We were having a quiet Saturday. The tea and cakes had arrived , much to Allen and Southey's delight.
"Ooh great", cheered Allen, going to get the mugs and plates..
"What are the cakes today?", asked Tetley.
Grizzly replied. "Little Eric has made chocolate caramel shortbread. I've done blueberry slice."
Southey then produced a tin. "There are some cherry and ginger scones I have made, too."
"Thanks pal", said Little Eric. "You are the ace scone maker. I'm going to enjoy them."
Meanwhile Allen was helping Shaun pour the tea and passing the mugs around.
"I love chocolate caramel shortbread", said Shaun. "Thank you Little Eric."
Allen had not wasted any time and had one of each cake and a scone on his plate, and his mug of tea had been drunk. "Can I have a refill please, Shaun."
Tetley was shaking his head and laughing. "Allen, you are without a doubt the President of the TBTB & CS Society."
"What's that?", queried Grizzly.
"The Teddy Bear Tea Belly & Cake Stuffers Society", replied Tetley.
"Brilliant", cried Grizzly letting out a bellow of laughter. Then looking at Southey, he said, "you are like Allen in that respect, so you can be the secretary of the society."
Southey nodded, "you are right pal."
"Happy to have you on board, pal. We tea bellies and cake stuffers have to stick together", replied Allen.
Settling down, our thoughts turned to walking.
"It was wonderful to have the company of Uncle Eric on the walk on Thursday. Such a long time since we all walked together", said Little Eric. "So interesting too, learning all about the former Iron Works in Carnforth. And a milestone for you Allen, passing 6000 miles."
"Yes, a happy day for me from that stand point."
Shaun then said, "Dad has said he wants to walk tomorrow, so we need to come up with an idea."
"It would be nice if we can find a new route, which can then be a new story on the website", replied Tetley.
"Well", said Grizzly. "Shall we see if we can find a walk from Bentham. There are lots of paths, and I am sure we have not done them all. I am sure Dad will agree, as we can then go for a late lunch to Elaine's."
"Good idea", cried Southey.
So Allen grabbed the iPad and opened the OS Maps app. Shaun pointed, "how about this path north from the road between Low and High Bentham. We can just park by the roadside. We can take the path that goes left to the Burton Road."
"Good pal", agreed Tetley. "Then we can join the route that heads north to the road, then take the paths to pass Clifford Hall and come out near Burton in Lonsdale."
"Now just a return route", said Southey. "First across Bentham Moor to the road. Then onwards south and finally emerge onto the main road through High Bentham."
"Perfect" cried Allen. And taking the iPad he went off to see Dad. It was not long before he returned a wide smile on his face. "Dad thinks our idea is great. Definitely some new paths."
"Roll on tomorrow", cheered Little Eric.
The weather had been very unsettled but today it was bright and dry with little wind, but still cold.
The drive to the start was so so familiar to Dad as it is the route he has taken most Mondays on the many visits to Elaine's at Feizor. He commented, "In February it will be 15 years since I first went there with Uncle Bob."
"Oh yes", said Tetley. "That day we walked from Settle to Stainforth and after stopping there, we climbed Giggleswick Scar."
"Then Elaine's became the regular Monday outing with Uncle Brian. So many good times, lads. And I still feel he is with us when I go and meet Pat, Leo and Ken."
As we climbed from Low Bentham, Shaun called out, "the path is just past that row of houses on he left."
"OK lad, we can pull in here, by this house called Rannerdale."
"Obviously named after the dale in the Lake District by Crummock Water", said Grizzly.
As Dad got ready we quickly snuggled down in the rucksack.
Walking a few yards towards High Bentham, Shaun called out, "there's the stile. It is signed 'public footpath Burton Road 3/4 mile'."
"I wonder what that tent is in aid of", mused Tetley.
As we passed we saw that it related to the Lune Rivers Trust, an organisation dedicated to conserve protect and improve the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments of the catchment comprising the River Lune throughout its entire course and all the associated tributaries in Cumbria, Yorkshire and North Lancashire. This statement from their website.
Crossing another stile then this tiny footbridge...
Here a group of volunteers from the Lune Rivers Trust were engaged in planting trees.
There was some conversation including asking where we were going. One volunteer told us, "for the path to Low Bentham Road, you need to be on the other side of the stream.
Dad headed to the wall to stride the stream, one volunteer laughingly calling out, "shout if you fall in so we can film it."
It was an easy stride to cross stile in wall and then uphill to a stile in the fence.
The next stile is in the top corner", pointed Southey.
Grizzly said, " let's count the stiles. We have not done that for a long time."
"Ooh yes", agreed Allen. "I'll keep the record."
The path led by the hedge to another stile on the right into a pasture. Those stark bare trees would perhaps make a nice picture?", suggested Little Eric.
After a gateway we entered a huge field. "We should go down to the bottom left", instructed Shaun.
Here a gate gave onto a track and at the far end another gate took us on to Burton Road.
"That's five stiles", stated Grizzly.
"Noted pal", replied Allen.
"Along the track opposite", called out Southey.
This led into a field that we crossed to a junction, Southey now advising, "it is right along this hedged track."
As can be seen the track had puddles, and indeed the fields were rather soft in places after all the unsettled weather. The track ended at a stile.
"Yuck", exclaimed Tetley. "It's really muddy on the other side."
Some careful manoeuvering got Dad past without much difficulty and we continued across the pasture.
"Look", pointed Grizzly, "there's a huge solar farm."
Pausing to view our route, Shaun said, "we go through the gate in the fence then up the pasture by the solar farm."
"Then through the gate on the skyline?, asked Little Eric.
"No pal", replied Southey. "We actually go right along by the fence and down to the road, Ravens Close Brow."
There were sheep grazing, and this one just posed for Dad.
"Huh", grumped Allen, "there goes the sheep picture free story."
At the road Tetley asked, "where now?
Shaun replied, "go a few yards right and through the stile on the left, then up the field half right and on down to a stile onto a narrow lane."
Southey then took up the directions. "Go left and over the stile onto the drive Clifford Hall."
Just before Little Eric called out. "Please take a picture of the post box, for my collection."
"Ok lad."
Clifford Hall is now residential apartments and we passed it to the right to come to Clifford Hall Farm. There is was on the soil track that looped round and on and on through Greta Wood. A sign further on informed us that it was owned by the Woodland Trust.
Further on we noticed this dedication plaque.
"Hmm", mused Allen. "I wonder where the mines were?"
"I'll see what I can find when we get back", said Grizzly. He told us, "pit ponies were used extensively in coal mines from the 18th mid 20th century. The reference to pony extended to other equines including donkeys."
Walking on we soon came to a seat. "Time for our picture for the story", said Tetley.
On the seat is this very touching dedication plaque.
Onwards the path ran above the River Greta with Burton in Lonsdale above left the church standing tall.
We met a gentleman here and chatted. On hearing we were from Morecambe, he said, "many years ago I lived in Morecambe and worked building nuclear power station."
"I recall seeing the many buses bringing the workers to and from", said Dad.
They talked about walking and the lovely countryside we are blessed with. A nice few minutes.
Soon the path joined a road and we walked on to the crossroads.
"That's five more stiles", said Grizzly.
"Noted pal", replied Allen.
To the left the road crossed the River Greta, and here is the river view upstream.
"We go right up Burton Hill" said Shaun.
Tetley said, "I recall we came down this way on another walk but that was years ago."
Virtually at the brow and by a bend Shaun pointed, "now take that stile on the left."
Here we meat the farmer who was going to feed his sheep. Dad said, "it must have been difficult with all the rain recently."
"Yes, the sheep have been very miserable. Need to give them extra feed to keep their strength up before lambing time that will soon be here."
He told Dad that the route was down to the bottom left corner to a ladderstile.
Now uphill in the same direction uphill to next boundary with double stile. As we crossed this next field, Southey said, "there is some nice light effects from the sun on the fells. Photo time?"
"Yes please Dad", added Tetley. "That's Gragareth, which we have climbed a few times."
And the Casterton Fells to the left", pointed Shaun. "The tiny pimple on the summit to the left side is the cairn on Brownthwaite Pike."
"And round to the right the unmistakable shape of Ingleborough", said Little Eric.
"Just wonderful", breathed Grizzly. "What a fortunate group we are to have seen and explored the countryside fells and mountains."
Across the field Dad climbed the tied up gate the went half left to another ladderstile.
"Half right now", advised Southey. "Skirt round the boundary with the pool on other side."
A stile gave access to a wide grassy fenced/hedged track, and then out onto the road via a step and gap stile, so completing the crossing of Bentham Moor.
"Another seven stiles", said Grizzly.
"Ok pal, duly noted", Allen replied.
"Along the track opposite", called out Shaun.
This led to a stile by a gate and on across to a stile in the fence and then then half right past the fence corner and so drop down steeply to another stile.
This was a signed junction, Southey instructing, "our route is right to find a footbridge."
Dad climbed the hill Little Eric then saying, "the footbridge is down the far corner at the bottom."
"Well someone needs to adjust the waymark to just point straight ahead", said Tetley. "I'll be sure to remember if we repeat this walk."
Once over it was left uphill to stile on the skyline, then over a field to gate and beyond dropping down to the bottom right.
"Through the gap then over the stile on the left", called out Shaun.
Onwards past the final stone step stile it was along an enclosed footpath to a residential street. Left then right brought us to the main street in High Bentham.
Turning right we strolled to the car, passing the Horse and Farrier Inn, that at present was for sale.
As we strolled on Grizzly said, "there were seven stiles on the last section."
"Right" said Allen. "That makes a total for the walk of twenty four."
"A most enjoyable and stylish walk then", said Tetley. "Thank you Dad as always."
To Elaine's we getting to come in a usual. Saw Sharon as we entered, and she said, "what are you doing here?"
"I've been walking", was Dad's reply.
Dad had a brie bacon and cranberry toastie, tea and blackcurrant crumble and custard. Lovely!
At the next table a young girl, India, was with her grandparents. She saw Shaun so Dad told them about us and she fussed us.
Asking where we had walked from Dad explained and told her we had parked by the house called Rannerdale.
The lady replied, "we live in Bentham." Then she said, "Rannerdale was my mothers house. She died about 18 months ago, hence why it is for sale."
What a strange coincidence.
