Name of walk | Stanley Ghyll & Eskdale from Birker Fell |
Date of walk | 2017-11-02 |
Thursday was another blue sky day so Brendan and I drove up to the top of Birker Fell to walk in the other direction from Devoke Water, where I walked to last week. I had been contacted by a lady who had lost her camera at this parking spot last week, so I said that I would have a look for it, but had no luck, it must have been picked up already. (If you have been here and found it can you let me know so I can contact Ruth.) We set off down the Stanley Ghyll road, we would be visiting Stanley Ghyll Force and following the ghyll down into Eskdale.
Our route down into Eskdale.
Kirk Fell and Scafell.
You can no longer go through High Ground Farm, but there is a short detour off to the left.
Excellent walking weather!
We are heading for Low Ground Farm.
We walk through the farm.
Soon we reach the marker point at which we head off right for the top of Stanley Ghyll Force.
Be warned!
The view from the edge in the opposite direction from the waterfall.
The edge.
Turning 180 degrees towards the falls.
We follow the ghyll down.
Steep steps.
We head off for a view of the lower falls.
The sign on the bridge warns that the section ahead is slippery, but it was no more slippery that what we had already walked down on.
The view to the lower falls and pool.
View back down to the bridge.
We continue our journey down the ghyll crossing many bridges.
At this point there are several routes to take, but I want to go to St. Catherine's Church and do a circular walk so we go over the bridge and head in the direction of the stepping stones over the River Esk.
The stepping stones with the church behind. The fourth stone from the end is partly missing, not wanting to get wet we head 500yards further on to the bridge!
Taken from the other side of the bridge, we walk back along a good track to the church.
St. Catherine's dates from the 14th century. It has two bells.
A 15th century bell.
At the end of this road is a pub!
We stop for coffee and cake at Brook House Inn. I need to be back home for 3pm, as I have a musical date with Cyril the trombonist at 4pm.
After coffee we head along the road towards Dalegarth Station. Just beyond here is our turning.
Looking back towards Scafell and Boot from the route back up to Birker Fell.
Crossing over the River Esk. We pass Dalegarth Hall.
We head up between two walls. The route back is all uphill.
Then we are back on the fell side with the sheep.
Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.
Nearly back at the car with Seat How behind.
An excellent little walk of 7.3 miles. it took us three hours and fifty minutes, and that includes the time spent in the pub!
Jo.