"It must be nearly three weeks since our last walk", said Grizzly, helping himself to another biscuit.
"You are right", replied Tetley, "mind you Dad and Uncle Brian have been away to Peebles and Northumberland. Quite a few of our Hug pals went with them. They have written a story about the holiday. It will make an interesting read. Peebles & Northumberland.
"And before that they saw a play in Manchester, then went to see Grandad Bill to celebrate is 95th birthday", went on Allen.
Filling his mug again, Shaun said, " we must be thankful for all the times Dad takes us out. We are indeed a very lucky group."
"Absolutely", agreed Little Eric. "I have looked at the weather for this Sunday. It looks to be fine, so maybe Dad will be free to take us."
Allen drained his mug, "I'll go and see, if you like."
Thanks pal", said Shaun. "I will refill your mug for when you return."
Soon back Allen had an excited look on his face. "Yes we are walking on Sunday. He has decided to break himself in gently, so we are going to climb Heughscar Hill from Askham."
"Why are you so excited", asked Little Eric.
"Because pal, it will mean I finally catch Grizzly up on Outlying Fells done."
Tetley said, "when we first climbed it in 2004 with Uncle Eric, we started from Pooley Bridge on the shores of
Ullswater. Starting from Askham, we will be following the route defined in Wainwrights Outlying Fells book."
"A nice change", said Shaun.
The Walk
The day was to be dry with some sun and a pleasant
temperature.
"How do we get to the start?", asked Little Eric.
"We have to use the A6 over Shap then take the turning that will lead us through the beautiful Lowther Estate", Dad replied.
Arriving at Askham, Dad parked in the good car park (honesty box 50p for half a
day), by the village hall.
Soon ready and us safely tucked in the rucksack, Shaun instructed, "just stroll through the village, in the direction of the cul-de-sac
ahead."
Shortly we passed this old water pump.
"Please will you take a picture for the story?", asked
Grizzly.
The road ended at a cattle grid, then
continued ahead as a good track, climbing gently to reach a gate.
Here Dad chatted to the farmer who had just filled an old bath with
water for some horses.
The track climbed on gently, Shaun saying, "keep straight on at the fork, then just past
the next plantation, we turn right up to the summit cairn."
There Allen pointed, "it is clearly in view, not far now. My last catchup with Grizzly."
As we leapt out, Tetley shouted, "come
on Dad take our picture!"
"Do you know what the name means, Grizzly?", asked Little Eric.
"According to Diana Whaley's book it means, 'the rocky scarp on the heel shaped hill'."
Turning round we then paused to enjoy the wonderful view
to Ullswater with the high fells of the Helvellyn Ridge behind. "Magnificent", breathed Tetley, "and it reinforces what you say Dad that you do not need to be on the highest fells to get wonderful views."
"Well, that's it" said Allen.
"For summits, yes", replied Dad,
"but now I am going to take you to see the pre-historic
stone circles and standing stones on Moor Divock."
"Oh, you are so good to us Dad, to make
our adventures so interesting", he replied.
Walking north along the hill to Heugh Scar
we then descended to the track, and went left. Grizzly said, "this is part of the High Street Roman Road. It runs for some 23 miles from Brougham
Castle (BROCAVVM ROMAN FORT),
then via Brougham Hall, Eamont Bridge, Yanwath, Tirril, and over
Moor Divock, where we are walking today. Then it
climbs over the long ridge crossing Loadpot Hill, Wether Hill,
High Raise, Rampsgill Head and on to High Street, its highest
point. Then it descends via Troutbeck Park, Troutbeck, Robin Lane
& Jenkin Crag to end at GALAVA ROMAN FORT (Ambleside)."
We
tried to visualise the cohorts of Roman soldiers that had walked
along here, and wondered where they had originally come from,
before they were posted to Britain.
Continuing we eventually arrived the at
first site, a large Bronze Age stone circle known as The Cockpit. Grizzly informed us, "this is about 90 feet diameter,
consisting of about 73 stones, raised on the inside of a low
bank, the sizes of the stones ranging from 1 to 3 feet."
Shaun now said, "here we should leave the Roman Road, and follow that boggy path left to a
junction."
There, Tetley enquired , "where now."
Shaun said, "turn right, and
walk along to that large stone you can see ahead on the horizon.
It is called the Cop Stone."
We were soon there, and Dad took this
picture for us. Overall it is about 5 feet tall and as can be seen leaning. According to Diana Whaley, this is a Bronze Age megalith and possibly part of a stone circle", said Grizzly.
"No disrespect, but I can't help thinking that from this angle it looks rather like a
very fat seal", chuckled Allen.
"Let's have our picture sitting by it, said Tetley.
Settled again, Shaun said, "we have to backtrack then branch off right."
More or less in a line from the Cop Stone, the way passes between
these two standing stones ( seen here looking back)...
...to then, in a short distance, arrive at what
is known as the Cairn Circle.
This is
raised on a small mound and has a deep depression in the centre.
It consists of about 10 stones from 1 to 4 feet in height with
many smaller stones between. You can just see the sheep who had
found a comfortable spot in the shelter of one of the stones.
Setting off
once again we followed a thin track. We had learnt a lot about
the pre-historic sites on Moor Divock, and discussed them amongst
ourselves, wondering about the people who had made them, and for
what purpose.
Coming to a wide track, Shaun said, "ignore this and keep ahead. This will bring us to another track that followed right will take us to the gate we passed through earlier."
As we reached it a gentleman kindly opened it
for us.
"Thank you", said Dad.
"I am waiting for the rest of my group."
So Dad had a chat while they arrived. "I see you have some companions with you."
"They come on all the walks, and love climbing the fells and seeing the countryside. Recently they have begun writing stories of their adventures, and publishing them on their website."
"That is interesting. Give me the name so I can look it up."
Dad did and we hope the gentleman liked reading our stories.
As we returned down the track, Allen said, "that is a fine prospect of the Pennines."
The summits in view from the centre going right are, Cross Fell, Little Dun Fell and Great Dun Fell.
Soon then, we were crossing the cattle grid and
strolling down the road into Askham.
"Thank you Dad, for a most interesting day!!", cheered Little Eric.
"And for taking Little Eric and I to tick off Heughscar Hill", said Allen.
