Bampton to Orton

The elegant sweep of Parish Crag Bridge, an enduring monument
to the stone masons aethetic eye. The single file toll bridge is on a
former packhorse trading route.

Click on the photograph to enlarge

Looking west towards the Lake District. The high point of our
ttreck, Kidsty Pike, is the small hump on the left of the long ridge
in the far background. 

Our first glimpse of the derelict ruin of Shap Abbey. The abbey
was sacked on the orders of Henry VIII during his audacious land
 and treasure grab during the sixteenth century.

The extent of the destruction wrought by the power hungry king
is clearly seen. 

The abbey tower with all the appearance of a heavily  decayed molar.

Our first sighting of Shap, a ribbon development village with several
good pubs. Also, the delightful curve of a substantial twin dry stone wall. 

A quiet morning in Shap with the gardens dressed in their Sunday best. 

This photograph demonstrates quite clearly that appearances can decieve.
Even thoughthe road looks clear, the noise was horrendous. 

These unusual limestone scars gave all the appearanceof a prehistoric
graveyard. If you think about it, that's exactly what they are. 

Wide open country with a scattering of limestone outcrops showing
just how thin the soil covering is. 

A long view towards the rounded pillow-like contours of the Pennine foothills. 

A closer view of the Pennine foothills. 

A sample of the hundreds of beedy glass eyes that kept all under close
surveilliance at Sheila's comfortable digs. 

The collection of model farm animals when combined with the mass of
Beatrix Potter characters which populated Sheila's farmhouse could give
 the impression of being decidedly overcrowded. It wasn't. Our stay with Sheila was most
 comfortable and homely.