Footbridge Surveys near Bootle

On Tuesday we travelled to Bootle to survey some more footbridges. This area is in the Park, but away from the fells & obviously not often walked by the state of some of the stiles Bootle with Corney Fell in the background The first bridge to survey It's starting to rot, but not dangerous

High Kiskin with Black Coombe behind

We walked over to the beach, not one for us to survey today

Neither is this one on the Cumbrian Coastal Way

It was built in 1994

The beach here could do with a clean up, so much debris has been washed up

We were due to do a couple more but there were some quite lively cows in the field so we decided to leave them for another day.

Camping In Settle, Yorkshire

This weekend we met up with 6 friends at Langcliffe Campsite in Yorkshire http://www.langcliffe.com. We were there first & had been allocated a great area for our 4 tents at the top of the campsite After putting the tent up we went for a walk from the campsite with the dogs. Next to the campsite is an old mill that is still in use making cardboard packaging The reservoir next to a welcome splash for the dogs as by now the day was getting rather hot We crossed the River Ribble by the weir & spotted what we believe were salmon making their way back up-stream to spawn

We then followed the river towards Settle, we couldn't believe how low the water levels on the river were.

Then across some fields to reach the town

By the time we got back Mary & Gerry had arrived & were putting their tent up, we were next to the children's play area & wondered whether we would keep Barry & Peter off the slide later!

From our pitch you could see the summit of Pen-y-ghent one of the Yorkshire "3 peaks" we were planning to climb the next day.

The next day dawned bright & we drove the 5 miles to Horton in Ribblesdale to start our walk. We were parked up by 8:15 (in the overspill car park as the main one was already full), & couldn't believe just how many people were walking this route today.

We chose to do the walk clockwise (conventionally it is done anti-clockwise) & it was a very good choice as we were relatively alone as we ascended Ingleborough

The summit is the flat peak in the middle of the picture (even if it hadn't been hazy it was still a long way away)

As we walk further on it still seems to be a long way in the distance

Finally we seem to be able to see the route to the summit, Bess & Crag lead the group up.

Looking back along the path we have followed

To the dogs surprise & pleasure there is a small tarn near the summit

From the summit plateau a hazy Whernside which was to be the next peak

Everyone taking a break at the summit of Ingleborough (723m)

We decided due to the excessive heat & lack of water for the dogs that we would break away from the rest of the group now and head for a more direct route back along the valley. We gave them 15mins start on us (so the dogs wouldn't race off with them).

We retrace our steps to begin with, looking across to Simon Fell & Park Fell

Then a very steep descent to Chapel-le-Dale

We reach flatter ground, looking up at the route we have just come down

Thousands of tadpoles in a small pool

To give an idea of how busy this route gets in many places there are two stiles, presumably one for each direction

A limestone pavement

A little cloud on Whernside

We were grateful to find refreshments at Philpin Farm & after an ice cream each set off for the very impressive Ribblehead viaduct.

I wonder which way the wind blows here

As we approach the viaduct we have been walking for nearly 5 hours with almost no shelter from the sun & many of the streams along the route that we had hoped to get water for the dogs in had been dry. A sit down in the shade under the viaduct is called for.

But there is very little shade here either, we look at the map & realise we are only a few hundred yards from Ribblehead station & Horton in Ribbesdale is one stop down the line. We arrived just before 1:30 with no idea how long we would have to wait for a train. Luck however was on our side & the 1:15 was late & we only had to wait about 10mins.

We drive back to the tent where the dogs crash out in the shade. Crag decides to sleep in the tent but with his head sticking out to keep an eye on what we are upto.

Bess opts for the shade under Malcolm's car

Andy basking in the final rays of the day

A really enjoyable weekend, but too hot to attempt long distance high fell walks. We were grateful we could cut ours short with the train, the rest of the group didn't get back until 8:15 when we were sitting down to dinner in the Royal Oak & they had to settle for Fish 'n' Chips.

Ennerdale Work Party

Today we were at Ennerdale helping on our monthly work party with Wild Ennerdale. Todays jobs were to re-lay some path, pruning along the path & making two benches. The weather was lovely & the valley looked beautiful Mark has his dog Nell with him so Crag had someone to play with. Crag Fell & Anglers Crag Herdus & Bowness Knott

Pillar through the trees

We set about the path repair, it was hard work shovelling gravel from nearby to where we wanted to build the path up

Andy raking it flat, this end of the bridge has yet to be done

The end result, the gravel was wet when we laid it but when dry will be the same colour as the surrounding path

The motorised wheelbarrow helped us with then gravel for here

Andy testing one of the new benches, the wood used is from some Oak trees that had been removed from another part of the Park

And Karen sat on the other one, both spots give great views down the lake so we are guessing they will be well used.