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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: Agentorange on 19:07:48, 30/10/19

Title: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Agentorange on 19:07:48, 30/10/19
Pretty much what is says on the tin. What unusual or interesting things have you unexpectedly come across whilst walking.

here's two I've found:

Otford solar system model

http://www.solarsystem.otford.info/

Pilcher memorial

http://www.pilcher-monument.co.uk/index.html

Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Owen on 21:13:23, 30/10/19
I came across the graves of some plague victims on the moors below Curber edge.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Slowcoach on 21:15:50, 30/10/19
A skull sticking out of the ground in a church yard
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: tonyk on 22:03:34, 30/10/19
 A pair of riding boots sticking out of a bog near Snake Pass on the Pennine Way.Strange thing about them was that someone had set fire to the insides and they were still smouldering!
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: BuzyG on 22:22:52, 30/10/19
Numerous uncharted memorials on the moor.  I enjoy coming across them.  Nearly all are removed by the park authorities once they hear of them, so walkers don't generally tell others were they are.  The Ted Hughes Memorial is one of a few that are allowed to remain.  As it is in the middle of a peat bog it is safe from your average emmit.  Being from Liverpool myself I have enjoyed that spot a few times. Surprisingly tranquil on a foggy cold winters day.  ;)
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: zuludog on 10:51:20, 31/10/19
Somewhere in the hills near Glen Carron we found a bundle of electrical & electronic equipment with large fine wire mesh panels attached. It was automatic recording & transmitting equipment that was from a weather forecasting balloon
We carried it down to a landrover track, expecting that someone would in turn take it away for proper disposal
The wire mesh panels were radar reflectors

Besides that, there have been the usual forgotten items - hats, gloves, maps, and a rather good Suunto compass that I'm still using
A friend made a habit of what he referred to as 'the habit that dare not speak its name' by collecting that sort of stuff; teaspoons & tent pegs etc - "Ach, the wife's still wearing a perfectly good jacket we found in Dovedale".
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 11:03:08, 31/10/19
Back in the late 1990s i was a mature student in Carmarthen college.
Carmarthen still has the largest number of pubs per population in the whole of Wales, and virtually every Sunday evening it was an adventure to walk the town streets, and see how much money you could pick up off the roads.

I remember one evening, collecting nearly £30 in spare change, mostly £5ers and pound coins.

The occasional wallet, did turn up, that was always returned to its owner, but the amount of money lying around after the pubs were emptied, never ceased to amaze me.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: barewirewalker on 11:10:17, 31/10/19
One of the more unusual marking of the OS maps are hydraulic rams, not all that easy to locate even with a fairly clear map reference. I have found a few and one actually working, though if it was even doing the job it was originally intended to do was not obvious. Anyway was happily chunting and gurgling away and for how many years, who knows.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: vghikers on 13:51:04, 31/10/19
Near the summit of Great End looking for a pitch spot, I found the business end of a heavy duty garden spade - no handle, just the metal part.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Doddy on 15:04:22, 31/10/19
Two [censored] in separate locations.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: gunwharfman on 20:36:32, 31/10/19
Whilst walking around a lake in France on a hot sunny day I found two full sets of clothes and boots and bras just draped over a boulder. I heard laughter behind me and two young girls, about 18-20, were larking about at the waters edge stark naked. All I could do was say "Bonjour" and walked on. They called out and waved.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: ninthace on 04:34:02, 01/11/19
Happily not that unusual in France.  :)
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: GnP on 07:42:11, 01/11/19
I sat down on an inviting looking log, with a great view over a valley, with a friend on a walk one time, to eat and drink.
I looked down by the back of my feet and found a plastic clip lock container with what looked like childrens toys and paraphernalia in it. I couldn`t understand who would have put it there and after a brief look inside it, replaced it in the position it was originally in.

I have since learned about geo caching and I reckon that it was a geo cache. I took my daughter on a few walks looking for geo caches, but she didnt seem to get what it was all about...she is a bit obsessive about cleanliness, and some of the geo caches were pretty filthy, having spent what looks like years in the undergrowth, or shoved into the backs of logs, or hedgerows etc....so maybe thats what put her off..I love the idea of little geo caches being at the top of Snowdon or other mountain areas though....

Sorry if it offends, when thinking about saving our planet...plastic and all that..I do realise
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: happyhiker on 08:53:41, 01/11/19
When walking on Lanzarote, came across a fantastic cactus garden and grotto. What made it unusual was that it is in the middle of nowhere and not linked to any property. It simply seems to be a labour of love. You can see some pictures if you go to this web page and scroll to the bottom. http://www.happyhiker.co.uk/MyWalks/Lanzarote/HiddenGardenofCasita/Hiking%20Pages%20-%20Lanzarote%20Walk%20-%20Hidden%20Garden%20of%20Casita.htm (http://www.happyhiker.co.uk/MyWalks/Lanzarote/HiddenGardenofCasita/Hiking%20Pages%20-%20Lanzarote%20Walk%20-%20Hidden%20Garden%20of%20Casita.htm)
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: alan de enfield on 10:56:29, 01/11/19
A couple of 'domestic' items.

An almost new Motorised lawn mower in a ditch.
I was about 2 miles from home and did get some funny looks on the last 1/2 mile wearing a rucksack and trundling a lawn mower along the road.
Got it home, cleaned the oil out of the cylinder, put some new oil and petrol in, cleaned the plug and away it went - better than my 'old' mower.

A few weeks later walking around / across an old WW2 airfield found an abandoned 'wheely-bin' (modern one - not WW2) took it home and again got some funny looks trundling a wheely bin along a main road. Ideal for keeping the horse food in.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: barewirewalker on 13:09:54, 01/11/19
I sat down on an inviting looking log, with a great view over a valley, with a friend on a walk one time, to eat and drink.
I looked down by the back of my feet and found a plastic clip lock container with what looked like childrens toys and paraphernalia in it. I couldn`t understand who would have put it there and after a brief look inside it, replaced it in the position it was originally in.

I have since learned about geo caching and I reckon that it was a geo cache. I took my daughter on a few walks looking for geo caches, but she didnt seem to get what it was all about...she is a bit obsessive about cleanliness, and some of the geo caches were pretty filthy, having spent what looks like years in the undergrowth, or shoved into the backs of logs, or hedgerows etc....so maybe thats what put her off..I love the idea of little geo caches being at the top of Snowdon or other mountain areas though....

Sorry if it offends, when thinking about saving our planet...plastic and all that..I do realise
I think it is one those occasions when plastic is the best option, a glass kilner jar could possible start a fire, tins will rust and it is a past time that has drawn many youngsters to the outdoors, linking it to the modern technology of IT.
Being a bit of an old countryman my peripheral awareness is pretty sharp, I have spotted countless of these caches. I suppose my eyes go the places that a townee might hide them. Walking up a path in a wood in Devon, a young girl and her parents past us, the adults looked unusually out of place though their child was obviously enjoying herself.
Another 20 further on I spotted a cache. Quite well hidden behind a tree by the top edge of a boundary ditch. A car park was not far away so sadly the child had not managed to encourage her chair bound adults any further into the countryside.

Finding a Welsh ewe wrapped up in barbed wire with about 200yards of it trailing behind complete with several fencing posts, may not qualify, but if the farmer had come on the scene I wonder what he would have made of an OAP couple working over one of his sheep wielding a 8 in sheath knife, which I keep hidden in the bottom of my rucksack. When we freed the poor animal, I chose to leave his wandering fencing in the middle of the 70 acre field for him to wonder how it got there.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Sonatine on 11:28:13, 03/11/19
Two [censored] in separate locations.


How frustrating, we don't know if you meant a [censored] or a [censored]?

Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Mel on 15:13:29, 03/11/19
@ Sonatine  :D   It's like a game of Blankety Blank  ;D
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: pleb on 17:38:35, 03/11/19
My reply disappeared altogether! Maybe the [censored] was a [censored]?
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Mel on 19:13:42, 03/11/19
I suspect Professor Plum in the kitchen with a bread loaf...
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: WhitstableDave on 18:18:57, 06/11/19
Back in June, I walked along the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey between Sheerness and Leysdown. The cliffs here are made of mud and are constantly collapsing. As I neared Leysdown I came across several wartime buildings on the beach that had come down with the mudslides - some were almost intact...

(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/North_Sheppey_Coast_walk_8.jpg)

(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/North_Sheppey_Coast_walk_9.jpg)
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:49:30, 08/11/19
We have similar types here in Portsmouth, the most noticeable is a complete length of Mulberry Harbour, which never made it to the D-Day area.

I was out running on Sunday and found a Bluetooth Selfie Stick lying in the grass. I left a note on a post in the nearby carpark with my email address on it. The following day I met a lady, who described it to me, gave it back to her and she walked away happy.

At one of the carparks on top of Portsdown Hill, a lady has recently opened a mobile pancake/crepes kiosk. When I strolled to have a closer look I was surprised to find that she does NOT accept cash, only cards. Usually in my experience, its cash and not cards, so that's a first for me. I bought one, strawberries and cream, delicious!
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: WhitstableDave on 16:14:47, 09/11/19
I like finding PRoWs that pass through interesting places such as deer parks. Today, my wife and I took a little-known footpath that goes straight through a wild animal park near Canterbury. Not many walks have taken us to within a few yards of elephants!  :)

(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/Howletts_walk_5.jpg)
(The photo is from today's Completely Covering Kent post...)

Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Camina Walks on 22:25:31, 09/11/19
The most interesting thing I've come across when walking  around the streets of London, is that it is not uncommon to see people dressed in a manner that I don 't even understand.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: fernman on 22:39:16, 09/11/19
Do I catch a whiff of spiced ham heading this way soon?
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: jimbob on 22:46:43, 09/11/19
+1 on the preserved pork.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Mel on 22:59:47, 09/11/19
No, no, no guys.  You've got it all wrong.  Camina Walks will become a valued and regular contributing member of the forum, posting trip reports on here and organising forum meets and giving advice on gear and walks and stuff and fings  O0
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Doddy on 14:44:27, 10/11/19
On the later stages of the Cape Wrath Trail I came across a dead stag in a small stream. It is therefore not a myth that it is advisable not to drink direct from a stream as there may be something dead in it further up. My second such discovery.
I did fancy a bit of antler for knife handle but soon gave up as I was not making much impression with Swiss Army Knife
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Ridge on 14:46:18, 10/11/19
No, no, no guys.  You've got it all wrong.  Camina Walks will become a valued and regular contributing member of the forum, posting trip reports on here and organising forum meets and giving advice on gear and walks and stuff and fings  O0
Mel's been drinking again.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: pleb on 14:54:29, 10/11/19
No, no, no guys.  You've got it all wrong.  Camina Walks will become a valued and regular contributing member of the forum, posting trip reports on here and organising forum meets and giving advice on gear and walks and stuff and fings  O0
Innitt!
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: WhitstableDave on 16:32:18, 07/12/19
The last time I contributed to this topic my post was followed by a string of irrelevant replies.  :(

But never mind, I'll have another go.  :) My wife and I were walking through Chartham Hatch near Canterbury this morning when we passed this truly magnificent chainsaw carving. It must have been at least 8ft tall  O0 .

(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/Wood_carving.jpg)
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: gunwharfman on 13:50:03, 08/12/19
Gloves seem to be the best I can manage, saw two in different locations on my hike this morning. I just picked them up and hung them on a fence. The owners might return for them?
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Slogger on 15:07:18, 08/12/19
Some years ago whilst walking the Kentmere Horseshoe in Cumbria, I stopped at the summit of Ill Bell for a brew. It was a hot cloudless day. A tall elderley guy passed by wearing boots socks and Y fronts, nothing else exept his rucksack. I could hear a group of young ladies chuckling as he went passed them on the way down.
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: Agentorange on 18:12:31, 09/12/19
The last time I contributed to this topic my post was followed by a string of irrelevant replies.  :(

But never mind, I'll have another go.  :) My wife and I were walking through Chartham Hatch near Canterbury this morning when we passed this truly magnificent chainsaw carving. It must have been at least 8ft tall  O0 .

(http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10054/Wood_carving.jpg)

As you say truly magnificent. The sign would suggest there were more - did you see any ?
Title: Re: Unusual or interesting stuff you've found whilst walking ?
Post by: sunnydale on 07:10:12, 10/12/19
That looks fab Dave O0