Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: October 2020

A Damp Thirlmere

Photos from a quick trip down the A66 with the camera once the rain had eased off. The footpaths everywhere were soggy and, not for the first time recently, I ended up with wet feet but I was treated to even more of Lakeland's incredible autumn colours as compensation. This year they seem to have been particularly good, the ones in and around the valve house and overspill area of the reservoir being really spectacular. It would have been nice to have better light but I'm afraid you get what you get at this time of year.

Just to be out in the midst of such beauty, whatever the weather was ample reward.

Legburthwaite

St John's Beck

River Lowther from Askham Bridge

Taking Cover

Contoneaster

St John's Beck

Legburthwaite

Steel Fell

Steel Felln

Steel End

Wythburn

Thirlmere Shoreline Path

Thirlmere Shoreline

Raven Crag

Thirlmere

Autumn Colours

Thirlmere Dam Road

Raven Crag

Thirlmere Shoreline Path

An Autumnal River Lowther

Took these photos on my way up to The Lakes where I was having a catch up with my mate Dave whilst I still can. Covid-19 is rife at the moment in Bradford so I fear that Tier 3 is imminent for the whole of West Yorkshire. This could be the last time I see the Lakes for quite a while.

The autumn colours around these parts were simply fabulous, especially along the banks of the River Lowther. These days the River Lowther originates from the reservoir at Wet Sleddale but in bygone times it would have started on the wet slopes of the Shap Fells and be known as Sleddale Beck. Wet Sleddale is derived from Old Norse 'sletta dalr' which means valley with the flat land, the Wet part speaks for itself! It joins the River Eamont near Brougham and then flows in to the River Eden and out to sea on The Solway Firth.

Askham is a very pretty little village, especially in spring when the village green is awash with daffodils. It is also home to the excellent Punchbowl Inn. As with most things in these parts, it has connections with the Lowther Family who own Askham Hall where the 7th Earl of Lonsdale currently resides.

I didn't spend too long here as I needed to get to the caravan, get the heating on and warm the place up but my stop whetted my appetite for the coming weekend.

River Lowther

Gone to seed

Woodland Colours

Askham Bridge

River Lowther from Askham Bridge

Afternoon Stroll

Gold Leaf

Goit Stock Wood and Waterfall

This little gem is on my doorstep and I’m embarrassed to say that this was only the second time I had visited, the first time being about five years ago when Sal introduced me to the area. What has put me off in recent times is it’s sudden popularity, it seems to have grown enormously since lock-down was eased. However a rainy midweek, October morning was never going to be busy and I only saw a handful of people the entire time I was there.

The autumn colours were just beginning to appear but I reckon I was a week or two too early to see them at their best. However the water flow in Harden Beck and over the falls was just about perfect for photography so that more than compensated. The beck and surrounding woods are very enclosed which makes it easy to see why the locals have always know it as The Hidden Valley. It has also been designated an SEGI (Site of Ecological and Geological Importance) by Bradford Council.

During Bradford’s industrial past, there were six mills on Harden Beck; (from upstream down) Hewenden Mill, Bents Mill, Hallas Bridge Mill, Goit Stock Mill, Harden Bridge Mill and Beckfoot Mill. Hewenden, Bents and Beckfoot mills have all since been converted into private accommodation buildings. Hallas Bridge Mill was destroyed by fire. Goit Stock Mill was later utilised as a café and ballroom but it too burnt down (in 1927) with no reports of casualties. Its chimney and flue still exist, with the chimney being built on the northern ridge to aid the dispersal of smoke from the narrow valley. Harden Bridge Mill is still in private use as a printers. As you walk along the narrow wooded valley it is easy to imagine how the place must have been in those times.

With the falls being situated in the botton of an enclosed ravine, they tend to ice over during very cold spells, hopefully that will happen this coming winter. If they do, I'll be there to capture them!