#npennines — Public Fediverse posts

In the evening, the low sun shows up beautifully the old lead mining remnants on the far side of Harwood.

These are marked on the map as disused quarries, shafts, levels and shake holes. No mention of 'hushes' which are what I think are the long scars in the land. Water was dammed up and released to scour off topsoil and loose rock.

A mining method so environmentally destructive that it was discontinued even hundreds of years ago. #NPennines #Teesdale

What was I saying earlier about the short growing season here? Harwood obviously heard me and is giving me a punishment beating for daring to suggest moving away.

Life at 430m above sea level. I might plant my potatoes today. Might. #NPennines #SemiAlpine

Went to Middleton-in-Teesdale Farmers Market and got rye sourdough bread from Warwick Bridge mill; kippers, sole and samphire from Collin of Eyemouth; some delicious Bahjis and samosas.

On way back, came round the back road by Coldberry to Newbiggin. There was extensive mining here by the London Lead company and it's very post industrial, spoil heaps everywhere.

Apart from two walkers, there was no one else around. #Teesdale #NPennines

Lapwing scrape, no more than 50 metres from my house. I've been watching and waiting for a photo opportunity.

The parent flew behind my house to feed so I dashed through the field gate. She's back on now, no disturbance. There are at least 3 others in the same field. #Birds #NPennines

I've been working for Neville again at Lingy Hill, fixed up the wall in the second photo.

In the first photo, the view is up to the watershed between County Durham and Cumbria. The house in that photo, top right, called Rough Rigg, is the second highest house in England.

The highest house accolade is a contest between two properties on the Cumbria side of the fell. One household says its chimney is a few inches taller. Size matters! #Cumbria #Teesdale #NPennines

This is just a short distance from my house but it's in a dip, so no phone signal. Why I'm posting it now.

Another day, another gap in a wall to fix for Neville. He stopped by while feeding sheep and pointed out my next job.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. Down to 2 layers, t shirt and old polo shirt. Another neighbour that I had not met stopped to chat for a while. He's a private tenant, so no walls to fix. #Teesdale #NPennines

I'm just back from my first visit to Holwick to do bird surveys for the RSPB. Glorious day for it.

There were many wading birds, saw all the target species, including black grouse. The real highlight was a pair of Ring Ouzel among the rocks of Holwick Scar. #Birds #NPennines #Teesdale

Eve was at her monthly textile group in Alston so I headed to Nenthead Mines to kill a couple of hours. I met up with other volunteers and we went into Rampgill level for a wander, as I had not been in there.

After a few hundred yards we came to the brewery shaft which is 328ft deep. Then carried on into Scaleburn level, through water up to halfway up wellies. Some parts had to be accessed on hands and knees because of previous roof fall. #mining #Cumbria #NPennines

It's eerily quiet today. Just the one line of eight cars roaring back from Alston to wherever they come from.

I wonder if they do an A66/M6 circuit via Penrith and the Hartside Pass? It's a challenge.

Lambos gonna Lambo, despite the price of fuel. #Teesdale #NPennines

What we're waking up to in Upper Teesdale this morning.

We are viewing a house in the Eden Valley this afternoon so that means going up and over into Cumbria. Not leaving until noon, this is not forecast to last long, should be OK. #Snow #SemiAlpine #NPennines

I was dry stone walling for Neville yesterday. Not today, I'm going to Stanhope to show my DBS cert to NPNL so I can volunteer with the Young Archaeologists Club.

Following Saturday's info session, I'm hoping to get the area around here to survey breeding waders for the RSPB. I know the farmer's really well, it would be common sense. They have quite a few farms further away involved, near Dufton and in Allendale. Fingers crossed! #NPennines

On the way back from Marshes Gill, I counted about 70 Lapwing flying in the direction of Cow Green reservoir.

Eve heard a Curlew earlier in the day.

It's getting dark and, on my way to the byre, I've just heard a Snipe 'drumming' behind the house, then it went 'chip-er chip-er' a few times so I guess it could see me and was letting me know as it landed on the hill.

I'm taking this as a sign that the seasons are moving on and the dry stone walls are also calling to me. #Birds #NPennines

Current view out of the front door. It's a bit wintery up here! #Teesdale #NPennines #SemiAlpine

It's been grey here for (feels like) weeks now. There's a ferocious wind, with sleet. So bad, yesterday we went to Alston for some better weather!

These belties prove how useful a wall is up here.

Our search for a house includes Shropshire, there's a remote house there at less than half the altitude.

There's also a couple of abandoned lead mines close by, with a trust that needs people to look after them. Home from home. #NPennines #SemiAlpine

Finally, the mist and low cloud here is clearing after three days of 50m visibility. Looks very scenic and moody!
#NPennines

It's confirmed, we've had a white Xmas. So, not only Jersey then.

What I thought was frost is snow, as confirmed by remote cameras at Yad Moss, just over in Cumbria, which joins up with the fells here in Upper Teesdale. #SemiAlpine #NPennines

Good numbers (4) of black grouse hanging out here this morning. They've been grazing the shorter (sweeter?) grass and spent a lot of time just preening.

As boys do. #Birds #Teesdale #NPennines

Craig, nearest farmer neighbour, arrived in his tractor unannounced this morning and dropped this bag of logs into the yard, along with a Xmas card.

We just have the best neighbours here. #NPennines #grateful

It's quite still but cold so there's much low cloud and mist hanging in the valleys.

Cronkley Scar has 'rivers' of mist flowing from the top of the fell over into the Valley of the River Tees. Photo doesn't do the scene justice. #Teesdale #NPennines

I rarely find anything that can date a wall to any precision so this broken bottle is very important. Found in bottom of a dry stone wall near Langdon Beck hotel.

J H Kilner & Sons only operated from Wakefield in a 10 year window from 1847-1857. So the wall must have been built first around that time. What a find!

Made by the company now mostly famous for Kilner jars. I'd like to keep it so I'll discuss it with the tenant farmer when I see him.
#Archaeology #Teesdale #NPennines

How it started and how it went at Nenthead Mines today. Finally, finally, got this drain rebuilt.

The site was busy with mine tours as part of the Nenthead 200 celebrations. That's 200 years since this village, planned around the Lead Mines, was developed.
#Volunteer #mining #NPennines

Off to Nenthead shortly as its a members work day. I've just been idly browsing about local geology. Again.

I looked up Brian Young, the eminent geologist and he's got a mineral named after him. How cool must that be?

Found in Brownliehill mine, It's the aptly named Brianyoungite. #geology #NPennines #Cumbria

Went to a property auction in Alston where no property was for sale. Everything is a bit quirky out here and the local estate agents have their own way of doing things. We went for the auction experience but didn't get much experience.

Lovely day anyway so went for a wander along the Pennine Way after. Got halfway to Garrigill and turned back along the R South Tyne. Next time we'll get all the way there. #NPennines #Cumbria

Yesterday on the Pennine Way, myself, another volunteer and Adam from North Pennines National Landscape repaired a stile, cleared a blocked culvert, rearranged a stone drain across the path and cut out some fabric from the path that was a trip hazard.

This is opposite the quarry above High Force. Didn't need 3 people but we were all needed to carry tools and materials as only way to this point is on foot from High Force Hotel. Hot and tiring.
#Volunteer #NPennines #PennineWay

Yesterday at Shildon Engine House, a drone was used to capture dozens of images to be used to make a photogrammetry image of the site.

I also took some photos of damage and assessed the condition of the site. Worst thing for me was previous infill 'repair' using brick. Why? It's not like there isn't any stone lying about.

Built by Cornish miners and housed a Cornish beam engine that moved up and down in the tall opening to drain a lead mine.
#Volunteer #NPennines

North Pennines National Landscape today ran a guided walk back from a stop at Kirkhaugh on the South Tynedale railway.

What a lovely way to travel, we were taken 3 miles out of Alston by steam train and then crossed the railway and the river Tyne to walk back to town.

A fairly uneventful walk, very easy terrain but good company and tea and cake in the station cafe after. Highlight was Kirkhaugh church (it's a Kirk on a Haugh) which has the thinnest steeple in England!
#Cumbria #NPennines

Later, had a visit from a North Pennines National Landscape bloke who put up a new sign for a new walking route, the 'Roof of England Walk'.

Had a longish chat as I told him I volunteered with his lot as well. This new walk must run up the hill behind my house to Cow Green. Where it comes from I know not as it was one of the few things we didn't talk about. It will be on their website, if you want to find out more.
#Walking #NPennines

Went to a talk about perennial veg growing in Penrith. Presented by someone from Acorn Bank, also in Eden Valley. Very interesting and there were other discussions about ponds and wildflower planting for wildlife.

On way back the weather was unusually clear, so stopped at Hartside to take in the magnificent view, of which this photo does little justice.
#Cumbria #NPennines #Tourist

It's snowed a little but the sun is breaking through. I'm going over to volunteer at Nenthead Mine although it's a lot colder than Sunday.

I'll be working alone so I've emailed Pete the Mines Manager with arrival and leaving times and I've informed my next of kin (Eve) when I should be back. If I'm not, it's rescue time.

It is a mine, there are hazards, even above ground, so it makes sense to follow the rules. #mining #Safety #NPennines

It's a lovely day to stand in a river. I'm in a gap in the riverside wall of the Nent, digging out the rubble of the collapsed wall so that I can get down to a solid base and rebuild it. #Nippy #NPennines #Cumbria

It's a lovely day to stand in a river. I'm in a gap in the riverside wall of the Nent, digging out the rubble of the collapsed wall so that I can get down to a solid base and rebuild it. #Nippy #NPennines #Cumbria

It's a lovely day to stand in a river. I'm in a gap in the riverside wall of the Nent, digging out the rubble of the collapsed wall so that I can get down to a solid base and rebuild it. #Nippy #NPennines #Cumbria

It's a lovely day to stand in a river. I'm in a gap in the riverside wall of the Nent, digging out the rubble of the collapsed wall so that I can get down to a solid base and rebuild it. #Nippy #NPennines #Cumbria

It's a lovely day to stand in a river. I'm in a gap in the riverside wall of the Nent, digging out the rubble of the collapsed wall so that I can get down to a solid base and rebuild it. #Nippy #NPennines #Cumbria

First fine day for weeks, although still windy. First peewits I've seen this year, very skittish, landing briefly then heading over to other side of Harwood.

Eve also saw a single curlew. One male black grouse flew low along a wall nearby.

There's huge amount of molehills in the fields, to the annoyance of farmers, as soil can get into hay crop if the hills are still large at harvesting time. Does show that invertebrate numbers also huge as no pesticides used.

#Birds #Teesdale #NPennines