Tetley said, "Dad is hoping to get a couple of walks in while we are at Armathwaite, so we need to think of suggestions."
Southey replied, "Dad has already decided on one of the walks. That is to walk round Loweswater."
"Ooh that will be super", said Allen. "It is surrounded by fells, so we can reminisce about climbing them."
"That still leaves another day for which we have to come up with an idea", replied Southey.
Allen sighed, "my brain works better if I have had tea and cakes."
"No surprise there", laughed Tetley.
Well, his prayers were answered as just then Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived with flasks and cake tin.
"Wonderful", cheered Allen, as he got the plates and mugs. "I'll help pouring the tea, pal."
"Thanks", replied Shaun.
So what are the cake delights?", asked Southey.
"Ever to the point, just like Allen", laughed Grizzly. "Little Eric has made chocolate coated flapjack, and I have done mincemeat slice."
"Ooh lovely", enthused Tetley, helping himself to one of each. Then taking a bite, he said, "the flapjack is delicious, Little Eric."
"So is the mincemeat slice, Grizzly", went on Allen, who to no ones surprise was already on his second slice.
So contented we turned our minds back to walks, Tetley bringing Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric up to date.
So we put our thinking caps on and after a while Grizzly said, "how about walking from Caldbeck. It is not too far from Armathwaite, and is an area we and Dad have not walked before."
"That sounds a good idea", agreed Allen, as he picked up the iPad and opened the OS maps app, navigating to the Caldbeck area.
We huddled round to look at the lay of the land. Little Eric said, "Hesket Newmarket is the next village so it would seem sensible to take that in and from there we can return through Parson's Park."
"I agree", replied Tetley. "Now just to decide the route from Caldbeck to Hesket. There is a direct path, but how about we go via Hudscales."
"A sound idea, pal", replied Shaun. "So we have a route, now all we need is for Dad to agree."
"Ok", said Allen, "I guess you want me to go and ask. I will, but please fill my mug again, for when I get back."
"That will be your fourth!", exclaimed Little Eric. "You truly are a tea belly, just like Dad."
So off Allen went, and he was soon back. "Dad thinks it is a great idea. He also says that he will take some of Fletcher's other guests with us. They will stay in the car while we walk, but then come with is on a tour of the village. This will mean that they and Fletcher will be able to write their own tale of the stay at Armathwaite Hall."
"Great", cheered Southey. "All we have to do now is keep our paws crossed that the weather will be good."
Dad threw the curtains back and we could see that the weather was set fair, and after an early breakfast we were soon ready.
Some of our other pals were coming along too. Not to do the walk, but to afterwards explore Caldbeck. Their tale is told elsewhere.
"Right", called out Dad, "I'm ready."
We did not need a second asking, dashing out and down the stairs to get settled in the car.
Taking the drive out of the hotel grounds, Southey asked, "how do we get to the start?"
Tetley replied, "we will turn left to the junction by the Castle Inn, and crossing the main road go just a few yards right then left."
"Effectively straight on then", replied Southey.
"Yes pal. The road takes us close to Binsey on the left and on through the village of Uldale, and out on to Uldale Commons, and soon then into Caldbeck."
There Dad parked at the main car park and was soon ready.
Shaun said, "the problem now, as is often the case in a village, is finding the start path."
Dad asked one lady but she was not too sure. Shaun said, "whatever we have to cross the Cald Beck."
"Wow", said Little Eric, "It is certainly hurtling along."
"Hardly surprising", replied Allen, "after the biblical rainfall last Saturday."
We wandered on, Dad asking a local gentleman, who gave Dad the road route to Hesket Newmarket.
"Ahh", said Shaun suddenly looking closely at the map. "The path is off the road we came along into the village!"
Then walking a short distance back the way we had come, Allen pointed, "must be that fenced path through the gate."
It was off a lower lane, accessed by these steep steps.
The path was signposted....
The track took us over a narrow bridge and on to gate into a field that we crossed keeping by the fence on right to gate onto a track by some houses. The waymarked route was through the gate opposite and over a neatly mown area of lawn and then into and across the next field to gate and onto a surfaced track.
"Turn left", called out Southey.
Dad strode off, Tetley saying, "do we keep all the way along here."
"No pal", replied Shaun, "we take that waymarked gate left."
This took us into a large pasture and on to Sharpe House as the signpost had indicated.
Passing to the left our presence was announced by two very noisy geese.
"Look", said Allen, "there's an old hand powered sharpening wheel."
Through the yard there was a gate left. "That's the route", called out Southey, "then right along the narrow fenced path."
This brought us to the road. "It is called The Street", commented Grizzly. "And a bit of useless information one of 596 streets called The Street in Great Britain."
"Your information is never useless pal. It adds interest to our adventures", replied Allen.
Shaun instructed, "we go ahead and up to the brow to take the drive on right towards Hudscales."
Arriving there, Tetley pointed to the sign, and laughed, "I guess this is it."
"Some nice easy walking", said Dad, seeing the concrete drive stretching away into the distance.
The drive climbed steadily coming to a cross track. Here we met the farmer on his quad bike. Looking behind we could see his sheep dog running some way behind. The farmer stopped when Dad said, "I see you are exercising your sheep dog."
"Oh", he replied. "I do not need him today."
He got him inside the trailer, then said, "he is very good with the sheep, but when he gets near cows they chase him."
Strolling on we passed a field where the cows crowding by the gate, looked on curiously. As Dad got the camera out, Allen said. "I'm doing well so far. No sheep pictures."
Shortly the drive passed between trees. Looking back Grizzly commented, "those beeches to the right have some age."
Little Eric called out, "that banking is a good place for us to sit to have our picture for the story."
Striding on, we soon left the woodland behind and the buildings of Hudscales came into view.
"Wow", breathed Southey, "that's a super view. "What is the mountain in the distance. I am not too familiar with this area as you had climbed these before I was adopted. Although, I have climbed some, in Little Eric's quest to complete all the fells in Wainwright book 5."
We all gave it some thought, before Tetley was bold enough to volunteer an answer. "I reckon away to the right must be the slopes rising to High Pike, so it must be Carrock Fell, at the other end of the long ridge."
"I agree", said Allen. "The last time we climbed it we took our little pal Carrock with us, as he was named after the mountain."
Here we all are on that day 11th January 2014. Carrock is sitting with Southey.
Soon we arrived at the farm, the access swinging right to the buildings.
"We go through that gate to the left", advised Shaun. ,
Ahead the drive led to a house, and Dad's progress was stopped by Grizzly calling out, "look there's a Derwentwater Bear, providing a welcome to visitors.
The gate was secured by some binder string over the stone gatepost. The owner of Robinson Croft was coming out in his car and stopped to have a word with us. He laughed and commented about the gate fastening, saying, "that a real farmers improvisation."
Dad set to work getting the string off, but such was the tightness we began to doubt if he could roll it up, and think that Dad would instead have to climb over. However his perseverance was rewarded. Grizzly laughed saying, "now just the matter of getting it over the post again.
"Thanks lad", sighed Dad.
This done, Dad said, "right let's go."
Walking on we kept by the wall to the next gate and then across the pasture to a gate near a fence corner.
"Oh look", called out Allen, "cows with young."
Southey said, the map shows the path is round the right edge."
Following his advice Dad kept us away from the cows and whilst they observed us they did not approach.
At the far side there is a crossroad of paths. "Our route is over the stile in front", instructed Southey.
The route was clear now, skirting a fence corner to a stile by a gate in the distance, that in the picture, is just to the left of the upright post of the stile. Then, across the huge pasture to a gate and on to a stile and steps down to the road, and into the lovely village of Hesket Newmarket.
"Those cottages will make a pretty picture", commented Little Eric.
In a matter of yards we were then looking down the green surrounded by the pretty houses.
Suddenly a vehicle arrived beeping its horn and driving up and down the road. "Looks like and ice cream van at first glance", said Allen, "but in fact it is the mobile butcher."
The beeping was to alert the villagers and soon there was a small queue for his wares.
Little Eric was looking around.
"I know what you are seeking", laughed Tetley. "The post box."
"Quite pal", he replied. Then he pointed, "there is it. Please take a picture Dad." Then he said, "if we had any letters, we would be in time for the collection today."
Grizzly piped up. I have done some research and can tell you about the origin and meaning of the first part of the village name. "It is recorded in 1227 as Eskeheued, pointing to Old Norse eski = ash (tree), + Anglo Saxon heafod = 'ash-head'. Thus 'hill with ash trees on'. Of note too Hesket Newmarket was the original base of the haulage giant Eddie Stobart Logistics"
"Must remember to tell Ashley our Stobart bear pal that", said Tetley. "We should include his picture in the story too."
So here is Ashley on the left with his best pal Wray.
"There's the market cross", pointed Grizzly. "Although I can find little information about age etc., it is listed as being rather unusual.
At the bottom on the left is Hesket Newmarket Free Church.
Grizzly said, "this was originally a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. It was built in 1903 and measured 40 feet by 22 feet. Originally there were 92 sittings in the pews reduced to 85 in 1980. The building replaced a former chapel built in 1839 at a cost of £134."
"Thank you pal", said Southey. He then pointed to a signpost just a little way back up the street on the same side. "That's our route from the village."
"I wonder what the destination means?", said Little Eric.
Pointing at the map Shaun said, "it must be something to do with this narrow promontory with a path running round. We'll see more when we get there."
A short fenced path led to a field where we crossed the footbridge to a gate then following the narrow fenced path right.
At the next gate we went half left to walk on and on through the woods with the rushing River Caldew below.
Suddenly Allen whispered, "look there's a red squirrel."
It ran up the tree, but then peered out at us. "Can you get a picture Dad?", said Grizzly.
"I'll try but it won't be all that good." It is slightly out of focus but we are including in nevertheless, as it is rare to be able to see them.
Leaving the woods we crossed open ground on a clearly waymarked path leading to a gate into woods the path finally bending right to gate.
"Ok", said Shaun, "we are at the promontory and there are the two paths that circle it.
Now it all became clear. Taking the right one the path led close to the edge by the River Caldew. At the top the river swung left as we did on the return path. On the left side from the view in the picture above runs the Cald Beck, and a little way on the return path is Watersmeeting where Cald Beck joins the River Caldew.
"An interesting place and well worth doing the path loop", said Little Eric. "I will remember this."
The loop done, Southey pointed, "we now cross the footbridge."
Below the Cald Beck, in spate was hurtling along.
Beyond the bridge a narrow path led us on. Shaun said, "our plan is to gain the Cumbria Way through Parson's Park."
This is on a hillside high above us, and as Dad walked on it was clear that, although the map alluded to there being a path up the hillside, the return route was a clear narrow and very muddy path below with the Cald Beck away to the left.
One section was through an enormous pasture, this shot looking back as we neared the far side.
So on and on Dad going carefully to avoid any mishaps on the mud. Eventually it became reinforced as a path from the right joined. "That's the Cumbria Way coming in", commented Southey.
Drier here Dad was able to stride out passing the sewerage works and a farm, to reach road towards the car park.
"What a super walk", cheered Allen. "And we did not see any other walkers. And more importantly no sheep pictures, which is amazing!"
"Thought you would be happy lad", replied Dad.
So now we collected our pals Archie, Figaro, Fletcher and Polly and went on a tour of Caldbeck visiting the church and seeing John Peel's grave. That tale is elsewhere on our site under Other Hug Tales. Fletcher hopes you like it.
That done we all settled in the car for the drive back to Armathwaite Hall.
Little Eric said, "when you stopped on the way in by the school, I noticed there was a post box."
"I get your hint lad", replied Dad.
As Dad was taking this, Polly called out, "look there's two donkeys in the field across the road. They remind me of the donkeys Brian and Gerry at Elaine's at Feizor.
