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Grange, King's How, Rosthwaite, Millican Dalton cave, Dalt Quarry, Cumbria.
[ 11.8 km] Fri  06 Mar 2009

The weather forecast was reasonable so I decided to go for a short walk before calling in. As Wednesday I parked in Grange-in-Borrowdale and set off through Cummacatta Wood. This time I wanted to investigate a cave that is marked on the map. I soon found it and after a quick look inside I continued south along the path to the main car park.
Cave near Cummacatta Wood.


Bowder Stone

I knew it was pay and display and I horrified by the obscene amount of money motorists would have to pay. For the privelige of parking on a piece of dirt with no security they wanted £3.40 for 2 hours; that was the minimum charge. The main car park in Keswick costs £1.85 for the same duration with a minimum charge of 50p for 30mins. I followed the path to the Bowder Stone which I hadn’t visited in many years.

I descended to the road and followed it a short distance before joining a path to the left and heading steeply up towards King’s How. It was quite a good and well used path and gave impressive views of Borrowdale as I got higher. It was steep in places but when it levelled out near the summit I wound my way through low humps to the summit of King’s How. There was a small pile of stones to mark the spot and wonderful views all around. The main reason I was up here was to check out a memorial marked on the map. I was pleasantly surprised to find it just below the summit on the NE side. A flat stone slab was set in the hillside and reads:
Path up to King's How

In loving memory of
King Edward VII
Grange Fell is dedicated by his sister
Louise
as a sanctuary of rest and peace.
Here may all beings gather strength
Find in scenes of beautiful nature a cause
For gratitude and love to God giving them
Courage and vigour to carry on his will.


King's How plaque


Side of Brund Fell

I descended on a path heading towards Brund Fell but followed it at a lower level below the summit. It eventually brought me to the main Rosthwaite to Watendlath path.

I then descended to Rosthwaite and crossed the road to follow the track to the River Derwent. On Wednesday I’d seen a sign saying that Millican Dalton’s cave [Millican Dalton (1867-1947) was a self-styled "Professor of Adventure"] was closed due to rock fall. I wanted to check this out so followed the path through the woods until I came to the unmarked branch up to the cave. When I got to the entrance there were more signs fixed to the cave entrance area but I couldn’t see any evidence of a rock fall.
Millican Dalton's caves


Colours in Dalt quarry

I returned to the path then headed up to Dalt Wood to check a quarry I’d seen on Google Earth as someone had posted some interesting photos of coloured streaks on the slate caused by seepage from the fell. I soon found it and wasn’t disappointed. I carefully walked into the quarry to take some photos before returning to the path and walking the short distance back to Grange. It was warm and sunny when I got back so I had a quick look in the Methodist Church before leaving.