Turner’s Monument and Glenkiln Cross

April 10, 2010

The plan was to climb up to Turner’s Monument on Bennan Hill and I am pleased I chose to go from the south rather than east. I parked at the copse just past the pink farm (Glen Farm) and climbed up through two gates. The ground here was easy going, dry and not too steep.

The sheep on the hill just watched me walk past, occasionally moving a little further out of my way. On the way up I saw a flick of a tail disappearing into the grass and the movement looked very much like a lizard. The tail was too long for a mouse so I can only presume it was a snake. I saw another a few minutes later. PS I’ve subsequently heard that there are lots of adders in the area.

Turner’s monument wasn’t visible until about 50m below it, so I did begin to wonder if I was going the right way. The monument is pretty impressive in size when you think that Johnny Turner had to lug the stones for it all the way up there. The views are impressive, with the Lake District, Galloway hills, Lowther hills and Moffat hills visible.

I decided to head north east over towards the Glenkiln cross, which would have been my alternative way up. There is no clear path, though at times there are paths made by the sheep. The direct route took me into heather and tussocks with hidden holes into which my feet went on occasion (water in them). So I decided to head south to a wall and follow that eastwards. The ground was boggy and even where it appeared dry water could be heard running underfoot. I tried switching sides of the wall but I doubt it made much difference. The wall took me most of the way but then I veered off north to get to the top of a brew overlooking Glenkiln reservoir because I was keen to avoid having to climb back up to the Cross. The weather was great for photos.

The plan had been to drop down to the road and follow it back to the car but there seemed to be a path running across to the path that passes the visitation, so I went that way. As I crossed a small burn a vole ran in front of me and froze long enough for me to get a quick photo. From the Visitation the path climbed back to join the road back to Glen Farm. Here in a field filled with lambs and ewes was a sheep sat with a duck.

And finally, as I walked back to the car another red squirrel ran across the path.

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Crocketford Round

April 4, 2010

Beasts! Red squirrels, red kites, foxes, deer, rabbits, greylag geese, lambs, calfs, pheasants, sculptures, topiary and views.

16.5 miles in a figure of eight. Cold enough for hats some of the time but thankfully dry. We began at Crocketford, initially going up the Shawhead road but turning along a farm track passing Larghill farm. Here we encountered, or were spared from encountering THE BEASTS ! Then on to the road to Glenkiln, with the Turner monument high on our left most of the way and the first of many pink farmhouses.

We paused for a comfort break at Moore’s reclining figures then on for a photo opportunity at the topiary bird. Could it be a green finch? I am no good identifying birds but I’m told the bird of prey hovering here was a red kite.

Just past the beware red squirrel sign we saw a red squirrel dart across the road. Then we walked along the reservoir with greylag geese (these I do know), more pink farms, several Henry Moore sculptures (king and queen, Glenkiln cross, standing figure), and Rodin’s John the Baptist.

The road forks after the last sculpture and we went left past Shalloch farm with the discarded ammunition box and bullet pocked sign. Two deer ran across our path but I was too slow with the camera though one has been caught as a brown blur. The woodland beyond here had been recently cleared leaving a “post-nuclear attack” appearance with the odd forlorn stripped tree trunk left standing for birds of prey. The woodstacks were very high. No climbing! Andy spotted a fox further along the path as we continued on down.

The snow topped Galloway hills were visible as we began to descend towards Lochenkit Farm (pink). Here I couldn’t see the path short of the farm so we walked past the farm before turning left. This was the one place where a herd of cows stood in our way, but they moved from the gate as we approached. I’m glad we didn’t have dogs with us.

This section was a pleasant walk coming quite close to the Turner monument. The stream we forded was not particularly full but I wouldn’t have fancied crossing it during the recent wet weather.

We then dropped back down to cross the Glenkiln road and had an unexpected climb over to Nethertown (pink). Then our walk took us back to Crocketford, with several rabbits seen along the way, to recover at The Galloway Arms.

16.5 miles 5h 5mins Ascent 434m

PS the GPS batteries ran out at 12 miles, up until then our mile paces were:

The 9 and 10 mile paces probably include our 15 minute lunch stop. We did the remaining miles at about 16mins/mile. Looks pretty fast to me.

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Glenkiln

March 28, 2010

A short walk with the dogs on leads because of sheep. Lynn came along and helped taking pictures and holding leads. We took a short cut down from the visitation statue which meant we had to cross a burn twice and negotiate a barbed wire fence. We saw a large bird of prey which I couldn’t catch on camera and a few greylag geese. Also a large topiary bird.

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Derwentwater

March 26, 2010

What a start to the day. A full cooked breakfast and plenty of coffee (oh, and of course, good company). The weather had that special teasing quality, with enough light rain to make us don waterproofs, wear them all day and yet not really need them. I agree with Elaine that had we taken them off, the heavens would have opened.

This was our low level walk. “Yippee” cried my thighs. About half an hour in we met some returning walkers who told us that the path ahead was flooded. But undaunted we pressed on and despite the inch of water made our way through. The high water mark showed that much of the paths here had been under water recently.

Just after this we came across a Robin (bird not three wheel car) which was close enough for some pics. Admittedly our group were not unanimous in its identification. (see pics to see for yourself).

The one part of this route that was a little tricky due to slippy rocks was busy with a group of oriental teenagers wearing white trainers (some with heels). Mind you they probably looked at us and wondered why we were all geared up when walking a lakeside path.

Then elevenses at a hotel whose name I forget (Mary Mount Hotel?) . Their sign said walkers welcome but it looked so clean and posh, David had to do a reccy before we went inside. Coffee/Tea and biscuits and a very warm bar-room. After that, past the Lodore falls and across a series of walkways across the southern end of Derwentwater and into woodland as we turned to walk along the western shore. Most of this was signed as the Allerdale way.

This section was like the paths around Loch Trool. We then came onto busier paths and met many more walkers. There was even an large group of folk eating their sandwiches under trees and umbrellas. Then we were onto roads. The footbridge across from Portinscale was closed, presumably damaged in the recent floods so we had a minor detour to cross on the road bridge. Having left the cover of woods and being on the open riverbank this might not seem the ideal place for a pee. (Just saying.)

Eventually we were back in Keswick, passing the pencil museum. Perhaps the presence of ducks in the car park was the clue as to how wet the weather had been.

Finally Fish, chips and mushy peas at the Old Keswickian.

Mike’s homework will be learning to differentiate giraffes and cows.

9 miles 3h 55 mins ascent 214m

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Catbells

March 25, 2010

The weather forecast had been for heavy rain. As the day dawned however, it had downgraded to drizzle. At Little Town car park when we started it was overcast but dry. The first mile and and a half was a very gentle gradient and a nice way to warm up before tackling the steeper paths. We had a rest after the first pull at a place marked on the map as Brandelhow 338, but some walkers mumbled Kittenbells as they passed us. So Kittenbells it is.

From Kittenbells Andy looked up Catbells and commented that it didn’t look too bad. He and David showed full Terminator status by flying up the path while I went up in slow motion. The views from Catbells are something to behold. Derwentwater was as calm as a mill pond, only disturbed by wakes from a couple of launches.

Unfortunately once we reached Maiden Moor we had climbed into cloud and the views disappeared until we walked down to Dalehead tarn. The way up from there was steep so I decided to take the 100 steps and stop approach. Elaine misinterpreted this slightly and suggested I challenge myself to go more steps each time before stopping. The reality was that 100 steps was already challenging me.

Then further along Littledale edge, back in cloud. The climb up to Robinson doesn’t look too bad on the map but felt very unpleasant on my legs. I saw Andy was stopping on the way up here so I didn’t feel like a complete failure. I had been a little depressing to meet so many smiling OAPs as I grimaced my way along.

It had taken 6 hours to get to Robinson (mostly due to my slow pace up hills), so it was decided to head back along the ridge from Robinson towards Little Town. There were some brief steep rocky sections on the way down which I would call climbing and took me ages to negotiate. David had calming music playing once we got down. I presume to calm him for having to wait so long at the bottom. I had been tempted to throw my rucksack down but just knew it would roll down the hill. I think Andrew sent his walking pole down the quick way.

The final descent off the ridge was down a grassy bank. My brain must have been failing by then because I came straight down rather than zig-zagging, so my legs weren’t happy. Would the benefit of poles then been worth the hassle of carting them round?

I’m still not sure that a couple of pints and a curry were the correct treatment for the leg ache, but on balance it seemed a better bet than an ice bath.

11 miles 7h 30 mins ascent 1084m

I felt so bad about being slow that I worked out the predicted times using the Wotzwot walking time calculator and compared our speeds. (Yes, I should get a life). This gives a predicted time of 7h 23 mins for “fit” walkers excluding breaks so I don’t feel too bad that I was slower than the terminators in the group. I can only think that David, Elaine and Andrew had their weetabix without me knowing.

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Mabie Forest (traditional)

March 13, 2010

7.25 miles for the intrepid three, 6.9 miles for me since I took a short cut to rendezvous with the elusive plumber. But Hey! the McMs are now shower enabled again, if also missing some ceiling.

A classic walk in many ways, including the attempted canine reproduction (doomed to failure since XY+XY=no puppies and terrier+labrador=can’t reach). And, of course, we had the now traditional lost border terrier. It was another day of “I hope it is like this for H&H” weather.

I hope we have all come away from this walk with an understanding of the havoc caused by sheep in one’s garden. Oh the sheep poo! the sheep poo! When will farmers make their fences stock proof? So asked the lady we met who was chasing sheep from her garden.

Sorry I couldn’t join you for coffee at the end. Hopefully Joanna had the traditional shed chocolate?

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East Lodge to New Abbey

March 7, 2010

Margaret sits on the log bench she had, minutes before, destroyed. Luckily no one was physically injured, though Mike was forced to move more quickly than he is usually does.

A good walk. It was on good forest paths and then roads for the last mile or so. I was surprised to find so much snow still lying about given how warm it felt when we set off. We didn’t see another soul on the way. I thought the views were quite good but the pictures are a bit boring I’m afraid. The windfarm out to sea doesn’t show up in my pictures.

I managed to complete the walk having been stretched by Margaret (many thanks). Elaine says she was sorely tempted to use my camera to record the torture, sorry, stretching. Even poor Blue was limping towards the end. I hope he is recovering from his sore paw now.

The coffee shop at New Abbey is a good excuse for finishing the walk there.

11 miles      3h 30mins     Ascent 379m

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Screel

February 28, 2010

4.79 miles,  2hr 8min,      326m
Nice weather (no rain), but a little wet underfoot….but this is D&G.

We set off with the aim following the forest track up and coming back through the “enchanted forest” section. I would normally have gone up the steep bit and down the less steep Glen of Screel Burn. This time we did it clockwise so to speak. The Glen was pretty mushy following forestry work and felling but not enough to wet our feet. I do like Screel. You feel that you have achieved something getting up it and the views, particularly over towards Almoress are worth a couple of hours walking. See above.

Then coffee in The Glenisle Inn, Palnackie (thank you, Jo)

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