Helton Askham circular

Wednesday 23rd. April 2025 

Continuation of my exploration of the northern foothills and minor dales  of High Street.

Car parking had been identified using Google Earth. A steep cul-de-sac road leads from Helton which in less than quarter of a mile arrives at a cattle grid and then unfenced road where parking is possible. My walking route continued on that road, but I knew that the steep climb from Helton may be my nemesis at the end of a fairly strenuous six miler, something that wouldn't have even entered my mind before I was afflicted with my breathing problem.

The road continued climbing until I could branch off on a track on now extensive undulating moorland stretching away to the northern slopes of High Street. Here there is a network of well defined tacks and paths to connect with High Street and Pooley Bridge and Heughsacr Hill. I realized that this is a fairly popular walking area and I met quite a few others on and off. The walking on perfect turf and tracks was the very best of Lakeland terrain. At the northern end of the moorland the land drops away down to Ullswater and I was rewarded by a surprise view down to our second largest lake with Blencathra (Saddleback) in a haze in the background. My route skirted Heughscar Hill which I have ascended in the past, and it was quite steep climb from the moorland to skirt high up underneath Heugh Scar. My affliction really rules out climbing the major peaks of the Lakes but I still strive to get on high if possible and today's route enabled that by having a relatively  high starting point  at about 260m. Long may I continue to find such ways and means to have the pleasure of being on high.

Descent and a stretch of road walking was pleasant enough to arrive at the pretty village of Askham. Here a footpath cuts out some of the road walking back down to Helton. A one point a lamb had its head stuck through that six inch square fencing wire. There was no way it was going to escape and I managed to extract it, but ripping my cherished Berghaus Hollowfill jacket that has accompanied me on many trips including my Land's End John 'o Groats walk. 

I had been having some unreasonable foreboding about climbing that steep little stretch back to the car, I took it steadily and arrived back at the start in good form. That was  an exceptionally good walk . I have one more planned not far way which I think will exhaust possibilities in that area.

Worth clicking photos to enlarge.

Just above the cattle grid, and looking to the start of my walking. It was uphill for a while until I was able to branch off onto the moorland

Off onto perfect turf and tracks

It is difficult to envisage what went on so long ago at these stone circles. We can only glean a bit from the imaginations of some of our more fanciful archaeologists. 

Approaching the surprise view of Ullswaster

Heugh Scar. Quite a climb (for me) to get up there but well worth it

Looks a bit like a Heaton Cooper painting?

Not sure what this is. I guess something to do with water supply. It is not likely to be one of those nuclear bunkers - digging anything out into the underlying rock here would be above and beyond. Anybody know any more ?

Walking out of Askham to pick up the path back to Helton. 1696 is going back a long wsy. This building had various patched up doorways and windows, but good to see that these and the inscription stone have been preserved in the recent restoration.

Looking back down to Helton village from halfway up the short steep ascent back to my car.

Clockwise from cattle grid just south west of Helton