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| *****SWAAG_ID***** | 818 |
| Date Entered | 26/07/2014 |
| Updated on | 26/07/2014 |
| Recorded by | Tim Laurie |
| Category | Geographical Record |
| Record Type | General HER |
| Site Access | Private |
| Record Date | 23/07/2014 |
| Location | Helbeck Fell, Helbeck Wood and the Fox Tower |
| Civil Parish | Not known |
| Brit. National Grid | |
| Altitude | 350m |
| Geology | Faulted limestones of Lower Carboniferous Age on the line of the Pennine Fault |
| Record Name | A walk to Mt Ida and to the Fox Tower above Brough |
| Record Description | The Fox Tower, Watch Tower assigned by the Medieval Castle of Brough to Early Warning of Scots Raiders was the object of this peaceful botanical excursion. By kind permission of the Owner, we were given permission to walk from Helbeck Hall across Helbeck Fell to Mt Ida and from thence down through Helbeck Wood.
My own geological interest was charged by the marvellous exposures of the Pennine Fault in the limestone strata on Mt Ida. Botanical interests included several fine ash trees and occasional small yew trees (not to compare with those of Swaledale) on the cliffs and the rich flora of the limestone.
However apart from losing Eileen, who wandered off on her own to the depths of Helbeck Wood, the highlight of the walk was of course the Fox Tower. Silent sentinel of the Scottish Wars long past, but who knows perhaps to be brought to good use again if a Republic of Scotland decides to extend the Border to the Trent (as many would secretly hope for).
Silently we pondered on this and of the view from the Watch Tower. But not for long, a sudden CRACK denoted the use of high velocity tank gun. The tell tale after puff of smoke, less than a km below, marked the firing point. Very pleased not to be on the receiving end, we pretended to be botanists again so as not to attract attention, or a stray round. |
| Dimensions | See photographs |
| Additional Notes | For additional notes see photo captions. |
| Image 1 ID | 5631 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 1 Description | The Fox Tower. Silent sentinel of the past in Helbeck Wood. |  |
| Image 2 ID | 5632 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 2 Description | View down from Helbeck Fell to Brough and Brough Castle |  |
| Image 3 ID | 5634 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 3 Description | Botanising the steep scarp slopes of the limestone. |  |
| Image 4 ID | 5635 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 4 Description | Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) a handsome but scarce thistle of limestone turf, sometimes stemless. |  |
| Image 5 ID | 5636 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 5 Description | Carline or stemless thistle |  |
| Image 6 ID | 5647 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 6 Description | Ash tree on the slopes of Mt Ida |  |
| Image 7 ID | 5637 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 7 Description | Limestone Scar with ash and small yew tree. |  |
| Image 8 ID | 5638 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 8 Description | Harebells. |  |
| Image 9 ID | 5642 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 9 Description | Mt Ida from the upper part of Helbeck Wood |  |
| Image 10 ID | 5643 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 10 Description | Monocline structure exposed in strata of the Great Scar Limestone on Mt Ida. |  |
| Image 11 ID | 5650 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 11 Description | Limestone ashwood. Helbeck Wood SSSI |  |
| Image 12 ID | 5651 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 12 Description | Small scabious a beauty which is only to be found on limestone scars. |  |
| Image 13 ID | 5648 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 13 Description | Interior of the Fox Tower with spiral staircase leading up to the top of the tower. |  |
| Image 14 ID | 5649 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 14 Description | Interior of the Fox Tower with spiral staircase leading up to the top of the tower. |  |
