Black Hill

The Grimley family joined me, Colin, Bev, Christine and Nick for a walk up Black Hill. We took the Pennine Way path up over Laddow Rocks to reach the new paved path up to the summit. The ground was still frozen so the going was good  over the normally boggy sections and the clear weather gave good views.

Heading towards Laddow Rocks

Laddow Rocks

The summit plateau from Laddow

Approaching the summit.

The paved path leads to a fence and stile, the fence has been erected to prevent sheep grazing in the summit area and has resulted in a substantial regeneration of vegetation in the area. What was once a boggy morrass on the summit plateau is now thick cotton grass and walking is a much more pleasant experience.

The summit.

We descended easily by Westend Moss and Crowden Great Quarry to the car park at Crowden.

Barnsley Boundary 2

The second leg of the Barnsley Boundary walk goes from Bretton Park to Brierly, a distance of about ten miles.
The walk starts of with an uphill section to Woolley Edge which, in altitude, is the high point of the walk. A slight navigational error took us up a path parallel to the correct one and through a scout camp.

View back from the scout camp.

After a section of road walking along Woolley Edge we descended towards Wooley village by Wheatley Wood

Heading towards Woolley village.

   The walk continues by quiet lanes towards Notton but crosses fields to the Applehaigh Clough. This is a pleasant spot with a clear stream flowing through a wooded ravine. The path then leads via disused railways and field paths past Shafton to Brierly. A pleasant enough walk but not as memorable the first section.

Barnsley Boundary Walk Part 1.

Colin had the idea to complete the Barnsley Boundary walk over a number of weeks completing one stage each week. On Thursday we, that is Colin, Bev, Jen and me, set off from Ingbirchworth in bright sunshine on the first stage to Bretton Park.
The start of the walk took us pleasantly through the typically bare, stone walled small pennine fields and wooded ravines to Upper Denby.

Approaching Upper Denby

After following the road through the village we took a footpath through more fields to Gunthwaite past the old barn parts of which date back to the 16th century.

Gunthwaite Barn

A flagged path leads down to Gunthwaite Dam and another lane then leads to a new development on the site of an old water mill in an idyllic position on Rons Cliff Dyke below Gunthwaite Bridge. A steep climb out of the valley then leads to a bridleway through woods to the A635.

Looking back to Rons Cliff Mill

Crossing the road another lane leads across fields past Jowett House with its large angry dog to Cannon Hall Park and a welcome cafe. From here the way continues uphill through Margery Wood to High Hoyland.

Approaching Cawthorne Park

Approaching Margery Wood

A path behind the houses at High Hoyland gave extensive views towards the town centre and also of a large flock of redwings in the nearby fields. This path led to Jeb Lane and into Bretton Park.

View to town from High Hoyland



Approaching Jeb Lane

 A short walk through the park finished a very enjoyable first stage.

Keswick Meet

The forecast for the weekend was uninspiring, wild wet and windy and how right they were. Me, Colin, Bev, Jago, Christine and Nick set out for Bleaberry Fell and High Seat via Walla Crag in heavy rain. Rivulets ran down the pathways and torrents tore down the river beds as we splashed upwards to Walla Crag.

Leaving Keswick

 As we gained height the wind increased until at the summit of Walla Crag we had difficulty keeping our feet.


Walla Crag Summit

 We decided after a very short discussion to cut short the walk and descend by Cat Ghyll to Borrowdale. The descent through woods by the Ghyll was quite picturesque and the waterfalls were impressive.


Cat Ghyll Falls

On reaching Borrowdale we returned by the lakeside path to Keswick.

Meanwhile Dave and Steven took a taxi to Buttermere and walked back to Keswick, Dave by the road and Steven by the high level path over the pass between Crag Hill and Ard Crags.

On Sunday the weather was no better and most decided on shopping or driving home. Me, Jago, Christine and Nick decided to take a look at Aira Force which was at its spectacular best with the noisy rushing water and spray flying all over the place.



Aira Force

We walked up the river enjoying views more smaller waterfalls and of a dipper bravely ducking under the water. Me and Jago decided to continue over Gowbarrow Fell which gave a short pull up to the summit where the clouds started clearing giving views northwards over the contryside east of Skiddaw.

Gowbarrow Summit

We continued northwards hitting the path which contoured round the east side of Gowbarrow giving extensive views over Ullswater.

The path led back to Aira Force for one last look before the journey home. The drive over Kirkstone Pass provided some unexpected excitement when we forded a deep flood above Ambleside.