" Three People ... Four Stones " at EveryTrail
 

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An afternoon walk for Jo and ourselves as we drive over to Haweswater to visit a slightly new area for the first time, new to Ann and I that is. 

The gentle nature of the walk meant that all four dogs were able to come along on this lovely shorter walk

along the northern flanks of Haweswater.

We start at the top of the map and stay on the right hand side of the lake . . . in the area of the pink label . . . Bampton Common.

Our starting point is the village of Burnbanks . . . look another red phone box.

Did you know that there are about a dozen or more old red phone boxes in the Lakes that have been classified as "Grade two listed buildings".

[ That means that their iconic appearance is protected for the future and any change or disturbance needs planning department consent ]

Burnbanks Village started life as an administrative centre and dormitory village for the workers building the nearby Haweswater reservoir.

After the work was completed (1940's) the Manchester Corporation was persuaded not to demolish the site but to sell the buildings to locals

and thereby create the " new village " of Burnbanks at the foot of the lake.

Parking available by the Coast to Coast signpost . . .	. . . but we head off in the other direction.

Wainwright's Coast to Coast long distance footpath passes through the village after leaving the Haweswater lakeside and heading on towards Shap.

We walk a hundred yards out of the village, back the way we had come, and take a left through a gate onto the open fell.

We would return to the village on the track alongside the lake, thereby walking a very small part of the C2C route later today.

An old barn and a lovely view out over the Bampton area to the east of the village.

All too soon we are walking the narrow paths between the summer bracken but we are gaining height as we go.

Route finding is a bit hit and miss in these conditions as there is little difference between a footpath and a sheep trod.

However, head on up and keep the lake on the left is a good rule .

The map shows an old radio mast on the hillside . . . but all that remains are a few old fence posts and foundations

Harry and Bethan are a temporary additions to the scene.

The undulating nature of the fells is evident here.

The girls appear from below after climbing a short scramble up onto this new ridge.

The radio mast hill is off to left . . . and our view of the reservoir dam is much clearer now.

In between the summits were the inevitable areas of damp ground

and with them comes the wispy cotton grass, characteristic of the summer and far more attractive than that of bracken.

A clear track ahead as we walk around the back of Little Birkhouse Hill.

Difficult to identify from below but this cairn on the ground below me means that the summit opposite

is the object of desire for today . . . Four Stones Hill.

The reason for the name is unclear . . . even after counting all the rock outcrops.

Jo admires the view from the summit .

Even today with slightly dark skies we get a fine view of the high fells at the head of the lake.

With the zoom lens I can see the Haweswater Hotel and the Outlet Tower in greater detail.

The tower marks the start of the water pipeline from Haweswater all the way down to Manchester.

With the bigger lens still on, I catch the view down to a small but perfectly shaped cairn further down the hillside towards the lake.

Below the cairn is the track that we hope to use on our return.

Standing back to get the bigger picture, the cairn is seen below, almost lost in the outline of the trees.

Behind the summit of Four Stones is a small pool which Harry just has to investigate.

One possible reason for the name is the Standing Stones just to the north west of the high ground,

but if that was the case then there should be another pair somewhere.

The reason for the stones is unknown . . . lost in the history of time.

The mystery of Four Stones Hill is that there were originally four standing stones, two of which are, in archaeological terms, recumbent, i.e. lying flat. They lie nearby. The website called The Modern Antiquarian will give a bit of detail for you. I’ve set it to the Four Stones Hill site, but you can search Cumbria in general, which will hopefully give you some more interesting information. Some of the sites are a little esoteric, but just highlight what can missed during a day on the fells.  Happy browsing, and I hope the link is helpful. All the best, Ian Sharples. Hi Ian, thanks for the link, I'll look round should we be there again. A bonus here for anyone venturing that way soon .... RmH [ Photo courtesy of the website. ]

These guys are very much of the present . . . and very colourful too.

A little further down . . . a few more of their mates . . . looking very patriotic in their red, white and blues.

- - - o o o - - -

There now follows a slight vegetation break and a slight miscalculation of route.

There's a deer fence surrounding an area of new woodland and we head for the nearest gate to get through it.

Unfortunately it leads into a seldom walked area with abundant growth of bracken.

Once we met the difficult-to-cross Measand Beck we decided that the best plan of action

was to retreat and walk along the outside of the fence until we reached the footbridge over the river.

A swing-fence designed to keep the deer and sheep out was our means of escape back out onto the open fell.

That's better . . . but then behind us we saw the path that should have brought us down from Four Stones Hill.

Moral of the story . . . ignore the first gate and head for the second one by the bridge.

Following the beck downstream on the right hand side meant we found a reasonable path.

This is one of the optional routes off Kidsty Pike / Low Rise that can bring Coast to Coasters down to the lakeside.

The Measand Beck plunges down to the lake and in so doing cuts a deep little gorge.

On the side of the cliff . . . a fine Rowan tree with yellow berries . . . I have a suspicion that it is "Joseph Rock" variety.

Jo takes life nearer the edge in order to appreciate the gorge and the rich display of heather on the opposite side.

Big picture . . . big gorge . . . nice colours.

" From the perspective of the heather "

Delicate blue harebells and grasses line the path down.

Start of the final cascade down to the lake . . .	. . . the falls often hidden by the thick tree cover.

The plaque is on the track-side above the Ullswater race.	A large tunnel exit and plenty of water flowing.

There's a pipeline through the hill supplying Haweswater with a top-up supply of water from the Ullswater in the next valley over.

The exit weir measuring the flow of water . . .	. . . which cascades down on its way to Manchester.

The gate reminds us we're on the Coast to Coast route.	Come on Jodie . . . last but one through the gate.

The village underwent a major improvement in recent years.

Some of the houses have been renovated . . and others look to be new-build.

Back at the car at the end of the afternoon . . . what a great 3 hour walk . . . and well suited for our oldest dog Jodie.

It was nice to see her out on the fells with us again.

- - - o o o - - -

Mmmm . . . where shall we go now . . . how about a pint and a meal at that nice pub in Askham.

Oh no . . . rush hour in Bampton . . . the pint will have to wait a short time.

Hold your cursor over the picture to appreciate the problem.

Salmon on a Green Thai Curry base (with a prawn mousse topping) . . . courtesy of The Punchbowl in Askham.

That looks nice . . . we'll have three please !