17 Degrees South
Linda Watson 1997
Alfred Wainwright didn't care much for forests. He preferred the bracing, open fells of the Lakeland Peaks and as a result, forest plantations often felt the full force of his ire. He was quite taken by Grizedale, however; Carron Crag in particular, commenting in 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland':
"Finding it is more than a triumph of navigation. The Crag itself is a most delightful reward. Here, after the climb through the jungle, one can see the sky again, and feel the sun, and, because the vicinity of the summit is planted thinly, bracken and heather continue to be rampant around the crest of grey rocks."
Reaching the summit of Carron Crag rewards the walker with a sudden view in all directions and the entirety of Grizedale laid out before them, although the trees on the summit have grown a bit in recent years, obscuring the panorama slightly. From the top you can trace the forest roads and you get some idea of the scale of the job undertaken by the people who work this land; patches of dense woodland and areas of stark deforestation are both visible at a stroke. The view across to Coniston Old Man and its accompanying mountains also makes for a spectacular scene. All in all it's a beautiful spot and it's incredible to think that a sculpture could survive up here. Yet survive it has, for two decades now.
At 314 metres, or 1030 feet if you prefer, Carron Crag is the highest point in Grizedale. The summit is an impressively jagged collection of rocks with an Ordinance Survey column plonked on top, but just a few feet down the path sits '17 Degrees South', a wooden ring fixed to a stone base, built by Linda Watson in 1997. It is the only sculpture by Watson in Grizedale, but she picked a good spot for it. It's the highest sculpture in the forest, by some distance. Watson has said of the piece:
"The work is intended as an access, as a way for the viewer to engage with their environment. By exploring the work, the human element, as the active role, becomes an integral part of the work. My works are usually built from wood, stone, earth and planting.
I built the work myself, sometimes within a collaborative relationship. Ongoing contact with the materials and the frequent decision-making processes are vital to the integrity of the work.
The area around the peak of Carron Crag is also the location of a letterboxing stash. Letterboxing is a hobby involving small wooden boxes hidden in public places, with a rubber stamp inside which the letterboxer can use to stamp his or her sheet. Clues as to the boxes' whereabouts can be found online, or are spread via leaflets and word-of-mouth amongst the letterboxing community. I'm not going to reveal the exact location of the letterbox on Carron Crag, partly to retain the air of mystery but mainly because I couldn't find it.
