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On Saturday Lorraine and I had a marvellous Eskdale walk. We managed to get parked at the foot of Hardknott Pass before too many turned up. It was busy later as many wanted to enjoy a day of great weather. We set off across the valley bottom past Botherilkeld with smashing scenery from the off. With no need to hurry we stopped regularly at the many pots and waterfalls along the way. Kail Pot looked really inviting for a paddle but we chose not to. Shrivel is not a predicament anybody wants! Slowly gaining height we passed Tongue Pot, pausing for more photos before stopping for a bite to eat near Lingcove Bridge. The rocky lumps of Throstlehow Crag and Throstle Garth blocking the view into upper Eskdale, but it was beautiful just sitting by the falls and admiring the view back down to Eskdale. We followed the path alongside Lingcove Beck toward Mosedale, the views opening up to spectacular effect all the way. First the Crinkles and Bowfell towered ahead of us and then the high and mighty Scafells appeared above Scar Lathing and High Gait Crags. A truly awe inspiring scene. The sun was peeping out regularly and lighting up the closer tops of Long Crag and Pianet Knott whilst keeping the Scafells looking dark and broody in the distance. Time to turn our back on the great views though. We walked gently upwards onto the back end of Hardknott and meandered our way up to the electric fence. No idea if it is still in operation, has anybody tried the 'touch test'? Another stop for photos, this time at Yew Bank with glorious colours in the bracken and on the fells around upper Eskdale. Who could resist snapping away? The fence was followed across the boggy depressions, past many small reedy tarns and pools before we arrived at Hardknott's little top. The views were pretty much what we'd had all day, the Coniston and Duddon fells being a welcome addition to the vista. Once more we followed the fence weaving our way around bog and small outcrops until we came to Border End. My highlight of the day was this point. A Peregrine Falcon sitting watching climbers on Raven Crag. It didn't notice me at first, I had time to take a couple of pictures before it launched itself back into the air. A full 360 degree panorama of some of England's best walking country was the reward for gaining the modest height of Border End. The Scafell massif looking truly huge with the Wasdale/Ennerdale fells peeping around the flank of Slight Side. Then Esk Pike, Bowfell and the Crinkles leading the eye round to Wrynose pass and up to the Coniston fells. Turning further for a bird's eye view of the Duddon valley all the way down to the Duddon estuary and far off Barrow. The scene was completed with Harter Fell looking down on us looking down on Hardknott Fort. The fort was brightly lit and was excellent foreground to a very green Eskdale. We dropped down alongside Hardknott Gill to the top of the pass, welcomed by the smell of clutches, brakes and overheating engines. I won't go into detail about a mishap I had here once. Suffice to say the clutch went in my mam's car on one of the S-bends on Hardknott. It wasn't fun directing traffic while the recovery vehicle rescued us! Onwards and downwards we arrived at the fort with more wonderful views of the surrounding hills, Border End looking lovely with the sun beaming down. That was pretty much the last of the great views, we followed the road back to Brotherilkeld and arrived at the car a bit tired but more than content with what was for me one of my best walk ever. It really was that good for me. Good practice for Lorraine and the Scafell Pike walk, the way things are going, she'll jog up to the top! A full album is available on Webshots at http://community.webshots.com/album/565595647SSQdfN |
