Saddleworth Round - 24 June 2007

Date of Walk : Sunday 24th.June

Distance : 13 miles

Route : Greenfield - Uppermill - Dobcross - Diggle - Standedge - Castleshaw - Delph - Scouthead - Grasscroft - Greenfield

As previously mentioned, I have a longer walk to come next week. (There will be a post relating to this but it is a walk round all the non league football grounds of Tameside.) I went and bought another pair of lightweight boots and these were much better. I got a couple of small blisters but as the walk next week is somewhere between 16-18 miles (depending on the exact route) I now know where to stick the plasters before setting off next week.

The walk today took me through most of the villages of Saddleworth. For those unfamiliar with the area, this is part of the Peak District and some of my previous walks have been around this area, although at a higher level. This walk took me along the canals and the only off road walking was the stretch from Diggle over to Castleshaw.

The canal in Uppermill.



The magnificent Saddleworth viaduct seen from the canal at Dobcross.

No barges going through the Standedge Tunnel today.

Looking into Diggle from the path up to Standedge.

Even the sheep are sheltering from the rain!

The Castleshaw Centre from where I have run numerous school trips and tried to get youngsters interested in walking and the outdoors.

Looking into Dobcross. Even though this wasn't the end of the walk it was the end of my pictures as within 5 minutes there was a torrential downpour although I was still about an hour away from the car.

Flickr Album - Saddleworth Round - 24 June 2007

Crompton Circuit - Well Almost!!

Date of Walk : Sunday 17th June

Distance : 8.5 miles

Route : Shaw - Jubilee - Crompton Moor - Crompton Fold - Brushes Clough Reservoir - Grains Bar - Dog Hill - Shaw

This was nothing spectacular but I am doing a rather longer walk in a couple of weeks so had bought a new pair of lightweight walking boots. I love my leather boots but the walk in a fortnight is mainly on canal paths and roads so they wouldn't be suitable. The new boots felt reasonably comfortable but a little soft in the centre of the shoe so I could feel stones a little too much. Back to the drawing board I think. It's a good job it's pay day this week if I am going to buy another pair before next weekend!! The idea when I set off was to complete the whole of the Crompton Circuit but for one reason or another I set off rather late as the whole circuit is 11 miles, and also being Fathers Day I knew I had to leave time to visit my Dad. Even in my 30s I still think of my old man as he is responsible for getting me into walking in the first place and at the moment he can't walk with me due to an Achilles problem.

The view from up on Crompton Moor.

Looking down into the town of Shaw. This is my home until I can earn enough money to buy a house in the Lakes!!

Brushes Clough Reservoir

Flickr Album - Crompton Circuit - 17 June 2007

Buttermere

Date of Walk : Sunday 3rd June

Distance : 4.7 miles

Route : Buttermere Village - Burtness Wood - Peggy's Bridge - Gatesgarth Farm - Wilkinsyke Farm - Buttermere Village

This was the final walk for the holiday as were heading back home on Monday morning. It was another excellent walk with reasonable weather.

Looking down Buttermere

Looking across from Burtness Wood

The river near Peggy's Bridge

Flickr Album - Buttermere - 3 June 2007

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Date of Walk : Friday 1st June

Distance : 3.2 miles

Our base was no longer Keswick but we were now at my dad's house in Allerby which is situated roughly between Cockermouth and Maryport. This wasn't a very long walk but was an interesting look around a Roman fort and also allowed a look at Hadrians' Wall which I haven't visited for about 15 years.

Flickr Album - Birdoswald - 1 June

Osprey Spotting

Date of Walk : Wednesday 30th.May

Distance : 4 miles

Just a couple of short rambles today. Had no change so parked on the road at both the Osprey Viewing Point and at Whinlatter Visitors Centre. We wandered up to the viewing point and were lucky enough to see the osprey descend upon the lake for fish. No pictures I'm afraid as I can't operate binoculars and a camera at the same time. As most people probably know there are now two chicks in the nest with hopefully a third arriving very soon. After viewing the osprey, we went to the Visitors Centre but parked further down the road and observed from the webcam and did a little bit more finding out.

Lake District Osprey Home Page

Catbells

Date of Walk : Tuesday 29th. May

Distance : 8.2 miles

Route : Castlerigg Farm - Keswick Boat Launch - Hawes End - Catbells - Hawse End - Keswick Boat Launch - Castlerigg Farm

Decided to intoduce Beth to Catbells but thought it would be busy for parking, so left the car at the tent and used the boat to get across Derwent Water. It was an extremely enjoyable walk but at times the path resembled the M6 on Bank Holiday Monday.

The poser in the middle of Derwent Water!

Views of Bassenthwaite Lake on the way up.

Derwent Water

Are we there yet?

Catbells

Flickr Album - Catbells - 29 May 2007

Loughrigg Round

Date of walk : Monday 28th. May

Distance : 6.1 miles

Route : Elterwater - Skelwith Bridge - Loughrigg Tarn - Intake Wood - Loughrigg Terrace - Caves - Loughrigg Fell - Loughrigg Tarn - Skelwith Bridge - Elterwater

An excellent Bank Holiday walk which initially wasn't going to include Loughrigg Fell but after getting to the caves Beth decided she wanted to go over the top rather than round the side. It was a good job I didn't mind!!

Not a bad spot for a house (with views of Loughrigg Tarn and the fells)

I wonder how many photos have been taken from here.

The caves are still out of bounds.

Beth at the top of a rather blustery Loughrigg Fell. I'm sorry to say that some idiots(s) have written on the cairn since we were here last December.

The path down from Loughrigg Fell needed some care but is obviously ready for a rebuild looking at these boulders.

Loughrigg Tarn

The waterfalls at Skelwith Bridge

Flickr Album - Loughrigg Round - 28 May 2007

Derwent Water

Date of Walk : Sunday 27th.May

Distance : 4.3 miles

Route : Castlerigg Farm - Springs Wood - Keswick - Boat House - Friar's Crag - The Ings - Deerclose Cottage - Watson's Park - Castlerigg Farm

The only day where we had to sit in the tent waiting for the rain to stop. Later in the afternoon we wandered down to the lake and went for a short walk along the edge and then back up through the wood. I saw a deer but it was too fast for the camera!

Looking across Derwent Water

Derwent Isle from the Keswick launch

Beth's little island

The wood near The Ings

You wouldn't believe it had been raining about an hour ago.

Flickr Album - Derwent Water - 27 May 2007

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Date of walk : Saturday 26th.May

Distance : 6.1 miles

Route - Castlerigg Farm - Springs Wood - Castlerigg Farm - Stone Circle - Keswick - Springs Wood - Castlerigg Farm

For those knowing the area, this may look a rather strange route, but we had just put the tent up and wanted to check out the path to Keswick, but then decided to reroute to the Stone Circle and go to Keswick on the way back. (Beth was in charge as after all she is a 9 year old girl!!)

Looking across to Catbells from Springs Wood

This does spoil the scenic view.

Beth at the Stone Circle

I nearly managed a shot without people on it!

Flickr Album - Castlerigg Stone Circle - 26th.May 2007