George

Hesket Newmarket – Stott Ghyll – Wood Hall – Calebreck – Carrock Beck – High Pike – Nether Row – Street Head – Hesket Newmarket.

Sunny, very warm at times, heat haze restricting the views.

George, Ron, Sandy.

Michael and Michelle - decorating hall prior to installation of new staircase

Ashley - acting in George Gently

Bernie - party for family member returning from Cambodia

Evelyn - teaching

Carol - photography course

Ken - injured knee

There was a tricky start – it was hard to find the public footpath that we wanted because the sign was hidden in a hedge. We passed a donkey called Millie and her foal called Willie. A broken stile required care to cross. We had to give a cow a wide berth, as she did not want us to get too close to her very small calf. We saw the remains of a tree struck by lightning at the side of the path. It was difficult to find the path out of the ghyll but Sandy found a post with an arrow on it.

We grazed off a plentiful crop of brambles at the roadside. The paths to Calebeck were indistinct. We had lunch there before we started the ascent alongside Carrock Beck. There were paragliders out on a small hill. It was hot, sweaty work climbing up towards High Pike, and we needed several stops for liquid intake.

We rested on top of High Pike on a stone memorial seat and admired the view. The trig point had been converted in 2000 into a direction indicator by placing a brass plate on the top. There were good views of the back of Skiddaw, Blacathra and Helvellyn. We saw several mineral samples, e.g calcite and campylite for which the hill is famous. Part of the path was marked out with small red flags and flourescent markers, probably for fell runners, of whom we saw a couple.

We spotted several rare breeds of cattle including a little white bull. We also saw a brown sheep with a white stripe down its face and white socks. It was very friendly, and we thought that it might have been a pet lamb.

We visited an excellent tearoom in Hesket Newmarket.

Heron, wheatear, meadow pipit, hairy caterpillar and a lizard.

Harebells, nice rosehips, rowan trees with lots of berries, fungi.

Michael and Michelle repoted seeing a rare speckled wood butterfly in their garden earlier in the day.

Blacksmith’s Arms , Talkin Village. Joined by Michael and Michelle. Enjoyable meal, nice pub, good service.

 September Walkers

Hills

Caterpillar

Hang glider

Windsock

Taking a rest on High Pike

Trig point compass

Ron on top

Descent

Red flag

Bull