Posted by andyb on February 22, 2005 at 15:41:41 from 81.131.36.123 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Cirques, cwms, corries posted by John Nichols on February 22, 2005 at 14:07:31:
A pass in the Lakes is a hause as in Esk Hause, at the top of the cirque to Bowfell. Or indeed, a gap as in the neighbouring Ore Gap or Wrynose Pass.
Personally, I don't think a cirque, cwm, cove or corrie are exactly synonymous.
They take on something of their native terrain. A cirque is alpine and majestic; a circle of mountains and in England 'the cirque (from Scafeel) to Bowfell is about as majestic as we can manage, a cwm is, to the best of my knowledge, the general Welsh word for a valley, as in Cwm Rhonda. It's equivalent in the Lakes would be a strath or a dale. In Cornwall and the SW the form is coombe and it refers to a steepsided but non glacial valley.
Corries and coves are I think more upland and glaciated. A quick look at the SW Lakes OS 25000 suggested that there aren't that many coves and they tend to be small (as the name suggests) and tucked up high in the mountains between the shoulders of the hills. So the cirque from Scafell to the Crinkles inludes Green Cove, Calf Cove and Adam a Cove.
BTW I can't remember now if Greenbak was looking into Langdale from Wrynose or Eskdalefrom Hardknott, I think I've shifted dales.