Stage 4

For context Oxford is 61m above sea level, Ben Nevis is 1345m, much of the Lake District is around 800-900m. Today I ascended to the dizzy heights of 1510m, which is the highest point on this pathway. Only to have to descend again. It must be said the descent was a good deal worse than the climb up, which was in a lovely wide path through a beech forest.

“What are mean compared to trees and rocks?”

Mary from Pride and Prejudice

Two particular joys of todays walk were the wildflowers, which seemed to become more and more abundant and exquisite, sadly no photograph can do them justice. The other was the faint ringing of bells I could hear, having heard nothing other than the birds gently in the background, and then I recalled- cows! Cows were bells in the mountains! Indeed I was near some very handsome cows. Cows, unlike sheep, require bells, because they won’t follow the herd, so they can become easily lost, sheep whilst stubborn are generally less headstrong than cows. I mused that it was a shame they were not properly tuned. Imagine a musical farmer with tuned cow bells! A different tone for each beast.

As I was walking I stumbled upon an old boundary stone, between the Papal States and the Kings of Sicily form the 19th C. So I think I am now under the protection of the kings of Sicily! It seems remarkable to me that anyone would haul such a stone up these hills.

“The dappled light lacework hit upon the ground,

setting it ablaze like glowing Embers left over from those gone before.

So too are the moss covered rocks illumined a verdant lime green

that suggests creatures frozen in time lurk beneath.”