Oak Cottage - Loweswater

Retreat to the quiet of the Western Lakes

The Cottage, and  the view up the Buttermere Valley
Oak Cottage homepage.

 

 

 

 

Date : 3rd December 2005. 10 am start.

Location : Tarn Hows, Black Crag and Holme Fell near Coniston, Cumbria UK.

Occasion : A Wainwright walk led by Andrew, with Roy, Helen, David, Ann and myself plus our two dogs.

Walk details : 6.9 miles, 2100 ft of ascent, 5 hours including lunch stop.

Weather : Overcast with occasional brighter periods. Rain before and after but not during the walk !

A Wainwright Society walk

organised by Andrew Leaney.

( Click on Logo for link )

 

A poor forecast but a dry day saw us meet up at Tarn Hows.

A poor start too for the photographer as perhaps Ann should have been placed on the higher ground !

Our first objective, across the waters of the tarn, was Black Crag in the distance.

To reach it we walked nearly half way round the tarn, which was as delightful as ever despite the grey weather.

We broke away from the lake and walked north through the Iron Keld plantation.

National Trust notices talked of the difficult decision about felling the plantation in order to return to the more open crag and heath land type of environment. Personally I think they would achieve their objective sooner if they cleared the felled wood and allowed the base vegetation and heather a better chance to grow.

A bright sunny spell over Wetherlam.

This fine panorama, taken from near the top of Black Crag extended from Coniston Old Man (in the clouds) on the left to Crinkle and Bow Fell on the far right.

Harry for some reason wanted to climb the ladder stile

despite the notice saying the path didn't lead anywhere.

But the walk to the viewpoint on the other side of the wall was certainly worth it

as the tree wouldn't have brought itself over our way just to get into the photo from Black Crag summit.

Black Crag and the trig point, looking south west over Coniston.

David and Andrew make an appearance over the wall. ( Note no tree !)

Low Arnside Farm

as the farmer brings hay through on his quad bike.

We then traversed the lanes and bridle ways down past the delightfully named High and Low Oxen Fell Farms and emerged at Hodge Close.

At this point Roy and Helen were directed forward and we all disappeared "over the edge" into the old quarry.

 

A surprise at the end of the path . . .

the double arch that separates the dry quarry from the pool.

   
The Quarry pool
Harry takes a plunge.

The water was beautifully clear and we could see down the steep side

as it fell into the blackness of the deep water.

   
The Hodge Close road and birch trees.
David passes the old quarry buildings.

Lunch spot by the side of one of the old reservoirs on Holme Fell.

Peace and tranquility at what must have been a busy spot in times gone by.

Reflections on Holme Fell Tarn.

looking north west towards Langdale.

Holme Fell summit and Helen's third Wainwright top.

She joined the society as a result of the Great Lakeland Challenge earlier in the year.

Coniston Water from Holme Fell

Late afternoon light interspersed with heavy looking, patchy cloud.

We descended by a rocky path towards Yew Tree Tarn.

All the frost of last week had gone but the damp ground meant we had to be careful as we made our way down.

Belted Galloway Cattle

one of the rarer breeds in the Lakes.

Yew Tree Farm

famous for its spinning gallery and picturesque position, and now open as a tearoom and guest house.

   
Tom Gill Force in Tom Heights Wood.
Back to where we started.

From the Yew Tree we crossed the main road and made our way back up through the woods to Tarn Hows and the cars at the end of the walk. We may not have reached great heights but we had a superb five hour walk through interesting terrain.

Many thanks to Andrew for organising the excellent day out.

Click on here for more pics on Andrew's site and David's site.

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

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

This site best viewed . . . with a pint of Coniston Bluebird and a warm fire

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