A WANDER IN DOVEDALE

Under taken by Bob, John, George, Brian, Mick and Trevor 9/10/06

Written by Trevor Fuller

 

 

Starting from Sykeside camp site we set off westwards through the camp site and along the track across the field to Hartsop Hall. Crossing Kirkstone Beck as we went, this was in full flow after the heavy overnight rain. At the Hall we turned left through the farmyard to a barn. Once past the barn you can spot the standing stone in the fields to the left thought to be at the site of the old settlement of High Hartsop. From the barn the path follows a wall to your left into Dovedale. The path heads along Dovedale to head for a small stone barn at the point the path bears to the left. From the barn the path heads for a footbridge over Dovedale Beck about 250m ahead. Crossing the footbridge and turning right the path heads up the lower slopes of the Stangs (to your left) beside the beck to the lower of the Dove falls. Once you reach the lower falls there is an excellent spot to stop for a break on the boulders beside the falls. The views back down the vale and across to Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor are very rewarding. The path now heads up through the bracken to the most impressive of the lower falls. From a ledge at the side of the falls we had a good view of the sheer drop to the basin below. Due to the heavy overnight rain these falls were a sheer drop of white water. Continuing up through the bracken the path heads for a rock slab in a clearing in the bracken about 140m ahead. The path now heads up through the bracken again to a wall about 150m ahead. On reaching the wall the path descends to cross the beck. Our intention was to cross the beck at the stepping stone about 25m upstream from the wall. But owing to the heavy overnight rain the water level made this impossible. Following the path beside a fence we carried on up the path around the back of Stangs searching for a place to cross the beck. At the point the fence bends to the left on the crest of a rise we found a place to cross the beck below us. The point we chose to cross was at an island in the beck just below a small waterfall. Once across the beck it was a short climb to the path on the other side of the beck.

 At this point Bob, John, George and Brian chose to head back down while Mick and I carried on up the path. As the path continues it’s climb along the side of Hartsop Above How it crosses the top of a water fall near a small crag and a small tree. From the waterfall the path continues it’s meandering route up the fell side to head for some old ruins on a small ridge top (Thought, once to be a retreat of an ancient religious order). As the path approaches the ruins it crosses below and to the left of the ruins. The path now heads for a steep gully to climb up below the crag face. At the base of the steep climb we stopped for a break on the boulders beside the ruins. The views back down the valley and to the far eastern fells and across to the distant Pennines were magnificent. After our break we set off back down the fell side. Once we crossed the waterfall we spotted Bob, John, George and Brian setting off after their break about 700m ahead. Having spotted us coming down towards them they decided to wait till we reached them. We now continued down the path as one group.                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Following the path we traversed the fell side till we were above the wall crossing the beck. The route now heads for about 300m to a gate in the fence coming down the hill side below Gill Crag. As you approach the gate you have to cross a waterfall and care needs to be taken as the rocks and stones can become very slippery. Once through the gate you have the wall for company to your right as you head into the woods. As we carried on through the trees we spotted Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tits in the trees. Keeping to the path through the woods for about 700m you reach some old lead mine workings and spoil heaps (The mine was last used in the early nineteen forties). Going through a gate below the workings it is roughly 200m to return to the barn in the farm yard of Hartsop Hall. From the hall we retraced our route along the track across the field and camp site and on up to the Brotherswater Inn for a refreshing pint of Cumberland ale.