to new chapel lane , Winter Hill, Horwich

 

route

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/two-lads-to-new-chapel-lane-horwich-304860/

3 miles – Wilderswood , Crooked edge Hill ,Two Lads, Wallsuches to New Chapel lane

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Two_Lads_Cairns.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Pennine_Moors

Jakes blogs for Montcliffe

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/Montcliffe

Jakes Blogs for two lads

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/Two%20lads

Jakes Blogs for New Chapel Lane

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20chapel%20Lane

note from Dad : Wilderswood  – on the left hand side of the wood was shaft number 1 for wilderswood colliery

Rivington Pike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivington_Pike

Lower Rivington reservoir

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Rivington_Reservoir

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Rivington_Reservoir

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jed/rivington_reservoirs.htm

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/landscape/landscapecharacass/charcarea9.asp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/underground/reservoir/history.shtml

Me in the mist
http://justramblingon.co.uk/history-pages/two-lads-hill/

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Two_Lads_Cairns.html

note from dad :Memorial to Claire Astbury  1977 to 2009 which we found just below two lads

http://claire-bear-astbury.gonetoosoon.org/

me on top of two lads it was too windy to stay upright safely

me running down the hill from two lads

can you find me

me in the mud

coal on the path , pieces of old brick found on this path

pieces of burnt coal  called clinker –
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/clinker 

Note from dad :armchair – almost a bell pit shape -side nearest seems to have been washed away!

me climbing out of a stream

Red Moss , Reebok stadium  from Montcliffe

one tiny orange mushroom – can you see ?

iron rail found on path down from Lower Montcliffe Quarry

fossil which we found last time

https://jakeofwinterhill.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img00197.jpg

 

Path up to one of the Montcliffe lower quarries

on the way to the reservoir above the Arcon development  on the way to Wallsuches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallsuches

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-462376-wallsuches-bleach-works-horwich

http://www.redrow.co.uk/developments/arcon-village/

weather:

visibility went from  just under a mile  to 15 metres in just under 10 mins

high wind chill factor , sleet some snow and hail ,

enjoy and keep safe when outside

please take care

http://www.bowlandpenninemrt.org.uk/home.htm

http://www.boltonmrt.org.uk/go.php?page=main

http://www.lancashireminesrescue.colsal.org.uk/

Hello world!

I am 7 years old and have Autism. This Blog is about what I can do not what I cannot , sometimes people think I cannot because I have autism ,this blog  is about challenging that!   I have lots of special interests, in particular running, exploring and this blog shows a small amount of what I get up to!

Fairy Battery,Turton and Entwistle reservoir,Bolton -3 to – 6c no Snow!

This is our third blog with places with the name of Fairy in them

the other two are

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/09/trou-des-fees-fairy-caves-virton.html

fairy caves -Trou des fees ,this was in Virton Belgium

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/family-walk-fairy-steps-boulder-climb.html

Fairy steps -this was in Beetham ,Cumbria

me walking on ice

there is water flowing underneath this ice I am staying to the safe parts !

ice crystals

in the quarry

can you see me ? advantage of Hi visibility clothing !

memorial bench  by Bolton Holiday fellowship

memorial bench

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/about-us

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/get-involved/activity-clubs

link to Bolton’s HF

memorial bench in memory to Craig Tuppen

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/483239
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/424991
these are better photos!!!

Fairy Battery, an outcrop of rock popular with climbers.  The site was the secret meeting place of non-conformist worshippers in the 17th century.  Opposite the outcrop on the other side of the stream is a quarry complex with extensive mine caverns, now filled in. – taken from Blackburn and Darwen council site

me on top of Fairy Battery, I am being careful as there is a big drop on the other side!!!

climbing up a boulder  this was slippy and covered with ice

very little to grip onto !

??? ditches they just seemed to be filled with water ?

bell pit -we had seen this from Cranberry moss
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44053027
right hand side of photo

we saw  several mines around the top of Fairy Battery.
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-old.html
our last adventure was to Cranberry moss last weekend 

giant icicles

some of the rock outcrops  in this area

some of the sites about the reservoir

http://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/walking_turton_and_entwistle_reservoir_1_84828

http://www.northturton.com/walks_res.html

http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=767

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Entwistle,_Lancashire

http://www.entwistlefamily.org.uk/local_history.htm

http://www.unitedutilities.com/Wayohreservoirs.aspx

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/fairy-battery-entwistle-303810/

Spooky Wilderswood in the dark at -4 to -6 C, Winter Hill,Horwich,

Note from Dad :

Route early evening in complete darkness  -4c through to -6c with ice found on the path and rocks, we are also testing new high visibility clothing, new strobe safety equipment on a clearly defined path,  this area and route is known to me and Jake in both  poor weather conditions and at night, both Children have previously  experienced temperature’s down to – 21C on a regular basis in winter when they lived abroad – basic family activities like going  to the supermarket from the car have to be done at -21C ,  Both Jake and Evie have multiple high performance layers on them to undertake this walk , we have online GPS tracking. we take our safety very seriously! Please be careful now the weather is getting colder and it is getting darker ,

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood

some of previous Blog posts exploring in this area

this is my new coat

the back of my new coat -we are testing the strobe lights and the increased reflective patches

walking  through  Wilderswood

This photo is the same doorway (looking the other way )as the Photo below – the difference being one is at  night  you need to careful – things you are familiar with look very different at night

remember this  photo with the sheep ?

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-lads-from-wilderswood.html

SPOOKY Wilderswood

ice on the path be careful

me and Evie having a hot drink !

our route:

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-303656/

Wilderswood Mill

http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Wilderswood_Mill.html

walking route’s in this area

http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilderswood-and-winter-hill.html

http://www.middle-age-shred.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15988&start=0

Underneath this route 😉

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders1.html

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders3.html

One of our routes

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-294070/

some of the Birds in this area –

http://www.manchesterbirding.com/horwichmoorssiteguide.htm

Good ideas for day time Heritage trails in this area

http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/publications.htm

History of Rockhaven castle – old house on this site before the wood

http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Rockhaven_Castle.html

Cranberry Moss, Bull Hill, Darwen, – Old mines,Quarries and Old Brickwork site ?.

Stone quarry
Note from Dad this was in line with the mines found later but no sign of any coal mine waste

on top of the quarry

looking towards the mines

hot chocolate on top of a mine waste tip

can you see Darwen tower ? and me of course !

to collect water ?

on top of a yet another  mine

 

 

mine entrances

stone sleeper ?

to another  mine  -in line with the quarry

long stone – part of the mine ?

I love hot chocolate -see the bricks?  – another old mine

another mine shaft

DANGEROUS BOG-KEEP OUT

Bull Hill Brickworks ?

brick kiln

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/disused-turton-moor-collierybrickworks.html

see the picture of the Bull Hill Brick from this Kiln ?

two deer can you see them ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Roe_Deer

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/roe-deer

last of the mines we saw – we came across around 32 old mines -too many to inspect each one

more photos on my http://www.panoramio.com/user/4875445

reasons for this area being full of mines ?

“The Entwistles used to sink little pits on Cranberry Moss, They were what was called Darwen yard mines .just a  few yards deep, coals were bought up by windlass, and sent to Turton, there was  fighting amongst the men. Some of them were too lazy to go down for coal, but when it was brought up they would fight for its ownership”

http://www.blacksnape.co.uk/history/blacksnape.pdf

referance to Darwen yard mines

http://cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1251

Our route

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-303478/

weather Cold  below 4c, High chill factor, Jake is now in winter grade clothing , we have changed Jakes socks to include a  waterproof /Breathable layer plus thermal layer, He has brand new Walsh PB’s for increased traction.

 

 

Useful links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Darwen

Information about the River Darwen which starts on Cranberry Moss

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1979-11-13a.1136.5

Bull hill maternity hospital

http://www.winnersh.demon.co.uk/Family_History/fhisch1.htm

reference to mining at Cranberry moss

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1261

fireclay accidents – mines on cranberry moss

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cmhrc/lom08lan.htm

reference to mine in this area

 

RSPB Geltsdale, New venture drift/Howgill colliery and Forest head lime works,Cumbria

New venture drift -wast tip

“Howgill Colliery – Another early Thompson project was the Howgill Colliery which was a drift connected to the Blacksyke Branch near Forest Head. Howgill was closed in 1880 but sections of it were worked many decades later to help boost the dwindling coal resources. In 1919 the Naworth Coal Company was again considering fresh mining activities closec to the old Howgill Colliery and the Venture drift was reopened beside the Gairs Branch south of Forest Head which entered the Howgill seam this was called the New Venture Drift. At its peak in 1923 it employed 46 below ground and 16 on the surface and finally closed in 1934”.
taken from http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/brampton_railway_mines.html

pipes from the mine -these are used to vent gases from tunnels

entrance to the drift mine -taken from the top of the drift entrance

we heard  water which sounded like it was from a  hollow tunnel -one of the other entrances to the drift mine!

railway cutting  to Gains colliery disused

a wall – look carefully a pipe !

a pipe to fill the water tank in the  steam trains ?

a water tank – pipe to the railway cutting  + valve found to control the water flow

a rainbow

capped mine shaft

mine waste tip

red lichen flower found on mine waste tip

forest head lime works,

very windy and wet on the ground

lime kilns

info about Lime Kiln’s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_kiln

inside a lime kiln

mine ?

Railway loading bay

railway cutting disused

lime kiln waste

kirkhouse brick

RSPB Geltsdale -back at last

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/g/geltsdale/

Weather: very wet ,windy high chill factor very strong winds which were very gusty visibility generally good  though, very tiring to be out and about on the high fells so we kept to the lowland parts , we will come back to this area.

Links to local area

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/uk/respb-geltsdale.html#cr

http://www.northpennines.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12999

http://www.northpennines.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9091

Local places to shop

http://www.alstoncraftworkers.co.uk/

http://www.made-in-northumberland.co.uk/

http://www.madeincumbria.co.uk/

local photo

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1539500

route

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/geltsdale-mines-and-quarries-302340/

Forest head to Gains – disused railways,Old Mines and quarries -Cumbria

image of area  from

http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/brampton_railway_mines.html

 

we went from Blacksyke colliery to the  Blacksyke quarry  to Gairs colliery

 

along this route ran the famous  Rocket  steam engine

“In April 1837 James Thompson purchased George Stephensons Rocket from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway for the sum of £300″

background note:

Blacksyke Colliery

“Blacksyke Colliery’s first shaft was sunk during 1820-1 and went into production in 1822-3 using a steam engine for pumping and coal winding. To serve this Blacksyke colliery a branch line was put in East of Hallbangate climbing in a south westerly direction via a rope hauled line to reach this bleakly sited colliery”.

http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/brampton_railway_mines.html

 

 

http://www.dmm.org.uk/articles/8510805.htm

details of accidents at colliery

 

 

 

this is a coke oven

 

mine in the mist

 

at the top of the hill  of mine waste

steam engine where it used to be

note from dad : used for mine and the railway -incline was too steep for engines on their own !

video of Blacksyke mine

Blacksyke s quarry

red sandstone

note from dad -not from this area looks like Eden red sandstone ?

smmmmmooooth stone looks like wood !

Blacksyke quarry from above

Forest head Quarry

 

 

 

 

 

 

try and spot the railway line

 

Here are the railway tracks to Gains Colliery

background note :

Gairs Colliery – Work began on Gairs Colliery on the bleak windswept fells above Hallbankgate during 1909 and was completed by 1912. Besides the main seam there was a blacksmith shop and screens for sorting the coal. With this new development a further extension of the Brampton Railway was completed with a branch leaving the Blacksyke route near Forrest Head and following the course of the older line to Howgill. Beyond Howgill the new line climbed steeply to Gairs Colliery with gradients of between 1 in 27 to 1 in 18 which was one of the steepest worked adhesion lines in Great Britian at the time. At its peak in 1921 Gairs Colliery employed 180 below ground and 51 above ground and was finally abandoned on 6th September 1936

http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/brampton_railway_mines.html

an old railway bridge  on the way to Gains colliery

 

 

the spooky house  ( dads note :Gains house where the mine manager was supposed to live but its split into two houses  which are equal ? )

 

–Dads note we did not explore the mine because of the weather moving in see right hand side of the photo

safety choice – Jake was tired due to adverse weather conditions , don’t take risks and become a casualty  there’s always next time !

I am in the fog wind and rain again

 

note from Dad -we dropped height and took the protected route next to the stone wall to avoid the wind

 

 

video showing high wind ,rain and low level cloud

 

 

a mine opening  ?

(one of the small breaks in the weather to allow a good photo )

 

note – from dad

weather for route

high winds leading to high chill factor -cold due to driving rain  and wind , poor visibility at times  -down to 5m ,

above this area is a place called cold fell – a name not without reason !

 

route taken

blackberry played up due to getting wet so distance is underestimated times/speed not accurate

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/forest-head-to-gains-4.6-miles-302292/

point to point run

 

 

links

Local mountain rescue team

http://www.penrithmrt.org.uk/

 

walk links

http://www.markrichards.info/

http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/544/932/4009111315.pdf

http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/content/internet/544/932/4009111739.pdf

 

we used a combination of the above two walks plus the Cumbria railways site to explore this area

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/461843 Gains mine in better weather than we had !

 

Coniston Old Man Mine or Moss head Slate Quarry -part 3

overlooking the mine -Coniston village in the background

down the slate along the slate track

having a rest

sunbathing -this is a doorway look carefully!

a very big wheel -part of the slate transport ?

the railway that goes nowhere -nickname railway of doom

in the mine -the torch has 1m candle watts of  power only shows up a small part of the mine

in the big dark mine

a video of the trip inside the mine

exit from mine

looking at the view to Coniston lake  from another railway track

across the slate waste with Coniston in the background

big pieces of slate

view of  Coniston lake , the car park where we parked is just visable

nearly back to the car

see part 1 and 2 for further details  – of the trip

Links :

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/united-kingdom/null/178128558938845890

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/coniston-old-man-mine-299778/

use the 3 D display to see the complete route in mapmyrun

1341 feet climb in total , climb to the mine has a ranking  of 1 which is the most severe climb rating without climbing using ropes , 4.21 miles total  completed in 3.5 hours, pause time in mines exploring 1.5 hours,

Coniston Old Man Mine or Moss head Slate Quarry Part 2, Lake District ,Cumbria

sledge for slate ?

this is a metal bucket 30m away

a video of  slate quarry 100m deep

entrance to slate quarry

there is a lot of  slate still  here

up the hill to the small mine

mine entrance

me with the big torch ,

mine exit,  tunnel 30m. long ,15m high at end of the tunnel this mine is located at top of route near old man summit

see part 1 and part 3 for further details

Links :

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/united-kingdom/null/178128558938845890

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/coniston-old-man-mine-299778/

use the 3 D display to see the complete route in mapmyrun

1341 feet climb in total , climb to the mine has a ranking  of 1 which is the most severe climb rating without climbing using ropes , 4.21 miles total  completed in 3.5 hours, pause time in mines exploring 1.5 hours,

Winter Hill Fold Pasture – the quarry and different insects I found

It was very foggy today.

This is a video of a river.

This is the mast in fog.

A pattern on a gate post.

A Philipson brick from Bolton.

This is a quarry.

This is a really fast beetle, that wouldn’t sit on my hand for long!

This is a caterpillar I found.

This is the route we took: http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/fold-pasture-quarry-298218/