|
SAILING,
WALNEY ISLAND - The "Round Walney" yacht
race is organised from time to time by the Roa Island Club.
The Jubilee Bridge to Walney has to be raised to let them through
to the start. In July 2009 all started well on a beautiful day
with a good high tide and strong breeze. Unfortunately the wind
dropped on the southward leg and only one yacht made it back
under sail - such are the risks of yachting! The photo was taken
from a good vantage point on the reclaimed ironworks slag bank.
The yacht club is based at Roa Island at the old jetty, where
steamers used to depart for the Isle of Man. |
|
FURNESS
LINE - The line from Carnforth to Barrow-in-Furness
is one of the most scenic stretches of railway line in England,
crossing the Kent and Leven Estuaries as it passes through the
Cartmel and Furness Peninsulas. Modern Class 185 diesel trains
now provide a quick and reliable connection to Manchester Airport.
The line was completed around 1857 with many of the Furness
Railway stations unique in style and now listed buildings. |
| |
WINDERMERE
FERRY - There has been a ferry crossing at the narrowest
part of Lake Windermere for centuries. In 1630, 47 people and
11 horses were drowned in a freak storm when the "Great
Boat" sank. Today's ferry is reassuringly kept on track
by two steel cables, one either side. |
|
HAVERTHWAITE
AND LAKESIDE STEAM RAILWAY- The Furness Railway branch
line from Ulverston to Lakeside enabled day-trippers (until
the outbreak of the First World War) to sail from Liverpool
and Fleetwood to Ulverston, take the train to Lakeside, then
sail on Lake Windermere. The stretch from Haverthwaite to Lakeside
is kept open today by a Steam Preservation Trust. |
|
THE
GONDOLA, CONISTONWATER - This steam yacht was built
for the Furness Railway Company in 1860 to connect with their
Foxfield to Coniston branch line. It sank in a storm in 1963
and remained at the bottom of the lake for 12 years. Raised
and refitted by apprentices at the Barrow shipyard it is now
owned and operated by the National Trust. The original boat
had a longer passenger cabin and no protection for the Captain
but it was later modified to the current design!
|
|
LAKE
BANK, CONISTONWATER - This Furness Railway Company
jetty (c1870) at Lake Bank at the south end of the lake served
as a staging point for almost 70 years. Linked to Greenodd by
coach and four (and later by charabanc and Ribble motorbus)
it connected with the Ulverston to Lakeside rail line. It was
therefore possible to take round trips which included sailing
on Conistonwater and returning by rail from Coniston via Foxfield
or continuing by road from Coniston to Ambleside and returning
by boat on Windermere and rail from Lakeside. Indeed, Liverpool
steamers called at Greeenodd with day trippers for Coniston.
The rebuilt Gondola still calls here on a regular timetable
in the summer. |
|
DO
IT YOURSELF! - Boats can be hired on both Lake Windermere
and Coniston Water between Easter and October. In December,
this rowing boat was more suitable for miniature ice-hockey!
The adjacent Bluebird cafe (splendid cakes, but weekends only
in winter!) occupies the building that was put up in 1910 as
dormitories for staff working on the Gondola and Lady of the
Lake. |
|
CHRISTMAS
DAY IN ULVERSTON CANAL ! - Not a breath of air. This
photo is actually a reflection (hence the reversed writing)
of Ainsworth's recovery vehicles parked alongside the canal. |
