Bitts Park
Bitts is Carlisle’s main park running the stretch of the
River Eden through the City.
We headed from the main car park along to the Sheep Mount.
Hadn’t been here since school sports day, many many moons ago, and was
surprised at how it has developed from a grassy mount with a rough running
track to a fully developed sports centre.
Turning back on ourselves we followed the river, under
Stanwix Bridge, past the Pitch n Put to the suspension bridge. This was the
route of the old schools cross country. Have to admit me and my mates used to
duck under the bridge support and have a quick fag whilst the others continued
round the Cenotaph and back over the bridge whence we rejoined the tail end for
the return trip. M insisted on taking a photo of me at the Cenotaph just to
prove that I, eventually, made it :)
It was then back, on the other side of the Eden, through
Rickerby Park to what we knew as the Chinese Gardens but now refurbished and
renamed Eden Bridge Gardens.
Talkin Tarn
Last time we circumnavigated the Tarn we got drenched, not
this time pleased to say. The tarn is glacial in origin, being formed about
10000 years ago, and is fed by underground streams.
Keswick
Another unexpectedly bright winters New Year Day we headed
down to the lakeside at Keswick and strolled out to Friars Crag Point and its stunning
views over Derwent Water.
 |
| should've taken more water with it! |
Returning past The Theatre by the Lake we passed up into town for tea at the lovely Wild Strawberry Cafe.
Kielder Forest
Taking the road through Canonbie we initially overshot the
badly signed turn off to Kielder Reservoir and enjoyed an unexpected drive
through part of the Forest. Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in
Northumberland surrounding Kielder village and the Kielder Water reservoir. It
is the largest developed woodland in England with three-quarters of its 250
square miles covered by forest. Over the past 25 years, the landscape around
Kielder Water & Forest Park has become home to a unique collection of visual art.
Parking up at Kielder Castle we were joined by a number of
hikers, dog walkers and cyclists. Even towards the end of a crisp winters day
Kielder is a popular place. Formerly the hunting lodge for the Duke of
Northumberland, the Castle is now home to a variety of exhibitions. It is also
the centre for cycling within the Park.
We took the Viaduct path a mile or so down to a panoramic
view of the lake/reservoir then back along the top path to the Castle. Glad to
complete the mainly single track road back to the main drag before complete
darkness set in.
Port Carlisle
In its bustling hayday Carlisle was connected to Port Carlisle, across the treacherous Brough marshes, first by canal then rail.
The village of Port Carlisle, originally known as Fishers Cross, was developed as a port in 1819 to handle goods for Carlisle using the canal link built in 1823. The canal was 11¼ mile long, and had 8 locks. The building of the Bowness-on-Solway railway viaduct altered the deepwater channels, causing Port Carlisle to silt up, and the railway was abandoned, but its course can still be traced.
Port Carlisle Junction railway station was a very short lived station that first came into use in July 1863 which brought many Scandinavian emigrants through Carlisle on their way to the USA. There was some untimetabled use until 29 October 1863, but the station closed as early as 1 July 1864. After closure, the up platform was retained for use by those northbound crews requiring change.
Walking from Drumburgh we picked up the tail end of the Hadrians Wall Path hugging the Solway Coast, circumnavigating the village of Port Carlisle.
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