Walking Forum
Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Rest of England => Topic started by: April on 21:21:30, 01/06/20
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I drove to Jockey Shield just beyond Castle Carrock on Sunday to do a walk I've planned to do a few times but never did it for one reason or another. Details of the walk below:
https://cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/public-transport-road-safety/countryside-access/openaccess/open_access_walks/gelts_dale.asp
I was doing the walk in the opposite direction to get the road walking done first.
Who are you calling big ears?
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957361422_03bdc7ffd0_z.jpg) (http://)
Talkin Fell and Simmerson Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957078416_a438aff649_z.jpg) (http://)
It was hot and sunny again but it was breezy so it didn't get too hot.
The road leading to Geltsdale Cottages
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957360542_03f40fcb40_z.jpg) (http://)
Simmerson Hill and the How Gill ravine
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957077461_7c8dc13368_z.jpg) (http://)
Another shot of Talkin Fell and Simmerson Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956576468_9b07f4d334_z.jpg) (http://)
I'd walked by Geltsdale Cottages and at the Water Works I'd taken the wrong track and ended up at the weir and a dead end. I noticed lots of cows and calves up on the hill near the track where I should have been walking. There had been notices on the way that cows and calves were about so it wasn't really a surprise. I retraced my steps back to the Water Works but decided to return to Jockey Shield and not venture near the cows.
Looking back at the cows and calves next to the track
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957076631_dca688ea7a_z.jpg) (http://)
This was only about half of the cows that were there, the sheer numbers of them had made me retreat. I still have not managed to do this walk! The cows probably would have been ok but I wasn't prepared to risk it. I'd walked 2 miles there and then 2 miles back to the car. I sat in the back seat and had my lunch with the window open and planned another walk.
On the path to Gairs
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957359682_74bf28ee23_z.jpg) (http://)
I'd descended to Hynam Bridge and turned right to take the bottom path to Gairs. Then I was going to go onto Simmerson Hill.
Across the valley of Geltsdale
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957076271_64c0fbcbe3_z.jpg) (http://)
I'd been over on that side of the valley earlier.
Gairs
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957358987_ffbeefe45f_z.jpg) (http://)
It is uninhabited now.
Gairs from the ascent of Simmerson Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957358682_1830b09e0f_z.jpg) (http://)
I took a pathless route onto the hill but I eventually met up with the path that circles the edge of the hill.
Talkin Fell from Simmerson Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956574203_8fb8f0150d_z.jpg) (http://)
A shelter on the side of the hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956573833_d886054c78_z.jpg) (http://)
Simmerson Hill summit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957356982_d789573cca_z.jpg) (http://)
If there is a path onto the summit it is well hidden :D I'd left the path I was on and had to walk through heather to get onto the top. I'd done this walk before with Beefy but couldn't remember it that well.
Hazy views into Scotland
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956573158_8f9ef9e1ce_z.jpg) (http://)
The northern fells of the Lake District behind Castle Carrock Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957073656_d8a40f0706_z.jpg) (http://)
Tindale Tarn
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957356427_f254777050_z.jpg) (http://)
I descended the hill in a northerly direction on rough grass. I spotted a roe deer and the photo above was supposed to be a shot of it but I'd zoomed in too much! Shame it was in a hurry, I only got one chance to take a shot. I eventually met up with the path near the fence and descended west.
Blencathra to Skiddaw beyond Castle Carrock Fell and Talkin Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957072971_790c986b64_z.jpg) (http://)
Once off Simmerson Hill I made my way to the top path that leads down to Low Hynam
The Greens and Geltsdale
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956572148_c4ca90becc_z.jpg) (http://)
It really is a lovely valley.
On the top path descending to Low Hynam
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49957072456_1246d2d86e_z.jpg) (http://)
Bluebells in the woods above Low Hynam
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49956571393_61f9873568_z.jpg) (http://)
They are past their best now. A great walk, not that many people about either. The route was Jockey Shield - Geltsdale Cottages - Water Works Weir - Geltsdale Cottages - Jockey Shield - High Hynam - Gairs - Simmerson Hill - Top path - Low Hynam - Jockey Shield 9.5 miles 620m of ascent
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Another lovely looking walk. Or was it 2 walks seeing as you returned to your car then carried on? ;)
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How about a walk of two halves? :)
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Great pics,shame you had to re-plan but looks like part 2 was still lovely.
Gairs looks a good place to self isolate.
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Gairs looks a good place to self isolate.
It is very remote. Until the lockdown is eased and we can go wild camping again I will be coming back to do the other fells in this area :)
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Nice pics Ape O0
Lovely blue sky, the sheep is looking for me and Squeaky ;D
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Lovely country, April, thanks for posting.
Ah, Castle Carrock - we stayed for a weekend in one of the pubs early in 1995, and walked up Geltsdale before climbing Cold Fell to the east.
Was hoping to return in July - we had tickets for the Music on the Marr (https://www.musiconthemarr.com/) festival booked. They had some great bands lined up. Maybe next year.
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Excellent Pennine country and clear pics again O0
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Excellent photos April. Interesting that you point out a reason for walking the route in the opposite way to the published route. One of the first reasons I started to fall out with published routes and gave up on Country Walking magazine, too eager to get their routes into print they do not take the trouble to walk their route in the opposite directions and find out the merits that way has.
Your wish to get the tarmacadam and traffic out of the way first is one I had not thought of but so obvious, neat! :)
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Great pics and TR April. Better safe than sorry when cows are around O0
I think guidebook writer Mark Richards must live around there somewhere as he has been on those hills on his local lockdown walks he posts on FB
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Lovely blue sky, the sheep is looking for me and Squeaky ;D
;D
Ah, Castle Carrock - we stayed for a weekend in one of the pubs early in 1995, and walked up Geltsdale before climbing Cold Fell to the east.
It is a lovely village and a great place to walk O0
Excellent Pennine country and clear pics again O0
Thanks vghikers :)
Your wish to get the tarmacadam and traffic out of the way first is one I had not thought of but so obvious, neat! :)
:) To be fair there isn't much traffic, I think there are only 3 houses on the road. I remember only one car passing me :)
I think guidebook writer Mark Richards must live around there somewhere as he has been on those hills on his local lockdown walks he posts on FB
He does live close by but I won't give his address away :-X The link to the walk I posted is written by him and I think all the Open Access Walks on the county council website are his guides too. They are useful because the paths on the ground aren't necessarily marked on the map :)
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Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ;D
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Great views of what looks like a great walk..am liking the "top path" especially . O0
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Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ;D
Are you feeling ok pleb? ;D
Great views of what looks like a great walk..am liking the "top path" especially . O0
It is a nice area G&P :)
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Lovely pics April, I would have done the same as you with the cows. Looks great walking country.
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Looks great walking country.
It is and it looks like I may do more walking there on the day I don't go down to see beefy and Squeaky.