Day 1 Maryport, Cockermouth

Date : Sunday 2 October 2011

Area : West Cumbria

Walk : Maryport to Cockermouth

Start At : Maryport Habour

End At : Market Place, Cockermouth

OS Sheet : OL4

Distance M/k) : 9.5 / 15.3

Ascent (ft) : 900

Descent (ft) : 800

Route

From the Harbour in Maryport head due east through the town to join the A594, just after the railway bridge turn left through the woodland and along the path beside the river. This path is marked on maps as the Allerdale Ramble, follow this route all the way to Cockermouth.

Journey

Much of the planning for this year’s walk was done by Andy, I merely gave carefully considered advice such as “if you think I going up there after a 14 mile walk your … “ and “that’s to blood far”. I think my only constructive comment was probably “how about starting from Maryport”

This year’s walk includes a day that allows us a second look at a day we found testing on last years walk, as well as a second attempt at the day we had to cancel last year due to bad weather. Check out Lakes to the right

The weather during our journey from Derby to Carlisle on Saturday’s had been stunning, wall to wall blue sky and warm sunshine. On the train from Leeds to Lancaster the solar gain was so hot that most passengers sat on north side of the carriage to avoid the heat.

Our friends Ian and Gill picked us up from Carlisle driving us west down the coast of the Solway Firth, stopping at the Highland Laddie , where we spent a few pints getting up to date and talking over old times and about our planned walk walk.

Sunday dawned damp and misty with visibility down to around 50m. As Ian and Gill drove us to Maryport via Wigton, Aspatria we were taken with the wildly beautiful and windswept West Cumbrian countryside.

On reaching Maryport we parked by the harbour, the start point for our the five day walk to Ravenglass, further down the coast. The tide was out and at 9:30 on a Sunday morning the town was quiet.

We pulled on waterproof tops, leaving over trousers off in the vain hope that “it would brighten up in a bit”. It didn’t and about a mile down the way we gave in and accepted that the combination of rain, grass and mud meant that we needed to get our over trousers on.

Following the Allerdale Ramble out of Maryport we walked along the bank of the River Ellen where we slipped and slithered up and down a muddy path as it wound its way above the river among the steadily dripping trees. However, we were very fortunate and excited to see a red squirrel. Several photos were taken, unfortunately, the one below was the best. Andy was very impressed as it was the first red squirrel he had seen.

At Dearham we bid Ian and Gill farewell as they left us to return home to watch the rugby. Thanks a million for your hospitality and friendship guys.

We pushed on through Dearham and Row Brow along tracks and across sodden fields to Tallentire, where due to having our heads down in the driving rain we missed a stile, as a result we walked to the top of the hill and then back down and having crossed the stile back up again.

At the top of the field we entered a huge field, with dozens of cows, bullocks and or heifers in it as well as young calves and one enormous Brown Bull. Most of the cows and their offspring headed away to our left as we walked downhill across the slope to our right in the direction of the gate. The Bull was uphill of us, on our right and I have to admit to being a bit concerned, I loosened the straps on my rucksack, with its red rain cover, ready to ditch it and run, all the while keeping my eye on the Bull. In the time it took us to cross the field the Bull moved exactly five paces.

From here it was along the road to Bridekirk across the A595 and through parkland to emerge in Cockermouth.

Although it will take some time for all the damage caused by the 2009 floods to be completely restored there is little obvious evidence of it now and the town looked bright and attractive, with plenty going on. At our B&B we were told that some of their repairs had only recently been done, others will have to wait for the walls to dry more..

Riverside B&B was clean, friendly, good value and well located for amenities.

We had a superb meal and had a great evening in the Castle Bar

 Riverside

Day 2 Cockermouth, Keswick

Date : Monday 3 October 2011

Area : Cumbria

Walk : Cockermouth to Keswick

Start At : Market Place

End At : Eskin Street

OS Sheet : OL4

Distance M/k) : 14.7 / 23.7

Ascent (ft) : 1970

Descent (ft) : 1859

Route

The Allerdale Ramble heads East out of Cockermouth before swinging south east down the side of Bassenthwaite Lake and via a selection of routes into Keswick. We took the higher route through Millbeck and Applethwaite, mainly to avoid what we assumed would be a wet walk along the River Derwent.

Journey

I have to say my memory of this days walking is patchy, probably because it was a long walk with few high points. We left Riverside B&B having had a full breakfast sitting around the kitchen table chatting with our hosts, a nice way to start to the day.

The walk out of Cockermouth was a long drag through the outskirts of the town, then up the ridge leading to Watch Hill, before heading down along a forestry track and along the road to Isel Bridge where we had a chat with a chap about to start fishing on the River Derwent.

As we approached Armathwaite Hall we passed through a large area, possibly Howgill Wood where most of the woodland had been removed, it looked a very sad place.

A short while later in some sparse woodland we saw several large, quite high wire pens, then the even weirder sight of a black shape swinging elegantly through the trees, followed by a grey/white shape. It was surreal, apes doing a Tarzan impersonation in an English woodland in Cumbria!!!. We realised they were some sort of ape, possibly not but not chimps and then we saw a bird that looked like a small Emu and something we reckoned might have been a Tapir. Not that we’re experts.

A 100m later all was explained by a sign proclaiming “Trotters World of Animals” with a collection of several hundred animals. Wow

Excitement over we continued along the Allerdale Ramble down to the side of Bassenthwaite Lake passing through a series of fields and stiles, general without much of a view of the Lake.

Stopping near to St Bega’s Church we stuffed our jackets away and sat in the sun for a few minutes before thoughts drifted to Tearooms and refreshments. Which seemed to be a pretty remote prospect.

From the Church the path heads up to the Mirehouse, a historic house and gardens open to the public, then over the A591 to the car park and our wish came true as a Tearoom appeared. Here, as well as decent pot of tea and tasty cakes we were given some good advice as to the easiest route to Millbeck. We’d decided the climb around Dodd and through Thornthwaite Forest would be best avoided and the lovely tearoom lady directed us to the concessionary path that runs above the quarry to the Osprey Viewpoint (where we only managed to see a few LBJ's,) along a path well above the A591 nearly as far as Dancing Gate where we got back onto the Allerdale Ramble through Millbeck and Applethwaite into Keswick

Our B&B in Keswick was at Hawclffe House with Diane and Ian where as usual we had a warm welcome, a lovely room and a great breakfast.

 

Day 3 Keswick, Braithwaite, Buttermere

Date : Tuesday 4 October 2011

Area : Cumbria

Walk : Keswick to Buttermere

Start At : Eskin Street

End At : Buttermere YHA

OS Sheet : OL4

Distance M/k) : 8.9 / 14.3

Ascent (ft) : 2245

Descent (ft) : 2010

Route

From Keswick head west to across to Portinscale, and on to Braithwaite. From here the path runs south west up to Barrow Door, to the south of Outerside and up the East side of Long Comb.to the pass and down in to the valley below Sail past Blea Rigg and Whiteless Breast and in to Buttermere.

Journey

Another misty, chilly morning. As we walked to Portinscale and on to Braitwaite we recalled last year’s walk when we were caught in an epic rain storm close to the mines at the head of Coledale. The streams were flooded and impossible to cross so we ended up scrambling up the side of a rock face to enable us to get to the path up to Coledale Hause

This year our route took us up the gently ascending path from Braithwaite past High Coledale, between Stile End and Barrow and up to Barrow Door. Looking back Skiddaw and Blencathra were almost invisible in the mist.

Finally as we approached Barrow Door we both felt “the feeling”, this was it, this was what we came for, what keeps us coming back not the tops or the high fells but walking from place to place along ancient paths through the hills and over the passes.

As we passed below Causey Pike we could see the path ahead winding around the humps and hollows towards Outerside and High Moss. We stopped for lunch and a brew in the lee of an old sheepfold. While there we met our first walkers of the walk.

A short walk brought us to a point where we could look down on the Coledale mines, and see the tin hut where we had sheltered in last year and the route of the scramble up towards Coledale Hause.

As our path swung from west to south we could see how it climbed the side of Long Comb, clinging to the slope taking us up to the gap between Causey Pike and Sail our highest point of the day. The view here was fabulous the Derwent Fells and more behind them with the clouds sitting just above their heads.

From here it was a long, long descent along a sometimes indistinct path high above Sail Beck as we worked our way down into Buttermere.

We stayed at the Buttermere YHA for 2 nights, where the over sixties hostellers outnumbered the under thirties ones.

Day 4 Wednesday was always planned as a short day with the idea of having a rest but doing a local low level walk or maybe Haystacks from Honister. However the weather was poor so we took the bus to Keswick, had a look visiting various Cafes, shops and pubs.

Both evenings were spent in the  Fish Inn at Buttermere where we enjoyed good food and beer, great company and some lovely people to talk with, including a lady who was celebrating climbing her 214 Wainwright that very day.

Hi, to Norman and Diane from Crich, who didn’t complete a Wainwright.

Day 5 Buttermere, Ennerdale, Wasdale, Eskdale

Date : Thursday 6 October 2011

Area : Cumbria

Walk : Buttermere to Eskdale

Start At : Buttermere YHA

End At : Eskdale YHA

OS Sheet : OL4 & 6

Distance M/k) : 12.5 / 20.1

Ascent (ft) : 3150

Descent (ft) : 3372

Route
From Buttermere go south around the end of the lake, turn left following the shore line, at Peggys Bridge take the path up to Scarth Gap and down into Ennerdale, take the path up to Black Sail Pass and down into Mosedale and Wasdale Head. Head down to the car park on Wast Water, through Bracken Close and upwards to Burnmoor Tarn follow path to Eel Tarn and down to the Woolpack and on to the YHA


















Journey


Unfortunately due to high winds and heavy rain we had to abandon this walk last year, eventually making the journey by bus, train and La'al Ratty to Eskdale.


This year, Wednesday’s weather looked as if we might hbe in for a repeat of last years weather, even the forecast was pretty dismal. However, Thursday dawned bright and dry if a little breezy so off we trotted, past the Fish Inn and along the side of Buttermere heading for the path to Scarth Gap.

As we approached the start of the path we could see a small tracked excavator wobbling up the path. We caught it up where the path was diverted around a section of hillside that had been washed out by a beck flooding and where works were underway to rebuild the beck and the path. As we slowly climb we were overtaken by the second walker this year. As we climbed the views were fantastic Fleetwith Pike. Dale Head, Haystacks, High Stile.

Approaching Scarth Gap the mist/cloud dropped and the wind increased to the point where I started to wonder if we could get through. Then as we descended the wind dropped and the wild beauty of Ennerdale was laid out in front of us with the River Liza shining, silver bright against the green and brown. Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar were lined up opposite us while Haystacks loomed over us.

The walk down to Black Sail Hut seemed to take no time at all and suddenly we were there, inside having a cup of tea and a hut made flapjack.


Slogging up to Black Sail Pass we felt several small quick showers of rain. The fight to force our way against the wind was just as bad here as at Scarth Gap and just as quickly over. The walk down was pleasant, the views in the slight sunshine were inspiring. Then, when about a K from Wasdale Head just as we were looking forward to the food and drink we would have there out of the blue we were hit by a horrendous hail storm, it battered us, it blew and it stung. We weren’t wearing over trousers so while we stayed dry on top our trousers were soaked, in the end we just stood hoods up, rucksacks turned to the wind driven hail.


As quick as it started it stopped and the sun was shining.

After over an hour sitting in the Wasdale Head Inn we had fed were warmed up and about dryed out so we headed off for what we expected would be the easiest part of the days walk, a stroll over to Burnmoor Tarn and on to the Woolpack. How wrong we were.

Although we both walk in approach shoes so far today our feet had stayed pretty dry, which considering the walk so far was dam good. We decided not to walk down the road to get to Bracken Close, the start of the route to Burnmoor,  but to followed the bridleway instead, only to find that we had to cross three separate stretches of calf deep water. They were wide and cold. A bad start.

We found it a long drag up past Maiden Castle to Burnmoor Tarn, it was also muddy and wet. As we paddled our way past Burnmoor Tarn where its waters stretched way beyond its banks towards Eel Tarn we were blessed with three or four more hail storms, thankfully all of short duration.

While we both had multiple rants about the mud, the water or the hail we had some really good (albeit manic) laughs particularly when we took a joint running jump over a water swollen beck (you had to be there).


Descending from Eel Tarn, almost tasting refreshments at the Woolpack, basking in the pale red sunshine pouring in from the coast through a clear sky we were suddenly hit by another bout of hail. Queue another rant.


The Hostel was good, its one of my favourite, as was the food and drink at the Woolpack Inn

Day 6 Eskdale, Devoke Water, Ravenglass

Date : Friday 7 October 2011

Area : Cumbria

Walk : Eskdale to Ravenglass
Start At : Eskdale YHA
End At : Ravenglass
OS Sheet : OL6
Distance M/k) : 10.7 / 17.2
Ascent (ft) : 1245
Descent (ft) : 1491



 Route
From the YHA walk back past the Woolpack turn left down to Doctors Bridge cross and take the path to Low Birker and up to Whincop Bridge, Birkerthwaite and High Ground bear left over Birker Fell, around the south side of Devoke Water, past Barnscar down to the A595 close to Ellerbeck. Along the A595 over the River Esk on to the entrance to Muncaster Castle follow the path through the grounds and down to Newton then follow the Cumbria Coastal Path into Ravenglass.


Journey
This morning’s sky was a boiling mix of big white/grey clouds shot through with numerous patches of blue all in motion, driven by a moderate but chilly westerly wind. As we passed the Woolpack Andy and I agreed that the Woolpacks recent facelift had, in our opinion, not improved it much, yes the bar was longer, we just felt its style was out of place and not as comfortable as when we visited last year.

From Doctors Bridge it was along but steady climb with plenty of walls to cross we had a couple of navigational slip ups, signage is sparse and the path is prone to fade away. At Whincop the path becomes a track. Looking back there were some cracking views over to Scafell and in the distance I think the Langdales.

As we walked down the track towards Devoke water we could see it sat in a bowl and we knew we were in for another day of wet feet. Here we met a couple walking six or possibly eight Border Terriers all on extending leads, including some that split so there two dogs on one lead. We stopped to chat and make a fuss of the dogs, the dogs were friendly and loved the fuss.

Devoke water is a beautiful spot, ideal to stop for a brew but the wind was cold and unremitting as we pushed on hoping for a bit of shelter for lunch. Most of the way around the path was clear and not too wet, in other places it was pure bog.

At Barnscar we met a group of four girls on DOE, the third and last walkers we had met over five days.


On reaching the enclosure wall we assumed the worst was over, the DOE girl’s had said they struggle to get up, which we dismissed as a kids thing. How wrong could we be, those girls deserve a medal, it was horrible the first field was a morass we went knee deep in mud tripped and tumbled over massive tussock grass found little correlation between the route of the map, possible routes on the ground, the relationship of gates and stiles and the path was non-existent. Other than in jungles in Hong Kong and Belize this K and a bit was the worst piece of ground, below 250m I have ever walked through. I have worked with Rights of Way guys and the OS and respect them but someone has got this little bit of Cumbria horribly wrong.

We finally got lunch in the Tea Room at Muncaster Castle, highly recommended as is the walk down the long ridge walk from the Castle to Newton. At Ravenglass the tide was out and we were able to walk along the shore as we did so I noticed that the elevation on my GPS was -4, never seen a minus on it before.

Our B&B at Ravenglass was the place we stayed at the start of our Cumberland Way Walk in 2007,  Rosegarth , once again it was absolutely first class, thank you to Neil and team.

We had a super meal in the Ratty Arms on Ravenglass Station followed by an end of walk celebration in The Holly House Hotel there was a good crowd in which made for a lively evening See here for both places    

Rutland Water, Whitwell, Exton and Empingham

Date : 18 September 2011
Area : Rutland

Walk : Whitwell, Exton Empingham , Rutland Water

Start At : Car Park South of Whitwell

End At : Return to start

OS Sheet : Explorer 234

Start Grid : SK 9234 0830

End Grid :

Distance (M/k) : 10m / 16k

Ascent (ft) : 633

Descent (ft) : 633

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.
From the car park return to Whitwell, at the main road turn right to the Viking Way sign before the pub. Follow the Way signs north passing through Exton to Grid 9299 1290, take path east. In Osprey Wood cross the embankment take the path on right down steps follow past Fort Henry Lake to Horn Mill. Go downhill to a path on the right to Empingham. Where the paths cross on the hedge line turn left to Loves Lane, then right to the Village. At the A606 cross straight over into a small lane to a path on the right across fields to Rutland Water and along the perimeter path back to the car park.


Journey
As we drove towards Oakham and Rutland Water, the sky was overcast and the wipers were wiping intermittently, by the time we got to Whitwell it was dry and the sky to the south and east was clearing.


The Anglian Water car park at Whitwell costs £3 a day to park which is not bad considering the facilities available, toilets, café, cycle hire, adventure park and an outdoors shop.


The first section of the walk was along part of the Viking Way, a long distance walk between Oakham and the Humber Bridge (143miles).


Leaving the car park to walk up the hill into Whitwell we noted that there was a distinct autumnal feel/smell to the air. The path from Whitwell to the village of Exton starts along the drive way to the car park behind The Noel Pub,  keep to the left hand side to the top then over the stile and into the fields beyond.

This is a wide open farming countryside with attractive views over field to woodlands with the occasional house, barn or church spire in the distance. The path was a wide well mown field margin leading the way gently uphill, past hedgerows full of red and fat black berries. We gradually reached the crest of the ridge and descended into the village of Exton. In the short time since we left the car the air temperature had risen from 18 to 23 C.

Exton is a village of two halves the lower side is more modern housing while higher up the hill, neared the Hall, the houses are much older, more picturesque with plenty of stone and thatched cottages.

Passing by Pudding Bag Lane we continued up the Viking Way on Exton Estate roads, as we walked we were amused by a number of variously worded signs, set just off the path, all warning of great dangers if we dared to step off the right of way.

Later we passed a field full of cows and youngish calves, with a Danger Bull sign pinned to the stile on the far side of the field only, which is worrying. Thankfully we did not see a bull in the field.

North of Tunneley Wood we walked down into and up the far side of a large trough nearly 2k long, perhaps 300m wide and 25m deep. We turned east walking along its north side, where we stopped for lunch. I assumed that this feature was not natural and thought it possibly an old ornamental lake or river.

Back home, on the internet, I found out that it was the remains of an ironstone quarry and/or was the route of a railway line that ran clockwise right around  Exton Park and village, serving several ironstone quarries before heading off to Cottesmore (see Ironstone Tramways ) This perhaps explains some of the warning signs earlier in the walk as the map shows disused workings in that direction.

Nevertheless, the quarry and railway are gone and the remains have merged into the agricultural landscape with little sign of what was here only fifty years ago. We will have to come back and walk over several of the footpaths in the area one of which is marked on the OS Map as passing across one of the disused workings.

Turning south down some steep rough steps we walked into another world, a long tree lined ‘river’ valley that was enchanting to wander through, so peaceful and quiet. We stopped several times to listen, other than an insect buzzing or bird song it was silent. Surprisingly this was also on the line of the quarry railway.

Fort Henry Lake was stunning in the sunshine, the autumn colours starting to appear, the swans and cygnets on the lake, the last of the water lilies and Fort Henry.

Fort Henry is an 18th century folly, The estate website says of it: “The interior boasts the most elaborate plaster work and is a dreamlike setting for a summer lunch, dinner party or photo shoot, with only the swans to watch in this tranquil setting”. (See Exton Estate)

We wandered over the medieval village of Horn, which showed up quite well, and the lovely walk continued down the valley to the Trout Hatchery at Horn Mill where we watched the trout jumping and the spinning paddles aerating the water. The air temperature was now 29 C.

As we headed for Empingham, climbing steadily we met the conundrum of a ploughed field with no way marker in sight and no footprints to show the route, so we took the field edge option. Setting off anti clockwise we ended up walking three sides of the field. The next field was also ploughed, this time I checked the map.

In Empingham we wandered around looking for a shop, anything selling ice cream, without luck, the pub was packed, so we pressed on to Rutland Water and had a nice big 99 cone in the shop/cafe at the car park at the Butterfly Centre.

This was one on of the most satisfying walks we’ve done in some time, it was a journey, it was interesting, it was warm and sunny, which does make a big difference, we both enjoyed it. It rained all the way home.

Ivanhoe Way Day 3 Worthington to Stanton Under Bardon

Date : 11 September 2011

Area : Leicestershire

Walk : Ivanhoe Way Day 3

Start At : Worthington

End At : Stanton under Bardon

OS Sheet OS Explorer 245

Start Grid :4049 2060

End Grid : 4676 1115

Distance (M/k) :10.2 / 16.3

Ascent (ft) : 1080

Descent (ft) : 725

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

The Ivanhoe Walk is clearly marked on the map

Journey

We originally started out on this final leg of our Ivanhoe Way walk on Saturday 13 August but a couple of miles in a domestic problem brought the walk to a halt a rapid return to the car and a dash home. Thankfully things were soon sorted out but a day was wasted. Since then I have been embroiled in some fairly extensive decorating which has kept us from walking for nearly a month.

The first section from Worthington to Gelsmoor where we bailed out, was pleasant enough through a small housing estate across fields and along their edges until we came out on to the B5324, Rempston Road at Gelsmoor.


We resumed the walk by parking a car in the village of Newbold and wandered around to Rempstone Road passing The Gelsmoor Inn and joining the Ivanhoe Way at the first of the many, many stiles we would cross during the next 8 miles or so.

 In this first field there was a bunch of very curious blonde and red headed young ladies, who crowded us a little more than was pleasant and lead to the first navigational faff of the day, unfortunately not the last. Having sorted our mistake out, we pressed on passed Griffydam, around Peggs Green and across Swannington Moor towards Whitwick.

The land around these villages was for several hundred years the site of a half dozen collieries, plus the railway lines and industries associated with coal mining, we passed the headstocks from one of the pits as we walked. Indeed other than this remnant we saw little indication of the industrial past in the landscape, only fields, trees and hedges.

The numerous small fields, stiles and slightly strange waymarking caused several stops to check or correct minor navigation errors all of which slowed us down and broke up the rhythm of the walk which made this section of the walk less than enjoyable.

In Whitwick we walked down the wonderfully named Dumps Road to The City of Three Waters, which led us to the lovely Cademan Woods from here the walk took us through several housing estates and a stretch of woodland before skirting around Bardon Hill and quarry, across to Rise Rock Farm out onto the A511 and down to the the small car park to the north of Stanton under Bardon.

All in all we found much of this portion of the Ivanhoe Way walk disappointing and unsatisfying, but the dull, windy overcast day did not help. If I were to offer any advice to anyone contemplating walking the Ivanhoe Way, I’d say do it anticlockwise and possibly get the Whitwick, Ashby, Measham part done first.