Category Archives: Second World War

Days like this, No 27: The Old Man of Hoy

Posted on October 13, 2017 by McFadzean

ROBERT Louis Stevenson; John Buchan; Enid Blyton; Daniel Defoe; Jules Verne; William Golding; Arthur Ransome; CS Lewis: Jonathan Swift; RM Ballantyne. They had many things in common. But the link that draws this diverse scattering of authors into one archipelago … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Camping, Childhood, Climbing, Environment, Hiking, History, Ruins, Second World War, Shipping Forecast, Vikings, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

Washed up at Gibraltar

Posted on March 17, 2015 by McFadzean

DRIVING down the Lincolnshire coast I spot a promontory called Gibraltar Point. It has a national nature reserve with marshlands stretching out into the Wash. I reckon it will be a perfect place to stretch the legs for a couple … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, Life, Rivers, Second World War, Shipping Forecast, Walking, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

South Gare in the Eye of the Beholder

Posted on October 14, 2014 by McFadzean

SOMETIMES ugly landscapes can be inspiring. I was going to say beautiful, but I hesitated and typed inspiring instead. I might reconsider before the end of the post because South Gare is a landscape that should be protected. It’s one … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Environment, Food, History, Industrial archaeology, Life, Politics, Ranting, Rivers, Ruins, Second World War, South Gare, Teesside, Traditions, Walking | Tagged , | 32 Comments

Humber. Southeasterly Four. Moderate or Good. Rain later.

Posted on September 2, 2014 by McFadzean

SPURN Head is one of those places everyone has heard of but few can pinpoint on a map. When you’ve got your bearings it’s easy to find – but that could also be said of Kafia Kingi and Amelia Earhart. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Camping, Environment, Explosives, Footpaths, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Politics, Railways, Rivers, Ruins, Second World War, Shipping Forecast, South Gare, Teesside, Walking, Weather | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Scaud Hill and Beyond – At My Leisure

Posted on May 2, 2014 by McFadzean

An angry walk between Teesdale and Weardale . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Caving, Childhood, Environment, Hiking, History, horse gins, Industrial archaeology, Life, Mountains, Newsquest, Northern Echo, Politics, Ranting, Redundancy, Ruins, Second World War, Unemployment, Walking | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

Feet of Cley on the Norfolk Coast Path

Posted on April 2, 2014 by McFadzean

SHINGLE banks are not the easiest terrain to walk across. And between the north Norfolk village of Cley and the town of Sheringham they stretch for miles. It’s a matter of steer your prow into the wind and start plodding … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Bronze Age, Environment, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Newsquest, Norfolk Broads, Politics, Ranting, Redundancy, Second World War, Walking, Windmills | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

Days Like This, No 2: In the Tatra With Bears and Nuns

Posted on March 6, 2014 by McFadzean

ZAKOPANE is a resort in the foothills of the Polish Tatra. Many people warned us about coming here, saying Zakopane is the unacceptable face of commercialism in an otherwise pristine mountain environment. But we like the town immensely. I suppose … Continue reading →

Posted in Camping, Climbing, Environment, Hiking, Mountains, Poland, Second World War, Walking, Zakopane | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

A Pennine Trek, Part 1 – Moorland and Mustard Gas

Posted on September 12, 2013 by McFadzean

The first stage of a three-day walk from Bowes to Hexham . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Allotments, Camping, Charles Dickens, Climbing, Drove roads, Environment, Explosives, Footpaths, Hiking, History, Mountains, Northern Echo, Pennine Way, Running, Second World War, Walking, Writing | Tagged , , | 27 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

Forever Changing – Broad Majestic Duddon

Posted on April 25, 2013 by McFadzean

A walk along the shifting sands of the Duddon estuary . . . Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Beer, Environment, Geology, Hiking, History, Industrial archaeology, Mountains, Second World War, Walking, William Wordsworth | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments