Lat/Long: 54.684152, -03.039614
OS Grid Ref: NY 33073 32619
I was a bit late with the start of my walk as I called at Asda
to see if any tinned food had come in overnight. Just after 6am
the shelves were still mostly empty. I contued along the M6, off
at Penrith and on to the lane west of Mosedale to park in the
same spot as last week. This time it was nowhere near as windy.
There was already a large van parked there. It was fine but
overcast as I set off down the road to the turn off for the
buildings called Roundhouse. |
The Roundhouse. |
As I walked down the muddy track and came driving up. I
passed the houses then over the wooden footbridge crossing the
River Caldew. The steady climb up towards Bowscale Tarn and Fell
was in front of me. I could see the trail most of the way up but
I had to be careful in places as the very wet grass was quite
slippery. I took it steady by the side of Tarn Sike and
eventually I reached its source at the outlet of Bowscale Tarn. |
The footbridge over River Caldew. |
Bowscale Tarn. |
The tarn is in an impressive bowl of surrounding steep
hillsides. I turned right to walk up the steep path to the ridge
edge above the tarn. Shortly below the summit I stopped to make
the most of the shelter from the cold wind and have an early
lunch. On the ridge I had the cold wind on my side and continued
up the featureless path to the low stone shelter on Bowscale
Fell. |
Bowscale Tarn. |
|
Over the summit I had a great view of Blencathra ahead. I
descended to the south to the path junction at the saddle. My
objective is a minor path to the right that descends Blackhazel
Beck. The OS 50K map shows it a defined path descending to the
River Caldew but there is no bridge shown on the map. After
further research I realised there was no bridge and never had
been one. |
Looking to Blencathra.. |
|
I was prepared for a wade across the river. I hadn’t been going
long before all signs of the path vanished. I followed rough
ground down to a sheepfold and a nice view of the valley below.
Checking though my binoculars I could confirm no foot-bridge. |
Sheepfold above Blackhazel Beck. |
|
Below was a faint path on
the hillside which I followed to a ruined stone building which
looked to have been quite substantial at one time. It is shown
as having a roof on the 1864map. There had been a door on the NE
side but no sign of any window openings. I crossed the rushy and
wet flat area towards the river. The map shows the path ending
at the river bank but no bridge. The river was wide and fast
there and no chance of crossing without wading. |
Old stone building. |
|
It was too fast for safety so I walked upstream and found a
crossing point that was manageable. My ‘river crossing’ socks
and karrimat inserts worked a treat. Boots, socks & trousers
off. Camera in rucksack with trousers then in to wade across. I
was in over my knees and just below waist level. With walking
pole for support it wasn’t too bad. At the far side I didn’t put
my boots back on until reaching the path. My feet were very cold
and even with my socks back on and in my boots it took a while
for them to feel normal. |
Where I waded across the River Caldew. |
Distant view of Skiddaw House |
|
It was an enjoyable wander down the track back to the bridge and
road and then car. A few more cars were there on my return. |
