On Winterscleugh. 2 January 2015 'Let's go for a new route,' my friend suggested. ' How about the other Borrowdale?' So we parked on the Shap Road and set off toward Huck's Bridge and headed up Breasthigh Road (a BOAT) up onto the ridge.
New Year's Day had seen sharp showers all day. This had to be better. There was sun, a glimmering winter light, gusty winds and hail showers.
New Year's Day had seen sharp showers all day. This had to be better. There was sun, a glimmering winter light, gusty winds and hail showers.
I've often walked south of Borrowdale Beck; the slog up to Ashtead Fell then east along the ridge. And this year I seem to have walked the surrounding fells- Shap and Bretherdale, and a couple of walks on Jeffrey's Mount and Casterton Fell. We enjoyed fresh perspectives in winter weather which is a strong element of story, always. We made swift progress along the ridge, with the wind behind us. In boggy ground, I disturbed a snipe which flew up at my feet. Beyond Roundthwaite Common, we took the path down to Low Borrowdale and listened to the wind in the trees. Now we walked directly into the wind but we were down in the dale so it was less fierce.
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A flock of Swaledale ewes trotted off ahead of us and their colourful rumps and black legs made striking patterns.
In November, we were in Smardale and were attracted not only to the long tails of the Swaledales, but their unusual shape. Narrow near the rump, the tail plumps out like a bottle brush. These Borrowdale ewes showed the same feature. Is that how they grow naturally? The Smardale flock looked like poodles!
Once again, I began to notice that the grass was peppered with the tunnels of field mice, voles, shrews. We had reached a habitat of tussocks, perfect for small mammals. Here the sky grew darker and as I struggled into waterproof trousers against the hail I kept an eye on those little holes tunnelling into the tussocks.
In November, we were in Smardale and were attracted not only to the long tails of the Swaledales, but their unusual shape. Narrow near the rump, the tail plumps out like a bottle brush. These Borrowdale ewes showed the same feature. Is that how they grow naturally? The Smardale flock looked like poodles!
Once again, I began to notice that the grass was peppered with the tunnels of field mice, voles, shrews. We had reached a habitat of tussocks, perfect for small mammals. Here the sky grew darker and as I struggled into waterproof trousers against the hail I kept an eye on those little holes tunnelling into the tussocks.
Looking across tussock habitat, across Borrowdale Beck to the south east and Ashstead Fell
Young trees had been planted north of the beck, still in their plastic sleeves. Native species, they would be. Ashtead Fell has plantations and boggy ground within them.
A bracing day's walk to complete our personal map of the area.
Young trees had been planted north of the beck, still in their plastic sleeves. Native species, they would be. Ashtead Fell has plantations and boggy ground within them.
A bracing day's walk to complete our personal map of the area.
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