Humphrey Head facts for kids
Humphrey Head is a cool limestone hill found in Cumbria, England. It's shaped a bit like a whale's back! You can walk all over it and enjoy amazing views of Morecambe Bay. From the top, you can see towns like Lancaster, Morecambe, and Heysham. You can also look out over the Leven estuary towards Ulverston. There's even a special marker called a trig point at the very top, which helps mapmakers.
Humphrey Head is a special place for nature and outdoor fun. Since 1906, it has been home to the Humphrey Head Outdoor Centre, which is now run by Mere Mountains. Most of the headland is a nature reserve, which means it's protected for wildlife. The Cumbria Wildlife Trust has looked after it since 1992, even though the Holker Estate still owns the land. On the eastern side, there's a lovely wood where you are allowed to walk.
It used to be easier to walk along the sands next to Humphrey Head. However, the sands have changed over time, making it harder to walk there now. If you want to try, you'll definitely need Wellington boots! To the east of Humphrey Head, there's a marsh area that is part of Kents Bank.
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The Legend of the Last Wolf
One of the most famous stories about Humphrey Head is about the last wolf in England! People say this happened around the year 1390. The story goes that a large wolf came down from the mountains near Coniston. It had been causing a lot of trouble for sheep farmers.
After the wolf attacked a child in the nearby village of Cark, the local people decided they had to stop it. They chased the wolf all the way to the very end of Humphrey Head. The wolf tried to hide among the rocks, but the villagers found it. They used pikes (long spears) to finally kill the wolf, ending its reign of terror. It's a dramatic tale that shows how wild England once was!
A Healing Spring and a Sad Story
Long ago, there was a house below Humphrey Head with a natural spring. People believed the water from this spring had special powers to help them feel better. Miners from as far away as Durham would walk all the way here just to drink the water! Today, all that's left is a rusty lead pipe and a small stream of clear water.
There's also a sad memorial on the rock face. It's for a boy named William Pedder, who died in August 1857. The message on the memorial warns people: "Beware how you on these rocks ascend Here William pedder met his end August 22nd 1857 Aged 10 years by permission". It's a reminder to be careful when exploring the rocks.
Humphrey Head in Books
Humphrey Head is even mentioned in a book by the famous walker and author Alfred Wainwright. His book is called The Outlying Fells of Lakeland. However, Wainwright himself said that Humphrey Head isn't really a "fell" (a type of mountain) because it's only about 52 meters (172 feet) high. He said it's definitely "outlying" but not really a fell! In his book, he describes a walk to Humphrey Head starting from Kents Bank railway station.
Images for kids
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Humphrey Head beach below the cliffs. This area is popular with walkers, but be careful of sinking sands and incoming tides!
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Humphrey Head seen from the sands.
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A view from inside a cave at Humphrey Head.
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A map of the Nature Reserve at Humphrey Head.
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The entrance to Humphrey Head Outdoor Centre, which is tucked away from the main road.
