The magic of Lakeland bridges

There's something quite magical about bridges, particularly packhorse bridges.

Lingcove Bridge, Eskdale

So I'm happy to shout about Walking On Bridges by Robin Bray. It was published last year and I don't think The Whitehaven News received a review copy but that's no reason why I can't tip readers off about this lovely book. Robin suggests it's the mix of practical use and good design that give bridges their particular charm. Packhorse bridges are always a delight to stumble across - and Robin clarifies what makes a packhorse bridge as opposed to just a stone bridge. In the book he outlines a number of walks that take in some of the Lake's nicest bridges. This means that most of the walks are relatively low-level and easy to reach for us novice walkers. Her-indoors and I tried out one of his Eskdale walks yesterday. There's a certain irony that just when you could do with a bridge to give you a short cut over the River Esk, there isn't one! But it made for a lovely day out. Pictured is Lingcove bridge.

* When red sand falls onto Britain, scientists are quick to explain it as sand from the Sahara that has magically floated thousands of miles in a 'dust storm' and landed on our cars. And yet we're supposed to be sitting under an immense volcanic dust cloud but not a jot of dust has fallen on us.

* The Washington Post has finally allowed 'under way' to be spelt as 'underway'. Most sub editors have fought a long battle with young journalists, pointing out that the dictionary only allows it as two words. Meanwhile the general public happily spell it as one. Surely the time has come for dictionaries to catch up with the hoi polloi!