Author: bp-admin

Walk date – 8th July 2025

Distance – 5 miles

Weather – sunny with light breeze, very warm, hazy

 

Having read through all the various forecasts for this week we came to the conclusion that today seemed most likely to promise some sunshine and light winds so we decided to pay a visit to Seat Sandal which we haven’t set foot on since 2017. Despite setting off in good time we were brought to a standstill when we reached the roundabout just up the hill leading out of Eamont Bridge. I don’t know what caused the hold up but only when we were past the  J40 roundabout crossing the M6 and on the A66 were we on our way again. Traffic was flowing freely on the M6 so that couldn’t have been the root of the problem so it must have been caused by an incident on one of the roundabouts. The delay was considerable and we began wondering if we would find a parking space in the lay-by on the A591, just above High Broadrayne, where we had planned to park. When we reached it we were relieved to find that it wasn’t full and we had no problem parking even though there were a few cars already parked there. When we were ready to go we walked down the hill towards Mill Bridge where the footpath for Seat Sandal begins. It was a lovely sunny morning and already quite warm so the light breeze which cropped up from time to time was very welcome.

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Route

Lay-by on A591 (north of High Broadrayne) – Mill Bridge – footpath to Tongue Gill footbridge – Tongue Gill footpath – Grisedale Hause – Seat Sandal –  Mill Bridge – Lay-by on A591

Having walked down the hill from the lay-by we reached the start of the footpath leading up to Seat Sandal. The shot above is looking up the A591 from our turn off point and shows Steel Fell. On the road below it a car is just disappearing which I thought had already done so. So much for waiting for a break in the traffic!

Looking in the opposite direction now to where a signpost indicates the start of the path.

We pass the houses at the start of the rough track and begin the steady climb up to the footbridges crossing the two becks of Little Tongue Gill and Tongue Gill. A section of wall collapse along the track provided a good view of Helm Crag.

The walk up the track, enclosed by a high wall on one side and woodland on the other, was very muggy and we were relieved to be back out in the open again when we reached the end of it. The water level was low enough to have used the stepping stones but today we crossed the beck via the footbridge. Walkers wishing to ascend Seat Sandal via the Little Tongue Gill route will need to follow the path leading through the bracken on Great Tongue which can be seen just behind the bridge.

Once we were over on the other side I took a look back to where the waters of Little Tongue Gill and Tongue Gill meet and become one beck. This then runs beneath Mill Bridge and flows into the river Rothay just below Helm Crag.

Having crossed a second bridge we made our way towards the path above Tongue Gill leading up the valley to Grisedale Hause. Just after crossing the second bridge I took a look up Tongue Gill towards the sheepfold/washfold  on the banking just above it. We removed our mid-layers at this point in readiness for the steady climb ahead.

Several becks flow down the slopes of Great Rigg across the path and here J is waiting in case I needed a helping hand. All the boulders were wobble free so I didn’t need one on this occasion.

A look up the valley towards Grisedale Hause. Tongue Gill trickles down between us and Great Tongue, which was well covered in bracken, with Seat Sandal behind it. Over on the right are the steep slopes of Fairfield. The path across Great and Little Tongue is on the other side so it can’t be seen from this angle.

A pause to wipe the sweat from our faces and have a drink so I took a shot looking back towards Helm Crag and also our route so far. We are steadily climbing and the light breeze comes and goes. Its very welcome whenever it decides to put in an appearance, and very warm when it doesn’t.

Tongue Gill seems to have every type of water feature along its course, waterfalls, waterslides, cascades, plunges etc. Some were too far away to photograph satisfactorily but this waterfall showed up quite well although the camera was on maximum zoom at the time.

Here are a couple more – the one on the left has split into two sections each of which plunge onto the rocks below while the one on the right has split into three separate parts each of which slide over the rocks before joining up with each other again. We did spot a very pretty cascade too but it was too far away and partially hidden by the slope so I didn’t bother taking a shot of it.

After a short but steep climb up the pitched path we reach the waterfall area below Hause Moss where I stepped away from the path to take a look down at it as it crosses the beck …..

….. and the path from it leading up to the Hause. The walkers on the path ahead have joined it from the Hause Riggs path which we spotted them walking across earlier. That means that they must have taken the path over Great Tongue and then Little Tongue to reach Hause Riggs. We’ve used that route in the past and its quite a steep climb until the flattish path across Hause Riggs is reached. They were walking quite slowly and so were we as it was becoming very warm by now. I was sweating so much my specs kept sliding down my nose so I took them off and managed without them …..

….. behind me is the spectacular waterfall dropping its contents from Hause Moss into a little beck which tumbles down a short distance before joining Tongue Gill. Strictly speaking I suppose I shouldn’t call it a waterfall because it never loses contact with the rocks it flows over so its more of a slide than a fall but I’m sure viewers will know what I mean.

Having climbed steeply out of the valley it is now with aching legs that we face another climb up to the Hause although initially the path is quite gentle. I concentrate on the rocks and boulders strewn all around us in an attempt to take my mind off things. It didn’t work!

We’ve just had a chat with one of the two chaps just below us. I jokingly asked the chap bending down if he could have a word with Fix the Fells about installing an escalator rather than just repairing the path. He said, with a smile on his face, he’d see what he could do about it. I’m not expecting one to have been installed when next we come this way. The pink item nearest the camera is a Fix the Fells collection box so J dropped a coin into it. I expect it will be put to good use eventually. Looking back along the path I counted eight people on it, all of whom were walking slowly which is hardly surprising given the steep climb out of the valley which can be seen at the far end of it.

We’ve reached Grisedale Hause so we made straight for the old shelter, which can be seen just beyond the gap in the wall, and flopped down in it to take a break before tackling the rough path up to the summit just beside it. Chocolate bars and drinks were brought out and consumed as we watched the other walkers arrive at the Hause. Only one walker went down to Grisedale Tarn, everyone else, after taking a look down at it, turned right and began the steep climb up the Fairfield path.

After our break we set about climbing the very loose path from the shelter up to the summit of Seat Sandal. I took the above shot of Dollywaggon Pike just as we were about to leave. The first bit of the path is very loose and rough but it eventually leaves all that behind and becomes an intermittent gravelly path which winds its way steeply through the various rocky sections.  However, in places its more of a scramble than a straightforward walk and in such places the rocks provided useful handholds from time to time.

Part of the way up the path there is a lovely view of Grisedale Tarn and Dollywaggon Pike. The view stretches along Grisedale and includes Place Fell, a smidge of Ullswater with Gowbarrow and Great Mell Fell at the end of it.

There’s also a great view of Saint Sunday Crag and Gavel Pike (on the left), Cofa Pike and Fairfield (on the right) plus the path leading from the Hause up to Fairfield. We could see tiny figures spread out along the path slowly plodding their way up and it must be one of the toughest routes walkers can choose to take up to the summit of Fairfield.

A little higher up the path from where I took a close up shot, on maximum zoom, of the view along the Grisedale valley. Place Fell is on the right at the end of it, a little smidge of Ullswater can be seen and, providing a big full stop towards the left are Gowbarrow Fell and Great Mell Fell.

The climb through the rocks comes to an end and we emerge onto the grassy path leading over to the summit of Seat Sandal. After the rough and stuffy climb up it was great to feel the breeze again and walk across the springy grassy path.

Once on the grassy path I took another look back towards Saint Sunday Crag and Gavel Pike (L) and Cofa Pike (R). Walkers on the path to Fairfield are now mere dots and difficult to see, even with my specs which are now back on.

The shelter on Seat Sandal with Great Rigg, on the right, behind it. We didn’t use the shelter but walked on to the summit cairn just a short distance further along.

Four bodies of water are on view from Seat Sandal summit, below us is Grasmere, above it to the left is Windermere and above it on the right is Coniston Water. That’s only three and having said four I’ll leave it to viewers to spot the fourth one which is called Alcock Tarn.

The summit cairn on Seat Sandal with a view of the tops of Saint Sunday, Gavel Pike, Cofa Pike and Fairfield. We had a longish break here to have something to eat and a drink of coffee but mostly to give our legs a good rest. They’ll need a rest before tackling the steep descent where the brakes will need to be kept firmly on.

The Helvellyn range beyond the summit cairn before settling down and taking a break, followed by the usual skyline shots from the summit …..

….. the Coniston fells …..

….. Crinkle Crags, with the Langdale Pike just below them, and Bowfell …..

….. Bowfell, Scafell Pike and Great End …..

….. three of the big ‘uns – Great End, Great Gable and Pillar behind Greenup Edge …..

….. from L to R – Dale Head, Hindscarth, Grasmoor, Crag Hill and Grisedale Pike …..

….. Grasmoor (L) over to Grisedale Pike (R) with all the usual fells between them …..

….. High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and the Skiddaw group …..

….. after which we come full circle back to the Helvellyn group.

After packing everything away we began the descent where immediately below and opposite us is Steel Fell.

The descent is gradual to begin with but steepens more as we descend and the brakes are applied accordingly. The vale of Grasmere is still a long way below us.

Lower down and a good view of Helm Crag appears. Below it is the wooded area around Helmside and between the two is the Greenburn valley.

Still having to keep the brakes on and grit our teeth as we head down towards the lower hill below. Both of us were looking forward to reaching a flatter path even if it would only be a short one.

We reached the lower hill and with legs wobbling like jelly I took a look back up the path we had just come down. By heck, that’s a steep one.

Obviously we still had to keep going downhill but the brief respite was more than welcome. At least the woodland alongside the path coming up from the Mill Bridge area is in sight at last. I was hoping that the twinkling windscreens of the line of cars parked up in the Grasmere lay-by below us would show how sunny it was but somehow the camera has failed to capture the sight so perhaps it automatically compensated against the brightness.

Still descending but we have a pleasant grassy path to follow and the route isn’t quite as steep as before.

With legs still wobbling we make for the gate below where we’ve decided to take a few minutes break and …..

….. after passing through it and taking a short break by the wall we continued on and had a pleasant walk down a much gentler path through the fields. I took a look back at Seat Sandal before we lost the open view of it.

A turn in the path brought us this view of Helm Crag and Gibson Knott before it turned again and …..

….. led us down to a gate in the wall on the left where the path back down to the houses below can be seen.

Having passed through the gate and back on the path again I took another look back to Seat Sandal.

At the end of the lane are the whitewashed Tongue Gill cottages so all we have to do now is turn right and walk the short distance back up the A591 to the lay-by …..

….. from where I took this last shot of Seat Sandal and also managed to include vehicles on the A591 yet again when I thought I had managed to exclude them! So that’s today’s walk over and done with and given the warmth of the day its been quite a rigorous one even though we’ve only walked a few miles. It has definitely given our legs a good work-out and they only stopped wobbling when we finally got in the car and sat ourselves down. The long distance views were poor in today’s hazy conditions so why do the weather forecasts continue to indicate that visibility would be ‘excellent’ when we can see for ourselves that it isn’t? Something to ponder upon perhaps.

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Walk date – 3rd July 2025

Distance – 8.5 miles

Weather – sunny start but gradually clouding over, breezy wind, no rain, mild

 

The weather forecast for today indicated that the western side of the county would be overcast, showery and very windy, with the best chance of seeing any sunshine being in the east, so that’s where we went. Once again we started off in Crosby Ravensworth and parked in exactly the same spot as we did last week. We started out in sunshine although there were some clouds around and these gradually joined forces with each other creating an overcast sky. It was also very breezy and strong enough to make eyes and noses watery whenever we were walking into it. Our intended turn around point was the monument at Black Dub but we decided to walk from there over to what we refer to as Hill 401 before making our way back to Crosby Ravensworth.

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Route

Crosby Ravenworth – Gilts Lane – Slack Randy – Coalpit Hill – Black Dub – Roman Road – Hill 401 – Long Mire path – Blea Beck – Lane Head – Dalebanks Beck – High Dalebanks – Low Dalebanks – Crosby Ravensworth

We started out by walking up Gilts Lane in bright sunshine. The village was quiet although a couple of dog walkers were out and about. The village hall is just out of shot on the left.

A little further up Gilts Lane is the village pub which prompted memories of our walk of 18 June 2017 when J thought we should stop for a drink.

Further up is Jennywell Hall, a Grade ll listed building, built sometime during the 1780s. It was difficult to obtain a better shot of the whole building as two cars were parked in front of it and the boot lid of one of them was raised as a woman was putting something in the boot. She gave us a cheery good morning as we walked past.

A few paces further along was this metal paque attached to the top rail of a small gate which gives access to …..

….. the old pinfold and the modern structure contained within it. We had seen this before although we thought it was an old well which had been capped with the stone structure preventing any further use. Now that we’ve noticed the metal plate informing us that it was created by Andy Goldsworthy who named the structure ‘Pinfold” we now know what it really is.

We’ve reached the junction at the top of the village where Gilts Lane continues over on the left and we take the right hand lane which is known as Slack Randy. Now that’s a name to get the imagination going!

Slack Randy eventually loses its tarmac surface and becomes a gravelly track which climbs steadily between the fields and eventually across open moorland.

We are heading for the Black Dub monument which we know is south east of Coalpit Hill so we take the left hand track at the junction.

The view back towards the North Pennines on the skyline. Crosby Ravensworth village is out of sight now as it is hidden by all the trees in the dip below us. Plenty of plastic tubes are in evidence and at these low elevations a good number of the young trees in them were thriving.

Having noticed a section of limestone pavement I made a quick diversion over to it. There are many such pavements across these moors as a look back at our 2017 walk will show.

J waiting on the path next to the wall as I return from my diversion to the limestone pavement. We’re still amongst the grazed fields but the moorland is becoming more expansive and the field walls becoming fewer.

We followed the path up Coalpit Hill noticing the two trees on the summit area. Those two trees are growing amongst a huge patch of limestone pavement, see our 2017 walk for a close up shot of them.

With the two trees still ahead of us we arrive at a junction where a signpost was placed. There’s nothing to stop anyone going straight ahead but anyone wishing to head in the direction of the Black Dub monument should take the left hand path at this point.

Another look back towards the North Pennines where a glimmer of sunlight has landed on Cross Fell and Little & Great Dun Fells. We kept getting some sunshine too although it never lasted very long. We also were expecting a shower from the dark clouds above us but none ever came.

Along the way we came across another section of pavement, this time with plenty of sheep grazing in and among it. One or two gave us a passing glance and then returned to their grazing.

Another post indicating the route although, as before, there’s nothing to prevent walkers going whichever way they choose. A turn to the right would lead across to the top of Coalpit Hill but we followed the left hand path and …..

….. within a few paces came to another signpost. Situated just a short distance below the post is the large boulder which J leaned against in our 2017 walk. Taking the path indicated by the signpost would lead us back to Crosby Ravensworth so we swing to the right at this point and follow a faint path leading over to Black Dub. The Howgills are just coming into view on the distant skyline.

The path goes across rough ground full of heather, which was just coming into bloom, long grasses and all manner of prickly vegetation …..

….. so it was a rough trek but eventually the monument came into view.

The monument commemorates the fact that King Charles ll and his army rested here while on their way south to claim the crown of England after being crowned king of Scotland in January 1651. It was built by Thomas Bland, a royal enthusiast and was, among other things, a local resident who lived nearby at Reagill. Here’s a link to a website which has a little more information about him –https://pssauk.org/public-sculpture-of-britain/biography/bland-thomas/

In each of the four faces there is a carving, I think this is intended to portray a lion although it looked more like a dog to us, a King Charles spaniel perhaps? Enough with such levity, take things seriously for a change!

This carving portrays King Charles ll of Scotland. He wanted to claim the English throne after his father, Charles l, was beheaded but he didn’t manage it in 1651. He had to wait until 1660 and the restoration of the monarchy for that to happen. He became known as the “Merry Monarch’ and fathered umpteen illegimate children, all of whom, bar one, he recognised and bestowed titles and land on them. Little wonder he was merry! Many of England’s titled families are descended from those of his children ‘born on the wrong side of the blanket’ as the old saying goes.

The inscription on the monument is well weathered and difficult to read but many web sites show the inscription which is as follows –HERE AT BLACK DUBTHE SOURCE OF THE LIVENNETKING CHARLES THE IIREGALED HIS ARMYAND DRANK OF THE WATERON HIS MARCH FROM SCOTLANDAUGUST 8 1651 

This shot shows the outline of a crown although it is hard to make out so …..

….. I’ve added a somewhat wonky outline to make it clearer to see.

A final look at the monument and if you’d like to know more here’s a link to another website for more info –https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/the-monument-to-the-merry-monarch-who-saved-christmas/

This is thought to be the source of the River Lyvennet although we couldn’t see any sign of a spring bubbling up from the ground. It can be found just a few feet away from the monument. Hope there was a bit more water in it when the king and his army stopped here. However, taking the local water didn’t help in the long run and the king and his army were defeated by Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Worcester in September 1651.

From the monument we made our way back up to the Roman Road (known in those times as Wicker Street) which now forms part of the Coast to Coast route from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. After walking along it for a short while we decided to head off over to the left …..

….. and go across to Hill 401 which we often take a walk over although we have never walked to it from this side. I didn’t take any photos during the crossover because a) it consisted of wide open moorland without any items of interest, and b) we were pre-occupied with finding a way through the huge swathes of scratchy, tangled heather. The white object over on the right is one of those grouse shooting panels which the shooters stand behind so they can’t be seen by the grouse. It was a rough walk across until we reached the path leading up to the top.

The large cairn on Hill 401 and …..

….. the trig point overlooking the M6.

I only took this one shot from the trig point looking towards High Street and Kidsty Pike. I wondered how windy it was over there because even at this relatively low height my hair was being re-arranged by the strong breeze.

From Hill 401 we made our way back down and turned along the path leading over to Long Mire before leaving that path and following the one heading towards Lane Head. We were walking through acres of plastic tubes most of which contained nothing at all as their original contents had failed to thrive. A few had managed it though and were being blown about in the wind. A few of the plastic tubes were lying in here and there in the grass which I think were of the old type which won’t disintegrate for years to come.

Crossing Blea Beck and walking up the path going off to the left …..

….. only to find two expired moles lying across it.

We’ve reached Lane Head now and walk down the deeply rutted track to view the derelict buildings.

This was once a farmhouse but now has no roof, windows or doors. It once housed a farmer and his wife and family but now there are DANGER notices attached here and there and the place is gradually falling down and the vegetation is taking over.

Attached to the house were barns and other storage areas and they all looked very desolate too although, to some extent, they have fared rather better than the house itself.

A little further down the track was another area of desolation where a barn was also becoming derelict and …..

….. beside the barn were the remnants of other similarly derelict buildings. It was all a sad sight to see. We carried on down the steep hill and …..

….. dropped down to the Dalebank beck which we crossed without too much wobbling, climbed the opposite bank and eventually …..

….. found ourselves on a lovely grassy path. J’s attention was fixed on the sheep above us who were peering at us from behind a fence.

The grassy path came to an end at High Dalebanks and from there it was back to walking on tarmac which led us down the lane …..

….. towards Low Dalebanks.

Our view of Low Dalebanks as we passed through the hamlet.

From Low Dalebanks we walked the lane back to Crosby Ravensworth. This bridge across the Dalebanks beck caught my eye as it looked too elaborate a construction for a bridge which only led into a field.

The houses of Crosby Ravensworth eventually came into view and …..

….. we were almost into the village when we passed this ford in the beck. This is bound be full of village children paddling during the school holidays this summer. I wouldn’t have minded a paddle myself at the time.

Eventually the village hall came into sight on the other side of the bridge and as we crossed the bridge we noticed that one of the hall’s doors was open, the lights were on, and the car park and roadside parking were packed with cars. Wonder what was taking place? We sat in the car, had a bite to eat and a drink of coffee and then set off for home. As we turned onto the A6 from the north end of Shap (that’s where the diversion starts) we noticed that we couldn’t see any of the usual view of High Street and Kidsty Pike. The cloud was well down and just as we were saying it looked like rain the raindrops began falling on the windscreen. A longer walk than usual today but the showery weather held off until we hit the A6 and continued heavily on and off for the rest of the day. Hopefully July will turn out to bring better weather than that which a windy and showery June provided.

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Walk date – 25th June 2025

Distance – 6.5 miles

Weather – Dull and cloudy, no sun, mild, breezy

 

The summer seems to have gone somewhere else for the time being as the weather up here has been, for the most part, very cloudy, very showery and very windy. The forecast for today differed only in the fact that the east of the county might be more likely to be the recipient of any  sunny spells which happened to come along than the rest of Cumbria. With only a 30% chance of cloud free fells we decided to take a local countryside walk around Crosby Ravensworth instead. We had one very brief moment today when the sun appeared through a small gap in the cloud cover and that was it. For anyone needing to drive through Shap for the next few weeks please be aware that the road through the village was closed from 23rd June and the work is scheduled to last for three weeks. That’s how long it will take apparently but may take longer depending on circumstances, and diversions are in place. One of the diversions leads over to Crosby Ravensworth so we had no difficulty in driving to our destination.

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Route

Crosby Ravensworth – Crake Trees – Wickerslack – Spring Wood – Reagill Grange – Beech Tree Farm – Morland Bank wood – Howebeck Bridge – Meaburn Hall – Maulds Meaburn – The Flass – Crosby Ravensworth

When we arrived in the village the parking area opposite the village hall was empty which pleased J no end as he was able to park without any difficulty. The village hall was built in 1927 according to the plaque above the entrance, on either side of which are memorials to the local men who fought and died in World Wars 1 & 2. The one carrying the list of names for WW1 can be seen to the left of the entrance and has a long list of names. The one for WW2 has fewer names and cannot be seen in the above shot as it is obscured by the entrance porch. When we ready to go we walked from the parking area down to …..

….. the ford and and crossed the beck via the stepping stones to the path opposite where we turned left and disappeared into the shrubbery until we came to a wooden gate which we passed through and back out into the open again.

Crossing the field where we came across this pony. As you know J loves horses and gathered a handful of grass to give to it but it didn’t want to have anything to do with us and walked away. J said that he thought it looked a bit glum so perhaps it was lonely being stuck in a field all by itself. We often see a pony in a field together with a donkey, which provides company for both of them, but this one was entirely alone.

We left the pony to its own devices and proceeded to  head for the path curving up to the top of the field …..

….. and some distance further up we came to a metal gate which we passed througt and were confronted with a field full of long grasses  which were swaying to and fro in the light breeze…..

….. here’s J up to his knees in it as we ploughed our way through it. At least we had the North Pennines to look at while we did so. The heavy cloud above us threw spits and spots of rain on us from time to time but it was very half-hearted and never amounted to anything which could even be called a shower.

Two stiles in close proximity at the field corner, enter via the right hand one and exit via the left hand one …..

….. and then immediately drop down to this third stile which also had a dog gate attached to it. How a dog would manage to get through the tangle of nettles plus a variety of prickly vegetation I couldn’t imagine but I expect they do eventually. I was wearing 3/4 length trousers so with the exposed skin between trouser bottoms and tops of socks being vulnerable to being stung we bashed down most of the nettles before I stepped down into the field.

The field turned out to be a wild flower meadow and was full of buttercups, daisies, clover in addition to other flowers which I didn’t know the names of. The owner of the building in the shot above, Crake Trees Manor, had mown a path through the meadow which was a joy to walk over after the slog through the long grasses. We were accompanied by the scent of the clover flowers all the way across, it was the perfect accompaniment to a walk through the meadow.

Situated close to the manor house was this ancient building known as The Tower House. Its a Grade ll listed building dating from the 14th century and was originally the residence of the Lancaster family. You can read more about the building here –  https://ancientmonuments.uk/105822-crake-trees-tower-house-crosby-ravensworth

Nearby was this information board courtesy of Eden Rivers Trust which explained their work in creating wetlands and drainage in the area but didn’t provide any information about the Tower House. The red spot indicates the ‘You are here’ information.

Just a short distance up the hill from the Tower House was this break in the wall which we stepped through and which brought us into …..

….. yet another wild flower meadow where the scent of the clover flowers was just as strong as the one we had already walked through. As we walked through it and brushed against the flowers the perfume they released was pleasant and relaxing. I took a look back as we crossed the meadow and the remains of the Tower House and its flagpole can be seen in the shot.

A look back towards the meadow as we walked up the slope of the next field we crossed. This wasn’t a wild flower meadow but was full of long grass, although not the same type of long grass that we had walked through previously. This seemed to have a more cultivated nature as opposed to the knee high and swaying wild grasses in the field we’d crossed previously. The map indicated a path across it but there was no sign of one on the ground so we just battled our way through. The V shape on the North Pennine skyline is High Cup Nick.

When we reached the top of the hill we eventually found an old quad bike track which, although somewhat overgrown, was more than welcome after our struggle uphill through very long grass, The hamlet of Wickerslack is ahead of us.

Closer to Wickerslack now and the houses and barns become more recognisable.

As we approached the farmyard we could hear the engine of a tractor somewhere behind one of the buildings. It eventually came into view and having noticed what it was carrying I scrabbled to get the camera up and running but by the time I had the farmer had already emptied the load into the Shelbourne muckspreader so I missed it. At least I got a shot of a tractor in action which was better than nothing.

One of the traditional Cumbrian style houses in the Wickerslack hamlet. The small white squares that can be seen in the upper windows are not quite so traditional though. They are polythene bags which flutter in the breeze and are meant to dissuade house martins from building their nests. A method we have also used on our roof joists in the past which seemed to work.

Along the lane leading out of the hamlet now where we came across this little pony which did take a handful of grass from J although the pair of them had a bit of difficulty doing so thanks to the restrictions created by the fence between the pair of them. This pony had several other ponies for company unlike the first one we saw.

Another traditional style residence further down the lane, both the house and the garden were in well kept condition but the garden particularly so.

A look along the lane as we left Wickerslack and headed for Reagill Grange. The track eventually turned away towards the west so we had to follow a grassy track for a short distance before dropping down to an established track by some modern looking barns.

We joined the established track by the barns but as we walked alongside Spring Wood we noticed a flock of sheep coming towards us. The lead sheep usually stops in its tracks when it sees humans walking towards it with the rest of the flock doing the same. To prevent this happening we moved over to a handy curve in the fence line hoping that we would be out of view to the lead ewe. She spotted us though, stopped and thought about it for a few seconds before she decided to go for it. She moved to the opposite side of the track, broke into a run and scampered past us followed by the rest of the flock who all did the same. The farmer on his quad bike eventually appeared gave us a big smile, a friendly wave and a cheery hello.

We continued on up to Reagill Grange where I took this shot of the house before continuing on our way. Again its a traditional north country farmhouse, steeply angled roofs, thick walls and small windows to keep the weather out and the warmth in.

The track from Reagill Grange led us round to a tarmac lane which would eventually lead on to Reagill village so we kept a lookout for the turning we needed and here it is complete with signpost and BEECH TREE FARM inscribed on a stone in the wall.

Instead of clover our noses were now filled with the scent of wild roses which grew in abundance all the way along the lane. Nothing matches the perfume of sweet scented wild roses during an English summer.

Further along the lane was this pool in an area of wetland where all manner of lush green water loving plants were growing.

All the way along we were greeted by many kinds of hedgerow plants where this clump of thistles caught my eye although it wasn’t the only plant which did.

Down the hill now and about to round a bend in the path where we spotted this pony grazing quietly in the adjacent field. I thought she looked pregnant although J did mention that sometimes mares can still have that same look even when they have given birth.

Another patch of wild flowers in the hedgerow. I think the pink ones are Cranesbill which is a type of geranium, that could also apply to the blue ones or they could be periwinkle flowers, and the white ones are cow parsley although there are many different looking varieties of this plant so its difficult to be specific.

We arrived at Beech Tree farm although it did not appear to be a working farm. There were too many vehicles parked at the front of the house to get a decent shot of it but, as we continued on down the lane going around it I managed to get this side view of the house. There was a gate a little lower down which provided a view of the garden which looked well tended although for the most part I could only see garden peas growing. They were protected by a well installed frame covered with fine netting which hopefully stops the local wild life eating all the produce. Anyone who has ever tried to grow foodstuff in their back garden knows about the lure of free food attracting all manner of creatures, we certainly do!

Further down the lane was an orchard of crab apples but quite why anyone would plant a whole orchard of them was puzzling. They are very bitter, as anyone who has ever bitten into one will testify, and are usually only made into jams, jellies and pies accompanied by a lorry load of sugar. A couple of trees would provide more than enough for the average household so why grow an orchard full of them? Maybe they are sold commercially as a cash crop.

We passed through a gate and continued along the track down to a stone building. Along the way we could see this stone circle which had something resembling a large metal saucer in the centre with the grass inside the circle neatly mown, in sharp contrast to the surrounding grasses which were long and swaying in the breeze. As there is no inidcation of a stone circle or ancient monument on the map we concluded that this was a modern construction and that the metal saucer shape in the centre was there to light a fire in. The whole thing had something of a ‘New Age’ feeling to it, a feeling which was enhanced when a yurt came into view as we approached the stone building. The stone building itself looked as though it had started life as a barn which someone had decided to renovate into a house only to run out of the cash with which to complete the renovation and had simply left it to fend for itself. The weather stained yurt was a prominent feature amongst a variety of different building materials, wood, heaps of stone, old fencing etc. etc. It all felt rather creepy to me and I was happy to leave it all behind. However, leaving it all behind proved to be somewhat on the difficult side as the track ended at the stone building and we were left with once again moving through a jungle of long grass, nettles, thistles and other prickly types of prickly plants. We looked for the footbridge which was indicated on our map but couldn’t find anything remotely resembling a footbridge so we ploughed on towards a tumbled down wall corner which we crossed while carefully avoiding all the usual prickly things. After that there was another patch of prickly stuff but easily avoided and then we dropped down into the bed of a trickle of a beck which eventually dried up. We continued along the dry beck until we came to a walk through open stone passageway which we didn’t know about but which gave access to an open field.

Here’s the view across the open field after we had gone through the walk through stile. We were making for the open green patch between the trees and for the road which we knew ran alongside it.

Here’s looking down the road leading through Morland Bank Wood and, after a short break, we walked down the road towards Maulds Meaburn. We don’t like road walking but at least we’d have plenty of prior warning about oncoming vehicles. Almost at the end of the level road before it turned sharply and steeply down the hill we saw a hand painted notice which said ‘CAUTION – free range pigs’. Instead of the wild boar we had expected to see we saw …..

….. these four pigs snoozing in their corrugated shelter. The two largest ones were on either side of the shelter, one a Gloucester Old Spot and the other a British Saddleback, with a couple of younger and smaller ones sleeping between them. They were both in deep shade so it was impossible to determine what breed they were.

We left the pigs sleeping peacefully and made our way down the steep curve to the road junction where we turned right and headed for Maulds Meaburn. I took a photo of the junction sign not only to indicate which direction we would take from here but also because every village mentioned on it is so familiar to us. None of them are all very far away from the village in which we live.

The first building we came to after turning right at the road junction was Meaburn Hall. Initially a mediaeval fortified hall house and tower house which was demolished in 1610 and replaced by the present hall house. It had subsequent alterations during the 17th and 18th centuries and is now a Grade ll listed building.

I took the previous photo through the slats in the wooden gate before stepping back for the above shot of the imposing 17th century gateway. Wonder if the wooden gates are as old as that?

From Meaburn Hall we carried on walking down the road until we came to the first bridge where I took the above shot looking along the Lyvennet beck towards Maulds Meaburn.  After that we carried on across the bridge and turned right to walk along the little tarmac lane which allows access to the houses on the other side of the beck.

A little further along the tarmac ends and the path continues over the grass. We didn’t cross any of the bridges over the beck but I thought viewers might like to see at least one of them. The bridge in the shot is one of the bigger ones.

Further along we came across a small weir in the beck. I have read that a mill used to be situated somewhere along the beck but there is no trace of it now. There is also a Mill Cottage in the village which is a holiday let but I haven’t been able to determine whether it has anything to do with the former mill.

The route we were following eventually led us away from the beck and the village and on towards the house known as The Flass. I was interested in seeing it since it has some local notoriety attached to it. It was originally built for Wilkinson Dent in 1851. Dent and his brother operated Dent & Co, importers of tea and opium. The reason it has local notoriety is because the ex-husband of a subsequent owner (the pair were divorced by then), along with five other men, was jailed in 2015 with for the cultivation of cannabis. All six men were found guilty and were given jail sentences.  Isn’t it interesting that a house created in the 19th century from the wealth accruing from the importing of opium subsequently became a venue for wealth creation from cannabis cultivation in the 21st century. The house was put up for auction in 2019 and the property is now in private hands. Wikipedia has all the details – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flass

The path continues along the side of the wall surrounding the house …..

….. and further along I managed to take this shot of the house showing the original owner’s initials and the date it was built. The wall was very high so this was the best shot I could manage.

The path continued on towards this tunnel and, as there was a large building behind us over on the left and the house is over on the right we thought that the carriages and horses used by Mr Dent and his family would have been stabled in the large building, with the tunnel creating the bridge between the two sides of the property.

The path through the tunnel opened out onto a large field at the far end of which was this open stile leading us back to the Lyvennet beck and on towards Crosby Ravensworth.

The path continues along the banks of the Lyvennet …..

….. where we came across this rope swing dangling from a stout tree branch. Yes, I had to have a swing on it, just like J has to stop and offer grass to a pony.

We’re back in the village now so we cross the bridge over the beck and …..

….. wind our way around Church of St Lawrence where we met two other people out walking the path in the opposite direction, the only walkers we’ve met today. We crossed another bridge back over the beck and …..

….. we’re back on the main road through Crosby Ravensworth. The name plate beside the door attracted my attention so I went over to have a look at it. It read ‘The Sun Hotel’ from which I understood that the building had once been a pub although it is now a private residence. Well folks, that’s our walk for today, not a huge distance, no breathtaking fell scenery, and not great weather either, Nevertheless it was a very interesting walk, we discovered a few ‘new to us’ items and Maulds Meaburn remains as unspoiled and attractive as ever. Long may that continue.

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Walk date – 18th June 2025

Distance – 8.9 miles

Weather – sunny and warm with a very light breeze, occasional cloud cover

 

As J is going on a walk tomorrow with some of the chaps from his volunteering group we decided not to climb any of the higher fells  today. Our walk around Troutbeck at the end of May had reminded us that we hadn’t walked up Sour Howes and Sallows since 2020 so that’s where we decided to go. We try to vary the route each time we visit and today was no exception. although sections of it we have walked before. As we were getting ready to drive over to Troutbeck the morning didn’t look at all promising when we looked up and saw nothing but matt grey cloud cover. The forecast had indicated a sunny day with very light winds but, having long suffered from inaccurate weather forecasts, we donned mid layers and wind-proofs just in case. As things turned out we didn’t need either.

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Route

Moorhowe road – Dubs road – High Borrans – Kentmere bridleway – Mickle Moss – Capple Howe – Sour Howes – Sallows – Garburn Pass – Garburn road – Dubs road – Moorhowe road

We arrived at the off road parking area on Moorhowe road to find it completely empty and, after a bit of shuffling the car around so it wouldn’t take up too much space we got our gear together and set off up the Dubs road. A dog walker walked up the road as we were getting ready and wished us a cheery ‘Good morning’.

Further along the Dubs road we branched off it for the walk over to High Borrans. Its a route we have taken before but today was a lot different. The gate from the Dubs road was firmly fastened with a horse halter or two, and the next couple of gates were similarly secured. An example of the fastenings can be seen over on the left of the shot. It seemed to us that whoever owns, or is responsible for the gates and the surrounding fields, most definitely did not want anyone crossing them. There were no ‘Private. Keep out.’ notices attached the Dubs road gate or anywhere else for that matter so we climbed the gates and used the path anyway. Technically I suppose we might be accused of trespass but without any indication that the land is private the matter could be a moot point. We had just gone over the gate in the photo when these two ponies came up to it so they were handed bunches of long grass that were growing close by. J loves horses and can’t walk past them without stopping to say hello. Zoom in and take a look at J’s face, it speaks volumes! The wind-proofs and mid layers came off shortly after as the cloud began to drift away and the temperature rose accordingly.

The view over to High Borrans reservoir as we crossed the fields. A lot of the water surface looked to be covered by some type of weed today. the reservoir is used (or used to be) for canoeing activities by the High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre. Once we were over the last gate we were back on the established footpath coming down from Sour Howes. Reference – the end part of our walk on 16th March 2020.

We emerge from the public footpath onto the tarmac lane running through the hamlet of High Borrans. This unoccupied building seems to serve as storage for someone as the outside space always has various ‘stuff’ lying around in it.

A look back at the house with the oversized chimney pot after passing through the yard at High Borrans farm and the wooden double gate. The track leads on to a private residence but …..

….. a short distance along it we leave it to begin walking the Kentmere bridleway. A signpost points the way and the route to follow is well signed too so navigation is very easy.

Further along the bridleway and the scent of freshly cut grass from the field beside the fence is filling the air. The grass is drying in the sun and when dry will be gathered and stored as hay in readiness for livestock winter feed. Haymaking time was eagerly anticipated by the kids in our village when I was a youngster. The local farmer would bring a flat bed cart pulled by an enormous shire horse into the field and it would be loaded up with the hay. All of us young ‘un’s ‘helped’, well that’s what we thought we were doing, whether the grown-ups saw it that way is another matter. It was great fun nevertheless.

Out of shot to the left is a signpost indicating the route to follow for Kentmere which is through the right hand gate. We arrived from the one on the left.

A pleasant grassy path awaited us once we were through the gate. This eventually brought us out at …..

….. another set of gates with a signpost between the two. Once again we arrived via the left one and passed through the one on the right.

The path then follows the wall and passes alongside Mickle Moss which is just beyond the gate. The puddle was very deep but an alternative route around it had been made by previous travellers along here so we were able to by-pass the puddle.

Sour Howes and Sallows ahead although they are still some distance away from us.

Lots of puddles along the path some of which were home to large numbers of tadpoles. Most of them ran for cover when we stopped to take a look but there were still a few left who hadn’t been quick enough to hide under a stone or under the damp grass around the edges.

We departed from the planned route when J spotted a sort of path heading off through the heather so we turned off the established path and began to follow the wall through the rough stuff towards Capple How and Sour Howes.

Hmmm! After the heather came the waist high bracken! When we reached the wall corner beyond the bracken we had a break before continuing onwards and upwards.

After our short break for a breather, drinks and plucking bits of bracken and heather from our clothing and boots we continued with our climb up to Capple Howe. We’ve left the bracken behind and we’re back in the heathery stuff and all its accompanying minor annoyances. The above view is looking across the lower reaches of Sour Howes towards Shipman Knotts and the other fells around Kentmere.

This is the view looking in the opposite direction towards the Coniston Fells.

Below us is Borrans reservoir and some distance beyond it is Orrest Head above which are the waters of Morecambe Bay.

With more height gained almost the whole length of Windermere comes into view although its a pity that a sheet of thin white cloud (aka – the chemical stuff that is sprayed from ‘planes) has blotted out the sunshine temporarily.

Up on Capple How now with a long distance view of the Coniston fells and the Langdale Pikes on the horizon. Closer to the camera is the long wall coming up from the Dubs road with the various humps and bumps of Sour Howes above it.

Also on view from Capple Howe is this view of the plantation of conifers on the slopes of Sour Howes. Where the two walls in the shot meet there is a gap in the broken fence leading to the path over to Sour Howes.

Just beginning to peep up over the Moor Head path leading over to Sallows are the fells around the Troutbeck valley. We leave Capple Howe and begin making our way over to the Sour Howes path alongside the conifer plantation.

A look back at Capple Howe from the gap in the fence. Turning around and facing uphill is the path leading to Sour Howes. Its a very scratchy route now as the conifers have grown substantially and their lower branches have spread themselves across the path.

We emerged from the scratchy conifers onto open slopes beneath the various peaks of Sour Howes. The difference in height between all the various tops is negligible, a matter of a couple of feet or so, so I’m not fussy about which one I stand on. We decided to aim for the one at the furthest end and to have a break when we reached it.

Looking across to Sallows as we climbed up to our chosen peak …..

….. and having reached it we settled down for a bite to eat and relax for a few minutes. This is the view from the spot we chose which shows the Moor Head route curving around towards Sallows with a skyline view of Caudale Moor, Stony Cove Pike, Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick (just), Ill Bell and Yoke.

Over to our left is Red Screes …..

….. below is the village of Troutbeck and on the skyline above a host of fells to numerous to name …..

….. the Coniston Fells over our left shoulders …..

….. and directly in front of us is Red Screes, St Raven’s Edge and Caudale Moor.

After our break we headed down towards the path leading over Moor Head and up to Sallows.

On the path for Sallows now and the walk up to it across Moor Head is only a little over a mile long so it didn’t take us very long to get up to the summit. It can be quite a soggy path at times but it wasn’t too bad today.

A headless man climbing over a stile? Nah, its only J looking down at the soggy morass on the other side of it that he was probably going to have to step into. He looked down just as I took the shot.

Up on Sallows now where I noticed this OS marker which we haven’t observed on previous visits. That’s not to say that it hasn’t always been there, perhaps it has but we just haven’t noticed it. However, it was the first thing we noticed when we reached the summit so maybe it hasn’t been there very long. Anyway, the message was clear and not wishing to upset the OS or the marker we spoke in whispers and tip-toed around while we took in the views. No, we didn’t do any such thing, that’s just me taking the you know what!

Here’s a shot of the summit area with a bit of Windermere thrown in for good measure and if you want to locate the OS marker its at the other end of the summit mound just in front of a clump of grass.

A shot of the path up to Yoke summit before we started to descend. I find it rather a dreary climb, the path seems to go on forever and its steeper than it looks. For me, its on a par with the dreary path from Boredale Hause up to Place Fell summit only it feels twice as long. I had a look back in the diary and found that we have been up there every five years starting in 2010, then 2015 and lastly 2020. Its now 2025! Oh dear, I don’t think I can face that dreary path again!

On the skyline is Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike, the eastern section of the Kentmere Horseshoe …..

….. Kentmere Pike again, Goat Scar and Shipman Knotts with some of the houses of Kentmere below them …..

….. in the dip on the centre skyline is the col at the top of Nan Bield Pass with Harter Fell on the right and just a smidge of Mardale Ill Bell showing to the left of the col. Lingmell End/Kentmere Common take up most of the left side of the shot.

The entire eastern section of the Kentmere Horseshoe on the skyline.

We descended from Sallows via the path leading down to the Garburn Pass which eventually becomes the Garburn road. Along the way we passed the start of the path to Yoke together with its cairn and signpost.

The knobbly top of Wansfell comes into view as we head down the Garburn road.

Troutbeck Tongue and Troutbeck Park farm below us in the valley.

The view back along the fells forming the western section of the Kentmere Horseshoe.

Red Screes beyond the lower slopes of Wansfell.

The view down to Troutbeck village set among the emerald green fields. This is Lakeland in its summer best. I don’t think I’ve seen these fields as green as this ever. Oh, to be in England now that summer’s here! (With apologies to Robert Browning.)

Descending the very loose and slaty path known as the Garburn road. To be fair, it does become less like a spoil heap and more like a path further down though.

At the junction where the Dubs road and the Garburn road meet up with each other or go their separate ways depending on where walkers are heading. We take the Dubs road on the left …..

….. and before much longer we are back at Dubs reservoir where this notice caught my eye. Does that ‘No Swimming’ message mean that paddle-boarding, canoeing, water ski-ing etc are all allowed? No, thought it didn’t!

The last few yards back to the parking area on the Moorhowe road where only our car and two others are parked. That’s quite a difference from the busy scene which greeted us on our 28th May walk three weeks ago, the place was heaving then, it was much less crowded along Ullswater too. Well, that’s us done for the day, our gear is stowed in the boot and we’ve quenched our thirst so all we have to do is drive back home and get the kettle on. Its still sunny and we’ve not had to put on our mid-layers or wind-proofs since we packed them away earlier on. We’ve had a good day even though parts of it involved some rough walking, the sun shone and there was hardly any wind. Perfect conditions in which to enjoy the beauty of England’s countryside, especially the emerald green valleys

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Walk date – 11th June 2025

Distance – 6.5 miles

Weather – dry, mostly sunny, very hazy, breezy at height

There were a couple of things on our ‘to-do’ list today, the most obvious being to take a walk up Saint Sunday Crag, which we haven’t visited since 2018, and secondly to find out where the path that we had missed on our 24th April walk a few weeks ago took us back to. We managed to cross both items off the ‘to-do’ list. It was an odd sort of day weatherwise, it started out warm and sunny then late morning a sheet of thin whitish grey cloud drifted across the sun accompanied by a strong and nippy breeze, after which the sheet of cloud drifted away and the early afternoon became very warm and sunny again. The sun was able to pierce the haze to some extent during that time so I was able to take some better shots than was possible during our climb up to Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag.

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Route

Patterdale cricket ground – Glenamara Park – Thornhow End – Birks side path – Gavel Moss col – Gavel Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Moss col – Trough Head – Arnison Crag path – Patterdale cricket ground

 

Very few cars were parked up at the cricket ground when we arrived so we had no difficulty in that respect. There was a slight morning chill around so we kept our zip up mid-layers on which we planned to remove when we reached the turn off for the climb up Thornhow End. The above photo is a look back across the cricket field as we walked up the field to the gate by the path across Glenamara Park. The little ‘bridge’ across the muddy patch that we noticed on our 24th April walk a few weeks ago is in the bottom right of the shot.

Enter stage right and exit stage left, or if you prefer we arrived via the gate on the right and entered Glenamara Park via the gate on the left.

The walk through Glenamara Park was lovely, especially if you were able to avoid thinking about what lay ahead, namely the steep climb up the Thornhow End part of Birks Fell, which is always there to remind you of what’s coming soon as its right in front of you all the way along.

The stepping stones across Hag Beck which had some flowing water in it but was still on the low side.

A look back at the junction where we turned off to begin the steep climb. As planned we had a short stop to remove the long sleeved jumpers and take some liquid on board before setting off again. The path is stone pitched for most of its length, which is a great help, although it is rather like being on one of those step machines that gyms have.

Looking across Grisedale to where Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd were on the skyline. The sound of barking dogs from the kennels below drifted towards us in the still air. The only other sound was the two of us breathing heavily as we climbed the never ending staircase.

The view down to the jetty at Glenridding from one of our ‘get your breath back’ stops.

Finally we reached the gate in the wall where we took a short break for drinks and gave our legs a bit of a break. If you look back at the shot I took of Birks as we walked through Glenamara Park you will see, over to the right of the shot, the craggy but flat-topped grassy knuckle where we are now standing. The stepped path continues for a short distance beyond the gate but it eventually peters out as the climb becomes more manageable.

From the grassy area I happened to notice that one of the ferries had just left the jetty, the curve of its wake being clear to see. We watched it go around Silver Point and shortly after that it disappeared from view.

A look back along the path running along the side of Birks. Its no longer pitched as the gradient is a lot less than it was previously but it is very rough and rocky underfoot. There’s a steep drop into Grisedale too!

The path eventually becomes grassy and levels out to some extent although it still continues to climb. Saint Sunday Crag had not been visible up to now but, as we rounded a curve in the path, there it was at last.

The path curves along the length of Birks and climbs steadily up to the small col at Gavel Moss. The views back along the path are spectacular although not as detailed as they could be in today’s hazy conditions.

The views going forward are rather more limited given that the path runs along the side of Birks and ahead of you is the vast bulk of Saint Sunday. However there are some good views of the Helvellyn range across Grisedale and close enough not to be too troubled by the haze.

We’ve reached the col at Gavel Moss where I took a look back at the path up Birks which we used on our 24th April walk. We made a note of the start of the path we intended to use to get us back to Trough Head. For the time being we walked over to the first set of craggy outcrops on the path up Saint Sunday. When we reached them we decided to take a chocolate bar break and just relax the legs for a few minutes.

After our chocolate bar stop we continued on the Saint Sunday path until we reached this junction just below the second set of craggy outcrops. We veered off the main path and followed the path over to Gavel Pike which we had already decided we would visit first.

A look back at the junction, and the view, just after we had turned off onto the Gavel Fell path. Distant views were still very hazy.

J striding out across the path to Gavel Fell. A little further on we met a couple  making their descent and had a quick chat with them, mostly to do with the fact that it was just as difficult going down as it was going up, either way the leg muscles get a pummelling! I noticed that both were wearing jackets which made me suspect that the breeze we were beginning to feel might be a tad stronger on the summit. The path splits off at various points along the way but we always kept to the left at the various junctions. I took a few shots of the view over to our left but as the fells around Hartsop were nothing more than smoky grey lumps I decided not to include them.

Just before we reached the ridge line between Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday I put my mid layer back on as the breeze became stronger. I was glad I had when we reached the ridge as it was blowing quite fiercely. That sheet of whitish grey cloud is fast approaching too. However, there was a good clear view of Fairfield, with Hart Crag right behind it, from the ridge …..

….. and not too bad a view of Dove Crag, the next in line just a little further along. Red Screes is on the left skyline and below it I could just about see the two tops of Little Hart Crag.

We walked along the ridge to Gavel Pike where the views beyond the summit cairn in the Hartsop direction were indistinct and left a lot to the imagination. I didn’t bother taking any more.

Looking towards Saint Sunday Crag from Gavel Pike as we began walking towards it.

Seat Sandal appeared between Fairfield and Saint Sunday as we headed up the path. Above it on the distant skyline are Crinkle Crags (L) and Bowfell (R).

A look back at Gavel Pike as we made our way over to Saint Sunday with the strong breeze pushing against us. A particularly forceful gust stopped me in my tracks for a second or two.

The summit cairn on Saint Sunday Crag and nothing much to see beyond it. We looked around for somewhere sheltered to have a short break but couldn’t find anywhere suitable on the summit area so we dropped down a little and found a spot, sheltered by some upended craggy rocks like those in the above shot.

We were only a short distance away from the summit and the main path and could see walkers leaning into the breeze as they walked the last few yards to the summit. We also had a decent view of Dollywaggon Pike and High Crag opposite us on the far side of Grisedale …..

….. High Crag again now accompanied by Nethermost Pike …..

….. and a little further along was Helvellyn and Striding Edge with Catstycam behind them on the right. The nippy wind had me putting my gloves on at this point and reaching for the coffee flask.

We didn’t stay up here very long and after our hot drink and a bite to eat we got our things together and prepared to descend. The cloud cover is total now and the weather has turned decidedly chilly. I took the above shot once we were ready to go and hopefully find some warmer weather lower down. From L to R the skyline shows Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Scafell Pike and Great End.

The long distance views from Saint Sunday Crag were a bit disappointing especially since we had planned to go over to Saint Sunday after visiting Gavel Pike just to see the views from its elevated position. Here I took a look down at the path coming up from the last set of outcrops where a few walkers were making their way up. Out of shot on the right was a pair of young men clad in shorts and t-shirts, suitable for the strenuous climb up but they would soon be feeling the nippy wind on the summit so I hoped they had a warmer layer with them. I’ve still got my gloves on because I haven’t thawed out yet!

The view down as we carefully made our way down. Several alternative paths through the grassy areas were evident so some walkers appear to have decided against using the ‘official’ path. In some places the path was badly eroded and in others the gravel and pebble surfaces were very loose and slippy. Together with the steepness of the path perhaps these were some of the reasons why alternative paths have appeared. We used quite a few of them ourselves.

Back down to Gavel Moss where I took a look back at Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag. We crossed the squelchy area and located the start of the return path, just below the path leading up Birks, at the end of which we hoped to find Trough Head and discover why we missed the beginning of it on 24th April.

We hadn’t gone too far down it when the sun appeared again providing instant warmth and offering a sunny view of Birks summit over on our left. I’d taken my gloves off by this time and was almost back to normal body heat after feeling quite cold on Saint Sunday’s summit.

J making his way down across the slopes of Birks and, as things are a whole lot warmer now, he’s back to bare arms and so am I.

Along the way we came across this stone structure. Its obviously man made but the moss and lichen on it suggests that it has been in this condition for some time. It was surrounded by a heap of larger stones and its not marked on any map we’ve looked at as sheepfolds usually are. The only possibility that came to mind was that the larger stones once formed some sort of building which had collapsed and that the smaller stones had been used subsequently to create a shelter against the weather. There were no walls nearby either, the whole thing was in a vast expanse of bracken so the large stones hadn’t once formed part of a wall.

Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags have come into view. although they are rather muted, and we can see Arnison Crag below us on the right of the shot.

Making our way over to Arnison Crag with a much clearer view of Angletarn Pikes now that the sun is out again.

The view in the Hartsop direction has also improved a little and on the skyline we can see High Street and Thornthwaite Crag. Below High Street is Gray Crag, next one along is Hartsop Dodd and below that is Hartsop above How.

As we reach Trough Head we discover why we missed this path on our 24th April walk. The end of this path rises up the bank opposite and joins the path leading over to Arnison Crag. Instead of turning down onto this path we didn’t notice it and carried straight on across the bank and followed that path, which eventually disappeared, instead. Photos now retained for future reference just in case.

Its turned into lovely and warm early afternoon now with the sun lighting up Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags. Behind them are the fells making up the Loadpot Hill to High Raise range. Ahead of us a skylark rose straight up from the ground and flew higher and higher until it was just a tiny dark dot against the sky. It then curved away and disappeared from view.

Still heading for Arnison Crag with a look back at Gavel Pike, Saint Sunday Crag and Birks before we lose the view.

All is looking tickety boo and much clearer in the Hartsop direction too. The tree covered slopes of Brock Crags on the left, Hartsop Dodd on the right with Gray Crag between the two. On the skyline are Rampsgill Head, High Street and Thornthwaite Crag.

Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike and Caudale Moor behind Hartsop above How.

Sunshine and shadow on Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags.

Passing below Arnison Crag which we didn’t go up today as its only six weeks since we were up there,

Its turned very warm now as we descend via the path below Arnison Crag with its fabulous view of Ullswater and the surrounding fells. Descending the loose path was a struggle in the very warm sunshine with the sun directly on our backs and the cricket ground, although not that far away, seemed to take ages to get to.

A closer look at the cricket ground which revealed that there are many more cars parked there now than there were this morning. Hope everyone parked there has put a few £1 coins in the cricket club’s honesty box, every contribution helps keep the cricket club afloat.

Much further down now and approaching Oxford Crag as we sweat our way down the path. The gate beside the path can’t come quick enough.

At last the gate appeared and having passed through it we could take the brakes off and have a gentle stroll across the field and back to the busy and crowded parking area. Folks getting into cars, folks getting out of cars, cars coming and going, people preparing to go somewhere, others throwing their gear into car boots, taking their boots off etc. etc. We opened all the car doors to let the heat out, stow our gear in the boot, switch off the gps, take a drink, have a mop round our hot faces, and pull our damp t-shirts away from our perspiring skin. When we got into the car we turned the air conditioning on to maximum and started the drive home. Glenridding was very busy, as was Pooley Bridge, and the lakeshore road alongside Ullswater was crammed with parked cars with folks sunning themselves on the shingle strips of the shoreline or pursuing their chosen activity on, and in, the water. The holiday season seems to be well and truly underway and the schools haven’t even broken up yet. Beyond Pooley Bridge with all the hustle and bustle behind us we were back to normality again and looking forward to our usual end of walk cuppa. Despite the chilly spell on the summit of Saint Sunday Crag its been a good day and, more importantly, we can dispatch the niggle of not knowing where the missing path starts.

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Walk date – 4th June 2025

Distance – 6 miles

Weather – showery and cold, very strong and constant north westerly wind, occasional sunny spells

 

Today’s walk was up to High Pike, (the Caldbeck one), using the route from Fellside which includes a section of the Cumbria Way. This was a route we hadn’t used previously although we have walked practically every other route over the years. Today’s weather was definitely a mixed bag and we were subjected to just about everything except fog and snow with all of it accompanied by a strong and cold north westerly wind which blew incessantly. The anti-wobble gadget on the camera worked overtime today and I was amazed to discover that the shots I had taken showed no sign of being blurred or fuzzy. We only met a few well wrapped up people out walking today and greetings were quickly exchanged as we passed each other, it wasn’t the best day for standing still and having a chat. Amazingly two runners, clad in running vest and shorts, came by us at different points along our route, both of them smiling and waving a hand by way of a greeting. I really don’t know how they keep on going especially in the conditions we had today.

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Route

Fellside – Croft Head – Cumbria Way route to High PIke & Hare Stones via – Little Fellside – Potts Gill – High Pike – Hare Stones – path below High Pike – Deer Hills – Fellside Brow – Fellside

The view back towards the little hamlet of Fellside from the parking area, out of shot to the left, where we had no trouble parking as only one car was already there. The driver and his three dogs disappeared up the lane behind me as we were getting ourselves ready to do the same. While we were doing so a rain shower came along so we put on our waterproof jackets which are large enough to be worn over back packs and thus easily removed when the rain has stopped.

We walked up the lane to the gate and having passed through it were met by this little group of sheep taking shelter from the rain under the trees by the wall. The ewe standing on the little hillock over on the right was giving us a proper telling off, trying to warn us off I suppose, but we took no notice of her. The path behind me leads walkers along the Dale Beck path which eventually leads over to the derelict mine below Roughton Gill at the head of the valley. We aren’t going that way today so, despite the stern warnings emanating from the ewe on the right of the shot, we head for the grassy path between the sheep and made our way over to the Cumbria Way route.

A look back from the grassy path towards Croft Head, the white house almost hidden by the trees, which stands at the top of the lane from the parking area. The noisy ewe, now on the left of the shot, has wandered off onto the lower part of Fellside Brow where we will join the Dale Beck path at the end of today’s walk. The sky is looking quite ominous although the shower has passed over so there’s no longer any pitter-pattering on our waterproofs.

Looking back towards Fellside, and the comms mast on the skyline, as we make our way over to the Cumbria Way which is just appearing over on the right of the shot. The Cumbria Way begins from the road passing through Fellside on the Caldbeck side. The dark clouds look even more threatening now.

On the Cumbria Way with another look back towards Fellside …..

….. and a look ahead at the route it follows.

Its raining again! Below us is Little Fellside where the surfaced lane comes to an end just around the bend below the house. It provides access between the farm and Fellside hamlet so from now on we will be walking over grass and former mine tracks but still collectively called the Cumbria Way. The route continues out of shot over on the right.

Potts Gill farm below us as we follow the wet grassy paths across the fields towards …..

….. the crossing at Potts Gill where an old and broken drainage pipe provides a makeshift sort of crossing point …..

….. although a sturdy plank across the gill has also been provided. The accompanying broken fence created a sort of handrail but was on the wobbly side and an overhanging gorse bush didn’t help matters either but we used it anyway since somebody had gone to the trouble of providing it.

We didn’t really need to use the plank as the water level was low enough to stride over anyway. The sun came out while we were here and turned the little clearing into a very warm little sun trap which was nice while it lasted.

Across Potts Gill now with a look back down the gill towards Potts Gill farm. The wooden sign carries the familiar yellow arrow indicating the route but it seemed somewhat redundant as the path was clear to see.

Further along from Potts Gill we came across this old structure beside the path. We couldn’t work out what it had once been, human hands had definitely constructed it but to what purpose? Well, the whole area is full of adits and mine shafts so it might once have been a mine building of one sort or another, or even a lime kiln. There are lots of farms scattered around the area too so it might even have been a former barn.

We reached a path junction, we have arrived via the path on the left, the hamlet in the distance is Nether Row so that’s the path coming up from there, off to the right is the continuation of the Cumbria Way, and the path I’m standing on leads up to the Cumbria Way which is a short cut as its avoids the bend where the Cumbria Way doubles back on itself. It was here that we met the first of two runners who was coming towards us along the Cumbria Way going off to the right. Clad in running vest and shorts he smiled and waved a greeting as he passed us and carried along on the path we had just been walking.

At the path junction we went straight across and walked up the path which the runner had just descended …..

….. and here’s the bend in the path which the aforementioned short cut path avoided. The route became a little steeper from this point on.

While we were at the bend in the path I took this view looking back down to Nether Row. We started a walk from Nether Row many years ago, in 2011, according to the diary, but I don’t have any photographs from that walk so maybe I didn’t have a camera with me on that occasion. We haven’t used the route since then, probably because the approach road to the hamlet is very narrow and parking was something of a squeeze, or it was at the time. Maybe things are different now.

We walked up the slope from the bend and came to what we took to be a wall at first glance. When we got closer we could see that it wasn’t but as metal posts had been inserted at intervals along the top we decided that they must have formed a fence to prevent sheep falling over the edge of it. We carried on up to …..

….. a clearing where we could see that what we thought was a fell side turned out to be a very large spoil heap which had been flattened along its top. Another sunny spell came along while we were there and lasted just long enough to warm us through before disappearing again. The cold wind had really begun to batter us now that we had gained more height.

No, its not the hunchback of High Pike its just J wearing his waterproof over his back pack and battling the strong wind as we make our way across the open moorland. As you can see the path is a long one and there’s very little by way of shelter.

Looking back at Hesket Newmarket from the path we’re following. By now it was difficult to decide which element was having a greater effect on us. The strong wind which blew incessantly, with our faces rattled by our hoods which were pulled ever tighter as the wind strengthened, or the upward path which just seemed to get longer and longer as it presented us with another and even steeper fellside. The path below crossing the one we are on is where we met the second runner, also in running vest and shorts, who also waved a greeting in our direction before continuing on his way towards the left of the shot.

Hesket Newmarket fades into the distance as, at long last, we reach the last part of the climb just below the summit of High Pike …..

….. where several paths converge to form the wide one leading up to the summit. We have arrived via the one on the left (as you look at the photo) and, as usual, what is obvious on the ground is not shown on the OS maps.

We approach the ‘furniture’ on the summit of High Pike hoping that the wind shelter will be available as today it has its back to the wind. As we staggered towards the empty shelter the full force of the wind hit us and on reaching it we sank down into it, grateful for the respite. We could hear it howling above our heads as we got our breath back and attempted to put ourselves back together again.

After a couple of minutes I felt ready to brave the wind again for a few summit shots, the one above is of Carrock Fell directly opposite us …..

….. Bonscale Pike with its tarn just visible in the corrie below …..

….. Blencathra and Mungrisedale Common …..

….. on the skyline from L to R are Lonscale Fell, Jenkin Hill, Skiddaw Lesser and Little Man followed by the great bulk of Skiddaw. While we were in the shelter a couple arrived from the same direction as we had and another couple were approaching from the Carrock Fell side so, no doubt, as we were already occupying the only available shelter we wouldn’t have been very popular with either couple today. Having assessed the situation both couples kept on walking.

Having got ourselves back together again we began to make our way down from High Pike and as we did so I noticed that Bowscale Tarn was showing up better than it was in the previous photo so I took another shot of it.

Descending High Pike and making our way over to the path towards Hare Stones.

A look ahead along the waterlogged path once we’d reached it …..

….. with another look over to Carrock Fell …..

….. and a view of High Pike from Hare Stones which we hadn’t intended to visit but we missed the path we did want to follow so we ended up here instead.

We retraced our steps back along the watery path and found the path which we had missed earlier so along it we went, grateful for the occasional relief from the wind afforded by the various hollows as the path rose and fell between them.

Brae Fell, on the right, rising up to Little Sca Fell and Great Sca Fell from the descent path below and around High Pike.

Over on the left is Birk Hill with the peat hags of Birk Moss below it, over on the right are the scarred sides of Deer Hills with a couple of becks between them which eventually combine and become Hay Gill. As we were now heading back to Fellside we were full in the teeth of the northwesterly wind which, according to J’s Kestrel meter, was blowing at an average speed of 27 mph, sometimes more, sometimes a little less.

A look over at Knott on the skyline with Iron Crag, showing signs of wear and tear, just below it. Iron Crag stands at the head of the valley through which the Dale Beck path runs and below Iron Crag are the remains of the Roughton Gill minerals mine.

A closer look at the scarred fell sides of Deer Hills as we descend.

Crossing Deer Hills during a sunny spell although some of the clouds above us are looking somewhat menacing.

A look back at our descent route as we reach a path junction. We arrived at this point via the path over on the right of the shot although it might need a zoom in to see it clearly.

Dropping down Deer Hill now where we saw this strange arrangement of stones below us which seemed to appear as a capital I or an elongated H depending on how they were viewed  …..

….. and another one just a little lower down from the previous one which appeared to take the form of an elongated Y. Even when we were close to both of them we couldn’t determine what they were for or what they were supposed to represent.

We did know what this was though as its a fenced off mine shaft and there are lots of these scattered around all sides of High Pike and its neighbours.

We’re descending Fellside Brow now and the rooftops of Fellside have come into view …..

….. and at the end of it is the Dale Beck path where we turn right …..

….. to end today’s walk at the same point at which we began it. The noisy sheep is nowhere around just the one ewe and her two lambs quietly grazing in much the same spot as they were this morning. Once through the gate there is just a short walk down the lane before we are back at the car. We had just seated ourselves in the comfy and wind free interior when the dark clouds began dumping their contents and the rain poured down again. As it had just  turned 1 p.m. we took our lunch break in the car rather than drive home for an hour and then have something to eat. It was very satisfying to be able to tuck into hot coffee and sandwiches while listening to the rain bouncing off the roof of the car while appreciating that for once today we weren’t getting wet through and/or blown to pieces.

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Walk date – 28th May 2025

Distance – 7 miles

Weather – dry and mostly cloudy with some sunny spells, mild, light breeze

We decided on something a little different for today’s walk given that this, as far as we could tell, was the only day this week likely to be rain free. As cloud cover drifting around the fells was also in the forecast we decided to have a low level walk over in the Troutbeck area. We plotted a route starting at the Dubs road, where there is a small parking area on the Moorhowe road, walking up to the junction with the Garburn road and then doubling back on ourselves and walking down the Garburn road to its junction with the Longmire Road at the end of which we would cross the Moorhowe road and locate the path leading over to Far and Near Orrest farmsteads. We haven’t walked this particular path before so we were interested a) to see if it really existed, and b) to see what, if anything, we might see along the way. We also decided to have a walk up Orrest Head, a place we have never visited, as it was there during a walking holiday in Windermere with his cousin, that AW first set eyes on the Lake District fells which resulted in the publishing of his world famous guide books. In his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’ he describes his visit to Orrest Head as “our first ascent in Lakeland, our first sight of mountains in tumultuous array across glittering waters, our awakening to beauty”. As it was, so to speak, the little hill where it all began for AW, we thought it was time that we too stood on the top of it and gazed at the view just as he did in 1930.

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Route

Roadside parking on Moorhowe Road – Dubs Road – Garburn Road – Longmire Road – Moorhowe Road –  Far Orrest – Near Orrest – Causeway Farm – Orrest Head – Moorhowe parking area

Ours was the first car to arrive at the small parking area at the bottom of the Dubs road which is just to the side of a bend in the Moorhowe road so we had no problems in that respect. It didn’t take us long to get our things together and, as the skies were gloomy and overcast, we wore our jackets just to keep the morning chill out. Once the car was locked and the gps switched on we set off up the Dubs road.

As we walked up we had a view of Sour Howes in the distance and also views of something we haven’t seen for quite some time, puddles, of which the Dubs road had plenty so we were constantly weaving from one side of the path to the other. Sometimes the puddles took up most of the track and, not knowing how deep they might be, we walked on the edge of them thus keeping boots dry but getting damp trouser legs when brushing against the wet bracken. They soon dried though in the mild morning air.

Further along the track we came across this mini reservoir being fed by a tiny stream further along to the right of the shot and trickling out at the far end via a small tiered stone arrangement acting as a dam. This was the best shot that could be managed as there were too many fallen branches and too much foliage to achieve anything better. As it was it was a crouch down crawl through all the undergrowth with J having to give me a hand back up onto the track afterwards.

Dubs reservoir where all the buildings were locked up and no-one was around. I looked for the preponderance of notices which used to be displayed all over the place but they too have vanished. We did wonder if this is scheduled for de-reservoiring treatment too. Not a ripple on the water but plenty of cloud drifting around above.

A look back at the reservoir as we move on up the track. We came across a notice beside the track to the effect that the park authority was aware of the damage to the track but as the notice was peeling away from the board it was attached to we realised that the notice must have been in place for quite a while and, although being ‘aware’ of the state of the track, nothing seemed to have been done about it as many deep grooves full of stones, pebbles and larger stones and rocks still remained. We haven’t walked this track for some years now but neither of us remembered it being as damaged as it was today.

A little hill, without a name, between the Dubs road and the Garburn road from the stop we made to remove our jackets. The cloud overhead might be grey and low but the morning is mild and, without a breeze to cool us down, the jackets just had to come off.

Backstone Barrow comes into view as we make our way up the track and …..

….. a little further along is this ladder stile coming up from the Garburn road track …..

….. and directly opposite it is the ladder stile which gives access to the Backstone Barrow route to the summit of Sour Howes. I made a mental note to take a shot of the stile leading up to this point when we come to it as we walk down the Garburn road. For once I remembered to do so and the shot of that stile will appear in due course.

We’ve reached the junction of the two paths so we stopped for a minute or two while I took a few shots of the views from this point. Down in the middle of the Troutbeck valley is Troutbeck Tongue, where a vague hint of sunlight has landed on the valley floor, and the fells on the greyed out skyline are Caudale Moor and Stony Cove Pike (L), Threshthwaite Mouth (C) and Thornthwaite Crag (R).

The white walled houses of Troutbeck village are across the valley beneath the lumpy ridge line of Wansfell above which is the darker shape of Red Screes over on the right.

The glimmer of sunlight is still lighting up the Troutbeck valley …..

….. and is also illuminating the western section of the Kentmere Horseshoe the fells on view being, from front to back, Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick.

The view looking towards the junction of the two tracks. Dubs road on the left,  which we’ve just been walking, and the Garburn road on the right which we are just about to walk down.

As we descend the Garburn road below us are the lodges of Limefitt Holiday Park and the white walled houses of Troutbeck village.

The stile from the Garburn road leading up to the two stiles on the Dubs road mentioned earlier. The mental note to take a shot of it that I made earlier kicked in and I remembered to take one. Miracles can happen sometimes!

Further down the Garburn road we arrive at another junction where the one on the left is the Longmire road which will lead us back to Moorhowe road.

This shot is looking back along the Longmire road which, according to our walks diaries, we last walked in July 2015 although neither of us can remember it. However that’s not too surprising as one stony track is very much like another and there was nothing out of the ordinary along the way to bring any memories of it to mind. It was a very pleasant walk along it though  and we were even fortunate enough to experience a few sunny spells along the way,

The sunlight has even managed to land on parts of the Coniston group of fells. This was our first clear view of them as low cloud had been drifting around them whenever they were in our view.

A look over to Sour Howes from the Longmire road where the notice on the gate indicating that it was PRIVATE land and there was NO PUBLIC ACCESS.

A pleasant view of Windermere from the Longmire road although we couldn’t work out whether the smoke was coming from a garden bonfire or one of the ‘steamboats’ which ply their trade up and down the lake.

The Longmire road surface turns from stony/pebbly to tarmac as we reach the driveway leading to Whinny Howe which we assumed was a private residence although the upward curve of the driveway prevented us from seeing any buildings.

As we walked the remainder of the Longmire road I suddenly noticed the view of Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes on the skyline over on my right. The clouds are preventing any light landing on them so they are a bit greyed out but it was lovely to see them in the distance.

We’re approaching the end of the Longmire road at its junction with the Moorhowe road at this point …..

….. so when we reached the end of it I took this look back along it.

We turned right from the Longmire/Moorhowe junction, walking down the road while keeping a lookout for anything on the opposite side of the road which looked like a path. I was dubious to begin with as we have been misled too many times by OS maps showing paths which didn’t exist on the ground but, not only did the path exist there was even a signpost pointing the way.

We passed a group of ewes and their lambs along the way, some of the lambs had grown in confidence and weren’t alarmed by our presence while others weren’t quite so sure and scurried off to their mothers for protection.

Another look over towards the Langdale Pikes with Lingmoor Fell just below it. The Crinkles and Bowfell are no longer clearly defined now that the cloud has returned.

We’ve reached Far Orrest farm where this signpost came in handy as we’re heading over to Near Orrest farm before going over to Orrest Head.

The path led us around the back of the buildings at Far Orrest farm …..

….. and then to these two gates with a lonning between the two of them. We’ve just passed through the gate on the left and are about to go through the one on the right. Both gates had the usual yellow arrow signs attached to them so it was easy to follow the route.

A peaceful countryside scene as we cross the field heading towards the next gate. Mums and their calves were sitting quietly beneath the trees and were not in the least upset by our presence. We passed through the gate in this field and made our way across the next field …..

….. to this slab bridge across just a trickle of a stream and the step stile over into the next field. The leaning signpost pointing out the way we should go.

A view of Orrest Head as we crossed the very large field over to …..

….. the next step stile where yet another signpost pointed us in the right direction …..

….. eventually taking us around the back of the buildings at Near Orrest farm. We didn’t know it at the time but if we had walked round to the front of the farm we would have been able to use another step stile to get us onto the road we needed to be on. There seemed to be no obvious way through the various buildings so …..

….. J had a scout around and found this gate with the familiar yellow arrow sign attached to it so we used this route which eventually brought us to the back of what turned out to be …..

….. Causeway Farm. The map had to be referred to at this point, because this farm wasn’t named on the gps, in order for us to know which direction to take along the road. Turned out that we should have walked around to the front of Near Orrest farm and reached the road via that route. In view and clear to see opposite this farm was Orrest Head but attached to the gate directly across the road was a notice saying the path was closed to allow the land to recover, although it didn’t say what it was recovering from. In a moment of levity measles, chicken pox and other childhood ailments sprang to mind. After consulting the map we saw that the route to Orrest Head was between this farm and the Near Orrest farm so we walked back along the lane keeping a lookout for the path over to it. We came to a firmly padlocked double metal gate beside which was another step stile beyond which was the path to Orrest Head. We climbed the step stile and took to the path …..

….. up to Orrest Head with a look back to Causeway Farm along the way.

Looking ahead along the various pathways up to Orrest Head …..

….. and from just below the top of Orrest Head a look across Windermere towards the Langdale Pikes and their neighbouring fells.

The top of Orrest Head was packed with visitors and there was barely room enough to stand never mind sit down on one of the many benches provided, all of them full, which we had thought might be the case. There is a ‘miles without stiles’ route up Orrest Head directly opposite Windermere railway station on the A591 where a large sign attached to a wall points to the start of the route up. As it is a short and trouble free route it naturally attracts the many visitors to Windermere and can become very crowded, which it was today. We just stayed long enough to take a few shots from the top before making our way back down. The above shot is looking south along Lake Windermere.

This shot looks in the opposite direction towards Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Pikes.

The view northwards towards the Troutbeck valley above which are Stony Cove Pike, Threshthwaite Mouth and Thornthwaite Crag. The views from Orrest Head are spectacular and it wasn’t difficult to understand the effect that they had on a young man from Blackburn which, in 1930, was a busy industrial mill town. It must have seemed like a completely different world to the one he was familiar with. We had similar words spoken to us a few years ago when we were sitting by the village pond in Caldbeck when a Mum and Dad and their couple of youngsters walked past us. Dad was looking at the scenery around him and said to us “Its another world isn’t it?”

After the photos had been taken there wasn’t much point in staying longer so we made our way back down to the step stile and followed the path …..

….. back to the step stile by the side of the padlocked gate, back onto the narrow lane where we turned right heading back to the Moorhowe road.

Along the way we passed the front of Near Orrest farm where just out of shot to the left, as you look at the photo, was the step stile we were planning to take initially. It turned out to be six of one and half a dozen of the other in the end as we ended up getting to where we had intended to be even though we took a slightly different route to get there. From Near Orrest farm we walked along the lane to the crossroads where we turned left and headed back to the Moorhowe road.

The view from the Moorhowe road just before we reached the Dubs road parking area. I thought this might be a more suitable end of walk photo than the sight of fourteen cars, excluding ours, crammed into every conceivable space with one being parked on the Dubs road itself. The fourteenth car arrived as we were having our lunch break in the comfort of the car before driving back home. The driver of the car pulled up, asked us if we were leaving to which we replied no, whereupon the car was driven a little way further along the Moorhowe road and was parked into a tiny space beside the grassy verge which was only just big enough to accommodate it. Its a good job it wasn’t a bigger car or a good part of it would have been sticking out into the road. By the time we were back on the road the cloud had broken up to a large extent, more blue bits began appearing and the sunny spells became more frequent. By the time we were home it had turned into a very sunny afternoon. In contrast, today (Thursday) we’ve got the showery rain again so the garden won’t need watering tonight. There’s usually a silver lining somewhere if you look for one. A different walk for us today and a very pleasant one and it looks as though we did it in the best weather day of the week after all.

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Walk date – 21st May 2025

Distance – 7.1 miles

Weather – sunny and dry, very warm at lower levels, cool easterly breeze at height, hazy

 

The Eden Valley was hidden under fog when we set off for Braithwaite this morning but as soon as we were on the A6 we were back in sunshine. By the time we reached Eamont Bridge we were under cloudy grey skies with the weather looking extremely dull and unpromising. When we reached Blencathra the weather once again changed completely with blue sky and bright sunshine above us and that’s the way it stayed all the time we were out. As the forecast had mentioned that it would be sunnier in the west perhaps the west, in Cumbria at least, begins at Blencathra! No matter, we had already decided to drive over to Braithwaite anyway to walk up Causey Pike, which we haven’t set foot on since 2017, so the glorious weather was just the icing on the cake. It was a little nippy on Sail summit thanks to the ever present easterly breeze these days but apart from that we had a great walk and the views from the tops were fabulous, as they usually are.

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Route

Stonycroft off road parking – Stonycroft Gill path – Causey Pike – Scar Crags – Sail (ascent via zig-zags, descent via grass path) – descent from col to High Moss – Stonycroft Gill – Stonycroft off road parking

We parked up in the off road parking area at Stoneycroft, out of shot to the left where the road is. Apart from one car which was already empty of its occupants and one camper van with its tent roof extended but with nobody visible around it, the area was empty of vehicles so we parked up without difficulty. We got our gear together, made sure the car was locked, switched on the gps and set off along the path beside Stonycroft Gill which begins directly opposite the parking area. The above shot shows the view of Rowling End ahead of us.

The path eventually turns around the lower slopes of Barrow and we begin the long steady climb up beside the gill, which is in the dip over on the left of the shot. Also in our view was Causey Pike (L) and just the top of Outerside in the distance.

A look back down the gill path as we paused to wipe the beads of sweat from our faces. It was very warm along here with no breeze to speak of, just a slight movement of air from time to time, and we were already down to t-shirt and shorts level so casting a clout wasn’t an option. Its a steady climb but the path is very stony which doesn’t make for smooth and steady walking. We were thrown off balance several times along the way when the pebbles and stones rolled away under our boots.

I’d intended to take a shot of the top of Causey Pike earlier to show the alternative route via Sleet Hause but I forgot to take one. This is a side view of the top taken as we rounded a bend in the path, which reminded me of my earlier intention, oops!

We arrive at the path junction which leads over to Barrow Door from where walkers can walk up to Barrow or Stile End should they be so inclined. Outerside also comes into full view at this point. Time for another face mop!

Almost at the point where we will turn off the main path and take the one leading up towards Causey Pike as its just a few paces beyond the sheepfold.

We dropped down to the sheepfold to take a short break, in other words to let the legs relax before the next climb, have yet another face wipe, eat a chocolate bar and have a drink. J tells me that his plated ankle is aching which is hardly surprising given the nature of the path we’ve just walked over.

A look back at one of the paths rising up Outerside, the path we have been walking along is the horizontal one across the middle, the turn off path for Causey Pike we are now standing on, and the sheepfold we had been using for our mini break over on the right. We saw a runner coming down the path we are now standing on while we were at the sheepfold and our paths crossed as we reached the junction. The male runner crossed over to follow the path up Outerside and, just as we were about to turn up this path, a female runner came towards us from the Sail direction who exchanged slightly breathless greetings with us.

As we had already stopped to take the previous photo I turned to my right for this view of Stile End and Barrow. The hazy group beyond them are some of the northern group of fells, the Skiddaw group and Blencathra in particular.

From higher up the path I took a look back for this view of, from L to R, Sand Hill, Hopegill Head, Hobcarton Crags and Grisedale Pike. We’ve just had a chat with a chap coming down from Causey Pike during which he mentioned that he had walked up to the summit by the same route as we were taking. He had considered the Sleet How route but had been deterred from taking it as he didn’t fancy the final mini scramble up to the top, and especially so as he had his dog with him. He didn’t know how the dog would manage it and he didn’t welcome the thought of having to carry the dog up it if it had been too difficult for the dog to manage. He made us laugh when he regaled us with several tales of how, accompanied by demonstrations of the various methods used, to get previous dogs owned by him or his mates up scrambly sections. We eventually parted company with him and his dog and continued on …..

….. up the path until we eventually joined up with the ridge path between Causey Pike and Scar Crags. The shot is looking up towards the first of Causey Pike’s ‘knuckles’ from the ridge path. The highest point is at the far end of the ‘knuckles’ above Rowling End so we still have some distance to go before we get to it.

The view behind us as we climb is a partial view of the Coledale Horseshoe, partial because Causey Pike and Grisedale Pike are missing from the shot. Causey is behind us and Grisedale Pike wouldn’t fit into the viewfinder so …..

….. I included it in this shot. I think the average time to walk the horseshoe is about six hours but of course the length of time it will take will always be dependent on individual rates of walking, ground conditions, weather, stops to remove or add clothing, take photos, and have breaks for all manner of other reasons. It really doesn’t matter how long it takes anyone to complete the horseshoe, simply view and enjoy the wonderful scenery around you and forget about the time because that’s what it is really all about. We last walked the Coledale Horseshoe on 10th June 2015 if you want to see what it entails before attempting it. I remember being quite weary when we got back home and we were both ten years younger then so we probably won’t be doing it again no matter how good the weather might be.

From a flatter area between the ‘knuckles’ a look down to Stile End, Barrow Door and Barrow where the path we used to begin with is just visible above the edge of the grassy rim. The northern end of Bass Lake is just visible over on the left of the shot.

Looking towards the Skiddaw group and Blencathra from the highest “knuckle” on Causey Pike with just a smidge of Derwentwater over on the right …..

….. a slight turn to my right brought practically the whole of Derwentwater into view as I looked along the Vale of Keswick …..

….. the view beyond Rowling End towards Catbells, the Dodds and the Helvellyn group are on the distant skyline …..

….. looking across the Newlands valley for this view of Maiden Moor and High Spy …..

….. looking towards the col at the head of the Newlands valley between High Spy and Dale Head. On the skyline between are Wetherlam, Combe Head and Glaramara, Bowfell and Esk Pike …..

….. Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson are the most prominent peaks. On the skyline between Hindscarth and Robinson is Kirk Fell …..

….. the skyline beyond Robinson is the High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike ridge while in the immediate foreground is the Ard Crags – Knott Rigg ridge. Also just visible behind the ridge between High Crag and High Stile, although it will need a zoom in to see them, are Scoat Fell and the pointy top of Steeple …..

….. looking ahead to our next two fells which are Scar Crags and Sail behind which rises the great bulk of Crag Hill which we won’t be climbing today. As photos have been taken of just about everything on view today we made our way down from the summit of Causey Pike …..

….. with a look back at the summit area before we lost the view of it.

While we were clambering down over the rocks I noticed a better view of the Ard Crags – Knott Rigg ridge which brought lots of memories to mind. One particularly humorous one was when we were coming down Knott Rigg years ago as three chaps were sweating their way up it. The chap in the lead was trying out his new gps gadget while the red in the face and breathing heavily one was bringing up the rear. He pointed up to the summit and asked us if that was the top, we replied that it was to which his response was ‘Thank God for that, we’ve already climbed three other tops on the way up here and him at the front said that all three of them were the top. Fat lot of good that gps thingy is then if it keeps telling him we were on the top when we weren’t.” Or words to that effect because he wasn’t best pleased and uttered a few swear words to emphasise the point! Conversations with other walkers are often the highlight of many of our walks.

Walking along the ridge now and heading for Scar Crags whose high point has temporarily obscured the view of Sail, so all we could see ahead was the great bulk of Crag Hill.

A look back at Causey Pike’s ‘knuckles’ from the ridge path over to Scar Crags. The path we used to reach the ridge line can be seen joining the ridge path over on the left just below the first ‘knuckle’. Walking across to the highest ‘knuckle’ at the far end felt like being on a roller-coaster at times.

The summit cairn on Scar Crags from where we were able to view some of the zig-zags on the path up to Sail.

On the skyline from L to R is the ridge walk from Whiteside over to Hopegill Head, the pointed top on the right skyline The full view of the ridge line is obscured by Sand Hill which is just below Hopegill Head. The Whiteside ridge walk isn’t really part of the Coledale Horseshoe although it begins/ends at Hopegill Head which is part of the horseshoe.

Robinson dropping down across Buttermere Moss at the end of which it becomes High Snockrigg.

We begin to descend Scar Crags and plan to have a short break at the bottom where we can take the brakes off and let our legs relax for a few minutes before we take to the zig-zag path up to the top of Sail.

Having had a short stop down at the col we began the less than exciting walk up the zig-zags with a look back to a similar path on Scar Crags . To while away the tedium we made a count every time we reached a bend in the path, there were eighteen bends altogether before we reached the ‘no more bends’ section of the still rising path leading up to the summit. It is what probably might be termed ‘a dreary trudge’.

A view of Crag Hill and part of Wandope from Sail’s summit cairn. The little ditch which is behind the cairn usually holds water but it held nothing apart from dry, cracked peat today.

After taking the previous shot of the summit cairn we strolled back to the path for a look down towards the start of the path up Crag Hill. It does have a few awkward spots here and there in the form of outcrops but they are easily dealt with which does make it a little more interesting than the climb up Sail.

As we turned around to walk back to the cairn we saw that another walker had arrived and seated himself on the top of it which made me pleased that I had taken the summit cairn shot when there was nobody else up here. It looked as though he was about to take his lunch break there. We strolled across the top and looked for somewhere suitable to have our coffee and sandwiches, our breakfast having been eaten several hours ago by this time. At this height and with no possible shelter from the wind being available anywhere on the flat grassy top we put on our mid-layers and plonked ourselves on the soft, dry grass. After we had finished eating and while I was still sitting on the grass I took my usual ‘views from the summit’ shots. The shot above, of Crag Hill, was behind my left shoulder …..

….. stretching from L to R is the Whiteside ridge to Hopegill Head behind which is just the top of Ladyside Pike …..

….. directly opposite us are Hobcarton Crags and Grisedale Pike …..

….. over to our right is the Skiddaw group …..

….. and a little further to our right is Blencathra …..

….. the view over my right shoulder is of Clough Head and Great Dodd on the right skyline, Walla Crag just below them with the tops of Causey Pike and Scar Crags just peeping up beyond the grassy summit area …..

….. on the skyline behind us are Stybarrow Dodd and Raise followed by the Helvellyn grouping.

After our lunch break we made our way back to the main path where a little cairn indicates the path over to the summit of Sail. Across the middle foreground we had a view of Maiden Moor and High Spy where the sun was  highlighting every detail of their crags high above the Newlands valley.

Descending Sail and making our way back to the col which can be seen in the bottom right corner of the shot. We didn’t keep to the established path all the way back down as walkers, either ascending or descending, during the years since the path was constructed, have taken to walking across the grass thereby creating an informal route which was what the established path was created to avoid. A path can be created but walkers cannot be made to use it, such are the vagaries of human nature.

Once we were down at the col between Scar Crags and Sail we took the left hand path leading us back down towards High Moss and Outerside. On the way down I noticed the sheepfold, towards the bottom of the shot, which despite using this path on previous walks I had never noticed before. The Force Crag mine buildings are also visible which I was unaware of until I looked at the photos when I got back home. The first part of the path was something of a nightmare as it is badly eroded and down to bare, and presently very dry, earth in many places. To make matters even trickier than they were a young lad pushing a mountain bike was coming up the path towards us. As the situation was being sorted out a young man came to a halt just behind us so we began chatting while the cyclist hoisted the bike over his shoulder and started to move up the path. Now that the path was clear again we could all move forward once again and eventually …..

….. we reached the flatter area below Outerside. The young man we chatted with has moved ahead now and is on the path in front of J. He was a stranger to the area and all the way down he kept stopping to ask us various questions about the local area after he had established that we were familiar with it. He was making his way down to Braithwaite and wanted to know if this path would lead him back there. He was carrying an enormous pack containing his camping equipment and was hoping to find somewhere suitable to camp overnight and to be able to do some food shopping on Thursday morning. He was a very pleasant and friendly young man, very willing to ask questions about the area so we hope he managed to arrive at his chosen destination and that he managed to do his shopping the following morning.

The young man had already taken the path by the cairn shown in an earlier photo which would lead him over to Barrow Door and back down to Braithwaite. This path also leads up to Barrow Door but it does involve a climb which he seemed not to want, which was quite understandable given the hot afternoon and that he was carrying a very large pack. I’ve included the photo just to show the existence of a path leading up to Barrow Door from the main path beside Stonycroft Gill.

A look back along the path now that we are a good way down it. The lighter green areas are full of young bracken which is now becoming quite tall even though it hasn’t fully matured at present. It has even managed to establish itself in some of the more heather covered areas and, although its only a foothold at the moment, we can only hope that it doesn’t take over completely.

J is some distance behind me as I stop to take a look back at Causey Pike so I waited until he caught up with me. We’re back on the rough path again and his ankle is grumbling about it.

We’re almost back down to Stoneycroft now and when we round the bend in the path we’ll be back on the path leading to the parking area. We’ve just been passed by two large groups of teenage boys heading upwards, all wearing hard hats, accompanied by their teachers and what we took to be gill scrambling instructors. When we reached the parking area there were two large groups of teenage girls similarly attired in hard hats and getting themselves ready for their afternoon activity. They also headed up the same path as the boys. If they were heading for a gill scrambling activity none of the teenagers were in danger of being soaked to their skins as there was very little water in the gill. I don’t suppose that would make any difference to them anyway, I’d bet they were just pleased not to be stuck inside a classroom on such a lovely day. The parking area was filled with the minibuses which had transported them and a few cars had filled the last remaining spaces. So a quiet start and a busy ending and in between a fantastic walk surrounded by wonderful scenery. Shall we drive home and have a nice cup of tea just to round off the day? Oh go on then, if you insist.

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Walk date – 14th May 2025

Distance – 5 miles

Weather – dry, very sunny and warm, light breeze, very little cloud, long distance haze

 

As we have had no serious rainfall for a few weeks now we decided to take a walk up to Great Crag and, to begin with, explore the area on the eastern side of Dock Tarn. We haven’t had the opportunity to do that on previous visits as the land and the established path on the western side of the tarn has always been very wet/muddy so we knew that the state of the ground on the opposite side would be just as bad, or maybe even worse, and nobody wants to go exploring off path over rough heather covered ground while sinking up to the ankles into wet stuff. After our exploration we crossed Green Combe and took to the established path and eventually visited the two tops marking the summit of Great Crag. We then descended Great Crag, crossed over the usually soggy, but bone dry today, ground between and made our way over to Grange Fell. There was less of a breeze today, the sun shone out of a more or less cloudless blue sky and the windproofs and mid-layers we had brought with us stayed in our packs all the time we were out.

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Route

Watendlath – Dock Tarn (east side) – Green Combe – Dock Tarn (west side) – Great Crag – Grange Fell – Puddingstone Bank track – Watendlath

As we arrived in Watendlath we breathed a huge sigh of relief when we noticed a bin lorry turning around to begin its journey back down the Watendlath road after collecting the bin bags from the hamlet’s few houses. Meeting a bin lorry on a narrow road which doesn’t have many passing places is not a sight anyone wants to see. Our early arrival meant an empty car park, locked toilets, and a closed cafe/tea garden. Having got our various bits and pieces together we walked through the deserted hamlet, crossed the old stone footbridge over Watendlath Beck and took to the path to begin our walk up to Great Crag.

Walking alongside Watendlath tarn with a view of Great Crag (R) ahead of us. Its a beautiful morning with only a very slight breeze ruffling the surface of the water and, apart from the occasional quack from a duck, there was no sound to be heard.

Great Crag comes into view as we cross the path, which had no muddy sections at all today, leading over to the wall.

J holds the kissing gate open for me as I stop to take the shot. Instead of following the usual stepped path up to Great Crag we veered off the the left after passing through the gate.

A look back down to the gate where the stone track can be seen leading upwards from the gate. We are on a grassy path just a short distance from the stone one and which takes a horizontal line across the hill to meet another path going up the hill.

The path climbing up the hill eventually disappeared so we made our way through the heather filled slopes via various sheep tracks and intermittent grassy areas. Reaching the top of one slope gave the above view of some of the humps and bumps along Great Crag. From time to time we noticed a couple of groups of walkers making their separate ways along the lower paths of the fell, although at this distance it was difficult to see them as they kept disappearing behind the many outcrops and hillocks between us and them.

Eventually we reached the top of one of the hillocks where Dock Tarn suddenly came into view. The view is of the southern end of the tarn and is where walkers would eventually arrive if they were walking up to Great Crag via the Lingy End and Willygrass Gill path from Stonethwaite.

We decided to drop down towards the tarn and test out the dryness of the ground with the option of making for the higher ground on our left if things proved to be too soggy. The 1:25 scale OS map is somewhat vague in its naming of the heather covered hills just ahead of us, it does have the words Black Knott printed over this area, although our route map doesn’t, but it is not clear if Black Knott applies to a specific hill or just the general area. However, I can tell you that over on the right of the shot is High Raise (Langdale) and on the left, behind the heathery hills, is Ullscarf.

We moved down closer to the edge of the tarn to be able to see what can’t be seen from the path on the western side. There are a couple of small bays/inlets which would be an ideal place for a picnic/swim/sunbathe on a day like today. The ground was firm and dry on the whole, there were a few springs bubbling up from the ground here and there but they were easily stepped over, and the only irritant was the scratchy heather on our bare legs. The Herdwicks, of which there were several around, seemed to avoid it too, probably because it catches on their fleeces.

More heathery scratching at our legs between the grassy patches as we dropped down towards the tarn with the ground still firm and dry underfoot. AW on his Great Crag opening page remarked “Lakeland is not usually associated with heather – but here it thrives with a tropical vigour and walking through it is arduous and difficult.’ He wasn’t wrong about that but we weren’t in a hurry and the weather was lovely so we just took our time.

At the tarn’s edge and looking due west across to Great Crag. Its wonderful to be able to see views that have previously eluded you.

We kept close to the water’s edge for the most part but occasionally had to move to slightly higher ground as we walked around the tarn. We are getting closer to the southern end of the tarn now, the area marked on the map as Green Combe, which is brought to a halt by the crags at the far end of it. Once again the OS map is vague about which of those tops in the shot is the one named as High Crag.

We’ve almost crossed over Green Combe at this point so I took a look across at where we had our first view of the tarn after our climb up from the kissing gate via the grassy path. The high point on the left skyline is where we emerged and from where we were able to descend via the grassy rake down to the tarn. The walk beside the tarn had more heather than grass and was a little higher in places which made it difficult to keep strictly to the water’s edge but it was quite do-able.

Having crossed Green Combe we more or less landed straight on the path around the western side of the tarn and proceeded to make our way over to Great Crag.

We stopped at this tarn inlet for a few minutes while we each tucked into a chocolate bar and just sat quietly enjoying the view, the sunshine and the peacefulness of it all.

A brief look into Borrowdale as the path we were following led us upwards towards one of the summits of Great Crag. Over on the left are the twin slopes of Bessyboot (Rosthwaite Fell) and Glaramara (Thorneythwaite Fell), across the valley is Base Brown above which are Green Gable and Great Gable, and over on the extreme right the top of Pillar is just appearing.

One of the two summit cairns of Great Crag nearest the camera, the other one is also in the shot just a short distance away, a path links the two summits.

More or less the same view as the previous photo although now we can see the tops of Bessyboot and Glaramara, with Bowfell, Great End and Lingmell also showing on the left skyline.

Looking due south on the skyline from L to R is High Raise, the little pimple of Pike O’Stickle, the faint bumps of Pike O’Blisco and Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Glaramara.

Looking back towards Dock Tarn above which is High Saddle and Ullscarf, the long sweep of Greenup Edge rising up to Low White Stones and High Raise.

Looking east towards the Helvellyn range flanked on the left by Raise and Stybarrow Dodd, and on the right by Fairfield.

To the north east are Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise and White Side.

Immediately below us is Watendlath and its tarn above which is High Seat and its connecting ridge over to Bleaberry Fell.

Great Crag’s second summit cairn with a very indistinct Skiddaw group on the skyline.

The view more or less due west is of Dale Head, High Spy and Maiden Moor.

We made the very short journey over to the second summit cairn before beginning our descent and crossing over to …..

….. Grange Fell via the path across the flat and usually very wet ground.

A party of young male walkers all carrying large and heavy packs and probably one of the groups we had seen earlier was beginning to descend via the stone pathway shown in the above shot so before they came by I took the shot to show the alternative path, which disappears in the upper right of the shot, we used to get to the tarn area. The young men all strung out along the path gradually came along, made their way down to the kissing gate and having passed through it began their journey along the established path back down to Watendlath.

We passed through the gate a couple of minutes later and made our way across the bone dry ground towards the Puddingstone Bank path going between Watendlath and Rosthwaite heading for Grange Fell.

We decided not to use the stile and walk up on the right hand side of the wall just for a change. On the way up we had a quick natter with a solo walker who mentioned that using the path on this side of the wall meant that he didn’t have to lift his dog over the stile. There’s no need to cross the stile anyway because …..

….. there is a stile where the cross wall meets the one coming up Grange Fell. The Grange Fell wall comes to an abrupt end at this point and once over the stile we are on the open land around the top of the fell. I did wonder how the solo walker and his dog we had just chatted with had tackled this hurdle.

We followed the path from the stile around various rocky bits and pieces for a short distance and almost without warning we were on the top which two young female walkers had just vacated. Looking east from the top is this view of High Seat where we were standing just a month ago on 9th April. There had been no rain for a few weeks on that occasion too and we walked from Bleaberry to High Seat with dry boots just as we’ve been doing today.

The skyline views on display from Grange Fell are – the Helvellyn group over in the east …..

….. the view south towards Low Saddle, High Saddle, Ullscarf and High Raise …..

….. due south is the skyline view of High Raise, Pike O’Stickle, Pike O’Blisco, Cold Pike and Bessyboot …..

….. to the south west is Bessyboot, Glaramara, Great End, Scafell Pike and Lingmell …..

….. Scafell Pike and Lingmell again on the left, Great Gable, Green Gable just below it, Brandreth, Grey Knotts and High Scawdel …..

….. looking more westward now for a view of Dale Head and High Spy …..

….. High Spy and Maiden Moor …..

….. King’s How below us and Maiden Moor, with Grisedale Pike trying to muscle in, on the skyline …..

….. Catbells with a hazy Barf and Lord’s Seat right behind it …..

….. the Skiddaw group, still looking indistinct and hazy, beyond Keswick …..

….. with Blencathra’s distinctive shape just showing behind Bleaberry Fell …..

….. and finally, to complete the circle, the Bleaberry Fell – High Seat ridge.

The rocky top of Grange Fell (Brund Fell is its summit name) is also worthy of a photo, two in this case as its quite long and difficult to get into one shot. This is the southern end of the rockscape …..

….. and this is the northern end. The darker green blobs are tufts of grass not walking boot indentations which they might appear to be at first glance. Why they should be growing amongst ordinary grass I have no idea but there must be some horticultural reason for it. You have to admit, albeit somewhat grudgingly at times, that some of these lower height fells punch way above their weight when it comes to the views to be had from them, encircled as they are by the giants from whose summits long distance views can sometimes be quite restricted. We had a coffee and sandwiches break while we were up here, after which I wandered around taking photos while J removed boots and socks and did a through de-seeding and de-heathering of all of them.

We used the same path for the descent as we did for the ascent as we made our way back to the Puddingstone Bank track. Its just turned 1.00 pm now, the sun is at its highest and the day is becoming very warm and practically breeze free. During our descent we again met up with a pair of walkers who had arrived on one of Great Crag’s summits just a few minutes after we did and were obviously doing the same route as we were. Another quick chat ensued.

We’re almost back down in Watendlath and the sound of lots of voices begins to drift up towards us. When we were finally down we could see that many more people had arrived, some sitting beside the tarn, while others were seated in the cafe garden having lunch or a cup of tea/coffee with cake, or making the most of an ice cold drink, just as we did in the garden’s cooling shade. When we got home I had a look to see what AW had to say about Grange Fell and he wrote thus -‘Not strictly the territory of fellwalkers perhaps, …..yet those who would hurry past ….. would do well to turn aside to it once in a while, alone and quietly walk its sylvan glades and heathery top. The exercise will not tire the limbs, but it will do the heart and spirit and faith of the walker a power of good and gladden the eye considerably.’ I couldn’t have put it better myself, nor do I intend to because the walk we’ve had in today’s lovely weather has done exactly what he said it would do.

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Walk date – 7th May 2025

Distance – 8 miles

Weather – dry, mostly sunny with a short cloudy spell late morning, chilly north easterly breeze at height

We drove over to Orthwaite today to take a walk over some of the Uldale fells, Meal Fell in particular, which we haven’t set foot on since 4th May 2015, ten years ago. The intervening years have come and gone and despite walking the Uldale fells during that time for some reason or other Meal Fell hasn’t been included. Today we decided to put that right as the weather was forecast to be more of the same type we’ve been having for the last few weeks although the north easterly breeze was likely to be quite chilly and stronger, which it was especially as we climbed higher. We had a cloudy spell late morning which turned the temperature down a bit but it didn’t last long and by the early afternoon the large clouds had broken up and we ended our walk in much the same conditions as we had started out. It was also a good time to visit Knott again as we were hoping, after a few weeks of dry weather, that the squelchy ground between it and Great Sca Fell wouldn’t be quite as wet as it usually is. It wasn’t and we had a dry and mud free walk as we walked from one to the other.

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Route

Orthwaite – Horsemoor Hills – Brockle Crag – Hause Gill – Knott – Great Sca Fell – Meal Fell – Great Cockup – Orthwaite Bank – Orthwaite

We made our way down the road from Orthwaite where we had parked on the empty concrete parking area in front of the barns opposite Orthwaite Hall. There is an honesty box attached to the wall so we popped three £1 coins into it, gathered our gear together, switched on the gps and set off down the road to this wooden gate just a short distance from the parking area.

The gateway leads on to this track across the Horsemoor Hills with a view of the Skiddaw group directly in front of us. Its a lovely sunny morning, the hawthorn trees and bushes are in full bloom and the breeze is intermittent at valley level.

Not too far from the gate we leave the track and take to the path leading up over Brockle Crag. Jumpers were removed at this point as we didn’t really need them for the time being. Lots of fully flowering gorse bushes along the way which were nice to look at but we were wary of coming into contact with them as they are covered in spikes. Gorse spikes and bare skin do not get on well together.

J on the path leading up to Brockle Crag. The bracken is beginning to appear but at present its only a few inches high. August 2019 was the previous time we used this path and the bracken then was much higher so it was nice to be able to see the route clearly today. The path climbs steadily, with the occasional level stretch, up to the peak over on the right of the shot.

Up on the peak of Brockle Crag looking towards Orthwaite and Binsey. The patch of gorse and our route through it are below us, over on the right.

From the peak of Brockle Crag the path levels out for a short distance which offers some good views of Dead Crags on Bakestall and Broad End, behind Bakestall, and the Cumbria Way path below them. Dash Beck runs through the valley bottom. I had hoped for a long view of Dash Falls further up the valley but the dark shadows around the area leading up to the falls put paid to that idea.

The level path across Brockle Crag begins to drop down the valley leading us into the valley, across Dash Beck and around the lower slopes of Burn Tod into Hause Gill.

We enter Hause Gill and make our way along the narrow path which changed from time to time, gravel, grass, scree and one particularly wet area where it completely disappeared from view. The wetness must have originated from an underground spring since we haven’t had enough rain lately to create such a wet and muddy area. J mentioned that he could see two people coming down towards us but as they were walking down quite carefully they didn’t appear to be fell runners. When we met up with them we could see that they weren’t. We had a brief chat with them before we and them carried on with our respective walks.

The gill becomes a little wider further up where it becomes more grassy and where the stony stream bed can be seen. Getting across to the grassy area involved …..

….. crossing over a few slithery scree areas as can be seen when I took a look back at them from the grassy area. The stream bed is quite dry from this point but just out of shot on the left is the point at which the water in the beck behind me disappears into the ground. It must re-appear at some point below us as it eventually joins up with Burntodd Gill and then flows into Dash Beck. The chilly wind had been blowing straight at us as we made our way up the gill and increasing in strength as it did so.

We’re almost out of the gill at this point so, having found a flatter area on which to perch ourselves, we decided to put our jumpers back on (and have a chocolate bar break) before putting our heads above the parapet and venturing out onto the open fellside.

The view back down the gill to Brockle Crag after putting a long sleeved layer on and stuffing ourselves with chocolate. After that it was time to …..

….. take to the open fellside, brave the chilly wind and head up the hill towards the summit of Knott. After a couple of minutes in the wind I put my gloves on as well! On the way up we met a couple who had just made their way up to Knott via the Grainsgill route from the mining area at the top of the road from Mosedale where they had parked their car. They were going over to Great Calva next and then were planning to return to their car via the Cumbria Way. We also met a solo walker who passed the time of day with us before going on his way.

As we continued on our way I took a few shots of the surrounding fells, here’s Great Calva from the path up to Knott …..

….. Bannerdale Crags, Blencathra with Mungrisedale Common just below it …..

….. the Skiddaw group on the skyline and, in the bottom right corner, is Hause Gill from which we’ve recently emerged …..

….. followed by a pleasant walk across the flatter area leading over to the summit of Knott.

Visibility was better than on our last walk but still wasn’t of the ‘superb or excellent’ variety which had been mentioned in weather forecast. Nevertheless visibility was reasonable enough for a few photos from the summit of Knott. From L to R in the above shot are Carrock Fell, Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags …..

….. Blencathra on the skyline behind Mungrisedale Common …..

….. Lonscale Fell (L), Great Calva (C), Jenkin Hill and Lower Man (R)  …..

….. skyline views of Blease Fell (L), Clough Head & The Dodds (C) and Lonscale Fell (R) …..

….. filling the skyline is the ever present view of the Skiddaw group …..

….. and, after waiting for a cloud to move away, the summit cairn on Knott flanked by High Pike (L) and Carrock Fell (R).

After taking the previous few shots we were beginning to feel the wind chill so we started descending to Great Sca Fell, that’s the one with the dark green path on the upper right of the shot. The darker patches in the dip below indicate where the wettest areas are usually situated. Everything was bone dry today and it was a pleasant walk across, with no bog-hopping diversions, despite the large clouds beneath which the temperature dropped a few degrees.

The summit cairn on Great Sca Fell from where I took a look back at Knott. the dip between the two is where the usually wet ground is located. The clouds are joining forces at the moment but we still get the occasional glimmer of sunlight. I took the above shot just after a solo walker approached from Knott, gave us a quick hello and immediately turned along the path going down Great Sca Fell.

After taking the previous shot we also began to descend the very steep path down Great Sca Fell, so steep at the moment that we couldn’t see the solo walker who had walked by us just a few seconds before. The path was very dry and dusty so we moved away from it and descended via the grass.

Frozen Fell and Burn Tod to our left as we descended with the Skiddaw group on the skyline, and on our right were …..

….. Lowthwaite Fell and Longlands Fell behind the fellside coming down from Little Sca Fell. As we descended we could see the progress of the solo walker ahead of us. He reached the dip at the bottom of Great Sca Fell when we were halfway down it and reached the top of Meal Fell as we had just started climbing up it.

By the time we reached the summit cairn and shelter on Meal Fell the solo walker had disappeared and we didn’t see him again. It was just as chilly in the breeze on Meal Fell summit so we followed the path round to the shelter hoping for some respite from it but there was none to be had. Instead we dropped down a short distance behind it and found a sunny and wind free spot where we could sit and get the coffee and sandwiches out.

After the coffee and sandwich stop we began descending Meal Fell with its similarly steep path down to Trusmadoor …..

….. although the path is so steep that you almost have to be standing in Trusmadoor to be able to see it. In the above shot we can see two walkers heading up the Great Cockup path from Trusmadoor but we can’t yet see Trusmadoor itself.

The path up Great Cockup isn’t all that long but in its initial stages it is very steep. Where the gravelly path changes to a grassy one the gradient is somewhat easier and that eventually becomes a steady pull up to the summit. By the time we reached Trusmadoor, took the following shot and began the climb up to Great Cockup the two walkers had disappeared and we didn’t see them again either.

The view to the north west from Trusmadoor, the name of the gap between Meal Fell and Great Cockup. The larger clouds seem to have broken up so we are looking forward to a sunny afternoon.

The view across Trusmadoor as we begin the climb up Great Cockup. The summit shelter on Meal Fell is just about visible on the skyline.

Its a steady pull up Great Cockup but at least the grassy path is kinder on the feet than the gravelly stuff at the beginning of it. Its still breezy but not as chilly as it was on Knott now that we have lost a lot of height.

This is the shot I chose for the top of the page photo as it shows the fells on today’s route. It was taken from the path up Great Cockup looking back to Meal Fell, just behind it is the path coming down from Great Sca Fell and the dip between it and Knott. The summit of Knott is just visible over to the right behind the hump of Frozen Fell.

As we were climbing the Great Cockup path we began to hear the low drone of an aeroplane’s engine and looked back in the direction of the sound. We saw a large ‘plane flying low and slow above Great Sca Fell, J thought it was probably a US air force C17 as it had such a distinctive sloping tail fin. It certainly wasn’t zooming noisily above us like the others they use to deafen everybody when they fly low over stretches of water in the Lake District. We’ve seen a lot of this type of ‘plane above us in the Eden Valley just lately which begs the question what cargo have they carried, or are carrying, and who is on the receiving end of it?

The summit cairn on Great Cockup isn’t anything to write home about but the backdrop of the Skiddaw group more than makes up for it.

From the summit we make our way over to a path across the top of Great Cockup. The view doesn’t change much, with Bass Lake on the left and Binsey on the right and that’s pretty much it so I didn’t take many photos along here.

We came across a few grouse butts along the way. This one was well built and quite deep and would have easily hidden a couple of grouse shooters in the past. As we didn’t see, or disturb, even one grouse as we walked across perhaps they aren’t used any more. If there are no grouse then there won’t be any need for grouse butts.

Tramping along with Binsey and Over Water always in view. Over Water together with Crummock Water and Chapelhouse stopped being reservoirs from March 2023 following the completion of the pipeline from Thirlmere to West Cumbria, the area which used to be supplied with water from the above named reservoirs but which is now supplied from Thirlmere via the pipeline. United Utilities’ West Cumbria water abstraction licences have been permanently withdrawn and they have a legal obligation to remove all the ‘fixtures and fittings’ which constitute the makings of a reservoir. The end result of which is causing some consternation amongst local residents, lowering of water levels, flooding, loss of amenities etc. etc. Apparently United Utilities have been slow in publishing their future plans for these bodies of water with the result that no-one really knows what is going to happen hence all the consternation. Hopefully it will be resolved before too much longer.

The little hamlet of Orthwaite comes back into view as we round Orthwaite Bank and descend back down to the gate we passed through this morning. It looks gentle enough but it was quite a steep descent and we were both pleased to reach the gate and take off the brakes. We’re now back to bare arms but I can’t recall just where the jumpers came off, probably at the grouse butt where we stopped so I could take a photo of it. Anyway its been a very sunny and warm walk back down to Orthwaite.

We took to the tarmac again after passing through the gate and after a five minute walk back up the hill we were in Orthwaite again and passing Orthwaite Farm, although it doesn’t appear to be a working farm any more as the external appearance seemed to suggest it is now a private residence.

Back at the concrete parking area and where Orthwaite Hall is just across the road. The hamlet is absolutely silent with no-one around, the afternoon is warm and sunny and the few vehicles which do come along the road do not stop at any of the houses. We stow our gear in the boot, glug down some water and flop down onto the car seats. J’s ankle is grumbling and so is my back but we’ve had a good day’s walking in fine weather. The aches and pains will be gone tomorrow but the walk we had will always be there in our memory, especially the dryness in the dip between Knott and Great Sca Fell, now that really was unusual!

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An extra piece of info re the Judicial Review of the application for a visitor attraction at the Burlington quarry near Chapel Stile in Great Langdale. The review was held on 30th April this year but Mr Justice Mould did not come to an immediate decision regarding the matter in hand and reserved judgment on the case instead, so the final judgment is still awaited. More details about this and related information, plus a video on testing out the ‘sustainable travel plan’ submitted by the applicants (it turns out not to be so sustainable after all) can be obtained at the following link –

https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/News/postcard-from-the-lakes-may-2025