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" To Harry's Pool and Beyond "

Date & start time:    Sunday 13th August 2017,  pm.

Location of Start :   By the red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited :         Kirkhead lane, Harry's Pool ... and beyond ... and back via Low Park.

Walk details :             3.1 miles, 450 feet of ascent,  2 hours 15 mins.

Highest point :          On the track towards the Mosedale Holly.

Walked with :             Anne (Henderson), Pal, Mila, Ann and our dogs, Harry and Dylan.

Weather :                    Sunshine and summer skies.

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

 

Anne and family are over in Loweswater again

and we join them, or perhaps they join us, for a walk towards the Mosedale Holly Tree.

How far we gets depends on the capacity of the slowest of the group . . . today that will most likely be Harry.

Blue skies over Loweswater fields and the surrounding fells.

After a long walk yesterday our visitors are happy for a local stroll.

First group photo of introduction at the famous 'negative signpost' close to the Kirkstile Inn.

Anne, Pal, Mila, Ann and myself, Harry and Dylan in front . . . taken by a kindly pub-goer on his way to the beer garden.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Down over Kirk Bridge

where the nettles have thrived

on the river bank side of the fence,

almost smothering the new season

crop of blackberries.

 

Over the back is Dub Beck

draining the water from Loweswater,

plus the White Oak and Mosedale valleys,

but you can hardly see the water in this photo

due to the summer vegetation.

 

- - - o o o - - -

" Sheep (and cattle) may safely graze "

Right click for Music by J.S. Bach . . . (farm animals by Mr C.Todd of Loweswater).

The lane takes us out towards the base of Mellbreak and the open fell.

The Mosedale Valley is the one between Mellbreak on the left and Hen Comb straight ahead.

Anne and Ann . . . makes caption writing easy . . . almost forgot Harry though.

The camera turned . . . photo by Anne this time.

Harry in Harry's pool, he was quick enough into the water.
Mila tests the temperature but passes on a swim.

The water is almost covering the stepping stones and is cool due to the recent rains.

That doesn't seems to worry the dogs, who enjoy catching thrown sticks as they float by . . . saves swimming out to them !

We leave the pool to others, as we continue our walk up the valley on the main track.

'Tis the season of toadstools . . . a second shot could improve the focus ?
When I looked up Dylan had 'photo-bombed' the picture.

The Ennerdale bridle way traverses the length of the valley and crosses the river by a good bridge under the slopes of Hen Comb.

After that it gets a bit damp and indistinct until it joins the Ennerdale track from Buttermere, just short of Floutern Tarn.

- - - o o o - - -

 

The thought was that we might walk on

following the track to a point

level with the holly tree in the distance.

 

'Harry' expressed the opinion

the complete walk would be over 3 miles

if he went all the way to the tree and back.

 

The old guy does well but he was feeling the strain today

his 95-equivalent years of age were telling on him a bit.

. . . so we stopped and turned.

 

- - - o o o - - -

We record the moment with a photo . . . and turn for home . . . with perhaps a detour on the way.

We followed the bridleway track that heads under Mellbreak towards Low Park

rather than the main track which heads back the way we came.

The Kirkstile through the trees of Flass Woods.
A single sheep keeps watch as we pass.

The track now drops down through Green Wood (separated only by a wall).

Along the way we pass one of several old charcoal burning pits . . . about 5m round and excavated to form a level platform.

This one is currently a little less distinct due to the heavy growth of bracken.

High above us two buzzards fly.  We spot them after being attracted by their gentle 'mewing' calls to each other.

The Low Park barns at the end of the path down from Flass Woods . . . photo by Anne of Ann . . . with thanks.

- - - o o o - - -

 

The bridge at Low Park.

 

We cross Dub Beck once again

but by now the river has moved on

and changed its name to become Park Beck.

 

From here it has a fairly straight run

down into Crummock Water.

 

- - - o o o - - -

Taking the lower road from Low Park across to Muncaster House

but just as yesterday we'll take the track to Gillerthwaite at the signpost and stile.

Today the outlook is sunnier.
Why climb the next stile when the gate's open ?

Have you seen the mud !    It doesn't look too bad but the sheep have churned up the mud

and the sideways slope through the gateway makes it rather slippery.

From Gillerthwaite it is just a quick walk up the lane back to our starting point.

More tea and fresh cheese scones . . . plus a little bonus of the end of the fruit cake.

Eating again ?     To be fair, we haven't had any tea and cake since yesterday !

Mila had the seat on the opposite side of the table so she was able to  watch the bird table.

We saw all the usual small birds but she spotted a different visitor today . . .

A lovely little field mouse . . . we have a family living in tunnels under the flower bed and in the adjacent hedge. 

They enjoy the fallen birds food but never seem to come into the house . . . an agreement that suits both sides well.

Time to go now . . . the scones are getting cold.

Thanks to Anne, Pal and Mila for joining us on the walk today.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with Ann's Panasonic Lumix TZ60 Camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a seat to view the local wildlife in close-up.

Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 12th August 2017 - Local with Ian and Meg

A previous time up here - 2nd June 2011 Mellbreak with the Family

A previous time with Ann, Pal and Mila - 15th August 2016 - Low fell with Anne, Pal and Mila