" A Mill Beck, Buttermere walk " at EveryTrail
 

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The need to visit friends in Buttermere gave purpose to this next walk,

but it wasn't as planned due to the irresistible offer of tea, cake and a natter first.

Afterwards, a second objective was decided upon . . . a walk down Mill Beck through the village

and what started out as a simple dog walk became a delightful afternoon stroll, if slightly damp underfoot .

As you walk out along the road from the National Trust car park, you are greeted by this delightful Scots Pine

opposite Crag Cottages and Crag House Farm.

After that tea and chat, I started out again on a walk, deciding to go up onto the slopes of Rannerdale Knotts first.

The thicker snow of the last few days has been diminished by the warmer temperatures and the rain.

Climbing above the village now, the white house on the left is the old Buttermere Hotel, now the Buttermere Youth Hostel

One of Crag Farm's horses suitably wrapped against the cold.	Looking across at Sour Milk Gill waterfall.

Not sufficient time left in the day to extend the walk out to the end of Rannerdale Knotts . . .

. . . so I cut across to the Mill Beck Valley.

The road across the side of High Snockrigg is the Newlands Pass road to Keswick.

Two people had to be rescued from their car here this week as it turned sideways on the black ice

and ended up with two wheels over the edge of the three hundred foot slope down into the top part of the valley.

Zooming in on Bleaberry Comb and the summit of High Stile.

Further round to the east, the dramatic outline of Green and Great Gable, with Windy Gap between.

" Come on down . . . this is the way !"

The plan now is to follow the beck down through the village.

The woods are mainly deciduous trees with the occasional evergreen one adding a splash of deeper colour.

Tumbling waters as they make their way down the valley.	Leaving the main path for a closer look.

A side stream cascades down to join Mill Beck.	A green bridge crosses the gorge.

Buttermere Church on the other side . . . a more unusual view this time.

The beck itself cascades down into the village.

There was an ancient mill here for grinding corn but I've yet to discover where the old building and mill wheel were originally sited.

The small road bridge alongside the Bridge Hotel.	The Croft Cafe . . . open for business all year.

Spring snowdrops beyond the National Park car park.	The same Mill Beck as it flows past the Syke Farm camp site.

Bold Fleetwith Pike at the head of the Buttermere Valley . . . the snow behind is sitting on Grey Knotts and Brandreth.

A fine Herdwick ram grazes the meadow close to an old slate gate post.

His flock of ewes gather a short distance away and observe our passing . . . intensely.

Harry and I will pass on going down all the way to Crummock shoreline.

The path from here down to the trees on the left is quite wet and muddy in places.

Me and Harry . . . by a "me-and-er" in the stream !

We had crossed over the bridge and make our way back up towards the car.

Long How Woods.

Some path restoration work a few years ago meant that this area is nice and dry to walk along.

Back at the car at the end of a delightful little walk . . . a bright, dry spell in this continually wet and windy winter.