Notes from Nick!

A Changing Landscape?

We passed Scale Falls, the cacophony of sound fading as we climbed out of the valley floor towards Damas Dubs.

As we reached the top of the path and looked back across the valley, we were looking through nearly two millennia. In the mist still hanging there, lay Hardknott and the remains of a Roman outpost. You could feel the presence of the Legionnaire who had long since left.

I wondered; if my Legionnaire were to stand there now would he still recognise this place? What were his first thoughts of Britain?. He had left Rome with the sun and warmth on his back, his shield and helmet glistening in the orb of day . Off down the Appian Way to a distant foreign land at the very edge of civilisation, was the valley of the Esk a dream posting?

We turned once again, walking higher, walking gently away from the watchful eye of my Legionnaire. We passed the Herdwicks watching us with that bemused look they are so fond off, as though questioning our sanity.

These sheep, the inheritance of those who came later, are still roaming this landscape. Nearly a millennia after the Romans had vanished from this valley the Norse arrived and these sheep are their lasting, living legacy. The Norse had battled both man and nature in their quest for better lands and settled here in this remote corner of this land. If those men walked this ground, would they recognise this landscape, would they have stood and thought about the history opposite? Had they stopped to contemplate the future?

As we wandered on we found ourselves overlooking the head of the Esk, the landscape dominated by the surrounding mountains, Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great End, Esk Pike and Bow Fell stood like giant sentinels protecting this most beautiful of places. I am sure that they will remember the Romans and the Norse.

Would they remember us? Probably. But I am not sure they would recount our deeds too kindly. Would they forgive us if we do not protect their charge, if we do nothing for this landscape that we all love so dearly?

Regards

Nick