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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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I really drew the short the short straw with the weather today, It was warm and sunny at home, family holidaying in Devon were complaining of the heat and even David who is visiting Arran got a suntan. My day started off dull but dry and then progressed to duller and rainy.
I have wanted to explore the paths heading east from Staveley for a while so left the village over Barley Bridge, past the weir and uphill on Hall Lane.
I left Hall Lane for this path climbing up through the fields heading for Brunt Knott farm.
Looking back to Reston Scar.
Brunt Knott seen from where the path descends to the road. This way is probably longer than the direct route by the road but was much nicer than walking along the narrow road.
The path steepens as you leave Brunt Knott farm but only slightly.
Very little in the way of views today although that might be Black Combe faintly visible in the distance.
I take a more direct route to the top struggling over these rocks pretending to be a climber.
Not a lot to see from the top..
Dropping down towards Longsleddale, It's very wet underfoot but I'm quite enjoying the remote feel to the hills.
I was wondering if I would be able to cross Dockerknook Gill so was pleased to see a unmarked footbridge.
A nice lunch spot in better weather.
Nearly at the valley floor now. I originally was going to walk up the valley and come back by the path through Till's Hole farm but in a fit of madness decided to climb onto the Bannisdale fells opposite and walk back above the valley.
Dockernook Crag. The path comes over the hill at the low point on the left.
After a walk down the road I climbed the path through Murthwaite and then trespassed slightly to cut the corner to Whiteside Pike..
Apart from a runner near Staveley I had seen no one on the fell so was surprised to see a figure watching me whilst having a break sheltered by the wall out of the wind. but then I cleaned my glasses and then remembered that Whiteside Pike has a distinctive cairn.
The cairn on Whiteside Pike.
The cairn contains this stone with the inscription " The parishes of Fawcett Forest Whitwell & Selside met here 28 08 2000 " So I presume the cairn was built for the millennium..
I have been to Todd fell before so see no need to visit it again today.
Although the path over Todd Fell was probably drier than my route. The path on the other side of the stile was even wetter and I sank up to my knee in one spot.
It's now just a case of following the fence up and down ( but mostly up ) the undulating ridge.
Skeggles Water is briefly seen across the valley. It's started to rain now
After coming down the steep path shown on the map which after the first few yards becomes a work of fiction I reach the top of Brow Gill. It's pouring down now but I get out the camera to take a quick photo to remind me to never come this way again. There is no path by the stream so after a spell of Via Ferrata on a rickety fence I climb out on to the steep hillside.
Which is steep and slippery. The Outdoor Pursuits centre is in the trees.
Unfortunately no bridge across this unnamed stream coming down from Great Howe but I just managed to get across without getting even wetter.
Great Howe seen from the path above Till's Hole. It's still a fair way to Staveley but It's mostly down hill and as I arrive back in the village the sun comes out