30
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST
www.lep.co.uk Saturday, October 31, 2015
W
Weekend walks
W
Remote Control
BY PHILIP CUNNINGTON
philip.cunnington@jpress.co.uk
@rilthy
Thanks Dr. Beeching
BY BOB CLARE
www.lancashirewalks.com
I
n 1963, the Beatles
released their first
album and the Beeching
Axe fell on the Britain’s
railways.
Then a nationalised
public service, following
the report of Dr Richard
Beeching 4,000 miles of the
network were cut on the
basis of cost and efficiency.
Not great for railway workers
and passengers, especially
in the rural areas served by
many of these lost lines, but
there has been an upside.
Dismantled railways make
great walking and cycling
routes, and wonderful nature
reserves. The South Durham
and Lancaster Union Railway
is a case in point. It once
was used to transport coke
across the Pennines from the
Durham coalfields to feed
the furnaces of Workington.
Even before Beeching
produced his report it was
deemed uneconomical, and
was closed in 1962. Where
the old line passes through
Smardale Gorge not only is
there an impressive viaduct
to admire, but a nature
reserve has been created
– home to rare butterfly
species like the Scotch Argus.
Directions: 1. From the
King’s Head Hotel turn left
cross the beck and continue
along the lane towards the
A685. Just before you reach
the road, cross to a pedestrian/
cycle path which keeps you
safely away from the highway.
In 500yds bear left on to a quiet
lane. After a further 200yds
go through a gate on the right
to follow a footpath diagonally
across a field back to the A685.
Cross with care, turn left and
then right onto a bridle way.
When this reaches a farm road
keep ahead to Friar’s Bottom
Farm. Beyond the buildings
turn right onto a broad track.
Keep on this for a little over
400yds and after it swings left
enter a large field with a wall
on the right.
At the first gate on the
right turn left though there is
no indication this is a public
right of way. Cross over the
brow of the rise before you
and then descend to a pair of
stiles straddling the course of
a dismantled railway. On the
far side, on open moorland,
skirt to the left of Begin Hill on
a course more or less directly
north to reach a stone stile
over a wall. After crossing
this, follow a feint path that
leads towards power lines and
then follows the contour right
before reaching a junction of
walls. Keep ahead through
two gates and turn right onto
a bridleway. With a wall on
the right, follow the track
downhill to Crosby Garrett.
2. Enter the village passing
beneath the viaduct of the
Settle-Carlisle Railway. As
you reach the village centre
marked by a wooden bus
shelter, turn right on to a lane
in the direction of Smardale
and Waitby. There now
follows a mile and a quarter
of road walking along a very
narrow and quiet lane. After
crossing a footbridge by a
ford, look out for a fine view of
Smardale Viaduct. Continue
up a rise to reach the hamlet
of Smardale. Beyond the
first house turn right onto
a lane in the direction of
Smardale Hall. This reaches
the entrance to Smardale
Gill Nature Reserve. This
follows the old railway line.
Turn right through a wooden
kissing gate to join the
line. The track soon passes
below the Settle to Carlisle
Railway and continues to
reach the wide trackway
across the Smardale Gill
Viaduct. Here, to have the
best view of the viaduct, take
a footpath to its left as you
arrive at the northern end of
the structure. Keep on the
path as it edges along higher
ground and the left.
After a stile turn right
following the path alongside
a fence. After crossing
the next wall turn right to
descend to Smardale Bridge.
Here turn left on a path
that begins to climb away
from the gill and then after a
steady climb crosses a stone
stile by a metal gate. Keep
ahead across the next large
field aiming for a stand of
trees close to the left corner.
After this the way picks up a
farm track to the left leading
past a barn and soon after
reaches the A685. Cross the
road and then turn left and
then right onto a lane leading
to the village centre.
l Walk devised by David
Johnstone, resident walks
guide Northcote Manor.
Factfile
START: Ravenstonedale Village
centre CA17 4NH
DISTANCE: 9 miles, 14k
TIME: 4-5½ hours
SUMMARY: Moderate
MAP: OS OL19 The Howgill Fells
Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan in Catastrophe
TRIUMPH FROM
CATASTROPHE
T
he dread
silhouette of
Christmas
is looming
large on the
horizon, bringing with it
the horrific prospect of a
visit from the in-laws.
They’re parents,
but not YOUR parents.
Apparently allowed
to criticise you with
impunity, but exempt
from criticism in return.
You know that any
comeback from you will
result in the frostiest
of cold shoulders from
your spouse, girlfriend/
boyfriend or life partner.
That’s why you would
never call your motherin-law a “haemorrhoid” –
that would cause divorce,
or at the very least a
grovelling apology.
Like in Catastrophe
(Channel 4, Tuesdays,
10pm), where a family
gathering to greet a
new baby degenerates
into name-calling,
toilet humour and
embarrassment all
round.
The first episode
of this second series
catches up with Rob (Rob
Delaney) and Sharon
(Sharon Horgan), now
proud possessors of a
toddler and with another
on the way.
I didn’t catch the first
series last year, but heard
a lot about it. I now regret
not seeing it.
Yes, there’s a bit of Cold
Feet-iness to it – Sharon
and Rob have vague
jobs which apparently
allow them the money
to buy a massive John
Lewis house – but it’s
sufficiently scatalogical to
puncture the middle class
smugness.
It’s also a pretty
convincing portrait of a
marriage under pressure
– from kids, family, jobs,
dead dogs.
They have massive,
foul-mouthed arguments,
they wait for the other one
to clean up the kitchen,
but they also apologise
to each other and make
compromises they don’t
really want to make, all
to keep their partner
happy.
Plus the dialogue is
relentlessly funny – from
conversations about
their son’s privates to
speculation on Elton
John’s bedroom habits.
But this first episode
also had some hints that
the second series might
take a trip to some darker
places, as Sharon’s dad
is found wandering
confused in the street.
I get the impression,
though, that the jokes will
still keep coming.