"This amazing spring weather just goes on and on", Allen remarked, as he and Southey and Tetley were looking at the laptop.
"Absolutely", agreed Southey.
"There are some good shots Dad took on our recent walks on our own and with Uncle Eric", went on Tetley. "Enough for more stories for the website."
"I was looking at the analysis page to the spreadsheet," replied Allen. "With the tales of our other Hug pals we are fast approaching 600."
"Wow", exclaimed Southey. "So many days and holidays past that we can bring to life."
"We must not forget all the hours and hours that Dad has spent with us, typing them all", stated Tetley.
"It makes me hungry and thirsty just thinking about it", replied Allen.
Letting out a bellow of laughter Tetley replied, "you don't need anything for that, Tea Belly."
It was then that Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived with the tea and cakes.
"Oh you are a lifesaver", cheered Allen getting the plates and mugs. "I'll lend a paw filling them with the lovely Ramblears tea."
"Thanks", said Shaun.
Grizzly announced. "The cakes today are tiffin from Little Eric, and Chorley cakes with butter from me."
"Yummy", cried Tetley, taking one of each.
There was quiet for a little while then, before Allen asked, "can you refill my mug please Shaun."
Southey said, "both the cakes are delicious. Thank you pals as always."
"No problem", replied Little Eric. "I love baking."
Tetley turned our thoughts to walking, saying, "the weather is set fair for the rest of the week. Has Dad any free days?"
Grizzly grabbed the iPad. A few taps and he said, "hmm Friday looks free. I am sure Allen can convince Dad, but we need an idea."
"I have one", replied Shaun. "I've been looking at the index of walks. Number 281 has never been done. It starts from Haverigg near Millom. The route is along the coast then back on good tracks. It's 9 miles, but almost level, so hopefully Dad's hamstring will not trouble him too much."
"Well", said Allen draining his mug for the fifth time, "I can only ask. Can I have a refill for when I get back."
After he had gone, Tetley laughed , "I've said before, he has hollow legs. So takes after Dad for his tea and cakes."
"Don't want him to change", replied Southey. "We all love him so much."
Minutes later Allen returned. "Thanks Shaun", he said accepting the steaming mug. "The walk is on. All new ground too."
"Yippee", cheered Little Eric. "Here's to Friday."
We awoke to another glorious spring day with cloudless skies. Setting off a 08:00 and using the Satnav, Dad drove us to Haverigg. Free parking at Sea Beach by the toilets.
Soon ready and us settled in the rucksack, Shaun said, "the embankment is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. We walk left."
Shortly we came upon four mosaics. Grizzly told us, "there is not a lot of information I could find. These are four of six semicircular mosaics that were made in 2015 by Scartworks in conjunction with the children of Haverigg Primary School. They show fish and footprints and celebrate aspects of Duddon Estuary by which Haverigg is located. They each have a different central theme. A duck, lighthouse, fishing boat and sailing ship."
"They are quite lovely", said Shaun. "Well done to the school children who must have helped with the designs."
The stream Haverigg Pool enters the estuary just past, so the path ran a short way inland to the bridge, crossing which, we continued on the Coast Path.
Southey said, "the road leads to the Port Haverigg Holiday Village. Just before the entrance we should turn right."
This was a wide stony track that forms the Outer Barrier for the lagoon and Hodbarrow Nature Reserve.
Having looked at the information panel, Grizzly said, "during the spring and summer this freshwater lagoon is home to nesting little, common and Sandwich terns."
Looking back Tetley had pointed, "that's Black Combe. We climbed that and a number of subsidiary summits in October 2005. Then again with Uncle Bob in August 2009. This enabled you Little Eric to bag the summits and we ticked off some Birkett summits too."
"Haverigg Lighthouse", pointed Allen.
"I have information about it", said Grizzly, getting his notes in order. "It is Hodbarrow Lighthouse, but is also known as Haverigg Lighthouse as you said Allen. Built by the Hodbarrow Mining Company in 1905, it was decommissioned in 1949 and gradually was fell into disrepair. The Haverigg Lighthouse Committee was established by people interested in restoring the lighthouse, and were successful in getting a grant from the Heritage Lottery Find in 2003. The lighthouse was restored and an opening ceremony took place on 15th July 2004, including a procession by parents and pupils from Haverigg Primary School, who had been involved in the restoration project. Indeed the lighthouse is the school emblem."
We could see Hodbarrow Point, and coming to a junction of paths, Shaun instructed, "we want the narrow path onto the point."
"But the wide path looks the better option?", queried Little Eric.
"Yes pal, but that will take us along the lagoon back towards the holiday park."
"Oh I see. You are right of course."
This brought us to these ruins. Once again our expert researcher Grizzly was able to educate us. "This is the remains of a windmill. It was used by Hodbarrow Ore Mining Company to store gunpowder, used for blasting, between 1855 and 1880, when a purpose-built facility was constructed.
"There's a trig point", called out Allen. "Let's have our picture taken there."
The path led to a signpost pointing right for a short section through woodland...
...leading to a path across a wide open area...
...with banks of gorse in places.
"Fabulous view of the Lakeland Fells", called out Shaun.
Tetley mused, "from this angle I'm not precisely sure what we are seeing. Though to the right is Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man."
"Then the rounded fell to the left must be Grey Friar", said Allen confidently. And to the left of that must be Caw & Pikes."
Further on we came to a panel indicating the summits and so we could fill in the rest. On the far left is Slight Side, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag then Harter Fell with Stickle Pike in front. Behind is Bowfell and Esk Pike the pointed summit.
"Just breathtaking", said Southey in wonder. "I know I'm unlikely to climb them, but I love hearing about your many adventures, pals."
Coming to a gate it was then left along a wide stony track passing between these old buoys.
It was just along here that we encountered the fell panorama panel. "Nice to have a close up of Slight Side, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag, Harter Fell and Bowfell with Stickle Pike in front", requested Grizzly.
Dad strolled on, but suddenly Southey pointed and called out, "look a robot."
"From the look of the grass immediately around, it's been here for a while", commented Allen.
"There a screen and switches for heater and power", went on Tetley. "I wonder what its function is?"
And that readers is indeed the question we could not answer.
The map indicated that the area to the left is Millom Iron Works Nature Reserve. The sight of a large industrial iron works that closed about 60 years ago. This simple monument reminds us all of this.
As do these waste tips.
Shortly the path became narrow and grassy leading to a t-junction. Our way was right as indicated by the signpost.
Grizzly said, "there are abutments for a former bridge over the road. I feel sure it would have carried a railway line to the iron works."
The path now ran parallel with the railway over a gated bridge. An elderly gentleman was following with his bike and Dad held the gate open for him. "Thank you", he said.
In yards the path swung right. We thought the gentleman was going to sit on a seat, but leaving his bike he made to enter an enclosure, explaining, "I have pigeons."
Rounding this it was on and on along the embankment, always with the superb view to the mountains and fells. Reading from the instructions, Grizzly said, "the embankment was built in 1830 at a cost of £3,000 to reclaim land from the sea."
"There's a heron", pointed Little Eric. "Looking for lunch."
As we got nearer each time it took flight further to land further ahead. Dad lined the camera up, this being the best shot.
You will note sheep in the field, and indeed they were in abundance along the embankment. Allen sighed, "Dad's bound to get a picture. I am not having any luck getting sheep picture free stories lately."
"Never mind pal", comforted Southey. "One day you will succeed I am sure."
On and on, Shaun suddenly calling out, "look, our way is baaed."
We all laughed out loud, Allen saying, "Dad it's no good being sheepish. Ewe'll just have to keep going."
There were groans from us at the puns.
Southey was looking at he map. "We leave the embankment at Underhill Cottages, ahead there."
"Here's the track to the cottages", called out Little Eric a few minutes later.
This led to the cottages and the railway crossing. Unmanned but there were lights to indicate when a train was a red light to indicate when a train was imminent, and green for when it was safe to cross.
We met a couple about Dad's age, and a nice chatty interlude ensued. They, and indeed some other people we met asked, "are you doing the Coast Path?"
"No, just this section that forms part of my walk today."
"Ok", said Shaun. "We double back now along this track that is called Aggies's Lonnin, that according to the walk instructions edged the tide line until the embankment was built."
"Lonnin is a Cumberland dialect word meaning country lane", Grizzly informed us. "As to who Aggie was, I have no idea."
The track runs beside the railway line and a number of trains passed as we were walking along.
After a mile Shaun advised, "we need to look out for a track going off right that leads to the A5093."
Keeping out eyes peeled, Allen suddenly called out, "here!"
At the main road, Southey instructed, "cross to the left and follow it ahead until we come to Castle Farm that is built in the remains of Millom Castle. There we go left along the narrow lane past the castle.
Grizzly informed us, "Millom Castle is a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument. It was built after a licence to crenellate was granted by Edward III in 1335. It is sited on an earlier motte with buildings built against the walls. In the 15th century the tower we see here was built inside the walls. The castle appears to have suffered significant damage by attacking Lancastrian forces in around 1460. In 1644 during the Civil War it was captured and later slighted by Parliamentarian forces. Repairs were made in 1670, but the castle was a ruin again by 1739. The great tower that we can see and extensions is used as a farmhouse. There are more extensive ruins but these are off limits to the public due to safety restrictions."
"Thank you pal for your research and adding to our knowledge", enthused Tetley.
Along the narrow lane we came to Holy Trinity Church.
"I have notes on this too", said Grizzly. "Ahh, here they are. Holy Trinity Church is a medieval building and is a designated Grade I listed building. The earliest parts of the church are the nave and chancel, which date from the 12th century.
"The south aisle was added in the 13th century, and was rebuilt in a more elaborate style in about 1335 as the Huddlestone Chapel."
There we saw this ancient alabaster tomb.
Grizzly kindly read out the information about this. "Believed to be that of Sir Richard Huddleston who died 1483, and is wife Lady Margaret Neville (natural daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick the kingmaker and half sister of Anne, Queen of Richard III). Sir Richard predeceased his father, so his son Richard inherited the estate. Sir Richard and Lady Margaret attended the coronation of King Richard and Queen Anne and supported the Yorkist Kings throughout the War of the Roses."
"And this tomb?", pointed Allen.
Once again Grizzly obliged. "This altar tomb is that of Sir John Huddleston who died 1494 and his wife Mary (3rd daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry Fenwick who died about 1459, of Northumberland), and it carries at its head the arms of Huddleston and Fenwick, while its sides carry the arms of Leigh of Isell, Curwen, Pennington and other families with whom the sons and daughters of Sir John and Mary inter-married, besides some coats of earlier inter-marriages of the Huddleston family. All these coats are beautifully chiselled in the freestone sides of the tomb."
"Stunning", breathed Little Eric.
Pointing Grizzly said, "the two-manual pipe organ was made in about 1930 by Harrison and Harrison of Durham."
Below stands the font. "I can find nothing about this, although I wonder if the upper part with the carvings, stands on an older base?"
Finally before leaving we said, "hello", to these teddy bears, there we assumed to be cuddled by children attending the church.
"Across the churchyard to that kissing gate, then across pasture to another kissing gate and on to next", advised Southey.
Here kept ahead by the fence to gate and on by houses to a road and t-junction. We got a bit lost here, in that we went left but reckon we should actually have gone right.
"Never mind", said Dad, "we are having a tour of some of the back streets."
"If we hadn't would never had come across this post box", called out Little Eric.
Finally we came to the railway station at a t-junction. "It is right", said Shaun seeing the sign for Haverigg.
Soon he called out again, "Moor Road. We walk along to its end and then left towards Haverigg."
Just after the town sign, Southey said, "left through the kissing gate and along the paved path."
At the end a kissing gate took us into a field.
"There's a nice shot to Millom with its tall church tower and spire." called out Allen.
Following the clear path by the fence, we joined a stony track going right to the few houses at Steel Green, and following the road to the caravan park, and back to the car.
"There's IRB shown on the map just a little way along" said Little Eric.
"Inshore Rescue Boat", clarified Tetley. "Let's go look."
"Not RNLI, but an independent rescue team", said Allen. "Like the Bay Rescue Team, that have the charity shop next to the River Bela Cafe at Milnthorpe."
Shaun was looking at the GPS. "It's been 11 miles, more than the 9 indicated on the instructions."
"Shows I can still manage such distances, but I have had quite enough for today", replied Dad.
"A super walk and very peaceful", cheered Grizzly.
"Absolutely", agreed Little Eric.
"And very important for Tetley passing the milestone of 8000 miles. Well done lad!", said Dad, giving him a hug.
"Aye pal, congratulations" cheered Shaun.
"Thanks everyone. I never dreamed that I would have so many wonderful adventures and like Shaun too, reach such a milestone."
Southey pointed, "look Betty's Beach Hut cafe."
Just the ticket", said Dad. "I am ready for some refreshment before we head home."
A lovely cafe and very friendly. Dad had pot of tea and big plate of bacon 2 eggs and chips. We recommend it heartily.
Now about 16:30, we headed home after a grand day out.
