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" Hopegill Valley in the sunshine "

Date & start time: Monday 21st May 2012, 4.55 pm start. ( NY 143 211 )

Location of Start : The fell gate on the Swinside Road, Lorton Valley, Cumbria, Uk.

Places visited : Hopegill Valley

Walk details : 2.2 mls, 600 ft of ascent, 1 hr 25 mins.

Highest point : Sheepfold under Hopegill Head  1191 ft - 366 m.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Sunshine and blue skies all the way.  Very warm.

 

 " Hopegill Valley in the sunshine " at EveryTrail

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On our return from holiday the weather was too nice to stay in and too hot to spend all day tidying the garden and catching up on other chores. 

The dogs needed a walk and so did we at the end of a busy day.

One of the few gated road around here is the one up to High Swinside Farm and through to Whinlatter.

We drove as far as the first gate and parked, having chatted to our distant neighbour along the way.

The road continues towards Whinlatter . . . but we don't.

We take to the fell path up Hopegill Valley.

Ahead is Dodd with the Whiteside ridge and Hopegill Head just starting to show.

In the last two weeks since we've been away, everything has turned green.

The trees around Hope Farm are nearly in full leaf.

Unperturbed by ourselves or the dogs, the sheep wonder lazily ahead of us.

The weather is so warm today no-one is rushing anywhere.

An old sheep fold down by the river . . . or should that be the beck . . . or even gill.

Ann relaxes by the . . . water.
The dogs chose a more full-on approach.

Time to re-join the main path.

The steeper climb over, Ann stops to admire the view up ahead.

Walking up the valley we have closed in on Hopegill Head.

There are about three naturally seeded trees in the valley.  This is one of them.

Damp from their swim in the river's pools, Harry and Bethan are enjoying being out and on familiar ground once again.

Later in the year the Ladyside heather will be a bright purple.
The end of the valley . . . and a final sheep fold.

" A sheepfold . . . too hot to be indoors on a day like today "

The lambs are well grown now but still enjoy a little of mother's milk if they can.

Time to turn around as we are not intending to climb any further.

The distant views are slightly hazy already . . .

but we can make out the hills of Scotland over the Solway Firth.

It's that tree again as we re-trace our steps.

A last cool off in the river for the dogs and it's back to the car for the short trip home.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with Ann's Canon Sureshot SX 220 camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

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Previous walks - 8th to 19th May 2012 Scottish Islands Holiday

A previous time up here - 24th May 2008 Five go to Hopegill Head

Next walk - 24th May 2012 Early Morning Valley Mists