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OS Grid ref: NY 24904 32310
Lat/Long: 54.680228, -03.166225
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After a clear drive I returned to the parking area by the road
across from Peter House Farm. Mine was the only car. The weather
was fine with thin cloud so I didn’t take my main jacket. I set
off along the track towards Skiddaw House but when I reached the
branch took the left turn down towards Dash Farm. At the bottom
of the bridge over Dash Beck is a gate with a sign saying no
path & private. I’ve been here before but came off the fells so
didn’t see the sign. |
Achnashellach Railway Platform. |
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As I was only passing through and couldn’t see anyone around
decided to go through the gate and continue along the farm
access track. Higher up it became rougher and as I approached
the farmhouse I noticed the name ‘The Dash’ on the wall. When I
passed a few years ago it was empty but now it's advertised as a
holiday residence and it looked like there was a light in one of
the downstairs rooms. Walking round the side I could see a
vehicle parked at the rear and steam coming out of the central
heating flue. I decided to avoid the farmyard and go through a
gate to the left. I was able to by-pass the farm and head across
the field towards the other holiday let of ‘Thorny Crag’ across
the valley. |
Thorny Crag in the trees. |
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I didn’t call there as I was heading for Trusmadoor. I reached
the ford at Burntod Gill and tried to find a spot where I could
jump across. I couldn’t so managed to hop across the ford
without getting too wet. The green track headed up the fell to a
gate then higher up to a path and boulder. The old map actually
showed the boulder. The Map shows a path heading towards
Trusmadoor but it was quite faint in places. I headed high above
Burntod Gill and eventually joined with the path to Great
Cockup. The narrow valley is quite interesting and unlike
anywhere I can recall. |
Hause Gill. |
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This was |
Trusmadoor. |
Binsey in the distance to the left. |
Binsey in the distance |
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A better path descended to the NW but soon became indistinct.
The sun was out as I descended making it quite pleasant. I
probably finished descending through the boggiest part of the
valley but eventually joined the main path at the source of the
River Ellen. I turned left and followed it across the northern
side of Little Cockup and Orthwaite fell. A steep descent took
me down to the road where I turned right a short way to
Orthwaite Hall buildings. |
Another view of Binsey in the distance. |
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Over a wall to the left I continued on a path across a field
then left along one of the Cumbria Way paths. It was horribly
wet as I filled it down towards Little Tarn. Just before the
brook I was ‘buzzed’ by a Buzzard which swooped down close over
my head but didn’t make contact. Id seena sign in the field
earlier warning me of the possibility. A large area of
impenetrable gorse was ahead so I climbed up the hillside to
clearer ground. Through a couple of gates I continued to
Whitefield Woods but the path marking was rubbish. I continued
on a forestry track but had to return to find a steep path down
the hillside and through the trees to the road. |
Through the trees & down to the road. |
Tree clearance by the road. |
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There was a good wooden footbridge across Halls Beck then a
track up through the woods to another wet path. The path was wet
and not very interesting. Further south I turned left at a large
boulder and across fields towards Peter House Farm. The last
field had some very skittish cows in it and I kept a lookout as
I crossed it as they can be dangerous. I reached the road and my
car and checked the map which confirmed the path I’d just used
was part of the Cumbria Way. I certainly wouldn’t include it as
it is not good walking. |
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