Walks and days in the Lake District (mostly) - 2010
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| Halton Gill to Cosh in lovely Littondale - Monday 16 August - a lovely walk in peaceful Littondale. Short report to follow. |
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Simon's Seat, Wharfedale with OFC members Dave Dimmock and Simon Howard - Saturday 24 July - I wasn’t sure if I’d made the right decision in joining Dave Dimmock and Simon Howard on a walk to Simon’s Seat in Wharfedale. I am not very fit at the moment. They are! However, Dave has given me a lift to walks many times before so I thought it only fair to return the favour. We met Simon at Barden Bridge and set off down the peaceful river Wharfe stopping at the Strid for photos. There was quite a bit of water in it but I’ve seen it much more impressive. The weather was warm and humid, not my favourite walking conditions at all, and with no breeze it was difficult to keep my cool. We walked on down to the Cavendish Pavilion (popular place on the Bolton Abbey estate but quiet at this time of the day, which was still before 9 am). After crossing the wooden bridge it was only a short walk before we were into fields and on our way to the Valley of Desolation (owing its name to the desolation caused by a great storm in 1826). It is a tranquil place now and replanted with many trees. The valley is deeply carved in places and the lovely waterfall in Posforth Gill is well worth visiting. |
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| Martindale - Hallin Fell and a short walk on the slopes of Steel Knotts - Monday 5 July - we had semi arranged to meet up at Martindale Old Church with 2 OFC members who we hadn’t met before for a walk up Steel Knotts and Hallin Fell. Owing to them not knowing when they would be arriving in the Lakes to camp because of bad weather, it was cancelled. But Barrie, Sam and I hadn’t been in that area for a long time and they were 2 fells we hadn’t done together so decided to head that way. We went up the M6, on the way deciding to take a detour to Haweswater to see how much of the drowned village of Mardale was visible after the lack of rain. Some walls were showing and you could see where some streets had stood. It was quite sad to think of what had been there some years ago. I hope that they are soon covered again and left in their underwater graves. After that we drove round to Pooley Bridge then down the east side of Ullswater, past Howtown to the very beautiful and peaceful Martindale, parking by the Old Church, We set off up a very pleasant and gently rising green path and thought all was fine in the world. However, after walking for about an hour, with several photo stops, we lost the path completely. It should have turned back on us carrying on upwards. The bracken was too high to make much investigating possible so we had a quick change of plan. |
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An evening stroll by the river Wharfe at Burnsall with fellow OFC members Dave and Josie Dimmock - Tuesday 15 June - a leisurely stroll by the beautiful river Wharfe from Burnsall to the suspension bridge at Hebden (the original built by my great-great great-father in law, William Bell), passing by Loup Scar (no-one jumping off it this time) and back again. It was a perfect evening, warm and still and just right to chat away with good friends. This stretch of river is part of the Dales Way, which one day I hope to walk. Not in one go - I intend doing it in easy stages, hopefully starting fairly soon. Burnsall always bring back happy memories for me of my time in my teens spent working at the café on the green. The old café is long gone but the village hasn't changed that much, thank goodness. And a big thanks to Dave and Josie for the very pleasant company |
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Common Fell and Watermillock Common above Ullswater - Monday 24 May - Barrie's plan for a walk that took in fell tops, easy walking and super views was just perfect for our day in the Lakes. Starting from Dockray - good parking for several cars by Aira Beck, we were soon onto grassy slopes and very pleasant walking. It's much nicer than Gowbarrow Fell, just across the valley and much less frequented. We saw one other person all day and that was in the distance. The views over all of Ullswater must be among the best in the Lake District. We even managed a few 'summits' - Round How, Swineside Knott and Common Fell, which all make up Watermillock Common. As we walked south the views over Ullswater got better and better and our cameras were out permanently. It was a very pleasant walk of just over 4 miles.
I treated us to a drink at the Royal in Dockray - a pub that used to be a frequent stopping off place in my earlier walking days. I wish I hadn't - the prices were outrageous! Never again. Then it was our usual trip back via Hayes Garden Centre, Lakeland and the Mason's Arms at Gargrave for beer (for me) and chips (for Barrie). A great day out.
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Upper Wharfedale ramble with the Online Fellwalking Club - Saturday 17 April - it's always good to meet up with our friends - old and new - in the Online Fellwalking Club and Dave Dimmock had arranged an Upper Wharfedale walk taking in Buckden Pike - via the steep gill. Now we knew Sam wouldn't make it so we met up with everybody at Buckden car park and after refreshments at the tea rooms and a catch up with news we set off our way and they set off up the steep gill. Although it would be very pleasant that way with lovely waterfalls and interesting mines, our way was flat and easier! We followed the river through pleasant fields and riverside path to Hubberholme where we had a look around the old church then our one steep bit up to Scar House. We hadn't taken as long as we thought we would, even at our dawdling pace, and our possible intention of joining up with the main group didn't happen. We carried on the pleasant path through trees and scrub and then downhill to the hamlet of Yockenthwaite. We enjoyed a pleasant rest by the picturesque bridge before setting off along the riverside path back to Hubberholme then Buckden. |
Barrie was returning home for a flying club do so I had a lift back with Dave and Josie, followed by Ann and Roger (and dogs Bethan and Harry) who were staying with me for the night. Before they returned home next day Ann, Roger and I had a pleasant short walk on the moor above Ilkley.
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The fairy waterfall of Janet's Foss at Malham with Sophie and Hollie - Friday 9 April - would I like to be four years old again and believe in fairies? Not sure, but Hollie does believe in them and I'd promised her I'd take her to the fairy waterfall of Janet's Foss at Malham. Malham is only a half hour drive from home so after we'd picked up Mum at Skipton we set off to try and spot some of these elusive beings. Unfortunately it was still the Easter holidays and although we thought it might be quieter by Friday, the car park was full when we got there - about 11.30. The nice lady in the information office/shop (who lived in Silsden) said we were OK to be a coach for the day! So we had a nice large parking space all to ourselves! It isn't a long walk - a couple of miles or so, but just long enough. Hollie insisted on climbing every wall, even though she was in a hurry to see the fairies. Unfortunately, the crowds, when we got to the waterfall, had scared them away, although we did see a couple of what we thought could have been fairies, flitting about behind the waterfall. Ice creams back at the car rounded off a pleasant afternoon out with my two girls. And yes, I do believe in fairies.
Hollie feels the chill, but doesn't see any fairies. Or did she? |
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Mickleden - a lovely lazy valley walk - Tuesday 2 March - it really was time that we got back to the Lakes and what a fabulous day it turned out to be. We know that long strenuous walks will have to wait as Sam can no longer manage them. But we weren't feeling like anything strenuous (yet again - see previous few walks) and Mickleden is always a favourite of mine. You're surrounded by great mountains and can get the atmosphere without any of the effort. Snow was still lying on the high ground and against the blue sky looked terrific. It was an ambling day, much too nice to hurry. Now we don't like returning by the same route if there's any possibility of a different one. After a leisurely lunch at the junction of the Stake Pass turn off and the Rossett Gill path we explored the interesting sheepfold then made our way back down as far as the weir. Now there should have been a footbridge but this is now gone. However, the top of the weir is paved and was shallow enough for us to walk across, although on photos it looks as if we're walking on water! Then a pleasant walk back to the bottom of The Band, past Stool End and back to the car. A lovely walk - weather just right and the pace just right too. Our usual trip to Hayes in Ambleside and Lakeland at Windermere followed!
The photo is looking up Mickleden with Bowfell to the left and Rossett Pike to the right. |
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Humphrey Head - Monday 25 January - better weather than when we were there last time. We've walked on Humphrey Head once before and it had been a wet, windy and miserable day. So it had been on our list of places to go again when the weather was better. This time is was just cold but was in the area we fancied going to and not too far to go. At least this time we didn't make the mistake of taking the wrong path at the start of the walk - enough said! We walked right over the top and down onto the beach hoping to be able to walk back along the coastline. Unfortunately, the channels which hug the shore were just too deep to make it feasible. A notice board depicted a hanging boulder just over the edge of the cliffs but it was out of sight from the ridge. Barrie was determined to find it so on returning to the car, while I sat and got warm, he and Sam walked along the beach to find it. They did - but I didn't really think it worth the effort. It wasn't very big and not that impressive. Perhaps we'll go again on a sunny day as it is a very pleasant place to pass a couple of hours.
The photo is looking back to Humphrey Head from the beach. |
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