Dash Falls

Pinch me I think I'm dreaming. The forecast for today was excellent - and accurate, so we headed to Fellside for a walk up Roughton Gill to take in Dash Falls and then follow our noses back to Fellside - all this walking and we're not on holiday.
We've walked here many times, and although there is evidence of trials bike damage, it must happen at the weekends, 'cause we never see a soul up here. Off we go up the familiar route towards the old Mine workings



Roughton Gill is pretty all the way, but as you head to the top, past the old mines, it becomes a series of waterfalls; Dash Falls. We must remember to revisit them when we have had some serious rain.
All the usual Flora and fauna were about today. Stonechat and Wheatear, along with Sand martins and Swallows. Wild Thyme is really coming into it's own at the moment and the heather is just starting to flower. A little less common is this Yellow Saxifrage which can be found on the rocks on the side of the gill
Having scrambled up the right of the gill, and then crossing over to scramble a bit more up the left, we cross back again just below this fall to pick up the path you can see heading towards the skyline on the right of this picture into the forgotten valley of Balliway Rigg. An ideal spot for lunch.
Looking back you can see where we have come up from, with the mines in the grey area just off centre of this picture.
After lunch it's onwards and upwards to Great Sca Fell (no not that one, this is the Other Sca Fell). If you double click, (Sally - we're starting!) you can see the sea, and Criffel in Dumfries and Galloway on the other side of the Solway.
From there it was all down hill, with a leisurely descent back to Fellside.