© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

 

There are several memorial gatherings on the high fells of the Lake District this Sunday.

We decide to repeat our last year's Remembrance visit to Castle Crag,

starting this year from Trevor and Gill's home in the village of Grange.

Our group today . . . a full picture for a change.

Myself, Jo (and Amber) Ann, Neil, Gareth (Harry & Dylan) Trevor and Gill (and the famous, now grown, Finlay of Borrowdale).

Home territory for Finlay as we set off up the road to Hollows Farm.

Our object-of-desire, Castle Crag, stands proud in the "Jaws of Borrowdale" scarred but unmoved by the glaciers of old.

The road turns to a track as we pass the campsite.

. . . and the track changes to a path as we cross the footbridge at the foot of the Broadslack Gill valley.

We take the higher track and pass a large slate quarry, long abandoned and fast being reclaimed by nature.

By the time we drew level the rain had stopped.

Time to climb the musical path up the slate heap towards the summit of Castle Crag.

High above us, eyes drawn upwards by the sound of their calling, a formation of geese passes overhead.

Who needs the Red Arrows when you have wild geese . . . oh, and note the blue sky !

On the platform at the top of the rise Gill and Trevor stop to admire the view

which included some thick white mist clinging to the top contours of higher, central fells.

The cloud level was quite extensive round from Skiddaw behind us to Ullscarf on the left of centre here, to Scafell Pike on the right.

Click here or on the photo above for a larger Loweswatercam annotated panorama

Ann's camera taken with a closer telephoto really shows the cloud layers.

Time to be heading on as many of the people are already up on the summit.

It looks like we'll be in luck with the weather as the blue skies increase in size.

Lovely views north as well over Derwent Water to the cloud-brushed summits of Skiddaw and Blencathra.

A photo from the summit rock, taken just before the start of proceedings.

Click here or on the photo above for a larger Loweswatercam panorama.

Help was required to secure a wreath on the memorial stone.

He leads the short Service, dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.

The short service included a prayer, the reading of the poem "Flanders' Fields", the names of those of the valley and of the Lancashire Regiments

who have given their lives in the Great War and more recently in other conflicts, and of course the two minute silence at 11 am.

- - - o o o - - -

Afterwards there's time to chat to fellow walkers, including Dawn Sharples and Don Dawber and their friends, David and Andrea Kirkup.

It seems Finlay wanted to be in the photo too.

Gradually the crowd dispersed and the summit cleared.

The weather was still putting on an impressive cloud-show over the high fells.

Zooming in on Rosthwaite Cam as the mist swirled around the summits.

Zooming out and a smaller aperture shows the sky to better effect.

Rosthwaite Cam is in the centre with thick cloud over Glaramara behind.

Onward and downward now to the slate path, the only safe way to ascend and descend from the summit.

In the quarry below . . . plenty of standing stones . . . evidence of recent visitors not ancient quarrymen.

Once more onto the musical stones.

At the wall below, an awkward ladder stile for the dogs to cross.

But the next wall crossing has a much easier gate.

We're heading down the opposite side of the fell to our ascent, so as to return by the riverside path.

Serious faces on two of our group as we walk through the woodland . . .

Perhaps this ancient woodland could be classed as "temperate rain forest"

It wasn't raining at this point but there was plenty of moisture about.

Water on the leaves of the ferns and plenty of dampness on the rocks allowing the moss to flourish.

The bracken has died back and now shines golden brown . . . the only time of the year it looks attractive.

Ancient stone walls with many years worth of moss . . . these stones must have laid undisturbed for many decades.

We return to the waterside once more.

Autumn has arrived suddenly in the last few weeks and the recent high winds have cleared the trees of leaves.

Four dogs, some wetter than others, as they play at or in the river.

Harry pauses close to the bend in the river where we will re-join our outward path.

- - - o o o - - -

A short walk back to Grange

during which time we had our arms twisted to stay for a cup of tea and perhaps a scone.

I'll stay . . . I'll stay . . . Stop twisting my . . . yes . . . pass the jam . . . Ah . . . that's lovely.

[ Many thanks to Trevor and Gill for a lovely lunchtime treat.]

It just remained to cross over Grange Bridge and turn right, up Borrowdale,

on our return journey by car to Loweswater.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Click start if you wish to watch the full nine minute video of the service here.

- - - o o o - - -