This is Sandscale Haws, a National Nature Reserve on the Duddon estuary. From here you can pick out some of Lakeland's most magnificent peaks, including Scoat Fell and Pillar (which blogger Dominic and I climbed last Wednesday), Red Pike, Scafell and Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain at 3209 ft (978 m).
The reserve contains a nationally important stretch of sand dunes and is home to hundreds of species of wild flowers, including many different types of orchid. The estuary itself is a vital feeding station for tens of thousands of migratory birds, and the rare natterjack toad breeds in sheltered pools among the dunes.
(You can read Dominic's full account of our visit to Ennerdale and our eleven mile walk over Haycock, Scoat Fell and Pillar here.)
4 comments:
I love the Duddon estuary. I have a friend in Broughton so any journey to see her entails passing this - I have always intended to call in.
Ah, Scafell was originally going to be on my itinerary for next year's ramble. Unfortunately it looks like I'll be confining my travels to the continent. Nice to see it from this interesting viewpoint.
This appears to be an interesting place to do a little wandering, and it made me wonder about the meaning of "haws," a term that I have never encountered on this side of the pond. I assume this word is linked in some way to hawthorn trees that are found in that part of the country.
I thought you might like this area, Pat.
Goat — shame you're not coming to the UK. We could have had a ramble together.
After doing a little research, George, 'haws' may be derived from the Norse word 'hawns' meaning 'hill'. ('Sandscale is also Scandinavian and means 'temporary hut on the sand'.) I've also read it can mean 'hedged area'. Take your pick.
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