Wild Boar Fell

Far from the Madding Crowd (The Lakes in the school holidays), in between the Howgill Fells and the Yorkshire Dales National Park you will find Wild Boar Fell. A quiet area, even in the holiday season and a fell that we can see from home. Two good reasons to head that way today.

 

 

 

We parked at The Thrang and followed the track up towards Deep Gill farm (the track you can see over the road), before cutting across the fields to the left to pass below Hazel Gill farm, under the track of the Settle Carlisle railway and start the climb up onto the Nab. That's the pointy bit at the top of this picture.

Like a scene from the wild west, horses appear on the skyline. That's right where we are heading and we don't have any bows and arrows. Don't panic, it was only a group of girls out for a hack.

Heading for The Nab, Breeze has a cool down. It was perfect fell walking weather

Oops, having managed to extricate herself from a rather thick bit of bog, she then refused to get back in any other water for a while.

Stunning views from The Nab, the Lake District Fells in the distance

Me and My Dad. If you look really closely, you will see a track on the other side of the valley which appears to almost pass through husbands head, from one ear to the other. That's our return route (and it isn't really in his head).

The Standards on Wild Boar Fell. Legend has it that these were originally built to give the impression of soldiers so that any would be attackers thought that there was a big army on the hill

Husband gives a bit of scale to the largest of the seven (plus a new one just starting) standards

From Wild Boar we head to Swarth Fell. You can't tell from here, but the top of Swarth Fell is a mile long

From Swarth Fell, we dropped down to the road and then up the other side of the valley to join the High Way, a track that precedes the road and was at one time frequented by Lady Anne Clifford of nearby Pendragon Castle. On the way we pass this sculpture. 'Water Cut', one of the 10 Eden Benchmark sculptures. I was just about to take a lovely photo of it, with a cracking view beyond as we approached when a woman with two dogs appeared and sat down on it. I grumpily put the camera away, and instead took this crap shot looking back at it after we had passed. The same woman is walking down behind us. In her defence, she had parked next to us and returned to her car shortly after us. She was very friendly,.

A really lovely walk with hardly anyone else about. 10.5 miles and one very tired dog.

A Carrock saunter

With Breeze's feet mended, we fancied a bit of a walk on the spur of the moment, but it needs to be gentle on her pads as they still need to harden. We know the Caldbeck fells like the back of our hands these days, so they were the obvious choice. Mainly grassy and we can just follow our noses.

So we set off over the Rospow hills, one of the first places Breeze ever encountered on her Fell walking career, and headed up the slopes of Carrock Fell

 

 

High Pike seen from the slopes of Carrock

A Spaniel Smile. We headed over Miton Hill and had just decided to make our way over High Pike when the heavens opened, so we changed our minds and made our way down Red Gate lonnin instead. Just to be on the safe side, Breeze wore her boots for the stoney track (not that she spent much time on the track).

She's not keen on having them on, but once on, they don't slow her down

Carrock Beck, below Quaker Hill. Nearly back at the car and the weather is improving (not for long so we had made the right choice!)

Just about 5 miles, but more or less dry and with four paws intact. A nice little walk, even if it was shorter than normal.

The (Complete) Partridge Family

First Signs of Autumn

 

Silloth

Breeze has been suffering with worn out pads again, so she's been on box rest for most of the last week, with just a small amount of exercise in the last couple of days. We are all in need of her getting some quality exercise! Salt water is what we treat her feet with, and she needs to be on a smooth surface until her pads have hardened again, so where better than the seaside? And if you're going to go, then a day like today is the one to pick

 

 

Criffel in Dumfries and Galloway seen across the Solway as we head across the sand dunes from our favourite parking spot

Breeze wastes no time. She's in the sea before you can say wet dog.

She loves the seaside

Did I say she loves the seaside? (spot the tongue)

There's that tongue again, I swear it's too long to fit in her mouth

Did I say she loves the seaside?

I think she likes it here



Do we have to go now?

It's A Wild Life

Just for a change, here's a bit of an update on wildlife in the garden. These first few pics are of little critters, so you might need to double click on the photo to see what's there!

 

 

Bank voles are always here. There are lots of signs of them, but we rarely see them. Back in early July we saw two in one day. This one spent a long time shuffling about on the back lawn after having a drink out of the pond

We've had a really dry time up here, and the level in the pond has been lower than ever. I gave up topping it up as we were nearly out of water in the barrels. So the first few days of August have provided much needed rain. The frogs were hopping for joy when it started.

Camouflage

One of our infrequent visitors at this time of year - Grey Wagtail

The Partridge Family. Mum and Dad have appeared in the last few days accompanied by one teenager and three youngsters

Mum and Dad and two youngsters here (and a Chaffinch)

One parent and one youngster. I have been unable to get all six of them in one picture yet, the are really shy at the moment.

Molly's First Outing

Molly is growing fast, but at only about 7 months old, she is still too young to do any real fell walking. So for a change Jay brought her over to have a walk up Mosedale

 

Not sure about this wet stuff.

Come on Molly - it's great fun in here

I'm the King of  The Castle

Molly looked a bit worried, but she seemed to enjoy herself

And so did Breeze

Stand Still Molly, I'll jump over you

Little Sca Fell and Brae Fell

The plan today was a decent walk in the Uldale Fells. Being anti-social we were keen to avoid other people and it's the time of year that brings a lot of them out on the fells. So Back o' Skiddaw is a good place to go if you don't want to see anyone. So, we parked at Longlands.........

 

 

When I said I didn't want to see anyone, low cloud wasn't quite what I had in mind. Never mind the forecast says it won't last long.



Breeze couldn't care less what the weather is doing

After a while, we decided that it was pointless doing our original route. The weather was not improving and visibility was nearly zero. So when we got to Little Sca Fell, we turned left and headed to Brae Fell (seen here!) and then made our way off the side to join the track we had started on. Navigating by map and compass/GPS as you couldn't see where you were going.

Never mind we desperately need rain and it wasn't cold. Not the most scenic 6.5 miles, but we'd sooner be here in the rain than anywhere else in the sunshine! And of course, no rain fell at home!

Penrith Show

Having been down to visit Mum and Dad for a few (very hot) days, we 'flew' back on Friday as I had been asked to Groom for a friends son at Penrith show. Flying back was a bit of an understatement. We crawled up the M1, then the M18, then the A1, and when we came to another standstill on the A66, diverted via Barnard Castle as we were sick of being in stationary traffic with every Tom, Dick and Harry who had decided that it was officially the first day of the school holidays!!

Anyway, the crap journey was worth it


After pre judging in the driving field, we then drove through Lowther park on the 'Leisure Drive' part of the competition. Then it was into the main ring for the final judging. It was about 30' and I was sweltering in shirt and tie and long trousers. Sam must have been so uncomfortable.

Larky behaved so well, and Sam did a great job keeping up the family tradition.

The lap of honour for 'Team Fawcett' as we leave the ring...................

..................to go and Celebrate.
Sam won his class and won the Overall Driving Championship. At 14 he was the youngest in the driving classes by about two generations. Well done Sam