Three photos from a cool afternoon in Ennerdale.
There was blue skies at the head of the valley but cloud overhead,
is casting a shadow on Loes and I
as we enjoy a short walk from Bleach Green car park to the lake
and back using a circular track through the woods.
but a large bank of gravel has been cast into the river bed by
Ben Gill.
The side river was re-engineered to do that a few years back,
but perhaps its been a bit over-enthusiastic with the amount of
gravel !
as it has been exposed to the direct glare of the southerly sun.
The high fells of Pillar and Steeple and for that matter Brandreth
at the top of the valley, have stayed below zero by virtue of
their height.
The snow still covers their sides, giving a cold prospect to
anyone contemplating a walk in the high fells.
On the Wednesday I needed to chat to a distant neighbour at
the other end of Loweswater.
Rather than phone, it would make a nice local walk for myself
and the dogs, so I set off up the hill towards the Village Hall.
The thaw set in last evening so the fields are clear, but there's
still snow on the higher fells and ice on the roads in places.
Loweswater Village Hall - near the top of the rise.
The Village Hall with the best " View"
in the country.
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- - - o o o - - -
In 2000 a Millennium Plaque was placed on the wall
which represented the valley in a 3D bronze.
Last year a slate chair was added alongside
to commemorate the recent Queen's 70th Jubilee.
The Hall itself has also recently moved into the
modern world
by developing its own website
and Facebook
Page.
If you fancy a wedding reception, a business meeting,
a social meeting or an afternoon tea party,
the hall can be hired by the hour or by the day.
Check out the new website and "What's On"
at
https://loweswatervillagehall.co.uk
Why
not follow it on Facebook
!
- - - o o o - - -
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The top of the rise and the turning to Maggie's
Bridge.
On the side of Carling Knott the "Pheasant
shaped Holme Woods is about to get a haircut
The felling has become necessary due to the
larch tree disease Phytophthora
Ramorum
The heavy equipment has moved in, ready to cut
and remove the infected trees.
Sadly it is not the best time of year, but a
check of badger sets and squirrel drays has been done
to try and mitigate the effect of the felling
in their woodland environment.
You know how I love pictures of heavy equipment.
This is the main felling machine that can travel
anywhere . . . but it still makes a mess !
The trees are heavy but this can grab and hold
them during cutting and felling, stripping the side branches
and stacking them, all in one operation.
You could say heavy plant to remove the heavy
plants !
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The cutting head with grab, saw and
trimmer. |
Site notice showing which paths are
affected. |
Let's hope their replanting plans will respect
the heritage of the woods
and maintain the colour differential that defined
the pheasant shape.
On with the lakeside walk . . . round next to
The Bothy as the main track is out-of-bounds during the week.
This is the view from the beach, looking across
to snow covered Grasmoor and Mellbreak.
The meadow beyond Holme Wood.
Bright sunshine on Darling Fell contrasts with
the snowy shadows on this side.
The impressive array of fells that flank Crummock
Water, in the background of the picture once Loweswater ends.
They are Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike and Robinson,
with lowly Rannerdale Knotts just making an appearance.
- - - o o o - - -
Job done for today, I've arranged some sawing,
chopping and collection of logs for my cottage in a week or
two's time,
in exchange for time and effort and an similar
number of logs for the owner of the fallen tree, in order to
to warm his house as well.
On around Loweswater Lake.
The slopes of Burnbank Fell cast a shadow over
my walk now as the sun is low in the sky in January.
However Red Pike, High Stile and presumably
distant Pillar fell, are all in bright sunshine.
Larch removal has already been happening on
this side of the lake too, so a drive along the valley road
has a very different look now.
The wall and notice are part of the "Old
Parish boundary Animal Pound "
The restored Crabtreebeck Cottage, after being
damaged in a flash flood a few years back now.
It's looking really nice.
Mellbreak seen from the road as I cross Crabtree
Beck.
Thrushbank and Grasmoor.
Purchasers of my previous calendar may remember
this Grasmoor view, but with a "Cinnamon Sunset" on
the fell.
Cloud shades the top of Whiteside as the dogs
and I approach the Village Hall once again.
One last photo as the view over Rose Cottage
shows the clouds have moved.
There's now bright sun on the summits of both
Whiteside and the lower Scale Hill in front of it.
Must remember the ice on the edge of the road
on the way down !