Golden trees in Ennerdale, Cumbria

Saturday turned out to be a better day than anyone could have predicted with warm sunshine, a great walk and loads of paddling.

The brief was to go in search of autumn colours and all the guides hinted that Ennerdale was the place to visit.

Mum had written about a number of places around the county to visit in her article over on Naturearoundme all about the autumn gold rush.  So we thought we should visit at least one of them for on the job research.

Bowness Knott was to be our destination, situated in a place called Ennerdale near to West Cumbria. OS Grid Reference: NY109153

We have not visited this area before so all the sniffs are new and we were eager to go exploring.

Leading from the car park area was a firm, well drained forest track.  So the area would be ideal for pushchairs and wheelchairs with a helper.

To our right were high tall cliffs below which was a great lake of clear fresh water.  On our left was woodland mainly pine but also many other trees including oak.

Vehicles are not allowed on this track except for the occasional deliveries to the Youth Hostel.  So it is worth keeping a look out for these rare occasions.

Ennerdale Water was just too tempting and after about ten minutes the path came to the waters edge and we were straight in.

Cool, clear fresh lakeland water up to our tummies and great for a drink.  Stones and shingle made for a gentle slope from the path in to the water so we could paddle quite a way with our feet on the bottom.

Dad says that we should take care as it does get very deep, up to 40m,  in the middle.

Ennerdale Water is over 4km long and supplies drinking water to much of west Cumbria.

With a clear blue sky overhead, the autumn colours of the trees lined our path.  Rich golds were mixed with brown, dark green and every shade in-between as the trees get ready to rest for the winter.

Interestingly very few leaves were falling on to the road.  Must be some weird science going on.

With our lickers fully refreshed we continued down the path.  Being wet, some of the dusty road surface was starting to stick to our fur so, at every chance to go for a paddle, we just dived in.

Mum started to get a little fed up of this and we turned off the low road and climbed up to our left following another forest trail.

This path was a little bit steeper and zig zagged first to our right then to our left where Charlie once more put his nose to the air and detected water.

Off to our left and sounding quite spectacular was gushing water.  However, we could not see it, as it was hidden behind trees and undergrowth.

As we climbed the noise became louder until eventually a clearing and in the distance, we saw the source.

Trickling through the rocks and making a noise out of scale with the amount of water,  was a stream cascading between rocks.  Quite a disappointment as we were expecting at least a mini Niagara Falls:-)

No paddling to be had here as the stream was out of reach so we turned back down the hill towards our original path.

Towards the bottom of the hill mum spotted something white in the undergrowth at the side of the path.  She got all excited  as it turned out to be a bone.  For mum this sighting was like finding treasure .

At home she spends hours watching satellite tv and programmes about Egyptian Mummies and bodies.

What followed was just like a scene from a C.S.I. programme where they try and work out what happened.  If only mum had some yellow numbered cards and a torch the tableau would have been complete.

Charlie and I helped as we tracked down various bones amongst the leaf litter.

Eventually we found a skull situated a little way from the leg bones. Alongside it was a vertebrae.

Given that all the bones were clean, it would appear they had been in the forest for some while.  We kept our distance from the bones in case they had nasties on them.

Given the size of the leg bone, about 20cm,  the dead animal was quite short.

First indications pointed towards possibly a sheep or possibly a small roe deer.

Part of the  lower jaw bone was also found.  This confused the ‘crime scene’ as it looked quite angular. The teeth were not worn,  so the beastie may have been quite young.

Given that we had not seen sheep on our walk and that it was a woodland area, it would appear this may have been a small deer.  But not being experts we can only guess.  Can you identify the bones?  Let us know via the comments.

Leaving this part of the forest as we found it we returned to the original path and another quick paddle.

It is thirsty work searching out bones and new sniffs.

Dad decided that we had now walked far enough away from the car and we should start our return.

We returned to the car along our original path.

A circular path is available for walkers wishing to go over the tops and having the correct outdoor gear including a map and basic safety equipment.

Entering the car park we were made aware of the risks of venturing onto the fell tops as we past a collecting box for Coniston Mountain Rescue.

It is hard to believe but it looked as if many attempts had been made to break into the stone sided container.

It is worth noting that the car park is free and that toilets are not available in the area.

Further information

Learn all about autumn at the Woodlands Trust

All about why leaves change colour

Wainwright Pictorial Guides to the Lake District

Lochmaben in Scotland is our destination …

Scotland is our destination on this adventure and it is to the small town of Lochmaben where we end up.

Our journey takes us up the new M6 extension through the area previously known as the Cumberland gap and onto the A74(m).

We waited until the middle of the afternoon to venture out so the temperatures were a little cooler and we could enjoy our adventures.

At Lockerbie we turned left and onto the A709 to Lochmaben and entered the town with the Annandale Sailing Club to our left on the edge of Castle Loch.

Turning left again onto the B7020 took us around the top of Castle Loch and towards our initial destination of Lochmaben Castle, grid NY 088 811.

Our approach to the castle was down a very dusty farm track full of potholes and with grass growing down the centre at times.  Dad wondered if he had taken an incorrect turning however, after passing through a farm gate and negotiating a sharp left bend the road widened with the castle infront of us.

Three or four parking spaces were available here in front of a sign ‘Bird Hide’ and a narrow path.

A larger car park is available further down the track past the castle, but no signs indicated this as this stage.

Charlie was first out of the car and started to explore all of the new smells.  Either side of the track grew grasses and lush green vegetation.

Fresh long grass is fantastic and I love to eat it. I am not sure why, as mum gives us some great varieties of food, but like a fine wine for you humans, long blades of natural grass is seen as a luxury, as we don’t have much of it in our garden.

Lochmaben Castle lies in ruins today, however you can manage to get amongst the outer walls of this former Royal residence. It was granted royal castle status in 1455.

The first stronghold on this site was built around 1300 and was built by Edward I

With a commanding view, now mostly obscured by trees and other vegetation, of Castle Loch, it is quite easy to see why this site was chosen as a position of influence and status.

From the main car park we follow one of the paths down the gentle bank and onto a sandy inlet.  Charlie can smell the water and eagerly pulls at his lead as he picks his way between tree stumps and assorted shrubbery.

He waits our arrival before we both run into the cool water for a drink and a paddle.

Ahead of us are the boats of the sailing club, to our left is the town and over to our right some swans bask in the early evening sunshine as they cruise majestically over the water.

The path seems to come to an end here, so we return to where we parked the car and to the path that leads to the bird hide.

Narrow and not well trodden would be the best way to describe this path as it snaked it’s way towards the Loch.  Tall grasses and reeds punctured the air above our path obstructing any view we may have had of our surroundings.

After a few hundred metres the grass path gave way to a boardwalk similar to the one we experienced at Finglandrigg Moss a few months ago. However, unlike that one this had the boards just spaced that little bit further apart and lacked the mesh covering that saved our legs from falling between the planks. We had to be very careful as our legs could have become trapped our broken if we missed a step.

Taking a gamble at a split in the boardwalk, we chose the path to the left and were rewarded with the sight of the bird hide standing high on stilts ahead.

Charlie quickly worked out how he could take advantage of the hide and standing on one of the wooden benches surveyed the area whilst I took the easier option by looking through the doorway.

With our tummies now rumbling and the light starting to fade we returned to the car and drove to a car park closer to the town centre.

Parking this time just behind the town’s war memorial, we walked in to town past the church and down a very wide straight road towards the town hall.

Standing proud overlooking our approach is a monument to Robert the Bruce.  Some confusion exists as to the towns claim to be the home of this Scottish legend, however what seems to be clear is that the Bruce family were Lords of Annandale so were very powerful in the area.

One story on the internet indicates that Robert was born in Lochmaben Castle and following defeat in battle, sought shelter in a cave and came upon a spider…. the rest of the story is they say the stuff of legend and folklore.

Fish and chips in the park.

All good adventures should have a picnic and after purchasing sausage and chips from a shop just behind the town hall, we returned to a grassed park area sloping down to the Loch not far from where the car was parked, to eat them.

Why is it that outdoor food just tastes fantastic.  A cool drink, from the bottle of fresh water mum was carrying, washed everything down and we thought our adventures were over for the day as we headed in the direction of the car.

The entrance to the car park featured a large swan carved into an old log.

Whilst were were looking at it a local resident mentioned that more carvings were on display along a nearby path.

Great, a new adventure and we hurried off towards the vehicular access ramp to the car park.

Leading away from the car park, in the direction of the Castle and with the Loch to our left we followed what appeared to be a recently installed trail level through woodlands.

One of the first carvings we came upon was this heron.   No details seem to have been provided about this trail or who has done the artworks unless we missed the information boards.

Even a fallen tree has seen the creative chainsaw action, as it is turned into a carved tree.

This path seemed ideal for a wheelchair or buggy and with the canopy of the trees forming a shade, reasonably cool.

Every few hundred meters a jetty sticks out from the path towards the cool water of the Castle Loch.

The Loch it seems is one of Britain’s top fisheries holding three Scottish records for the fish caught.

Dad did not venture any further along this jetty.  He thought that the left hand side of it did not look too stable however, he did think it made for a good photograph.

Oh Charlie …

As if on cue and always towards the end of a walk the cry of ‘Oh Charlie’ went up from mum and dad.

To the right is a picture of the fine looking fellow just moments before he went trampling through some tall grass that edged the path.

Like smoke billowing from a steam train pollen cascaded from the assorted grasses and into the air surrounding the panting Charlie.

He got covered with tiny grains of dust and seeds.  It went everywhere and as mum had hold of my lead it was up to dad to clean him off.

This seemed a good idea until dad started to sneeze, and sneeze and sneeze …..

Until next time

Buster and Charlie.

Hot weather and summer produce …

Gosh it has been hot for the last few days.  So hot we have been staying outside to try and keep cool as the house has been unbearable.  Even the tiled kitchen floor didn’t cool us down.

Mum purchased earlier this year an indoor –  outdoor room for the garden.  This has allowed us to keep cool in what breeze there has been away from the harsh sun outside.

It is a great gadget and with the lights dad put up a few days ago allows mum and dad also to enjoy the outdoors into the late evening.

Today the temperatures have dropped to be a manageable 23 degrees and to celebrate dad is playing music by Dire Straits and other tracks from iTunes.

We can see that his help is going to be limited as the occasional air guitar is played and the pencil drumsticks are used.  It is going to be a long afternoon…

Let us hope he doesn’t start mixing song titles into our blog or we will have to carry out a Private Investigation and remind him who are the Local Hero’s.

A cool river dip

Last night we travelled to Dalston.  We went the long way around as it gave us a chance to cool off in the air conditioning.

First stop was the river where we both got some welcome relief from the heat in the cool water.

Here we met up with another friend who had an interesting twist on the searching for stones game we often play.

She ran into the water and popped her head under the water gathering up a stone from the river bottom and bringing it to the waters edge.  She then ran back into the water and got another and another.

Summer fruits

Mum has started the annual harvest.  First crop has been some of the many gooseberries from the allotment.

The red and green fruits have been topped and tailed and put in bags for the freezer.

We are not allowed them as mum thought they would be bad for us but dad tells us they are great in a crumble during the winter.

Mum thought she was working an a Chain Gang as she worked her way through hundreds of berries.

The many hanging baskets full of strawberry plants are dripping with fruit it being Wimbledon Tennis Season.

The hot sunshine has really ripened the fruit and mum has started going to the garden on a morning, picking some of the fruit which she then slices for her breakfast on top of some yoghurt.

You can not get fruit fresher than that and with no transport costs.

One harvest we have been able to try has been the Sugar Snap Peas mum was processing this week.

Again from the allotment, they were very crunchy and fantastic to throw around before we eventually ate them.

Again another big bag full went into the freezer after a few were lightly steamed for an evening meal.

Finally we just had to share a photograph of the water lilly flower in our pond.  It was lapping up the hot conditions during the daytime only to close in the cooler evenings.  it is quite clever for a plant.

Thats all for now as it is now not Too Hot for Dancing in the Street as gardeners start Singing in The Rain as the heavens open with a welcome Downpour….

Until next time

Buster and Charlie

Lambs, stiles and unique river art in Cumbria

Our Saturday walk started at Lanercost Priory outside Brampton in North Cumbria.  From the car park we climbed the steps over the wall and into a field following the sign pointing to Burtholme.

With sheep in the field we stayed on our leads and started following the small yellow arrows nailed to fence posts.

Following the edge of the field and staying away from any livestock our path brought us to a double stile.  

As we have previously mentioned these are often hard for us to negotiate as we have to be lifted over.  Although in good condition the steps were narrow and the top fence bar had barbed wire attached to it.  Mum and dad were almost ready to turn around at this point to avoid us getting into difficulty.

Around 40 sheep were busy munching grass as we made our way along an imaginary path across the deep green coloured field .

A small stream to our left bubbled and gurgled over rocks and along the field edge.  Charlie wanted to go for a paddle but the water looked a bit cloudy and muddy.

Half way across this field were the remnants of fallen giants.  Once encased in metal corsets two tree stumps were rotting a few meters from the waters edge.  

One of the trees had grown through the bars and before being cut down was seemingly trying to break free of it’s shackles.  

Just as we were about to leave the field, through a proper farm gate, dad noticed that the supporting wall of this bridge was unusual.

The far wall looks as if it has been made from cloth sacks filled with cement and then stacked to form a barrier.

We exited the field onto Burtholme Bridge.  An inscription in the middle of the right hand bridge wall indicates that the bridge was widened in 1937 by Cumberland County Council.

Turning left and past a busy collection of farm buildings we stayed on short leads along the narrow road until we came to a public footpath sign to Howgill.

Although indicating this was a proper pathway the conditions underfoot for the next 500m or so were quite bad.  The ground was pitted with holes and we kept loosing our footing as our paws slipped between the blades of grass and in to deep holes left by cattle in the previously wet mud.  

Mum also felt her ankles wobble on more than one occasion as she struggled with the conditions.

 

A muddy narrow trackway led from this field into the next.  Our only indication of where to go was a yellow spray painted arrow on a tree.

 

 So up the hill we all climbed like the characters from the childrens tv series TeleTubbies.

Another stile awaited us at the top of the field along with a couple of kissing gates before we exited onto a road towards the small village of Walton.

Just before the climb up the hill to the village we followed a dirt path down to the free flowing water of the river known as King Water.

As we approached the river we passed between some rock sentinels.  Around 20 stone columns had been created around 12 ft apart and in a perfect straight line from the bridge to the far rivers edge.  Each column was around 2ft high and made from river stones place on top of each other.

 

Mum and dad stopped and looked at this impromptu simple artwork and wondered why it was here and who had created it.  We kept our distace and ensured we didn’t knock any of the stones over.

Rejoining the road and a little way further we detoured into a filed to our right where a English Heritage sign caught dads attention.  With the heading ‘Dovecote Bridge’ it seems as if this is the site of a part of Hadrians wall built from Cumbrian red standstone.

 

To preserve it, it is covered with earth, so all you can now see is a grass mound.

 

We arrive at Walton and after a quick look around the village, the churchyard  and the village green we start on our way back towards Lanercost.

Our journey back  follows the roads as mum thinks this will be quicker and a little better for our paws.

 

Passing by fields filled with new lambs we also have an encounter with a tractor pulling a roller that makes the earth shake and mum spots a few interesting plants in the hedgerows.

As it is late, and mum wants to go to bed, we will keep these stories for another installment later in the week.

Until next time

Buster and Charlie

A walk from Glasson Dock, Lancaster

With the coast to our left we left Glasson Dock near Lancaster behind and started along the coastal path towards the City of Lancaster.

Mum and Dad visited here a few weeks ago whilst researching an article for our other site Heritage and History and they thought it would be worth revisiting with us.

We parked the car in the main car park by the waters edge in Glasson and after making sure no cars, or motorbikes were approaching crossed the road on onto the sea path.

This first part of the path is bordered to our left by the sea wall and to our right grass around one stretchy lead wide.

This gave us chance to sniff and play in the grass and have a good run about after our car ride here.

 

After about half a mile the path narrows and the grass verge stops and you start to walk on a cinder like path.

The path is firm, well drained and is used by bikes, walkers and horses.

Following the bay the path offers some great views of the marshland and the water beyond.  

We continue over an old bridge with high black railings and the sea underneath.  Charlie wants to go for a swim. Little does he know the water tastes of salt and is not nice.

Just after the bridge we come across a carpark with toilets, dog waste bags and bins and even a plastic tub with water in for us.  We take a drink and walk up the steady slope to where an information sign is placed marking the entrance to the next part of our adventure.

The sign has a big number 6 at the top and pictures and words for mum to read.

It seems, after mum has read the sign, that we are standing on the old platform of the London and North Western Railway Company.

The Condor Green station, on this single track rail line closed in 1930.

 

A number of picnic tables are available on this raised area for you to have your lunch whilst looking out onto the bay.  

After a short while Buster notices that the surface of the path changes. A strip of cobbles lies across his path and he is not sure why.  He investigates but can’t figure out why.  Maybe someone knows and can leave a comment below?

 

A bridge is ahead of us and we must investigate.

Screwed into the side of the bridge are these brackets. No longer it seems being used for anything we wonder what was their purpose. 

Vandals have painted their marks on this bit of heritage but you can still see the black sooty marks left by trains hauled by steam passed under the bridge.

We had to turn around just beyond this point as we were out of time.  So we leave more of the adventure for another day.

We have put more pictures from our adventure into the gallery below.

Until next time

Charlie and Buster