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| Date & Time: Wednesday 2nd May 2007. 6 pm start. ( NY 247 212 ) Location of Start : Hawes End (by the cattle grid), nr Keswick, Cumbria, Uk. Places visited : Catbells summit and back, then the Coledale Inn. Walk details : 4.5 mls, 1150 ft of ascent , 2 hrs. Walked with : Members of George Fisher's Staff, plus Ann and the dogs. Weather : A glorious summer evening, in early May ! |
Each year the staff of George Fisher's Outdoor Pursuits Shop organise a litter pick as part of their contribution to promote the Lake District and to make it a more enjoyable place to visit. The popularity of the Catbells walk means it receives lots of visitors so concentrating our efforts here may be particularly worthwhile. |
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The planned date this year coincided with a really nice spell of weather, so it was a wonderful sunny evening scene that greeted us as we gathered at Hawes End. Most staff members had driven across after their day at work. Me ? I had the day off so I arrived from the opposite direction.
Skiddaw and Longscale Fell from the Hawes End hairpin bends. Parking was in the trees just below the cattle grid.
Everyone gathered for the start, some changed their footwear, and all grabbed a bag and litter picker claw.
Helena and Christine make a start on the parking area itself.
Jan checks out the roadside verge. Ann and I opted for the route straight up the front of Catbells, others chose side paths or the road route along the side of the fell. The idea was to spread our resources and clean as much of the area as possible.
Soon above the trees, our panorama widened to include Blencathra to the right of Skiddaw and Keswick at the far end of the Lake.
Down in the trees, the Derwent Bay House, one time home of the Derwent Bay Bears. They have now moved to a new home at Newbiggin, on the A66 Penrith to Keswick road, where they continue to thrive.
Onward and upward we go, collecting hats, a child's glove, bottle tops, carrier bags and tissues as we go. Thankfully this year there seems less litter than on previous occasions, but the ubiquitous dog poo bags still manage to multiply. Even high up on the fell some people still manage to bag the dog litter then throw the non-biological package into the bracken close to the path. May I be so bold as to suggest they double wrap the bag and take it back down to a littler bin, or perhaps use the bag to clear the dog litter off the path and deposit it somewhere where it can bio-degrade discreetly, taking the empty bag home with them for proper disposal later. Either way it would be better than leaving it there for us, or other volunteers, to take it back on their behalf !!!
A litter-free view from the top of the first rise on the Catbells path. Ann checking the grass on that side.
It was certainly a great evening to be out. This is the remaining part of the Catbells climb, with an extended view to the right of Hindscarth and Robinson Fells and the remainder of the Newlands Valley.
A Herdwick Mum takes her new born lamb away from the path as we look across to High Lodore and Grange Fell on the opposite side of Derwent Water.
Near the top we met Simon who had travelled up from the opposite side of the fell.
Close behind were Mary, Rachel and Helena also working their way down the path.
Having nearly reached the summit Ann and I decided we might as well complete the climb. The author, accompanied by Bethan and Harry. (photo by Ann of course)
Turning for home, or should I say turning to go down to the pub for a meal, the lake and Keswick are now far below. No wonder Catbells is a popular fell with a view like this.
The others climbed down to the col and took the other path down to the left. We descended to the right and walked back on the fell side path above the road, crossing here to check the area and to catch a photo.
Harry has found a ball that someone else's dog had left behind, but he wouldn't allow me to bag it. He insisted on playing with it and carrying it all the way back himself.
After a rewarding walk, in more ways than one, we adjourn to the Coledale Inn for a little rest and recuperation. Thanks to Peter too for organising the evening. The results of our outing ? Well the fell side was a lot cleaner than in previous years - but spotless now we've completed our walk.
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- - - o o o - - - Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon G7 Digital camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . as empty a bag as possible at the end of the walk. Do your best to make our next visit as simple as this one . . . please. © RmH.2007 # Email me here # Guest book (on the front page) Previous walk - 30th April 2007 A circuit of Devoke Water A previous time up here - 30th April 2003 George Fisher Litter Pick on Catbells 2003 Next walk - 3rd to 10th May 2007 Keswick to Rannerdale and Home
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