Caldbeck in North Cumbria was our destination earlier this week as we once again went on our adventures.
This small village is situated midway between Carlisle and Keswick, around 12miles from each.
Caldbeck TV Masts
One claim to fame for this area is the erection of the new television transmitter mast on a nearby fell.
This mast is the third tallest structure in the UK and beams digital tv signals to the local area and southern Scotland.
The digital switchover is complete in North Cumbria, so if you are visiting in your caravan or motorhome you will need a set top box, as no old fashioned analogue tv signals can be received.
Our walk.
We started our walk just a little way outside of the village as this allowed us a bit of a run before we needed short leads on the pavements.
As we entered the village with the TV masts behind us, we crossed the road and entered Caldbeck village car park, grid ref NY 319398.
Making sure we kept out of the way of any cars, we passed straight through and out the other end bearing off to our right. A slight climb, 30m, and we came out by the village duck pond.
Path to The Howk, Caldbeck
We must have looked lost at this stage until Dad spotted a sign to our left on a tall gate, around 50m away across another quiet village road.
Passing between some lovely cottages made from former farm buildings, we pass through another gate and onto the path away from the village.
The path is firm, well drained and suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. It does have a slight incline so an assistant may be required.
The Howk, Caldbeck
After around 10 minutes we exited into a clearing with some tall buildings in front of us.
A notice board said we had come upon the Howk.
Situated in a limestone gorge, the only one in the Lake District, is the restored former wooden bobbin mill.
You can only imagine the noise in this enclave when the mill was in full production in the 19th Century.
Power for the mill came from a waterwheel said to be the largest in the country and second largest in the world, according to some reports, at 3 feet wide, and a 42 feet diameter.
The Howk, Caldbeck
Water for the wheel came from the Whelpo Beck which becomes Cald Beck as it approaches the village.
Carved into a stone, on the big building infront of us was the date AD 1857.
Hardwood copiced from the nearby woodland, was stored in the tall open building to our right. After being de-barked the seasoned wood was turned into wooden bobbins in the main building ahead.
Bobbins were used to store wool, threads and other materials vital to the spinning and weaving industries. Plastic has since replaced the wooden bobbin.
Charlie in long grass
Flax mills, woolen mills, corn mills and papermills were among the many industries harnessing the local resources.
Rare lime loving plants can be found in the area including the Shield Fern.
We spot some cows in a field we wish to cross
Charlie found sniffs of many creatures passing through this area.
From above Mum could see the trails in the flattened tall grass however Charlie put his nose to the ground and had a field day.
The path led away behind the furthest buildings and after a steep climb, not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs, we came upon these young cows.
They were very interested in us and came over to say hello.
Whelpo Beck, Caldbeck
Dad decided that we should not proceed into the field and we returned a little down the path to a small wooden bridge we had spotted earlier over Whelpo Beck.
Water was cascading down between the boulders very quickly. We ran across the bridge so not to get too scared.
Steps led away from the ‘Fairy Bridge’ upto a field and we could once again have a good run around without mum and dad worrying.
Tiring work - all this adventure stuff ...
Following the path to our left we passed two wooden gates with brass signs on them which read Private, and came upon a kissing gate where we waited for the ‘olds’ to catch up..
Dad’s in built compass indicated we had come out on to a road above the village of Caldbeck, so we headed down the hill to see what else we could find.
Clogmakers in Caldbeck
After passing a field with geese and donkeys in, we spotted to our right a red sign hidden a little by a wall.
Joe Strong and Son, Traditional Clogmakers, Boot and Shoe repairs.
Sadly he was not open and according to the assorted notices on the door, well worth a read if you are passing, he could be in bed, fixing a drystone wall or just closed.
St Kentigern's Church, Caldbeck, Cumbria
In a shop below is a clock maker and repairer, opposite are the public toilets.
Our walk continued towards the village along the B5299, past the Oddfellows Arms and towards the church.
We both put our noses into the air as we could smell food as we passed through here but mum said we had to wait a little bit longer.
Keeping the local store to our left and the pub behind us we came to the edge of St Kentigern’s churchyard. A small tarmac path lead alongside the church wall which came out at a bridge.
St Kentigern's Well, Caldbeck, Cumbria
Here we hoped to get a paddle and a well earned drink but the access to the water was a bit steep.
To our left and just below the pack horse bridge is St Kentigern’s well. St Kentegern was also affectionately known as St Mungo. The well is referred to in some texts as St Mungo’s Well.
According to tradition it is here that Kentegern, baptized 6th Century converts in the river waters.
Priest Mill, Paddle
A path leads away from the bridge to our right, between the church wall and the river and comes out finally at a place where we can have a drink.
Behind us is the restored Priest’s Mill with assorted gift shops and The Watermill cafe.
The cafe has an open air area to the rear where we stopped and had shared a bite to eat with Mum and Dad.
Roughton Stone, St Kentigern's Churchyard, Caldbeck
Dogs are most welcome, so long as they behave and don’t leave a mess. Previous visitors have included Pepsi and Max
After lunch, a very nice ham and salad sandwich, we returned to the front of the church where we saw this unusual round stone propped up against another boulder.
To the left is a small silver painted sign saying that this is a memorial in tribute to the men and their families who lived and worked in the mines of Roughton Gill for 400 years and who now lay in the churchyard.
Gravestone of John Peel, St Kentigern's Churchyard, Caldbeck
The stone itself was used in the 19th century in its original circular form to process minerals from the mines.
It is well documented that Dad always seems to end up in a graveyard and this walk was no exception.
He had read that John Peel, the famous huntsman, not the radio DJ, was buried nearby and wondered if he was remembered in the church somewhere.
We stayed with mum outside the church grounds whist dad went through the squeaky gates.
Left.. the mud, right.... The Howk
Sure enough, a white headstone to the left of the main church path, marked where he was buried.
We returned through the village to the car park where we started not before we investigated the path towards Sebergham.
Shall we say that it was very muddy and slippery and will have to wait for a bit of dry weather before we fully explore this area.
It did however result in us taking another paddle to get cleaned off before we got back in the car.
Until next time
Buster and Charlie
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