Hiley Website

It has been a month of variable weather so I start with a picture of a valley rainbow and rather damp looking Scawgill Bridge.

We've had nice weather too and a walk over at Cogra Moss brings surprise path improvements to light.

Multi coloured Grasmoor on a walk a few days ago.

I also visited Whinlatter and the Aiken Beck Valley to see how the heavy rain had affected Spout Force Waterfall.

The path seems to have developed a rash of printed graffiti.

However I'll live dangerously and pop my head round the corner to see if the signs are relevant to my walk today.

The sound of heavy hauling equipment and crashing timber confirmed that the signs were true.

I think this is as far as we go today !

Clear felling of the mature woodland will really alter this walk in the future.

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I stay for a few minutes to admire the procedure

then leave the guys to continue their work.

In the evening we tucked ourselves away from the weather

and watched some television.

I noticed that the dogs were attracted to the farm programme

which showed sheep being gathered

and the farmer controlling his dogs

with a series of whistles.

If only mine were that well trained !

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However since then it hasn't rained all the time,

and on the Thursday the sun shone and the dogs and I ventured a little further from home.

Driving past Loweswater, the pheasant woodland shape on Carling Knott stands out in the sunshine.

I drove the five miles round to the hamlet of Felldyke and set off up the track to Cogra Moss Reservoir.

Overlooking the lake is Blake Fell . . . but we'll leave that for another day.



The track is maintained for the fishermen and the reservoir vehicles.	Rose Bay Willow Herb is in season.

There's been more tree clearance in the last year.



The woodland on the right has grown back . . .	. . . and with the beech trees to the left they almost forms a tunnel.

Looking across the reservoir wall, the full extent of tree felling is clearer.

The reservoir is no longer used for public water supply but is maintained for leisure walking and fishing.

To that end the National Park is creating a wider and drier path all the way round the lake.

They are upgrading the path here, maybe even to wheelchair accessible standard.



Beyond where the digger has reached . . .	. . . the state of the path is much worse.

Trees on High Hows have been partially felled but not yet cleared.

We reach the fisherman's chairs, but only at the expense of wet shoes !

Fortunately the waterproofing of my favourite trainers is holding out !

Looking across the lake to Knock Murton on the western side.

Ahead is a new, wide forestry track.

	- - - o o o - - - I had chatted to the digger driver and found out the plans but the sign just a little further on formally explains the work and the intentions of the National Park. - - - o o o - - -

" Take care as it is uneven in places " . . . doesn't that apply to normal fell walking ?

The track gives easy access to the back of the lake.

previous felling and re-growth over here is starting to hide the scars of the commercial forestry.

The new road comes to an end at the back of the lake.



It will be used to extract all the commercial timber . . .	. . . some of which has been waiting a while to be removed.

From here the old path continues on around the lake.

It will really open up the area and make walking easier.

Sadly however, due to the timber clearance, it will take a number of years before the area could be classed as "attractive" once again.

The unmade path joins up with the gravel path that was constructed a few years ago.

The plan is to make it this quality all the way around.



The higher track was the route we used last time to avoid the bog.	This track is joined by the path you could use to climb Blake.

The path back to the dam has naturalised well and still provides easy access to all.

The island has a walkway and handrail out to it . . . provided you have waders !

Back round to the dam . . . circular walk completed easily within the hour.

Gravel chippings, presumably to surface the new path.

Time to be heading back . . . past the beech trees and small waterfall.

With the bottom gate securely locked, this top one is now left open.

Back to Felldyke.

The old Water Board pumping station has now been converted to Bunkhouse accommodation for visitors.

A "new" walk today . . . or at least an old one being made into a much more accessible option.

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