Sunday 21st. April 2024
At last after months of inactivity a reasonable walk on new territory for me.
My breathlessness malady still prevails with little improvement. The last hospital department to take me over was Respiratory. They seem to have run out of ideas; I still have one test in the pipeline for Sleep Apnoea which I'm pretty sure I do not suffer from, and even if the test is positive it can only be a mild version and I have my doubts as to whether it will have anything to do with my problem.
I had no intention of trying to score a time for this walk, I just wanted to enjoy. However, including about twenty minutes for my sandwich break the 5.5 miles took me just over 5.5 hours. and I found I was breathing heavily on the slightest inclines and stopping frequently for rests. I have to say that takes away some of the pleasure but it was still good to be out exploring again and taking in the re-energising ambience of classic dales limestone scenery.
Interest was aroused after only the first hundred yards by raucous noise from a large gathering of rooks sorting out their nesting in trees above the short stretch of main road.
Pleasant walking on farm tracks and then fields lead to crossing of the Settle Carlisle railway. Plovers were in the air trying to protect their nesting from my invasion. and the odd curlew heard but not seen. All was peace and quiet.
At Tommy Road, my furthest point south, I headed on a good track north east to re-cross the railway again. From there I picked up on Wainwright's A Pennine Journey.
At Croop House I could see Lammerside Castle across the next field with a large party of ramblers approaching. I stopped to have my sandwich and coffee and let them pass through. By the time I was ready for off again another rambling party was advancing. I waited until the last few were coming through the gate from the castle's field. I could see that they had a designated Gate Marshal and I timed things perfectly for me to go through as their last straggler arrived allowing me to avail myself of the services of the Gate Marshal. I had a silly cheeky feeling about that.
From the Internet:
Further on I came across Wharton Hall, a 14th Century Tower house and present day working farm. Visit Cumbria has good information about this including a splendid aerial photo which puts my ground level attempt to shame.
https://www.visitcumbria.com/evnp/wharton-hall/
As I ascended a steep little path from the hall I was able to look down on the largest slurry tank I have ever seen. The prefabricated construction must be at least fifty feet in diameter containing perhaps the oft used measure of an "Olympic sized swimming pool" or more? It is serviced by a sophisticated system of pipe-work blowing air causing firstly an inner ring of energetic spouting bubbles alternating with an outer ring. This structure can be seen in context included in the aforementioned photo on Visit Cumbria. I know vaguely that this stuff is used as fertiliser but the sheer scale and cost of installation here is a great mystery - I think a bit of research is in order.
Further paths eventually coinciding with the river Eden as it moves with vigour through Kirkby Stepehen took me back to my car.
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| Setting off from parking at Stenkrith Bridge. The trees with the rooks can be seen in the background. |
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| Still flying the flag for old Westmorland |
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| Distant dales hills |
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| A modern quarry. See below for strange dumpings of associated spoil |
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| I passed under here crossing the Settle Carlisle line. A good huff and puff ascending to this point |
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| Moor End Farm. Many now have holiday accommodation |
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| Looking back at the farm with this splendid display of daffs flowering here quite late? |
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| Perfect walking over Christopher Brow Top |
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| I was a bit off route here and had to make a mid-course correction by following the distant wall to the right to take me down to Tommy Road |
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| The track from Tommy Road leading back to re-crossing of the railway |
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| The isolated Furrow Green farm, and zoom below |
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| Lammerside Castle and the first party rambling through as I sat with sandwich and coffee watching them |
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| A large flock of squealing and squawking gulls wheeling and diving. quite impressive |
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| Wharton Hall. Much better photo on Visit Cumbria - see link in text |
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| The monster slurry tank |
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| River Eden on its way into Kirkby Stephen. |
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| Anti- clockwise from the point north of Nateby |
Good to see you out. That was quite a long circular for less than 2miles of the Eden.
ReplyDeleteI stayed in Nateby but have no recollection or knowledge of Lammerside Castle.
Your title had me confused as did "Clockwise from the point north of Nateby" Have the clocks changed?
BC - It wasn't really meant to be part of the Eden Way. The route was anti-clockwise, and the title as well have now been altered. Thanks. I think the exertion must have dulled my abilities for blog composition.
ReplyDeleteditto to BC's intro.: I was making up my mind to call you to see whether your aliments had grounded you 'terminably' so v. glad to read this - - a few miles away it was not the day for walking of any kind - so making blood coloured marmalade awaits your next visit.
ReplyDeleteWell done Conrad. I wondered while i was reading this if your problem was something like Long Covid. I’m sure they would have tested you anyway. Lovely area and good photos. A little more of the Eden way done as well even though it wasn’t your plan.
ReplyDeletegimmer. I will try and call in when I do the next bit of Eden Way, hopefully when the outdoor temperature improves.
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Alan R - I had similar thoughts about Long C. recently ad I am contacting my GP to ask for his thoughts.