Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

was still another 2 1 2 miles across country to the top of Harter Fell. As we had to be
home by supper time, we turned back, rather disappointed and started on the long
trudge back. It was uneventful, but at the top of Wrynose we were passed by the
returning dispatch rider still grinning. We reached Fell Foot, collected our bikes, and
after thanking the farmer, set off on the last lap.
At the end of April I went fell-walking from Elterwater on a beautiful sunny day,
climbing the Wetherlam and Coniston Old Man range. First to Little Langdale, from
where I struck across the fellside for some distance and then straight uphill beside a
small stream. I found various attractive flowers growing there most of the way up;
the bilberry flowers gave promise of a good crop of fruit later on. On the next section
there was good scrambling and marvelous views, the cloud shadows were chasing
over the fells - continuously changing. Reaching the top of Wetherlam I had lunch,
then swung down to the gap between Wetherlam and Swirt How, where I met a
party of eight schoolboys from Wigan with a master. I chatted with them for a while
and went on up Swirt How with them, where the mist closed in and it looked rather
grim. On reaching the top we struck across the fellside towards Grey Friar. They
were going on to the YH at Eskdale. They told me that two aeroplanes had crashed
on Coniston Old Man on Good Friday and that there was a cordon of soldiers all
around to keep off undesirables – such as me!
I hadn't time for Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag, so pointed out to them the
way down to Eskdale and then went on up Grey Friar. From the top I had a good
view of all the fells. Harter Fell was immediately opposite and looked inviting, but I
just went back along the top and down to Fell Foot farm by the Rough Crags and
Wetside Edge. A buzzard was circling around above the valley - it seemed hardly to
move its wings at all and passed so close to me so that I could see its markings
clearly. I was much impressed
During these years I had many other days on the hills and also went cycling in
the countryside surrounding Windermere on botanical trips. One day I took a
cycling trip with Cuthbert Woods to Silverdale and Grange-Over-Sands. In the old
coaching days, and earlier, parties used to cross the sands of Morecambe Bay, and
Mr Woods had made a study of the history of these crossings. He had also walked
across himself more than once. This is a little risky, because there is a chance of being
caught by the tide, which comes in quickly. As a boy he had been often to Silverdale
and had a lot of stories to tell. I cycled to Scout Scar another time, a limestone
outcrop with an interesting flora, in which I was interested. The route lay through
the Lythe Valley, famous for its damson blossom in the spring - and of course
damson fruits.
I also cycled longer distances on my own, when I returned home during summer
holidays from school. The distance from Windermere to Whitley Bay was about 110
miles. In April l943 for instance I cycled home one day. I started about 11.15 am and
at 10.45 pm phoned back to Green Gables to let them know that I had arrived safely-
taking 111/2 hours over the Pennines, involving plenty of walking uphill. At the end
of July that year I left early one morning for holiday in Northumberland, and there
were other occasions, not noted.
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