20th October 2011
On our way home from the Lakes the previous day we had had a bit of an accident on the A591 coming down towards Grasmere. Fortunately nobody was hurt but the poor old Peugeot 207 looked a little worse for wear. I had called into our Insurance Brokers on the way home and they submitted a claim form to our Insurance company. By the time I got home there was a message on the answer phone from a local repairer who had been contacted by our insurance company wanting me to bring the car in for an inspection. They decided that because of the damaged bodywork it was unsafe to drive and lent us a courtesy car. This took up a good part of the morning so on getting home we decided to walk from home down to the shore and over the Barrows.
It's only a short walk from our place down to the shore. As we reached the top of Smithy Hill it looked quite a nice day.
The "new" cafe replaces the old Zoo Cafe. There was actually a cafe on this site many years ago.
As usual our route would take us across the fields to the old Heysham Head site and then across the Barrows to the village.
The views aren't perfect but are still pretty good, here looking over to Black Combe the southernmost of Cumbria's fells.
A stand-by vessel leaves the harbour on her way to one of the gas fields.
Having crossed the fields we enter the site of the old Heysham Head entertainment complex.
This is a wonderful short walk with ever-changing views with the weather and tides.
A look back to see that the Isle of Man boat is on her way to the harbour.....must be around noon then!
The tide is on its way in but some sandbanks are still uncovered. This end of the bay is a mass of channels caused by the rivers entering at the top end.
Another look back and this time I have managed to capture what is left of the "Vanadis" which ran aground at the entrance to the River Lune over 100 years ago.....All the crew were rescued but the Vanadis refloated and drifted up the bay to run ashore here and break up. There is a short story about her.......HERE
In she goes!....in just two hours time she will be on her way out again bound for Douglas.
We have left the old Heysham Head area now and are now on the Barrows, again owned by the National Trust.
Thickening cloud across the bay is restricting the views to Lakeland.
Looking up the bay towards Arnside Knott and Warton Crag.
There were lots of Oystercatchers on the shore below us. A big zoom captured one.
Catching my breath as we walk up to the chapel.
Looking up the bay from the Stone Graves. They are thought to date back to the 11th Century. Black Sabbath fans may recognise them from the cover of the groups "The best of Black Sabbath" CD.
St Patrick's Chapel. The ruins date from the 8th or 9th Century and like the graves are Grade 1 listed.
St Peter's Church. It is believed that a church was founded on this site in the 7th or 8th Century.
A quiet Main Street, Heysham Village.
The village square....the building on the fire as been recently rebuilt after being destroyed by fire.
The village green and playing fields.
Nearly back as we pass the The Old Hall.
Return to Local Pictures Return to Home Page