The Story of the Bowder Stone

Standing close to the Keswick to Rosthwaite Road, in the English Lake District, is a 1,250 ton lump of Andesite Lava called the Bowder Stone. The name is thougth to derive from the Norse God, Baldr, son of Odin. The Borrowdale Valley, at the head of which the stone stands, was inhabited by Norse settlers a thousand years ago, and many place names in the region are Norse in origin. The Stone is controversial, both in geological terms, since there is no agreement on how it got there, and in cultural terms. In 1798 it was turned into one of the Lake District's first 'paid for' tourist attractions, by Joseph Pocklington, a man who was no derided for having 'no taste whatsoever'. But, as the video shows, it has stood the test of time.
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[@stepheneverett6131]

Top drawer again Eric Thankyou,👍

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you. I picked a wet day because I thought no one else would be there. I was wrong!

[@MrQuintonia]

Had to watch this before bed.. Very Interesting and I love the giants story so I will go with that.. ;) I love your little comic moments too. ;)

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you. I had a huge amount of fun doing it. I chose a wet day because I thought there would be no other visitors but I was wrong. I met a lovely lady and her son, and a couple who had the same idea as me :-go when it is wet!

[@Quaker521]

Nice video and very informative. Thank you. Just one of the things that makes Borrowdale one of my favourite places in the Lakes.

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you. I agree. Borrowdale has so much, and the Bowder Stone is so fascinating.

[@stuartpearson2993]

I was told that when I was a kid 50 years ago that their was a series of caves nearby but they were demolished for safety reasons. Not sure if that's true or not?

[@jonathancraigguides]

Caves nearby, yes. Demolished for safety reasons, unlikely, since they still exist. That sounds more like a tale to tell a young adventurer to stop him venturing out and getting lost. Most of the caves are in the vicinity of the river, and are the result of either glacial melt, carved by the enormous force of the water melting from the receding glaciers at the end of the last ice age, or quarrying. The most famous of these caves is 'Millican Dalton's Cave' . Dalton was a self styled 'Professor of Adventure'. In the nineteen twenties and thirties he spent his summers living in a series of caves on the side of Castle Crag. You can still see some words that he carved on the walls of the uppermost cave. Finding the caves is not easy. He liked to hide himself away, and no easy to follow path leads to them, nor is there a sign showing the way. They are marked on O/S maps simply as 'caves'.

[@john123456889]

hey jonathan. have you heard of the hemlock stone at stapleford hill in stapleford nottinghamshire?. It's a huge lone rock situated on a hill with no other rocks in it's surroundings. You would think that there would be others that have similar geology nearby but there isn't any. It's nearest geological counterpart is castleton. I wonder if it was transported there many moons ago as some kind of pagan worship?...who knows, very strange indeed. Loved this video, love all of your videos. A huge thumbs up!!!!....long may they continue

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you Alex. Strangely enough I came across the Hemlock Stone when researching for the Bowder Stone. I was seeking information about Joseph Pocklington. He originated from Nottinghamshire, and one of my online searches revealed a Nottinghamshire History website upon which is a description of the Hemlock Stone. My son lives not too far away, so maybe one day I'll get to visit it. The pictures of it look fascinating. (Could even do a film of it).

[@co-coearlandmartha9585]

Very good

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you.

[@co-coearlandmartha9585]

I would like for more videos you deserve more views

[@jonathancraigguides]

@@co-coearlandmartha9585 I want to do more, but unfortunately at the moment I have a limited amount of time available.

[@MoandGillOutdoors]

we will go and visit that when were there. thanks for sharing eric atb mo and gill

[@jonathancraigguides]

You'll love it around there. The whole of Derwentwater is great, but down the East side where the Bowder Stone is has some amazing places. Look forward to seeing some pics after you visit.

[@gavinreid8351]

Never heard that it was controversial. I think it looked better before the trees grow up around it.

[@jonathancraigguides]

I would have liked to have seen it back in the 17th century, before Mr Pocklington turned it into a tourist attraction. Not sure if there would have been any trees around it then.

[@davecooke867]

Another great video :)

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you Dave. Got very wet again. Picked a bad day as I knew there would be no one there.

[@davecooke867]

Loved the "Benny Hill"esque bits

[@wasdalemanexploringoutdoor5137]

That was a really enjoyable video, I have been there but it's great to find out all the in depth history. I have subscribed to your channel and I am going to add you to the bar thingy on the side for what I would say is a really great channel to watch to my friends. Please check out my channel to, I do enjoy the high level stuff but you never know where we are going to end up, I am hoping to take people under the Lake District later this year with my Scuba gear. Regards James and Kirsteen

[@jonathancraigguides]

Thank you. Scuba diving in the lake district. That could be interesting.

[@wasdalemanexploringoutdoor5137]

jonathancraigguides Diving used to be my number one passion but it's dropped off a little over the last few years but now I am ready to bring it back. I've dived a few places in the lakes Windermere, Coniston, hodge close, Duddon birks bridge, ullswater, the river lune devils bridge. We have always fancied Haweswater to see the bridge of Mardale and so on but getting s permit from united utility's is going to be impossible these days. (Health and safety ) It's always crossed my mind that there must be so much stuff dumped in these lakes from days when the hotels used to row out and throw it overboard. Some of these Tarns would be amazing, but they would be serious logistical problems to do them safely. Visibility is the key for the enjoyment while diving and altitude while your driving is s consideration for the way home due to altitude. Keep an eye out this summer, we will start with some easy ones. Regards James

[@jonathancraigguides]

My son used to dive, in and around the Lakes as well as abroad. Once had a near miss with a shark off the Maldives. I shall look forward to seeing beneath the waves so to speak.