Spring this year was particularly sunny and today was no exception. Morning jobs done and an early lunch taken, we headed out for a walk.

Loes always talked about the walks she'd done from Giggle Alley . . . so game for a giggle, we travelled over to Eskdale.

No plans, just head up onto the side fells of the Eskdale Valley and see where we end up.

An intriguing name . . . don't ask for its origins.

These gardens became abandoned and overgrown, but were "rediscovered" and cleared by locals many years back.

It was closed 2 years ago due to storm damage but I don't know what state they're in at present . . . maybe another visit could be planned ?

The buildings on Smithy Brow Lane.

Higher up the walls were substantial. They must have been part of the big estate that created the old gardens.

The track turns and heads down to Miterdale, but we continue straight on, following the footpath out onto the open fell.

We gradually gained height and began to get extensive views back to Muncaster Fell and the coast at Ravenglass.

Ahead of us now are the first views of the distinctive triangular shape of Harter Fell.

Tree planting will hopefully discourage the bracken as time progresses.

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

[ Use the back arrow to return to this point in the story.]

This is Eskdale Granite country.

The rocks here are rounded and the paths often covered in granular, crystal like sand.

It's not a frequently used path so the grass has chance to remain . . . providing the bracken doesn't cover it over.

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

From the higher ground near to Fell End we get our first view of distant Scafell and Slightside.

Here the altitude encourages the bilberry plants to out-compete the bracken.

Loes was feeling fit enough to keep walking on these reasonably easy paths, so we decided to keep going towards Blea Tarn.

At the woods here we met the only other person we saw on the walk . . . she was out walking her dog but headed left for Miterdale soon after this.

The map showed a disused quarry and this large hollow duly appeared at the appropriate time.

We'll cross over to the wall in the distance and follow that path through the undulating higher ground.

The next landmark to look out for was was Siney Tarn Moss . . . this flat area looks suitably moss-like and boggy !

Looking back at the Irish Sea coast and Siney Tarn Moss, now successfully behind us.

Blea Tarn seems a little further away than we thought . . . but it's a nice day so we keep going.

At the highest point of the walk we look down on the actual Siney Tarn and the diminutive neighbour, Blind Tarn.

Both are gradually becoming overgrown with bog vegetation.

Loes wipes her brow (we had no water to pour over our heads) as we catch a first glimpse of Blea Tarn itself.

The bright blue of the sky is reflected as a deep blue from the surface of the water.

It's hot and that tarn looks inviting !

She declines the chance of a dip in the lake herself . . . I don't blame her . . . it was rather cold !

Moving on, it was time to head down into the valley and take the road back to Eskdale Green.

Dalegarth Station in down below us and the second stop on the railway was Beckfoot, the big house down to the right.

The zig-zag path down appeared to be another "peat road", so these old ruins would be 'peat houses'

where they would store turf from the Moss above and let it dry out before carrying it down to the valley.

The extra effort of constructing the building meant that the turf was able to dry out and was consequently lighter and ready to use when it came to carry it down.

Lovely old Hawthorn trees dotted the fell side, as we look up the valley towards the village of Boot and on towards Hard Knott Pass.

The grass mound was a 'give away' to the existence of an old mine that would have been dug into the fell side below the tree.

The peat road would now have now doubled up as a mine track, as Eskdale was famous for its ancient iron and copper mines.

Beckfoot House, now much closer as we descend the fells.

Sadly at this point I suddenly noticed that I didn't have my Garmin watch, that I had taken off before my swim !

There was nothing for it but to return to the tarn and pick it up from where I mistakenly left it.

I left Loes to continue on down the track, as Dougal and I retraced our steps back up the fell !

Job done, an executive decision found me descending down a different, shorter footpath,

firstly following the stream outlet from Blea Tarn, then picking up a track towards Spout House Farm.

Unfortunately this "peat road" was much less used and was overgrown with bracken and large gorse bushes, forcing me to walk the difficult ground alongside.

Not a recommended route but it did however bring me down to a huge abandoned quarry near the foot of the fell.

The map gave no indication, but the back wall of the quarry must have been a hundred feet high or more . . . with minimal protective fencing.

The history all fell into place of course, in that the reason for the existence of the Eskdale Railway was for mineral and stone extraction at the top end of the valley.

All that has stopped now and the "Ratti" railway is now a tourist attraction carrying thousands of visitors each year.

I cross the track and take the gate onto the valley road.

No sign of that huge quarry as I look back at Spot House Farm . . . but I think my route down followed that obvious wall for part of the descent.

I successfully meet up with Loes who had walked along the road from Beckfoot.

Now it was just a level trod back towards Eskdale Green, passing a lovely looking, riverside campsite on the way.

It was competition for the better known Fisher Ground Campsite that we passed on the opposite side soon after.

Fisher Ground may not have a river side location but does have the destinction of its own railway station !

A last view of Harter Fell as we pass the "Old Joiner's Shop", again another throw back to the old industry of the valley.

It's been a hot day and so the King George Pub made a welcome re-hydration stop this afternoon.

Just a short walk now, back to the car, but with a bit of 'up hill and down dale'.

We crossed the road bridge over the railway at Eskdale Green Station.

Walking up past the buildings of Gate House.

Presumably this was the grand house of the Eskdale Estate that had given rise to the Japanese Gardens ?

The buildings are now the Eskdale Outward Bound Centre (also available as a wedding venue I understand).

A welcome return to the car at the phone box and our starting point at the foot of Giggle Alley.

Well now I know where the lane goes . . . even if I didn't discover the origins of its name.

- - - o o o - - -