Start point - Askham - car park by
village hall (NY 513237)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Heughscar Hill
1231
375
NY 4880 2316
The Walk
It was three weeks since our last walk,
mainly due to Dad and Uncle Brian having been on holiday. See
holiday in Peebles & Northumberland.
"Where are we going", asked Allen.
"I have decided to break myself in
gently, and take you to Heughscar Hill", said Dad.
"Magic", exclaimed Allen, "this
will mean I will finally catch Grizzly up, on Outlying Fells done".
It was dry with some sun and a pleasant
temperature. When we climbed it last time with Uncle Eric in
November 2004, we had started from Pooley Bridge on the shores of
Ullswater. So for a change today Dad decided to follow the route
as defined in AW's book. This started from the pretty village of
Askham, having first driven through the Lowther Estate. By the
village hall there is a good car park (honesty box 50p for half a
day). Strolled 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.
Dad chatted to a farmer who had just filled an old bath with
water for some horses.
The track climbed on gently, and just past
the next plantation, we turned right up to the summit cairn that
was clearly in view.
As we leapt out, Tetley shouted, "come
on Dad take our picture!"
We then paused to enjoy the wonderful view
to Ullswater with the high fells of the Helvellyn Ridge behind.
"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. We were now on the
High Street Roman Road. This runs for some 23 miles from Brougham
Castle (BROCAVVM ROMAN FORT),
then via Brougham Hall, Eamont Bridge, Yanwath, Tirril, and over
Moor Divock - this was the area we were walking today. It then
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 stone circle known as The Cockpit. 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.
Leaving the Roman Road, we now walked left
along a boggy path to a path junction.
"Where to now", enquired Grizzly.
Dad replied, "we turn right here 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 in height, and leaning.
We can't help saying that from this angle it look rather like a
very fat seal.
Backtracking we then branched off, and more
or less in a line from the Cop Stone, the way passes between
these two standing stones ( seen here looking back),
and then in a short distance arrived 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.
Crossing a wide track, we continued ahead,
to pick up a track which was followed to the gate we had passed
through earlier. As we reached it a gentleman kindly opened it
for us. He was waiting for the rest of his group, and so Dad
chatted to him. We were spotted, so Dad explained all about us
and the fact that we had a website, and he asked for the address.
As we returned down the track this fine prospect of the Pennines
was before us.
Soon we were crossing the cattle grid and
strolling down the road into Askham.