The weatherman said it would be a good weekend and it indeed turned out to be so.

An explosion of yellow from this catkin

We managed to get out of the house on both days and we are pleased to report that Spring has officially arrived.

The hedgerows and grass covered banks are full of colour.  From the white of the snowdrops a few weeks ago to a golden yellow, via the occasional purple crocus flower.

With the warmer temperatures, currently 9 deg C, bright yellow catkins and daffodils offer the hope of a good summer ahead.

Walk by the river

An old coppiced tree

Although the ground is a little squishy under our paws we managed to keep to the dry paths, with only the occasional detour to follow a sniff, or two.

Our walk on Sunday took us along the side of the River Eden from Engine Lonning towards the Sheepmount Athletics area.

We have done this walk many times. It is a good walk for Buster and his dodgy hip as it features a varied collection of surfaces and is reasonably flat.

Since the puffing steam trains left, the area around Engine Lonning has been taken over by wildlife and assorted plants.

A great number of the large willows have been coppiced.  This means that they have been chopped back regularly to the ground to allow a lot of stems to grow quickly.  Quite a few British native trees can be coppiced and the practice dates back many hundreds of years.

At the first sign of grass - Buster takes a rest

The area is managed by the local council and they keep it tidy and well tended.

Too cold for a paddle

With Charlie constantly straining on his lead, pulling towards the water to our left, we eventually came out onto the grass at the rear of the Sheepmount.

A few men were being naughty playing with a quad bike up and down the paths. However, they did slow down as we went past so we were not too scared.

Daffodils with their big yellow trumpets herald Spring

Using a motorised vehicle is not really acceptable, as this is a public path and children and animals use it regularly.

Taking a rest 

For a bloke of almost 100 I still am quite active, but the bones do ache after a good walk.

Whilst dad and Charlie power ahead, mum and I walk behind taking our time and take rests when we can.

Charlie takes a moment for a rest

Today I decided to take a moment to sit and rest surrounded by daffodils.

Looking across the playing fields behind Carlisle Castle I could watch the children playing and hear the birds sing.

Charlie wondered what I was doing but he too soon dropped and took a moment to enjoy the arrival of Spring.

Until next time, big licks

Buster and Charlie

Ahead of the 2012 Superbowl Volkswagen have released a taster called ‘The Bark Side’ on YouTube.

The ad features a around a dozen dogs barking the “Imperial March’ from the George Lucas film Star Wars.

The video has already had over 7m views since it was posted on 18 January.

This ad follows a theme set in 2011 when the car company used a frustrated boy walking around the house seeing if he had the force.  This has had over 49m plays

The Superbowl airs on Feb. 5.

Greystoke near Penrith was our destination today as we left the city behind and headed for the green fields of the countryside.

Watching the world go by

Our journey took us past many famers busy in their fields with combine harvesters and grass bailers.  They are possibly trying to get ahead of the wet weather promised for tomorrow.

Greystoke is built like the centre of a wheel with many roads leading away from the middle.  Parking in the big village car park, we  started our explorations up each lane in turn.

Whilst we concentrated on the many new sniffs, mum and dad kept spotting houses that they would love to move into. The humans call it ‘goal planning’, at my age, more like ‘wishful thinking’.

It did seem that quite a number were up for sale and, given the current problems with the stuff the humans call money, it was interesting to see the number of new properties being built.

Stone slab bridge with wooden barriers

One thing we did notice, was that the sniffs were much better than in the town and the grass seemed to taste fresher and looked greener.

Greystoke church

Walking up and down the lanes that surround Greystoke we came across this quite unusual bridge.

Constructed it seems from a single slab of rock, it spanned the banks of a little stream to the rear of the church.

Greystoke church

The wooden railings were affixed to the rock edge with, what can only be described as, giant netting staples.  These clamped around the rock and held the fence in place.

No visit to a village is complete for the two leggers without a visit to a local church to gather stuff for one of their websites gravestonepix.com.

On this particular occasion, it was St. Andrew’s.  Whilst we stayed with mum near to the entrance to the churchyard, dad went off to see what he could find in the graveyard and for a look inside the church.

Lickers at the ready!

He returned after about 20 minutes clutching a church leaflet. Another one for mums collection !

Rich and creamy

No visit to the big world can be complete without some party food, especially if we can share.

After our long walk up and down the tracks of Greystoke we took up a seat on the village green just around lunchtime.

Whilst we watched the many bikes going past on the C2C cross country cycle trail, we sent mum off to the shop.

For a small hamlet the village post office and general store was very well stocked with eatables and other essentials for rural living, reported mum as she returned a few minutes later, food in hand.

Starters was a breakfast sandwich full of egg and sausage and for pudding we got final licks on a pot of ice cream.

A perfect way to end a trip in the sunshine to a lovely part of Cumbria.

Until next time

Buster and Charlie.

Wet Sleddale lived up to it’s name today as the paths were full of paddling opportunities, and yes, we came home filthy.

Wet Sleddale Reservoir stretches across the valley

Made famous in the film ‘Withnail and I‘ this area is positioned about 5 miles from  Jnct 39 on the M6 motorway and west of the village of Shap in Cumbria.

Just before we entered the village of Shap from the south, we turn left down a single track road.

After about 3 miles and passing a farm and a compound holding all sorts of weather monitoring devices, we arrive at the car park alongside the Wet Sleddale reservoir dam wall.

The top of the Wet Sleddale Reservoir is locked by a gate

Space is available for about a dozen cars and at this time of year, we had no problem finding a space.

Coats, boots and rucksacks sorted we head off, firstly to explore the path towards the top of the dam wall.

Wet Sleddale Reservoir

Stretching out around 600m ahead of us and lined by concrete sides the top of the dam wall was about 2m wide.  Safety notices and padlocked gates restricted access, so we take a good look and return to the path.

Frog or toad spawn? Spotted in one of the many puddles on route

As dam walls go, this is quite small, only about 21m high but it does hold back 2,300 million litres of water. This is used as a top up service for the nearby Haweswater Reservoir.

Being so close to a reservoir and with ‘Wet’ in the name gives the visitor some clue as to conditions on this walk.

Wellies or proper walking boots are the order of the day for humans whilst no doubt a bath will await us upon our return home.

Puddles and marshland line our path and you just can not help getting your paws wet.

The famous Sleddale Hall, from the film Withnail and I

Many of the puddles that filled up the craters in the gravel road had frog or toad spawn in them.  Mum didn’t know which, but suggested that it possibly could be toad spawn.

Sadly as the puddles dry out and farming vehicles access the area, much of this new life will be squished, but hopefully some will survive.

Sleddale Hall – Withnail and I

As we reached the narrow top part of the reservoir, up to our right could be seen the now famous Sleddale Hall.

Since its appearance in the 1986 film ‘Withnail and I’  it has become one of those places to visit for film buffs.

Starring Richard E Grant (Richard Grant Esterhuysen) and Paul McGann the film tells the story of two out of work actors in the 1960s who venture to the Lakes to escape London only to find themselves ill-equipped for the conditions.

Packhorse bridge at the top end of the Wet Sleddale reservoir

The hall was originally acquired by the Manchester Corporation in the 1920s, which became part of North West Water and now United Utilities.

Before we can rise up the hillside towards Sleddale Hall we must first cross over the very picturesque pack horse bridge.

We stood on the bridge as we crossed and imagined a small pony all laid down with provisions keeping to the centre of the bridge to avoid damage to the precious cargo.

We then looked back at mum and thought – ‘what a recreation’ as she crossed over the bridge complete with backpack full of our provisions.

Local residents on guard outside Sleddale Hall

White arrows, nailed to wooden posts, indicated which way to follow up the gravel path worn down by thousands of visitors over the years.

Sheep guard Sleddale Hall

Our approach to the now derelict buildings that form Sleddale Hall was being closely watched by the guardians of the fells, the local sheep.

Looking out from their vantage point, our every move was being observed like a defending army protecting a hill fort.

United Utilities placed the property up for sale in 2009 with a guide price of £145,000.

Built from stone and Lake District slate, Sleddale Hall and its associated outbuildings were probably built in the mid 18th century.

No entry signs and caution asbestos keep us away from Sleddale Hall

It  has been unoccupied for many years, and is accessible only via a dirt track or across the fells on foot.

Asbestos risk

Surrounding this side of the property is a wire and post fence. Blue and white United Utilities signs indicate that entering the area will put you at risk from asbestos.

Wooden boards cover where doors and windows once were, in the hope of stopping visitors entering the possibly unsafe buildings.

It is almost two miles from the nearest public road and a mile from the nearest inhabited house.

Not wishing to upset the local sheep, as many are possibly expecting lambs shortly, we keep our distance from the buildings and do not venture any closer.

Just look at the view back to the car park

Two attempts were made to sell Sleddale Hall in 2009.  The first sale fell through, however in the second a conservation architect called Tim Ellis purchased the property for an undisclosed sum.

After a quick sit down on a well positioned dry rock and a few crumbs of flapjack from dad, we head back towards the car and the prospect of a hot bath when we get home.

Until next time

Buster and Charlie

More information

Wet Sleddale and I – The jottings of Alen McFadzean on his visit to the area

Today we went in search of Montague Mouse and his woodland friends during a woodland walk at Wigton just outside of Carlisle.

Who lives here?

Montague Mouse and his friends, Sebastian Shrew, Maudie Mole and Willie Water Vole live, along with a host of other characters, amongst the trees and shrubs of High Hall Nursery around 12 miles south-west of Carlisle just off the A595.

After parking the car, slightly in the shade to try and keep it a little cool, we were eager to go exploring.  A large noticeboard showed us what we could expect to see and a map of the trail ahead.

We started on the woodland path but after about 30m our attention was drawn to a distant voice coming from behind some of the trees.  Dad thought it was the ‘woodland folk’ and looked all around until he realised a lady was trying to get our attention.  She asked if we wanted a ‘ Find the Woodland Homes ‘ form.  

Woodland houses not 'To Let'

After a quick drink from a bowl of water supplied at the entrance to the forest trail we set off once again, this time armed with two pencils and a clipboard, in search of the front doors of the  woodland folk.

Recently reopened after the winter the woodland trail was in good condition and ideal for a scamper about.  The notice at the entrance to the forest walk asked if we could stay on our leads and take care to stay on the path.  

Our form had 30 empty spaces, so our challenge was going to be tough however, it wasn’t long before we spotted our first front door nestling at the base of a tree stump almost hidden by the long grass.

Charlie enjoys his walk

One down 29 to go.  Red, blue and green doors all come into sight as we get used to spotting them.  Some of them are low down others a few feet off the ground, but all are visible from the path.

Charlie becomes a bit of an expert and is soon searching for the doorways but he gets distracted as he can hear running water.  

The River Townthwaite is flowing nearby and it is a good job he is on his lead or he would be off down the hill for a paddle.

Red squirrels could occasionally be seen scampering across the path in front of us and in the trees many birds were busy singing their hearts out high in the branches bathed with early spring sunshine.

Crossing a small bridge we return to the car park with five empty spaces on our form.  There is only one thing for it, we will have to go around again.

So another quick drink and we start all over again checking off the doors as we find them.  This time the pace is a lot slower as every tree, stump and hollow is checked for doorways.

Found another house dad ...

Now we are not sure if we were allowed to start the circular path again in search of the woodland folk, but it was a challenge we were going to achieve.

 I found the first of the missing doorways hidden at the bottom of a tall tree and it wasn’t long before all of the doors were found.  

Our celebrations were short lived when we came across another door not previously on our list.  This made 31 doors and only 30 slots on our form,  Oops.

Dad then recounted a phrase he learnt at school just before exams, ‘ Read the question!’

Charlie inspects some of the plants

We had counted on our list some of the doors marked as ‘Stores’ where the woodland folk would keep provisions for the winter.  

This was incorrect according to the rules of the game, as only houses were to be listed.  

After the removal of a few ‘stores’ we calculated that we still needed two doors to complete our list.

Esme the Earwig and Tomas Toad’s residences were soon found and our form was complete.

Our walk ended as mum filled in our names on the form and posted it in the competition letterbox  at the entrance to the plant nursery.

The nursery ...

A small wooden bridge crossed a moat, designed to keep deer away from this area of the garden, where a small plant nursery was to be found.

Charlie was in his element sniffing all of the garden pots and curios displayed under the many tables containing plants.  

Watering cans, hanging baskets and even an old bike were arranged as if just lifted from a film set or department store window.

Dad said he could have spent hours photographing the bits and pieces especially in the early morning or evening when the light would be just right.

Mum said that many of the plants available for sale in the nursery were different to those found at the usual big garden centres, with many of them suitable for a semi shaded or woodland habitat.  She picked out a few for our garden, whilst dad sat on a small chair in the shadow of the garden shed and we lay on the warm gravel and enjoyed the sunshine.

Worth a visit.

We really enjoyed our walk and sniffs and if you are looking for a simple, easy, non complicated way to spend a couple of hours then High Hall Nursery is ideal.  

It is slightly off the beaten track, so few humans know if its existence. You will not find toilets or a cafe but  you are assured of a friendly welcome and it offers something different and unique from the run of the mill gardening hypermarkets.

We will be back hopefully later in the year to see the arrival of the autumn colours.

Entrance to the woodland walk and nursery is free (at time of posting).

The walk is just under ½ mile in length and takes you through woodland, which in Spring is full of bluebells, ramsons, and foxgloves, not to mention a variety of fungi.

Website A well written website with some great contents and many  links. You can also download audio files of birdsong and get details of membership of The Friends of the Woodland Folk.  http://www.highhallnursery.co.uk

The address is High Hall Nursery & Woodland Walk, Westward, nr Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8NQ,

Telephone number 016973 44 308

Brochure available here

Opening Times (2009) available here

GPS data 

• Postcode: CA7 8NQ , 
• Grid Reference: NY269436 , 
• Latitude: 54:46:57N (54.7825)
• Longitude: 3:08:12W (-3.1367)

Traveling along the A6 from Carlisle to Penrith you come across a sign to your right indicating Wreay.

So not sure what lies ahead, it maybe the road to nowhere!

After about 2 miles we come across a village green with a church to the right and a pub. 

Having a drink before we go exploring

Parking the car we all get out and go for a run on the village green.

A quick drink before we go exploring and then we set off heading further along the road we came in on.

Public footpath to Newbiggin

We join a firm path past some nice houses and onto a tarmac lane leading down a hill.

It looks like this lane has been here for many many years as it is green with slippy moss in the middle.

The hill is not too steep and is shaded by old stone walls on either side.  

A small garden fire was burning behind one of the walls.  The smoke from it highlighted the sun breaking through the overhanging trees and filled the air with a comforting warm smell of hot wood.

Smoke highlights the shafts of light

Mum looked at the assorted hedges along our route beyond the wall. Holly seemed to be the basic hedging material with gaps filled with metal netting to stop the sheep and cattle escaping.

Continuing down the path, eager to sniff every smell and explore every gap in the fence or wall, the path opened out and we came upon a open view with no trees either side.

Metal railings indicated the approach to a bridge  and we were eager to peer through.

Below us was a big drop to some shiny brown snake like objects which mum called railway tracks. She said that trains use them to ride upon and that they should not be approached as they are dangerous. So we both ran over the bridge to get away and continue our walk.

Metal snakes and apples

As we left the bridge mum spotted an apple tree on the side of the embankment.  She wondered how it came to be there and how long it had been in residence.  Was it a discarded apple core from one of the early settlers many hundreds of years ago, she pondered?

The path led on past some allotments and we said hello to one of the gardeners.  He was eating his lunch whilst in his car listening to the radio,  maybe after a hard day harvesting from the smallholding.

Old style, style.

The public footpath continued down a banking and to the rivers edge.  But first you had to use this very unusual contraption to get into the field.

A quick look at the steps and we all thought that we would give this a miss today as it had been raining and looked slippy and a little fragile.  So we continued along the solid road up the hill.

We have mentioned on a number of occasions that we love to paddle in water and Buster was the first to discover the stream.

Running alongside the road the trickle of fresh water cooled our paws and refilled our tummies, and you guessed it, made for two soggy doggies. 

Corn

Beyond the hedges on this bit of track were animals and crops.  To our left were cows munching on very green grass whilst to our right were soggy fields of corn.

Rustling in the wind the corn stood about 2m tall and if Buster had wanted to play hide and seek we would never have found him amongst it.

The ground, despite being on a hill, looked quite soggy and maybe was why this crop had not yet been harvested.

Dad says that we shouldn’t eat corn as it is bad for us.  Oh joy, another thing we can’t do.

Buster was starting to slow as we climbed the hill so we decided that we should start to make our return back the way we came.  At least it is downhill.

More information

Go to the Heritage & History site to find out more about Wreay

Leaflet about our walk and others in the area

Until next time and the rest of our adventures in Wreay.

Charlie and Buster