Category Archives: Quarrying

The High and Mighty Mines of Lújar

Posted on July 11, 2016 by McFadzean

A hard slog to the ancient mines on Sierra de Lújar, in southern Spain . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Caving, Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Potholing, Quarrying, Ruins, Slate quarries, The Romans, Walking, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Days Like This, No 21: Eternity in Borrowdale

Posted on May 27, 2015 by McFadzean

THE closest thing to eternity is a cold night in a tent. Hope dies while hours limp slowly past. Supernovae fade and constellations shift as time distorts and clocks refuse to tick. Body heat is sucked into the ungrateful ground. … Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Climbing, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Ruins, Slate quarries, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 43 Comments

Almost Picture Perfect in the Coniston Fells

Posted on December 9, 2014 by McFadzean

THIS is such a promising start. The early-morning sky is dark and clear; frost cakes windscreens and grass verges; the Lakeland peaks stand pale and ghostly at the head of the Duddon estuary. It is the perfect day for climbing … Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Explosives, Footpaths, Hiking, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Slate quarries, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , , , | 29 Comments

Days Like This, No 4: Before Night at Beacon Tarn

Posted on April 8, 2014 by McFadzean

Memories of a backpacking trip from Cockermouth to Greenodd . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Climbing, Environment, Hiking, Mountains, Quarrying, Slate quarries, Walking, Writing | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Going to California . . . Via Teesdale

Posted on March 17, 2014 by McFadzean

HISTORY has not been kind to the Pennine valley of Hudes Hope. On a sunny morning in March its lesser scars can be mistaken for natural wounds and warts on the landscape. But there is no disguising the greater disfigurements … Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Ruins, Slate quarries, Teesside, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Arkengarthdale and the Hungry Hushes

Posted on January 7, 2014 by McFadzean

IT’S midday and a storm warning has been issued by the Met Office. I’ve just set off across the northern spur of Reeth High Moor and can expect gale-force winds and up to 40mm of rain. The valley fields are … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, horse gins, Industrial archaeology, Knut Hamsun, Life, Mountains, Patrick Kavanagh, Politics, Quarrying, Ranting, Ruins, Unemployment, Walking, Writing | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Coniston Fells: Highways, Byways, Narrow Ways

Posted on August 22, 2013 by McFadzean

A day tramping over the Coniston fells . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Ranting, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Above Bethesda – Ancient and Modern

Posted on June 10, 2013 by McFadzean

TO the south-west of Bethesda an open moor rises towards the clouded heights of Elider Fawr and Mynedd Perfedd. It’s a wild place dotted with occasional ruins and sheepfolds and crossed by indistinct trackways . . .

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Environment, Food, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Religion, Scotch pies, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Manod and Mysteries, Earth and Environment

Posted on May 28, 2013 by McFadzean

Underground bunkers in the Welsh mountains . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Camping, Caving, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Potholing, Quarrying, Ranting, Second World War, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Thirty Years On – Cwmorthin Revisited

Posted on May 22, 2013 by McFadzean

From one side of a Welsh mountain to another – underground and overground . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Caving, Climbing, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Politics, Potholing, Quarrying, Ranting, Slate quarries, Walking, William Morris | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

Only a Rosedale, I give you . . .

Posted on March 11, 2013 by McFadzean

THIS set out to be a hike to the Rosedale iron mines – but I got tangled in a fox hunt and that’s far more entertaining. It was also a day of bewildering signposts, dazzling sunlight, heather fire haze and … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Climbing, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Hunting, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railways, Walking | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

A Blackpowder Blast From the Past

Posted on February 26, 2013 by McFadzean

IUSED to blow up huge chunks of Cumbrian hillside for a living. I stopped doing it not through any regard for conservation or the environment, but because I’d noticed that none of my more senior colleagues ever reached retirement age … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Explosives, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Quarrying, Railway goods wagons, Ranting, Slate quarries, Walking | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments