" Hopebeck Valley and Binsey "

Date & start time: Walks on Tues / Wed 13/14th August 2013.

Location of 1st walk : The Swinside Road, Lorton Valley, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 169 242 )

Places visited : Hopebeck Valley to the sheepfold and back.

Walk details :  2.2 mls, 550 ft of ascent, 1 hour.

Location of 2nd walk: Binsey Lodge, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 235 350 )

Places visited : Binsey and West Crag.

Walk details :   2.2 mls, 750 ft of ascent, 1 hours  30 mins.

Walked with : Jo, Ann and the dogs, Jodie, Amber, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Summer sunshine and a warm breeze both days.

 

A combination of two walks, both undertaken during the recent sunny spell.

Hopegill gives the dogs chance to roam free and enjoy a swim.

Binsey swaps the swims for extensive views of Bassenthwaite, the central fells and views north toward Scotland.

Start point of one of our favourite valley walks . . . alongside the Hopegill Beck, just a couple of miles from home.

Bracken abounds but fortunately only on the first part of the walk.

Great views towards the head of the valley.	The shapely Dodd on the side of Whiteside.

At the top of the valley are the slabs leading to the summit of Hopegill Head

Our girl and boy enjoying a refreshing dip.

This walk is a delight for the dogs as it has a lovely beck running the whole length of the valley.

Bracken is now replaced by heather and bilberries

as we take the curving path up into the top part of the Hopegill valley.

The heather has passed its best, but still gives a purple haze in the valley.

Seen here in close up, the recent heat of summer has caused it to die back a little.

In on the act . . .

" The hills are alive with the sound of music "

A carpet of bilberry plants, but still a while to go before the chance of a good feast !

Views across the Solway towards Scotland . . . Harry waits for a stick in order to chase and retrieve it.

The Lorton valley with hills of Galloway in the far distance.	Bethan . . . enjoying a good afternoon walk today.

The 'Home Guard' at our front fence.

Waiting to greet passers-by is one of Bethan's favourite occupations.

- - - o o o - - -

Next day we meet Jo and her dogs at the parking spot near Binsey Lodge.

Jo and myself setting off for a pleasant midday walk on Binsey.

Views across Bassenthwaite Lake towards the NW fells.

In the opposite direction, Overwater and the fells Back o'Skidda.

The summit cairn on Binsey, Dash falls just about visible in the slight haze, with the slopes of the Skiddaw massif to the right.

Amber and Jodie both enjoying their walk up here.

Jo's photo of us at the summit trig.

Just enjoying the view . . .

At West Crag there's a gentle breeze.

Less of a bad hair / flappy-ear day if you sit down Harry !

Togetherness.

On our way back down after an enjoyable circular walk around this most northerly of the Wainwright fells.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . the sunshine and summer colours of August in the Lakes.

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Previous walk - 11th August 2013 - Loweswater - over the Rainbow

A previous time up here - 22nd September 2012 Hopegill Head via the Slabs

Next event - 17th August 2013 - Ed and Susan's Wedding