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.aspI was doing the walk in the opposite direction to get the road walking done first.
Who are you calling big ears?
Talkin Fell and Simmerson Hill
It was hot and sunny again but it was breezy so it didn't get too hot.
The road leading to Geltsdale Cottages
Simmerson Hill and the How Gill ravine
Another shot of Talkin Fell and Simmerson Hill
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
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
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
I'd been over on that side of the valley earlier.
Gairs
It is uninhabited now.
Gairs from the ascent of Simmerson Hill
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
A shelter on the side of the hill
Simmerson Hill summit
If there is a path onto the summit it is well hidden
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
The northern fells of the Lake District behind Castle Carrock Fell
Tindale Tarn
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
Once off Simmerson Hill I made my way to the top path that leads down to Low Hynam
The Greens and Geltsdale
It really is a lovely valley.
On the top path descending to Low Hynam
Bluebells in the woods above Low Hynam
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
