01-07-09;  Another of Ulverston's famous personalities is Sir John Barrow.  Just outside of town is the monument to his memory, which was built in 1850.  Sir John Barrow "was a naval administrator and traveller...He promoted extensive British exploration in the 19th century, most notably in West Africa and the North & South Polar regions." 

 

The monument is built on Hoad Hill, 430 feet above sea level.  I was able to ride the bike a quarter of the way up, walked it another 1/4, then left the bike and hiked the rest of the way.

It was 3pm when I decided to leave the bike and make the hike.  I'd just finished my bag lunch and hemmed & hawed, trying to decide if it was too late to make the trip.  But as I was deciding, a few people walked by & as I finished my lunch, I could see it didn't take long for them to get to the monument.  All said & done, it was a 15 minute hike (at my pace).

Double click on any of these images to really appreciate the beauty of the vistas. 

The views are tremendous, hills to the north covered with snow, still a lot of green on the slopes (these pictures were taken in early December) and the air was crystal clear.  

Look carefully and you'll notice the railroad bridge over the upper reach of Morecombe Bay.  This view is over the steepest part of the Hoad.  I've been told a local resident living at the bottom, often has to call the rescue squad because a mountain biker has come down the hill and out of control, has gotten stuck in the fence at the property line.