Memories - Page 6 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Clive Horner   
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 11:26
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We visited so many places in Yorkshire I would writing for ever if I attempted to mention them all, however I will just mention the fun we had driving over the Pennines’, back then all the fields had gates across the road to stop sheep roaming and someone had to get out of the car to open and close the gates for the car to go through. You cannot imagine the way us lads would argue about whose turn it was to open the gates. I doubt we would do so now. The car we had was a ford 8 and the number of times we had to get out and push on the steeper slopes I really could not count.

As I said earlier the other part of the country that we visited many times was the Lake District. When people ask me to describe the Lake District, I find it very difficult as the only way to appreciate the Lake District is to go there for a visit. Given the right weather conditions it can be unbelievably beautiful, it can also be intimidating under adverse weather conditions but it still has a certain feel that can not be found in many places around the world. Unfortunately there is now a motorway going right through the middle which has taken away some of it’s charm and imposing nature, because of the changes many people will not understand why I feel as I do about this part of Britain, but mine are childhood memories of the way it was in the past, which is why I fell in love with this place and also Yorkshire which I remember so well as a child. We would when possible spend a week in Yorkshire and a week in the Lake District. These were holidays that will never be forgotten as although I have travelled to many places through the years, these two places are special to me and probably always will be. I should mention at this point there were no motorways or town / village bypasses so a trip to Yorkshire or the Lake District was a full day’s drive. Although the building of motorways and bypasses have made driving easier and journey’s much quicker, I do feel that some of the interest and pleasure has also gone. Like Yorkshire most of our trips to the Lake District were camping holidays which I feel in many ways made them more exciting for children of our age than perhaps if we had stayed in guest houses etc. Usually we would camp at Grasmere or Ambleside, both of which were ideal settings for a camping holiday. Who could ask for a more pleasant, peaceful village than Grasmere with its old world charm and the picturesque river running through the centre. It’s quaint shops and cafes and let’s not forget one of the main reasons for Grasmere’s fame. Dove cottage which was the home of William Wordsworth. Grasmere is also well known for its gingerbread, it is impossible to buy gingerbread like it anywhere else. As for Ambleside with its pier and lakeside walk overlooking Lake Windermere, the small town atmosphere and of course it’s central location within the heart of the Lake District. Apart from being a very Lakeland town, one attraction one never forgets is the bridge house. This naturally as expected is built on the bridge alongside the main street through the town. It must be one of the most photographed buildings in the town. Both Grasmere and Ambleside are in the heart of the Lake District, being almost central between Kendal and Keswick which are also very old Lakeland towns and well worth visiting. Turf Fen I also remember as it was the first time I had the chance to watch the sheep being sheared, the speed at which the shearer worked was amazing. It was also the first time I had the opportunity to watch a sheep dog at work, in about 15 minutes it had rounded up the whole herd and moved them through the field and out the gate. I have sheep dog trials on TV in recent years but they are not the same as watching a working dog in the fields. I don’t think there is anywhere in England where you can capture so much old world charm in such a small area as the Lake District and of course the scenery on a fine day is breathtaking.

To walk through the mountain regions and spend time in the villages and towns, take boat trips around the lakes of Windermere, Coniston Water, Ullswater and the many other lakes within the area on a fine day is unbelievable. It does seem a little strange to be able to walk through the mountains and not meet another human, this kind of privacy is rare in our everyday lives. Also we should not forget Donald Cambell who died on Coniston Water whilst trying to beat his own water speed world record and to whom a memorial was erected and can still be seen today. I have always admired Donald Cambell and his achievements, I suppose it could be said that as I was growing up he was my hero.



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