Making the most of the Northern Summer

We've had a good couple of (moderately summer-like) excursions for the last two weekends in July, even with the below-average temperatures and generally westerly flow having been in control of our weather since the very short lived heat-blip at the very start at the month.

Helvellyn Summit Cairn.

Last weekend, a large group of my University friends were gathered in the North Lakes, based around the campsite at Burns Farm near Threlkeld. I joined them for a walk on Helvellyn on the Saturday; it turned out to be a good day out in the sunshine. After ascending from the East via Helvellyn Gill, we dropped down Swirral Edge and back up Striding Edge before undertaking the long romp northwards over the rounded hills generally known as the 'Dodd's'. Imogen joined us later in the evening as we all gathered for a meal at the Horse and Farrier in Threlkeld.

How many people can fit in a grouse butt?!

This weekend just gone, we had a gathering of another set of University friends over in the picturesque valley of Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Swaledale is one of my favourite of the Yorkshire Dales; one of the remotest and it has a very rural Yorkshire feel to it. It is a particularly cosy valley to visit in winter, with  proper pubs in every village. A particular highlight is the Swaledale Woollens shop in Muker, where many a fine knitted product can be found. This time, we were staying at the Low Row bunk barn near Reeth. The lighting is operated by a £1 coin meter so we decided that given it was high summer we would economise, and spent Friday evening mostly under atmospheric darkness. On Saturday, we headed out over Reeth Moor to the North of the valley, a rather barren Grouse Moor with a number of long closed lead mines scattered around here and there. More picturesque and interesting however was the valley of Gunnerside Gill, along which we returned to Gunnerside and the River Swale, the National Park of course is best known for its Dales rather than its hills after all. There are a number of interesting 19th century lead mine workings in the upper reaches of Gunnerside Gill, including the Sir Francis Mine and the interesting stone and iron ruins of the Blakethwaite Smelt Mill. The valley displays perfect limestone overlain by grit topography that typifies the Dales. As the Gill opens out into the main valley of the Swale, the footpath leads through lovely deciduous woodland and meadow, where a few orchids were in flower.
Before heading back to the bunkhouse, we called in at the King's Head pub in Gunnerside for some fine refreshment courtesy of the Black Sheep brewery, Masham. They do know how to mak'em good over there.

Gunnerside Gill, displaying extensive surface evidence of former lead mining activities.