Re: Yet another Wild Cat inquiry


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Posted by Patrick Fox on November 20, 1997 at 19:32:32:

In Reply to: Yet another Wild Cat inquiry posted by Franklin Johnson on November 20, 1997 at 00:49:55:

I lived in the Lakes for a year and have visited both of the supposedly potential candidates - Blake Holme on Windermere and Peel Island on Coniston.

I have to say I think Blake Holme has nothing going for it other than position. Sure its in the right place on the map, but its a virtually flat island covered in moderately spaced trees. It just about manages a landing place in the right place, but there is no secret harbour, no camping area, no lookout point... none of the features of Wildcat Island. What's more it is very close to the shore - 20 yards of water that is at most thigh deep.

Peel Island, on the other hand, is in a totally different league. About 100 yards offshore it looks right from the start, a highish, rocky, tree covered mound with a clear beach just where it's supposed to be, cliff-like rocks around much of the rest of it and a tail of rocks at its southern end for Titty to watch the dipper from. Swim out to it and you find a place that, for me, was the very spirit of the island in the books. Sure, some people have moaned that it's a little small, but places seem bigger when you're little. Climbing the bank from the landing place brings you to an idyllic camp ground, a patch of open ground overhung by trees and with two ridges of rock on either side. It can be a little gloomy tucked away beneath the trees, but walk round the sides of the rocky ridges and you come out to the top of the cliff-like rocks at the northern end, truly the lookout point.
Following an overgrown path around the western edge of the island comes down into the harbour, just as described in the books, with a large slanted slab of rock running into the lake on the right hand, while on the left the rocks make little islands running for fifty yards or so into the water. Some are even big enough to have little bushes on. Climb onto the slab on the right and you can well imagine looking out from it at the waves in the storm at the end of Swallow and Amazons.

So I'm sure I've left you in no doubt about my favourite! I really don't hold with the "hybrid" idea. I don't think Blake Holme contributed anything other than it's position. Peel island doesn't fit in every respect. Most notably, its nothing like the pictures of the campground in Swallowdale. But in terms of atmosphere it is the island. Only, please, now I've sung it's praises... don't everyone go there at once!

Cheers

Patrick


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