" Whinlatter ~ Seldom Seen " at EveryTrail
 

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With Ian and family in Cumbria and his boys wanting to mountain bike in Whinlatter,

we selected a suitable two car excursion to fit in with taking and collecting them from the mountain bike centre. 

Cycle-wise . . . where Mark and Cory hired their bikes for their two hour outing in the Whinlatter woods.

The ladies settle back for a short wait as Ian and I shuffle the cars between here and the end of the walk.

Having driven back up the hill Ian parks his car and we set off for our walk.

The plan is to amble our way slowly down through the woods and get back in time to meet the boys after their cycle ride.

We follow the Comb Beck down the valley . . . much to the enjoyment of the dogs.

Two small lakes, cleared and refurbished a few years back are looking very natural once again.

A small weir on the stream leads a regulated amount of water into the ponds keeping the water fresh and avoiding the disruption of possible floods.

The lower pond is slightly larger.

The reverse of the previous photo allows a wider view of the water.

Across the pond . . . there's a wooden seat for folk to relax upon.

Ian, Ann, Megan and Nicky.

Walking on, we pass a shelter in the woods used by our friends at Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft

Navigation following the contours of the valley down rather than the map

bringing us down to another bridge over the same stream . . . now sufficiently grown to perhaps be classed as a river.

Ahead the outline of Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man across the other side of the valley.

In the twelve years since we we have lived here the trees have grown and the paths have become more enclosed.

The final section leaves the forest tracks and dives down, following the river again.

We are into the deciduous woodland in the upper reaches of the Thornthwaite Valley.

The area was littered with trees and slurry last time we were here

but the path has been cleared and a wide track reinstated once more.

On a slight mound of soil cast aside after the landslip, the sun casts lovely light and shade.

The dogs seem to be asking "Why am I here ?"  but I told them to pose for "a photo for the viewers" and they seem to understand.

[ By the way, Harry has a small cut on his other paw this time, so a few days in a gortex sock seems a good idea again.]

Another bridge over the river . . . but no-one seems keen to try.

The gate separating the valley of Comb Beck from the valley of Thornthwaite.

From here we are down in civilisation once more . . .

The other 'Seldom Seen' is on the turn of Ullswater leading up towards Sheffield Pike and Hartside.

The end of the walk, down at the Thornthwaite Gallery where we reach the second car and drive back up to meet the boys.

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Whilst waiting at Whinlatter we called in to the Osprey Centre.

They had two CCTV screens showing the Lake District Ospreys and their two new chicks.

The larger of the two is almost ready to fly.  Click here for a link to the Ospreywatch website.

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Home accompanied by Cory and Mark . . . for a late lunch / early afternoon tea,

courtesy of Ann's scones, a pot of tea, a cheese board and Nicky's home made Indian snacks.

Long may this fine weather continue.

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