The path by the river just before Cotterdale hamlet has been mended sometime in the last eighteen months, (see walk 19 in "Hillwalks from the Setttle to Carlisle Railway Stations"), so you are now in no danger of drowning. There were a few sheep in the Abbotside conservation area when we visited
Smardale orchids
Midsummer is the time for the Smardale circular walk: last week was fine weather so we tootled off with some friends staying at the Hall, a holiday let. Plenty of butterfly orchids in the Smardale Wood, but no wintergreens seen this year. As always, a visit to Waitby/Greenriggs nature reserve is a
Mickle Fell, a good bank holiday walk.
That is if it is a non shooting day, as was the case this May day Saturday. Check the next dates on Googling "Warcop Access Times". Strictly speaking a permit is required from Warcop training Area Office. From Hilton this makes a shorter day than Walk 24 in my book, but still traverses the
Yockenthwaite Moor is dry!
Two myths debunked today, Easter Monday. One, it is not "manic monday" for traffic up here: non up to Hawes and over Fleet Moss, only a few Geordie bikers on the way back. Hubberholme quiet as well. Two, Yockenthwaite Moor is not the wettest hill in Yorkshire, at least not today, not even dirty
Sheffield Pike and Seven more “Birketts” above Ullswater.
From Hart Side to Aira Force there are six "Birketts", four which we hadn't done on a previous loop from near Dockray, and two near Aira Force. The views are excellent, but underfoot a bit tedious, so for interest we added Sheffield Pike via its East ridge, a gem. A Spring day of sunhats and gloves.
Alternative route from Tebay to Shap
In the event of anyone actually doing the Settle to Carlisle walk, here's an alternative from Orton to Crosby Ravensworth which is less exposed in the event of a bad day, has more interest in the form of ancient settlement sites, but does have far more stiles and gates. We encorporated this recently