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It was nice weather in Loweswater on Sunday but just a little further south it was quite not so clear for our walk.

We drove via Ennerdale Bridge to Cold Fell and then enjoyed a walk to an ancient bridge over the River Calder.

It is shown on the map as Monks Bridge, but we know it as "Matty Benn's".

Not strictly in sequence but it gives you an idea what the weather was like in Loweswater today (Sunday).

The cloud was down on the high fells but there was some nice sunshine about as we left for our walk.

By the time we had driven south for about twenty or so minutes we had gained a little height

but entered a generally more misty weather system that was encroaching on the west coast landscape.

Still, it was basically a nice day, warm and dry and pleasant walking.

Perhaps the poorer weather added to the slightly bland, post-winter appearance of these moorland fells.

The track down to the valley behind Cold Fell has a barrier to discourage off-road driving,

but I've a feeling that the farmer drives his quad bike around the side rather than stop to open the bar.

We follow Friar's Gill down passing a lovely, rather hidden mini-waterfall around the next bend.

The track flattens out as it meets the River Calder, close to a sheepfold on the adjacent bank.

The main river is still reasonably small at this stage,

having risen just two or three miles away beneath the slopes of Blakeley Raise, Whoap and the Lank Rigg fells.



The River Calder as it makes its way under the 'new' bridge.	A little further up, around the bend, is the old, stone crossing point.

To reach it there is a rough track, some times a muddy grass bog, or as here a rocky stream crossing.



From here we can look down on the narrow packhorse bridge.	Even close up by the fence it is still narrow, and there are no walls !

[ We notice with sadness that the stile which used to grace the wooden fence has been dismantled.]

This is a classic packhorse bridge, the detail of which was exquisite to see.

The lack of side parapets allowed wide, heavily laden pack horses to cross without having to provide a broader stone structure.

Their loads could 'hang over the edge' as they made their way across this bridge, one the important trading routes of old.

[ We are talking pre-Henry VIII and the dissolution of the Monasteries, some time before 1536 AD.]

	The same sort of views but circa July 2009.

Ann stands on the bridge to give it scale.	[ The link to this and other pictures are given at the end ]

There has been a lot of clearance of vegetation since our last visit.

Most of it has been deliberate, but at least one large tree on the other side has fallen through natural storm damage.

There's now a clear view of Matty Benn's Bridge from river level.

The full history, or at least the legend about the name, is outlined on our previous postings, highlighted in the links below.

Looking at the structure, the bridge on the left hand side has also been re-pointed and the top re-surfaced . . . stabilised I think the expression is.

The bridge is certainly a very simple but very well made structure that has stood the test of time.

Good to see it is being looked after by someone.

Time to be heading back.

From the sheepfold, the map marks a footpath up and through the Side Farm buildings, but it is not a right of way until you get to the farm itself.

We'll not try that route, we'll leave the farmer in peace and retrace our steps up the main track.

- - - o o o - -

Here's an April competition for you . . .



1.	2.



3.	4.

Spot the odd one out . . . answers written on the back of a £10 note please (or just simply by email) . . . no prizes !

Nearing the top of the track as we pass what is marked on the map as "Friar's Well".

Here a reasonable stream issues from the spring, the surface of the water being covered in a water-cress type of plant.

Friars Well, Friars Gill and Monk's Bridge . . . this area is full of historic, religious references.

One last photo of the walk as we pass this rather wind blown Hawthorn at the foot of Cold Fell.

We'll pass on a climb to the top as the weather is not brilliant and Harry has had a long enough walk anyway.

	- - - o o o - - - The "Wild West". The modern speed limit on the road is forty miles per hour due to the number of sheep that roam the open fellside and the losses the farmers were suffering due to road accidents. The old sign would imply that there a local mindless hobby of shooting at road signs with a small bore rifle of some sort. I sincerely hope it is not a punishment meted out to speeding motorists too ! - - - o o o - - -

Over the mountain road and down into Ennerdale, Ennerdale Bridge to be precise.

It's just gone five o'clock though it feels like mid-afternoon.

Too early to stop at the pub for a beer . . .

. . . but too late to stop at "The Gather" for tea and cake . . . as they have just closed.

We'll have to drive back over to the next valley, Loweswater, and make our own instead.

As we returned home the weather improved . . . and by the time refreshments were served the sun was shining brightly once more.

Tea is on offer in our garden . . . but Dylan seems to be waiting on the cake option !

- - - o o o - - -


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