Purple fungi in Ennerdale valley

Yesterday Andy was on a work party in the valley, like last week it was clearing overhanging trees from the road. We parked up near Middle (Pillar) bridge and made our way back West. The snow had melted a lot compared to last week, Haycock and Steeple. High Gill had a lot of water in it.

Dave and John discussing something.

Colin beavering away, hope that's not a Birch tree as Margaret wouldn't be happy.

Chris getting great use out of last years Xmas present.

Pillar with almost no snow.

Andy spotted this purple fungi, no one in the group had ever seen fungi this colour before.

One more work party next week and that's it for 2011.

This weeks work party at Ennerdale.

Yesterday Andy went on the weekly work party, we have had some snow at home but more have fell on the fells. Today we were to clear small trees that were obstructing signs or could cause damage to vehicles. Crag Fell with some snow on the upper slopes.

Looking down the lake towards Steeple and Haycock.

Zooming in on the summit of Steeple.

The volunteers having a quick cuppa and Crag with his new friend Leo. Amazing how tired he was last night, well he did spend 5 hours chasing a cute girl!!

Looking North-West to Cogra Moss.

Crag Fell.

Andy tried to take a panoramic picture and discovered a new bay at Ennerdale!! Needs more practice methinks.

There was much discussion about this Hawthorne tree, some wanted it left alone, some wanted it trimmed. You turn your back for 2 seconds and Bernie and Malcolm chopped it all down.

Its very prickly.

Pillar being that bit higher had more snow.

Bernie playing peek a boo, think you would need a giant redwood for that.

Steeple

Summit of Pillar

We will be back there next week to continue walking the road to clear any obstructions.

4 Days Staying In Bampton Grange

This week we have had 4 nights away staying in the Crown & Mitre Inn at Bampton Grange on the Eastern side of the Lake District. Mondays plan was to set off early to get some walking in over there, however we awoke to rain & decided as it was on our way we would go & do a few hours work at Peel Wyke (the forestry commissions base) helping Bernie build grey squirrel traps. Karen took the dogs for a walk in the forest After nearly an hours walking we came out of the forest, looking up at Broom Fell

On our way back a rare glimpse through the trees of Bassenthwaite Lake

And across the lake to Ullock Pike

The cloud is down on Skiddaw

After lunch & a short detour into Penrith we arrive at Bampton Grange & our room for the next four nights

It had stopped raining so we went for a short walk from the pub

Looking down on Bampton Grange

An old structure in the village, not sure what it was used for

Haweswater Beck where we watched some salmon spawning

Back in the room - well I have had two walks today

Tuesday was incredibly wet so we set off for some retail therapy at Gretna Outlets on our return everywhere was starting to flood (thankfully The Crown & Mire is on slightly higher ground)

An hour later & it has stopped raining but there is still plenty of water

Tonights position

Wednesday it was forecast to rain about midday so we thought a short walk along Haweswater was a good idea, however it was so windy that we abandoned that & headed to Shap Co-op & bought some dvds!

We did get out for a while later in the afternoon

Thursday was forecast to be dry so we set off to Haweswater again heading up Gatesgarth Pass

Gatesgarth Beck has plenty of water coming down it

Part of Haweswater comes into view

And higher up, we walk to the skyline & then turn left to reach the summit of the first fell

An easy route to follow as we just follow the fence, we stop for a break here & Bess enjoys digging around in a bog

As does Crag

And we have reached the highest point of the day Branstree (713m)

A baby trig point & cairn mark the summit

Whilst there is a far more impressive cairn on Artlecrag Pike

We then continue to follow the fence to our second summit

Looking down on Haweswater

It hasn't come out very well but a rainbow, a sign it was not going to stay dry on us for much longer

And we reach our final summit Selside (655m)

No fence to follow now, we just need to pick a route off

Haweswaters only island Wood Howe

High Street on the skyline

Now these cottages would have been isolated even before Haweswater was constructed

Hopgill Beck

We then walked along the lakeshore back to the car, this is the last picture as the heavens opened shortly afterwards

Despite the weather we had a great time, the food was gorgous at The Crown & Mitre as was the hospitality & we will definietly go back there to walk some more Eastern Fells next year