As this was the last official walk before the summer break and as The Mob had a lengthy outing in Ennerdale last time (I didn't go)

it was thought by Peter, our leader, that a little local 'Round Loweswater Ramble' would be suitable to round off the organised 'walking year'.

The official start point was Maggie's Bridge, but I started from home and Loes would join us all later.

A photo of the majority of the walk, apart from the bit up to High Nook Tarn which is up and to the left.         [ picture from an earlier day]

We will take the track that climbs above "The Pheasant" of Holme Wood and down the right hand skyline, returning via the lakeside to the car park.

- - - o o o - - -

No photos of High Nook Farm today, in fact none till we diverted to the tarn for those that had never been there before.

This was the group, the whole group and nothing but the group . . . apart from the scenery behind.

A little organisation and general hilarity on the day has resulted in a picture of everyone including myself, cobbled from two of the pictures taken on the day.

[ Everyone just stay where you are please . . . whilst we change photographers]

The upland tarn was created from a bog by the smallest of stone embankments, but more than that of it's history is unknown.

I believe this is the Bog Bean plant growing in the shallow water of the tarn.

Just a tail in the last photo, but this time Dougal was centre stage for this photo.

Peter leads some of the group across the footbridge.

The bridge that was here in my 2011 photos, was washed away in the storms and had been replaced with a new one a few years back (see link at end).

A gradual climb, up and around the corner finds us walking behind Holme Woods.

Joan seems happy . . . and she's not even looking at the nice view of Grasmoor and Crummock in the background.

Gaps in the trees due to Larch clearance, give us the occasional view down to Loweswater.

From the highest point of the walk the path begins a series of long undulations.

The first takes us down to Holme Beck, where there are traces of old Water Bard brick work and valves hidden upstream, as the beck was once a local water supply.

I'm told that it used to supply Mockerkin Village before the mains water arrived from Ennerdale.

Down the the bridge and up the other side, the gradual rise hardly noticed because of the distraction of Darling Fell and Low Fell across the way.

The June sunshine has encouraged the heather into flower.

The bell heather adds a delightful purple colour to the bank here and to the fell side above.

More purples as we round the fell and look down on the north western end of Loweswater.

These foxgloves seem to be in their prime, whereas lower down and closer to home they have already started to go over.

The Mob walks always include a coffee stop in their itinerary. . . and today was no exception.

The Seat, overlooking Loweswater was perfectly timed for a refreshment stop . . . and the views were great today as well.

We are deeply indebted to our leader for bringing along a rather nice tray of home made flapjacks . . . thanks Karen for making them.

We noticed (it wasn't difficult) that someone has repaired the seat.

The gentleman's name was Roy Barratt, from Redhill in Surrey. He and his wife, Janet, stayed in Loweswater on holiday from 1986 - in B&B at Graythwaite (where John and Judy now live). Roy died of cancer in 1991, and, after seeking the necessary permissions, the original seat was erected, and his ashes buried on the spot, with a dedication from the then vicar of Loweswater, in the spring of 1992. Various family and friends attended that event, including a former work colleague of Roy's, Richard Elmsley. He revisited the seat in 2019 and was dismayed at its condition. He returned in May this year, with his two sons, to undertake the repairs and signwriting that we now see. Ideally he would like to replace the seat with a new one and is trying to get the approvals for that to happen. Janet is still alive and living in Redhill. Peter B

- - - o o o - - -

We walked on along the track which climbs to a quarry gate for the last time, then drops away as it heads towards Fangs Brow.

The delightfully named Fangs Brow Farm with their (unidentified) sheep and Belted Galloway cows.

The Galloways seem to be a popular breed locally because they survive on poorer soils and can cope with being outdoors most of the year.

Before we reached the road we turned right and headed down to the lake.

The structure to the right over the wall is part of our modern day valley water supply . . . that reminds me, I fancy a coffee

and I'll pause here for a minute while I make it with water from that reservoir.

The track passes all sorts of places . . . this is the first . . . Iredale Place.

The next building on our route was Jenkinson Place . . . once lived in by the Jenkinson family it would seem.

That chimney on the side should keep the building warm during the winter.

It has ceased to be an active farm and I believe it is now a holiday let, following the passing of the previous residents.

The track joined these two and the next two "Places"

Alan Cleaver's Book "Get Lost", all about walking routes in Cumbria, suggests that the old Coffin Route of the 18th century would be this one,

the one that travels through the valley connecting each of the old farms, rather than the top track which is not believed to be old enough.

However the top one we used today still retains the name by popular usage.

The third 'place', confusingly called The Place is also available for holidays if you fancy a stay.

The fourth and final one in this run of place names is Hudson Place . . .

currently undergoing major renovations to the building while the owners, a farmer and his wife, continue to live in the building.

 

The track continues down towards the lake, reaching the meadow where there are more Galloway cattle, this time relaxing on the track itself.

I think this picture shows that, if you don't annoy or scare them, the Galloways are a pretty placid lot.

They did however raise an eyebrow when Dougal passed by, but off lead he gave them a wide berth.

We're heading back towards home now and once again Grasmoor is in the picture, seen here over a clear meadow.

Why did all the cattle have to gather close to the gate I ask myself ?

The wooden enclosures are protecting newly planted trees.

There were thought of having an early lunch here but the bothy had guests in residence so we didn't intrude on their space.

Loes, who was unable to join us for the whole walk was waiting here to join the group and enjoy the walk back.

My first chance to include her in a photo . . . and just at that moment she walked behind a tree !

Still, you'll have to be happy with a picture of Chris testing his boots for waterproofness.

A small boat sits moored close to the lake . . . it is used by the Loweswater Care Group who regularly monitor the quality of the water.

A second option for a lunch spot was as we exit the woods, but then again the space was taken by an existing group, so we walk on.

An executive decision was taken, unanimously passed by the group, was that lunch should be delayed to a more convenient spot . . . how about the pub at the end of the walk !

It's hay meadow time and a National Trust notice board explains how they are making an efforts to bring back the flower meadows on the farm.

They politely request that that we don't use the old footpath across the field at present.

We head back across the fields using the track, which will bring us back to Maggie's Bridge car park once more.

Those who left their cars at the car park drove over and the rest of us walked, meeting up once again at the Kirkstile Inn

where refreshments were on hand to quench our thirst at the end of the walk and celebrate a season of nice walks.

The sandwiches can keep . . . they'll do for lunch tomorrow.

We'll re-start the group walks in the autumn once everyone has enjoyed their own summer holidays.