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Whittle Wander|
Shap and Bretherdale, Cumbria. Wed 08 Mar 2006 |
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Drove to Crookdale Bridge just off the A6 on the south side of Shap. A very overcast and drizzly day so didn’t plan to go too high or far. I left the car just opposite Hause Foot house and headed north along the old line of the road over Shap. I don’t know when the current line of the A6 was constructed but I would guess about 200 years ago. |
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I was soon in thick mist and had to look carefully for the path branch to the right and across to the A6. I found the faint path and crossed over the road to pick up the path towards Bretherdale. The most distinct path headed towards Crookdale Crag but there was no sign of a route down towards Bretherdale. I was still in thick mist so had to follow a compass bearing. Eventually I saw Bretherdale Beck below and found an old track that I followed down. A substantial farm ruin appeared through the mist. This was Scalehowe. |
| The track continued down the valley to another ruin. This was Greenhead and still had it’s room on and a substantial portion of the interior structure intact, though just about to fall down. I little further on was an old stone and very slippery footbridge which I crossed and climbed the narrow walled track up the opposite side of the valley. |
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The rough stony track became a nice green lane when it flattened out and eventually emerged on to the adopted road. It was still very overcast but at least I was now below the clouds. At Ewelock Bank I turned left on to an usurfaced track heading up on to the fell. I didn’t have much of a view and was soon heading back into the mist again. An old barn appeared ahead and I stopped by it for my sandwiches. Fortunately the weather improved a bit and the cloud lifted enough for me to see a reasonable distance ahead. The trail was easy and by now quite flat. At Crag Hill I noticed a stone base and post just ahead. I investigated only to find that it wasn’t all that old. A substantial vehicle track had also been made into the area. It looked like it may something to do with a pipeline, maybe gas. The map showed a Shooting Box up ahead. It was off the main track but was worth a look. Unfortunately it looked the weather had got to it before I did. The walls were flat on the ground and the roof sat on its own a little further away. I looked like a casualty of the Jan 2005 storm. |
| Retracing back to the track I passed under the power pylons and on to the old road. I followed this to the A6 and crossed over. There was less mist but now it was raining. The continuing trail was the original line of the main road, but now in a very sorry state. Being a bridal-way the motor bikers had been over it and long stretches were impassable, meaning a trip up the fell side to get through. By the time I got back to the car the rain was quite heavy. Just the sort of conditions to finish a walk. |
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