 An eagle's eye view of the walk The Route
Follow the road passing the Recreation Rooms, noting the old limekiln tucked into the bank behind, a sure indication of the near proximity of mountain limestone. Also spot the old mill-race falls tumbling from the north side of the Mill Inn. Let's hope you will not yourself be tumbling from the Mill Inn later, though you'll no doubt relish tumbling in at the end of the walk! The road swings right through the village passing the diminutive church of St Kentigern's. The dedication is to an early British missionary, alternative name St Mungo, hence the village-name. Turn left where a lane begins, immediately after the Hutton Roof junction. Go through the gate and step onto the fell to the left of the old quarry. A clear path climbs quickly through the gorse onto the steadily rising ridge soon bracken is replaced by heather with spacious views north over the Caldew valley to Carrock Fell. The contrast between the fells and the country to the east very apparent, though geologically that lower lying land is composed of ever more ancient rocks. Having crossed the subsidiary summit make a point of stepping down right momentarily to view Bowscale Tarn in its wild hollow, before heading on to the summit of Bowscale Fell, with its cairn and wind shelter at 702m/2,303ft. The path continues south, along the broad damp ridge, though its worth making a point of bearing briefly left to the edge overlooking the deep trench of Bannerdale. One can continue with the edge path to visit the summit of Bannerdale Crags, though the prime route veers right southsouth-east declining to the small saddle at the head of the Glenderamakin. Glenderamakin Beck, is a main feeder of the Greta and thus the River Derwent. The romantic name just might intrigue. As is so often the case we witness a watercourse bearing a really old name, in fact pre-Viking, it means the 'valley where swine forage' - from the British 'glyn' and 'moch'. Cross directly over and climb the prominent ridge by the intermediate peak, were the ridge path from Mungrisdale Common meets the ridge at a wind shelter. The final steep climb of Blue Screes onto Foule Crag is quickly achieved, a marvellous moment and one of decision.
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© Mark Richards 2007 |
