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site name:-
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Skiddaw
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parish
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Underskiddaw parish, once
in Cumberland
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county:-
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Cumbria
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parish
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Bassenthwaite parish, once
in Cumberland
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viewpoint; station
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Altitude
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3053 feet
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coordinates:-
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NY260290
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10Km square:-
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NY22
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1Km square |
NY2629 |
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descriptive text:- |
Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)
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Guidebook, Concise Description of the English Lakes,
later A Description of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley,
published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland, by J
Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirky Lonsdale,
Cumbria, 1823 onwards. |
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Page 48:-
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A view of the country, from at least one of the eminent
mountains of the district, is considered as forming a part
of the tour, by those who can muster strength and resolution
for the undertaking; and for this purpose Skiddaw is, on
several accounts, generally selected. It is nearest to the
station at Keswick, most easy of access - as ladies may ride
on horseback to the very summit; and standing in some
measure detached, the view, especially to the north and
west, is less intercepted by other mountains.
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...
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Page 50:-
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The desire of an extensive prospect being the principal
motive for ascending a mountain, it is a question frequently
asked, 'which is the best time of day for going up Skiddaw?'
It is not easy to give a precise answer to this question;
the morning is commonly recommended, and generally, the
sooner you are there after the sun has fully illumined the
mountains the better; whether in an early morning, or on a
dispersion of the clouds in any other part of the day.
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During a clear cold night, the vapour is copiously
precipitated from the higher into the lower parts of the
atmosphere; so that very early in the morning, the summits
of the mountains, gilded by the sun, appear in great
magnificence; and the contrast of light and shade upon their
sides is very interesting. But, at such times, a haziness
often prevails in the vallies; which, as the air becomes
warmed by the sun, again ascends; and at the same time
receives an augmentation by the vapour rising from the
ground; the tremulous motion of which may sometimes be
perceived, as it exudes from the surface of the earth in
places exposed to the most direct action of solar rays.
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After a succession of dry and hot days the air is seldom
favourable for a prospect; but between showers, or when
clouds prevail - provided they are above the altitude of the
mountains - the view is often extended to a great distance.
When the atmosphere is loaded with clouds, the middle of the
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Page 51:-
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day affords the greatest probability of their rising above
the mountains; and a mid-day light gives the most general
illumination to objects on every point of the horizon. A
declining sun may throw a beautiful blaze of light upon some
parts of the landscape; but its effects will not be so
general; and a person remaining upon the mountain till the
sun goes down, especially in Autumn, will find night come on
apace as he descends.
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Sometimes, when clouds have formed below the summit, the
country as viewed from above resembles a sea of mist; a few
of the highest mountain peaks having the appearance of
islands, on which the sun seems to shine with unusual
splendour. And when the spectator is so situated that his
shadow falls upon the cloud, he may observe some curious
meteorological phenomena. To those who have frequently
beheld it under other circumstances, this may be a new and
magnificent spectacle; but a tourist, making his first and
perhaps only visit, will naturally wish to have the features
of the country more completely developed. It is a grievous
though not an uncommon circumstance, to be wrapt in a cloud,
which seems to be continually passing on, yet never leaves
the mountain during the time appropriated for the stay; but
those who are fortunate enough to be upon the summit at the
very time of the cloud's departure, will experience a
gratification of no common kind; when - like the rising of
the curtain in a theatre - the country in a moment bursts
upon the eye.
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Page 52:-
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It will always be better to seize on a favourable
opportunity for a mountain excursion, than to attempt to fix
the time beforehand; other journies where the state of the
air is of less importance may be deferred. A telescope may
assist in the examination or recognition of a particular
building or object; but in viewing the great features of the
prospect it can render little assistance; it is only when
the air is clear that it can be used with advantage; and
then, the field of vision is so extensive, and the objects
so numerous, that sufficient time is seldom afforded for
individual contemplation.
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...
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Page 53:-
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... [at the top] Here the lake of Derwent and vale of
Keswick are hid from us; but our attention is now arrested
by more distant objects.
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Page 55:-
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The town of Whitehaven is concealed from our sight, but the
headlands of St. Bees beyond it are conspicuous; and the
Isle of Man in the same direction. Workington, with its
shipping, may be seen due west, and further northwards
Maryport, and the fashionable bathing place of Allonby.
Cockermouth, with its church and castle, is seen over the
foot of Bassenthwaite Lake; and between us and the borders
of Scotland lies a large extent of cultivated country, in
which the city of Carlisle stands as a central object.
Beyond Solway Frith, the mountain Criffel in
Kirkcudbrightshire appears near the shore; and on its right
is the mouth of the river Nith, on which stands the town of
Dumfries. To the left lies the small island called Hasten,
at the foot of the water of Orr; and further west, the mouth
of the Dee at Kirkcudbright, opening into the large bay of
Wigton. Beyond it, the bay of Glenluce, with Burrow Head,
and the Mull of Galloway, are sometimes visible. The houses
and cornfields on the Scottish coast are often
distinguishable; with mountains rising behind mountains to
an interminable distance. The Cheviot hills appear in the
direction of High Pike;- but it would be in vain to look for
the German Ocean, which has sometimes been represented as
visible from hence.
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Penrith, with its Beacon, may be seen, and beyond it the
lofty Crossfell, with some of the eminences bordering upon
Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire. To the right of
Penrith are the
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Page 56:-
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Walls of Brougham Castle, and the mansion of Lord Chancellor
Brougham. The hills surrounding Ullswater are in view, and
the top of Ingleborough appears beyond the end of High
Street. Through the gap of Dunmail Raise, the estuary of the
Kent, below Milnthorp, appears in two small portions,
separated by the intervention of Yewbarrow, a hill in
Witherslack; and the castle of Lancaster may sometimes be
discerned with a telescope, beyond the southern edge of
Gummershow in Cartmel Fells.
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The superior eminences of Scawfell and Gable have been in
full view during our ascent, and we may now discover Black
Combe through an opening between the latter and Kirkfell;
and part of the Screes mountain beyond Wast Water, between
Kirkfell and the Pillar. In the same direction, may Snowdon
in Wales possibly be sometimes discerned; but ninety-nine
times out of a hundred it would be in vain to look for it;
the same may be said of the Irish mountains; and the lake of
Windermere, which has so often been included both in oral
and written descriptions, cannot be seen at all from
Skiddaw.
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It would be superfluous to enumerate more of the objects
which on a very fine day may be seen from this mountain; it
is the province of the guide to point them out as they rise
into view, or as a favourable light renders them most
clearly discernible. It is not those objects that are seldom
and dimly seen, that ought to receive the greatest atten-
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Page 57:-
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[atten]tion; but rather such as may be distinctly known and
properly appreciated. It must not be expected that objects
at fifty miles distance, should appear as distinct as these
near at hand; indeed it often happens, that they cannot be
seen at all, though the air to a moderate distance seems
remarkably clear; yet still, a person who sets out with a
disposition to be pleased, will, on any tolerably fine day,
be sufficiently compensated for his trouble; and the more
the distant objects are veiled from view, the higher will
the nearer ones rise in estimation.
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One of the most vexatious circumstances, and which not
unfrequently happens, is to meet with a small cap of cloud
upon the summit, that entirely excludes all prospect from
thence; ...
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Page 78:-
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STATION II.- SKIDDAW.
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Latitude 54° 39′ 12″ N. Longitude
3° 8′ 9″ W. Height 3022 feet.
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date:-
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1823
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period:-
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19th century, early; 1820s
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source:- |
Otley 1818
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New Map of the District of the Lakes, in Westmorland,
Cumberland, and Lancashire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch,
by Jonathan Otley, engraved by J and G Menzies, Edinburgh,
Lothian, Scotland, published by J Otley, Keswick, Cumberland
now Cumbria, 1818; pblished 1818 to 1850s. |
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SKIDDAW
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placename:-
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Skiddaw
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hill
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hearsay |
You might see a Brocken Spectre from the top of Skiddaw,
when a low sun casts your shadow on mist lying below. The
shadow is exactly your size, but the effect of perspective
makes the shadow, at a distance, appear huge.
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Old Cumbria Gazetteer - JandMN: 2008
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