Next up in my 'catching up posts' is our most recent walk, just over a week ago on Bank Holiday Monday (31st August 2020). And yes, we took offspring. They coped admirably - probably better than I did towards the end - but more on that later.
Warning - it's a long one! It may look like I've included every photo I've ever taken, but I can assure you I did whittle them down! Maybe just scroll on through, and click on any pictures you think warrant a closer look.
Again, social distancing meant that we were not wanting to go anywhere too busy, and I'd wondered if Galleny Force (aka The Fairy Glen) might be a tourist hotspot. But it seemed not. We saw other folk, but not enough to spoil anything. (I prefer a view without people cluttering it up.)
We started out at Watendlath Tarn - from the National Trust car park, which (using the safer lakes website) seemed to usually be less busy than others. Turned out to be a good choice busy-ness wise. Although perhaps not for 'climbing a mountain with tired legs' wise.
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Packhorse bridge to start us off
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Watendlath Tarn
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We left the tarn shore pretty quickly and followed a path down into the Borrowdale Valley. Of course, it was stunning.
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| looking back towards Watendlath |
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still smiling
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beautiful clear stream
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found my macro function! Just no idea what the flower is
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We stopped off for a snack, only to discover that the flask of tea was still at home on the kitchen counter. Fortunately the views were soothing enough that a major row did not ensue. Plus I was hopeful that a tearoom wouldn't be too far from our planned route.
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John loves a good dead tree to photograph
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Fortunately there was a tearoom in Rosthwaite. It also sold icecreams. The car park was rammed, so I am actually more smug than this photo suggests.
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Robin sighted in tearoom garden
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Yew Tree Farm
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outdoor bathing option?
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As we were leaving Rosthwaite, we crossed paths with two identical moustached young men in matching hats, who simultaneously said 'Morning' to us. It was all a bit 118-118. No, we didn't catch them on camera. We were too busy explaining to our 11 year old what 118-118 is.
We headed along the valley to Stonethwaite Beck, which we walked alongside, stopping to video Willygrass Gill (just because). [Afraid I can't seem to upload it]. When we got to Smithymire Island, we stopped for our sarnies and a bit of an explore. Well the boys explored - I am too wary of going over on my ankle: a party trick I have been practising a little too often in recent months. The 15 year old explored a touch over-enthusiastically, and nearly ended up crashing down the boulders. Fortunately he landed on his bum on a rock and went no further.
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Stonethwaite Beck
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the village of Stonethwaite, on the other side of the beck
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| I don't know. John took it. |
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Panorama of our lunch spot
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| Looking up Langstrath Bek |
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related much?
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| boy3 holding obligatory stick |
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| boy2's trousers showing off his 'sitting on a rock at high speed' experience |
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| We followed Langstrath Beck along the valley, until we came to a footbridge |
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Neighbourhood Watch
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once we'd crossed the water, we headed back the way we'd come
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Then we got to the place that inspired the whole walk! Galleny Force. It was hiding from view on the way down Stonethwaite Beck, but was visible (and accessible) in all its glory when coming back up the other side.
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Other people were present. But we kept out of each others' way
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In general, photos can't do this place justice.
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Then began the return leg - very beautiful, but a lot of incline. I am not a fan of incline. Particularly on uneven little rocks. Although saying that, I was grateful for the rocks later on, when they were the only safe place to stand in bog-ridden paths. We certainly felt like we'd experienced an all-terrain walk!
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Still level ground in Stonethwaite village
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But soon we were ascending
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| up a zig-zagging path |
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although the heather that arrived did make it a prettier, arduous task
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and then the vista opened up
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which was stunning, I grant you
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little window in sheep pen
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When I mentioned that the boys coped better than I did... it was only most of the time
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someone obviously had a bit of time on their hands
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Having consumed all the food in our backpacks, and had a breather, we wandered in the right direction to find Dock Tarn. This tarn was very helpful in that it gave us a rough idea where we were on the map. Boy2's orienteering skills from his DofE expeditions had proved extremely useful and informative as to how long the ascent would take. (He added in factors for contour lines and everything. He's really very good. Although boy3 didn't cope with hearing that it would take any longer than a few minutes, so it was a mixed blessing: the knowledge and the resultant whining.) However, the path stopped looking (or behaving) like a path for most of the rest of our walk, so landmarks and our compass came into their own hereon in.
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Dock Tarn
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the path looked like this quite often. But at least you could tell where it was.
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boy3 was overjoyed to see a tree. Not sure why, think he gets it from his father
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Watendlath tarn peeping
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and getting closer!
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we finished our walk along the tarn edge again
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this time seeing it in the early evening sun
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| and we end with another photo on the packhorse bridge, albeit considerably less smiley |
Over all, a gorgeous day out. I think Galleny Force may now be my favourite place on the planet. Hoping to go again one day - perhaps parking in Rosthwaite though ;-)
