The other thing that pretty much ruins waterfalls for me is people behaving stupidly around them. Where I live anyway, it’s as good as impossible to survive a fall into a waterfall. Rescue can only (maybe) be done by specialists with the right equipment. (Anyone else will also like die, which happens.) But you constantly see people jumping fences, taking silly photos, being completely clueless, and I just can’t. I don’t even want to go near them.
As someone who has, for the majority of her life, lived on the edge of the Lake District (southern edge until mid twenties, northern edge from late twenties to now...) I could not agree more!
My own children have rarely, if ever in some cases, been to the honeypot sites. And if they do, it is likely to be grim weather!
My pleasure Ruth, I am glad this piece struck a chord. It was written from bitter experience of being part of the masses - and reading how futile (and damaging) it is/can be. The crowds we experienced in the Jurassic Coast a few years back were pretty horrific - simply too many people for the sites to manage.
Living now in Sedbergh, I am please that it seems to be off the beaten tourist trail and is relatively quiet. Long may it continue.
Wonderful work! For some reason (possibly the link to your other publication), this piece has put the Kinks' great album 'The Village Green Preservation Society' in the playlist of my head again. I've been tossing about an idea for an essay about that album and this piece may be a sign for me to continue.
Thanks Danny. I have a draft essay titled "The Royal Society for the Protection of the English Village" in the works which might strike a chord. I must have had that song title in the back of my mind when I formulated the title.
Yes.
The other thing that pretty much ruins waterfalls for me is people behaving stupidly around them. Where I live anyway, it’s as good as impossible to survive a fall into a waterfall. Rescue can only (maybe) be done by specialists with the right equipment. (Anyone else will also like die, which happens.) But you constantly see people jumping fences, taking silly photos, being completely clueless, and I just can’t. I don’t even want to go near them.
Indeed, the picturesque may be beautiful and tempting - but it still deserves our respect.
Perfection!
As someone who has, for the majority of her life, lived on the edge of the Lake District (southern edge until mid twenties, northern edge from late twenties to now...) I could not agree more!
My own children have rarely, if ever in some cases, been to the honeypot sites. And if they do, it is likely to be grim weather!
You write it so excellently though.
Thank you.
My pleasure Ruth, I am glad this piece struck a chord. It was written from bitter experience of being part of the masses - and reading how futile (and damaging) it is/can be. The crowds we experienced in the Jurassic Coast a few years back were pretty horrific - simply too many people for the sites to manage.
Living now in Sedbergh, I am please that it seems to be off the beaten tourist trail and is relatively quiet. Long may it continue.
Wonderful work! For some reason (possibly the link to your other publication), this piece has put the Kinks' great album 'The Village Green Preservation Society' in the playlist of my head again. I've been tossing about an idea for an essay about that album and this piece may be a sign for me to continue.
Thanks Danny. I have a draft essay titled "The Royal Society for the Protection of the English Village" in the works which might strike a chord. I must have had that song title in the back of my mind when I formulated the title.