Shaun had arrived with the tea, followed by Grizzly and Little Eric with the biscuits.
"Super", cheered Tetley. "I'll get the mugs."
These soon filled and passed round, we dug into the biscuit tin. "Penguins and Yorkies amongst others" said Shaun helping himself.
Little Eric was about to take another when he stopped. "Where's Allen? He is the arch tea belly and never misses out."
"Don't know to be honest", replied Tetley, "but he can smell tea a mile off, so he'll be here very soon."
And sure enough just minutes later, he strolled in, and immediately dug into the biscuits. Then saying "thanks", as Shaun passed him a mug of tea.
"Where have you been, Allen?"
asked Shaun.
"To see which walking book Dad
has been looking at", he replied.
Grizzly said, "he had planned
to take us to Ennerdale, but having that little courtesy car, it
may well be that walk will be put off. It is a long drive after all"
"You’re right"
replied Allen. "He has been looking at the Outlying Fells
book, and it was open at Hampsfell."
"Well that’s good",
said Tetley, "as you Grizzly and Little Eric have not climbed that
before, so that will be another catch-up out of the way".
When Dad came into the room Allen
said "are we doing Hampsfell on Sunday".
"Yes, replied Dad, "starting
from Cartmel, where the sticky toffee pudding comes from"
"You're always thinking
about food," cried Shaun. "Just like you Allen."
"It's Bank Holiday weekend, so there will be the point to point racing. The car parks will be full so that will have a bearing on doing this walk", said Dad.
Tetley set his paws tapping, then saying, "there is not any racing on Sunday."
"Great, so the walks on",
said Dad.
The Walk
Cartmel is quite close, so for once
we did not have to get up too early. The drive up the valley was
enchanting, the trees so green and the countryside so fresh.
"What is that large building?"
asked Allen.
Tetley replied, "that is the
Priory Church, built centuries ago"
Passing between buildings we
entered a narrow lane and shortly this opened out into a roughly
surfaced, and at this early time in the morning, empty car park.
Dad soon got his boots on, and meanwhile we jumped into the
rucksack.
Ready for the off, Shaun said, "the route is on through the car park, and across the track of the racecourse with the buildings to the right."
Coming to a crossroad of paths, Shaun instructed, "keep ahead into those woods Lane Park."
"It is absolutely
idyllic in here", breathed Allen. "Just listen to the wonderful bird song and in the distance the sound
of the hurrying River Eea. Can you enlighten us about the derivation of the name, Grizzly?"
"Actually I can pal. The name is derived from a plenty of eels gathering in its lower course during high tides. 'Eea' was a Viking word for eel."
"The bluebells under the trees either side are magnificent", said Tetley. "We must have a picture. It will be atmospheric if you also capture the way the sunlight is dappled on the
trunks of the trees."
The track climbed then exited
the woods, coming to a fork. "Take the one right", said Shaun,
After a while this became a narrow road which led to the B5278. "Turn left", called out Shaun.
There was no pavement at times along here, so Dad took great
care, as it was busy with traffic. Rounding a corner we came to
the imposing entrance to Holker Hall; a large estate
with lands stretching for miles in any direction.
Just beyond was
this pleasant half square of estate houses built in 1996.
Soon the road reached the
village of Cark. "We want the road left to Cartmel. Then soon after passing a narrow road going right, take the narrow lane climbing left", advised Shaun. "This is in fact the other branch of the fork after we left Lane Park."
"We seem to be going in circles", commented Grizzly.
"Well yes, but we do not follow it all the way, as you will see", replied Shaun,
"What is that big house called
on the hillside over there", asked Little Eric.
"Birkby Hall", replied Shaun, "we
will be passing it in a little while."
We reached a farm called Low Bank
Side. "We leave the track here and go right through that gate and down to the road. Then over the stile on the opposite side into the fields", instructed Shaun.
"Crops have been planted", said Little Eric.
"Yes lad, so I will respectfully walk round the edges", said Dad.
Soon Birkby Hall was reached and a
narrow path led up beside some woods to a stile into a huge
pasture full of buttercups and daises. "Wow, what a pretty sight", cried Allen.
Dad followed the path through this to a stile
on the left, where beyond it descended to a road. "Turn right to the the cluster of
houses called Templand", instructed Shaun.
Dad said, "there is a 15th
century well at Templand Farm, and when I did this same walk in 1997
with Uncle Eric, there was a rock garden around
it"
"That was in pre-STAG days", said Tetley. "So we look forward to seeing it."
Sadly when we arrived, whilst the well is still there; the garden is a wasteland. "Oh what a shame", said Grizzly.
"I took a picture that day, so you will be able to see what it was like."
"Great", cheered Little Eric. "We can also include it in our story." It was taken on a film camera so the image is not
quite as sharp.
"The route is that track going right", pointed Shaun,
This brought us to another road that we crossed, and once over the stile, followed the path onwards to a narrow minor
road by some houses.
"Wow! Just look at that",
exclaimed Little Eric.
We all, Dad included, looked in
wonder at the magnificent banks of wild Yarrow lining the verges.
We cannot remember seeing it so massed before. "How wonderful is nature", called out Tetley.
A little way along there was a seat
and we all sat for a while looking across to where we had come
from. Dad said, "the houses to the left are outskirts
of the village of Allithwaite."
Setting off again we took a
last lingering look at the banks of flowers. Shaun said, "climb that stile and head up the grassy pasture. The path will cut the corner of the
road."
We also saw lovely hawthorn trees in blossom.
Reaching the road, Shaun said, "turn right and walk to the junction with the main road."
This Dad crossed carefully, Shaun saying, "we skirt left round the end of the cemetery, and then walk up Grange Fell
Road, past the golf club, and very soon take the narrow lane left
that climbs steeply."
To our right the view opened up. "Look", said Tetley.
"That is Morecambe Bay and those big buildings are the nuclear power
stations at Heysham."
More importantly though we all
waved our paws to Uncle Brian and our other Hug pals.
At the brow, Shaun instructed, "the route is through that gate
on the left."
Clear paths now led us unerringly to our main
objective; the summit of Hampsfell.
"Yippee", cheered Allen. "That's another Outlyer catch-up done for Grizzly, Little Eric and I. Come on pals time for our picture."
We are sitting by the building called The Hospice that crowns the summit of Hampsfell. The fell is a limestone ridge between Grange
over Sands and the Cartmel Valley, so it was hardly surprising
that there were lots of people there, especially as it was bank holiday too. "We are fine here", said Tetley. "Go and take a picture Dad."
The
people are just about to ascend the steps leading to the
observation platform on top. Dad took us up there and we scanned
round looking to the hills of Lakeland. It was a wonderful
feeling too, to think that we had climbed all we could see. A
number of people asked about us, so Dad explained and also took
the opportunity to advertise our website. One lady kindly took
Dad’s picture sitting with us.
The Hospice itself, is a well
built structure, and was provided by a pastor of Cartmel in the
19th century for 'the shelter and entertainment
of travellers over the fell'. The open interior offers good
shelter and free poetry readings on painted panels on all four
walls.
"Please take photos",
implored Grizzly, "as we want the poems to be included in
our tale"
Here is one:
The others read as follows:
O God! O
good beyond compare!
If this
Thy meaner works be fair,
If thus
Thy beauty gild the span
Of faded
Earth and fallen Man,
How
glorious must those mansions
be
Where
Thy redeemed well with Thee.
THE
HOSPICE OF HAMPSFELL
This
HOSPICE as an open door
Alike
to welcome rich and poor;
A
roomy seat for young and old,
Where
they may screen them from the
cold:
Three
windows that command a view
To
north to west and southward
too,
A
flight of steps requireth
care
The
roof will show a prospect
rare.
Mountain
and vale you thence survey
The
winding streams and noble bay;
The
sun at noon the shadow hides
Along
the east and western sides:
A
lengthened chain holds guard
around,
To
keep the cattle from the
ground;
Kind
reader freely take your
pleasure,
But
do not mischief to my
treasure:
THE
ANSWER
And
if the rich and poor should
meet
I
trust they will each other
greet,
And
rich and poor and young and
old
Together
screen them from the cold:
And
as the windows are not
glass’d
We'll
mind to leave the shutters
fast,
The
"flight of steps
requireth care"
Then
why not have a handrail there;
That
feeble old and timid fair
May
mount and view the prospect
rare.
The
blue and lofty
mountain’s sides
The
noble bay and stealthy tides
That
treach'rous creep along
the sand
Or
loudly dash upon the strand.
Yon
gaily rigged trim pleasure
boat
Upon
the glittering waves afloat.
Then
(turning to the west) is seen
Dear
Cartmel’s peaceful
valley green
Mid
waving woods and verdant
lands,
The
fine old church of Cartmel
stands.
Within
those walls in days of yore
His
priestly rule the prior bore.
Then
may the lengthening chain
around
Keep
only cattle from the ground;
For
no good man would think it
pleasure
To
climb the fell to spoil your
treasure
Your
offer made in kindly spirit
I
hope you'll find our
conduct merit;
CARTMEL
1846
We spent quite a while here
exploring, Allen then saying, "surely it's time for lunch. I'm getting hungry."
"No surprise there", laughed Tetley, "but I agree. I'm hungry too. Let's sit over there looking towards our beloved Lakeland
Fells."
Here is the view looking to from the left, Walna Scar, Brown Pike, Buck Pike, Dow Crag, Coniston Old Man, Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Black Sails and Wetherlam. "Breathtaking", said Grizzly.
Then, just before leaving Dad took this
photo of the lettering over the doorway.
Enigmatically in his Outlying Fells
book, Wainwright states –
‘Outside, over the doorway, is
an inscription that will be Greek to most visitors.’
Grizzly said, "I was able to find the actual meaning. It is 'Rosy-fingered Dawn' and is a quotation from Homer."
Walking away we looked back to
the Hospice and the limestone outcrops adorning the summit.
"Where now" asked Allen.
Shaun replied, "we take the path
that goes right, and then it is just a steady descent to the
valley and over the fields to Cartmel."
And, sure enough in about half and
hour we were there. Rather than rush straight to the car, Dad
kindly took us on a tour of the village.
"Look at the post box",
called out Little Eric. "It is very old dating from the reign of Queen Victoria."
Now the Priory Church of St Mary
& St Michael loomed large to our right and we walked through
the lychgate to get the best view. For more information go to www.cartmelpriory.org.uk
Along the main street we crossed
the delightful River Eea. Note the two ducks flying down it too.
Further along by the square is this
gatehouse. It is all that remains of the 12th century
Augustinian priory, which had to be fortified following raids by
Robert the Bruce.
And, finally, the Village Shop,
famous for its sticky toffee pudding. Dad insisted on putting
this picture in!
Well, that completed our tour of
Cartmel, and it was just along the lane by the shop to the car
park. If you are ever in the area we heartily recommend you visit
the village.
It was to a café now, and where
else in this area but Jane & Sam’s Hat Trick Café at
Low Newton. What is extra nice is that we get to go in as well.
Dad was hungry so had their
delicious bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich with lots of
mayonnaise. Tea of course and to follow he had one of Jane’s
individual lemon meringue pies. They are absolutely gorgeous and
to die for. Uncle Brian is very partial to these also, so Sam
suggested taking one for him. We said that we would treat him.
"Thank you lads", said Uncle Brian. "I will enjoy it later for tea."
