October

Michelle (from the rear)

Pooley Bridge – Moor Divock – towards Arthur’s Hill – retreat to valley track to Howtown. Returned to Pooley Bridge by car.

Sunny low down by the lake. Windy, misty and very cold higher up.

Michelle, Michael, Ashley, Ron, Sandy, George B and Evelyn.

Carol - going to a wedding.

Bernie - work and family commitments

Comments

In the car park at Pooley Bridge, we met Olwyn, a physiology lecturer and a hasher like Ashley, who, after asking us for advice on what mountains were around, joined us for the walk. A potential new member? Evelyn’s 50th walk.

Saw a deer grazing as we climbed out of Pooley Bridge and were passed by two huge brand new tractors on their way to cut and bale an area of bracken.

Passed the Cockpit stone circle which we had aproached from another direction on the June walk. Evelyn left us just past here and took the low road to the Howtown Hotel, while the rest of us battled uphill into the mist to Arthur’s Hill, where we had lunch. Potentially good views of the lake kept disappearing into the mist. After lunch, we turned back and dropped down the steep descent to the low road and followed Evelyn’s footsteps to the Howtown Hotel. The paths were awash in places – as a result there was an attractive waterfall. Lots of yachts out taking advantage of the good breeze, with plenty of flapping canvas. Several boats were nearly knocked flat in the strong gusts. There were numerous walkers and runners out and about.

Very welcome afternoon refreshments at the Howtown Hotel, where we found Evelyn relaxing in the lounge, in front of a log fire. George and Ashley had to climb up steep hill to retrieve the cars.

A strange cloud formation was seen on the climb up from Melmerby to Hartside, which appeared to be giving rise to localised strong winds. Lots of pheasants on the road – alive, dead and suicidal.

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Birds: Several buzzards low down, black pheasants, mallards, meadow pipits, housemartins, swallows.

Butterflies/insects: Hairy caterpillars and black flies.

Mammals/others: Grazing deer, blue sheep, mustard coloured rams. Two people on horses, rabbits. Two alpaca and some fluffy woolly sheep.

Plants/Trees: Fly agaric toadstools and lots of other fungi.

The Boatside Inn at Warden - quick service and excellent food.

October walkers

Hazy Lake View

Tractors

Parting of the Ways

Ridge

Lunch

Gloomy

Misty

Blue Sheep

Waterfall

Fly agaric

Sunlight

Roof

Ferry at Howtown

Howtown Hotel