ChrisJB

Hello there Chris, I hope you enjoyed your holiday up there! what was the weather like? I have now moved to a different neck of the woods, Loughborough, start my course at the college on the 18th.

I live near to the Scottish borders matie

Ha! Hope it was comfy! Yes, go round Marton Mere quite often. In fact was planning to pop along this week if the weather holds up as we've broken up for the summer hols now, wahey! (Know you'll know how that feels in our line of work lol). Usually do there and then Stanley Park (just over the road). Can see some good birds at the mere at times. Hope you enjoyed the stay mate (bet it wasn't for the birding ;) ha)

glad you liked the pics :) Haven't been in the Stag for a long time - last time I stopped there (earlier this year) it was shut - I think it may have been a Monday lunchtime in March though!

And yes, it was the Cross Keys at Hilton.... :)

actually, just remembered i put one up on Panaramio

Panoramio - Photos by zail

if you look about halway down the page it's on the right.. graveyard in foreground. When we still lived in london we used to go and stay in the Old Rectory next to Dufton church so it's a special place for me. On these holidays I also met a Dufton farmer and the local gamekeeper who were to become good friends (both dead now and buried in Dufton churchyard) and who I learnt a lot about the area from. If you've ever seen the Fell ponies up on the fell on the way to High Cup then they would have belonged to my farmer friend :) Most of the other Pennine pics on that page are from North Stainmore where I grew up....

Got some pics of Dufton Pike from the churchyard that I took earlier this year - will send you the link when I've put them up online....

Hello Chris, I moved up to Cumbria from London when I was 11 - lived on North Stainmore which is not far from Brough and Kirkby Stephen. High Cup Nick that area is one of my favorite places in that area :) Whereabouts are you?

I saw the Snowy at the Grenitote (Greinetobht on map) Picnic area but a long way off in the fields, if you come in from Lochmaddy you need to turn Left toward Berneray but carry on past the Berneray turn off until you get to Grenitot at the picnic area is down a lane on your right. I would recommend a great walk across the machair even if the Snowy owl is not there if you have about 2-3 hours it is wonderful.

I got a reasonable picture last year in the Valley Strand which is the drying beach that you can walk across from nr Sollas to Valley, again worth a walk, though check with timetables, you can normally walk reasonably dry shod 2hr each side of Low tide and you may see the Owl then.

If I can be of any furthe help please don't hesitate to ask

Debs

PS you can always bus it, there are connecting buses from Lochmaddy if the car price is too expensive.

Hello

On the Saturday, went to a Frankie and Bennie's (Italian/American Restaurant), was great food, but packed which made it very hot, and the Air conditioning consisted of three small fans :-( then we went to pubs and tried a few clubs, but they were so packed, so we decided to head onto Carling Academy, loadsa room, and we stayed there the whole night, was pretty good music, some weird dj stuff, mixed with some rock music, good night, but lost sleep had caught up with me around 2, so had an earlier night than we thought we would.

Was going to go on a Pine Marten Survey next Wednesday, but I wouldn't get back in time for work! so unfortunately going to miss it, mum is going, so she will tell me if she found any signs!