6 The Northern Echo Thursday, April 16, 2009 7DAYS northernecho.co.uk COUNTRY DIARY WALKS WILIGHT is one of the best times for wildlife watching. Now that the Tlong, light evenings have arrived, Grisedale a country walk after sunset can often Pike deliver some close encounters with By animals that are elusive at other times of the day – like the stoat that crossed Mark Reid my path last night. I’d been out looking for hares, which POINTS OF INTEREST are still engaged in their spectacular HE valley of Coledale cuts spring courtship behaviour at this time deeply into the of year, chasing each other across surrounding fells behind pastures. I was out of luck with the the village of Braithwaite, hare-watching, but on the way home, T a classic example of a skirting the edge of a copse, I noticed glaciated U-shaped valley. At its a movement in the grass about 50 head are the crumbling remains of yards ahead. I stood absolutely still Force Crag Mine, with old spoil and within a few seconds a long, lithe heaps, levels and buildings all shape emerged and bounded towards around. These mines were me. The black tip to its tail confirmed operational until relatively that it was a stoat, not a weasel, and recently, extracting barytes from as I watched, it zig-zagged across the the surrounding hills that was used path, stopping to sniff the ground in the manufacture of paint and occasionally, picking up the scent of glass. These old mine workings rabbits that must have been feeding give a fascinating insight into the there shortly before it arrived. Stoats industrial history of the Lake have an excellent sense of smell, but District. indifferent eyesight and since I was Above the mines rises the well downwind it didn’t detect my impressive Force Crag, with its presence until it was just a few yards slender waterfalls. A track climbs away. Then it stopped, stared at me for up its southern side to reach the a second or two, turned-tail and mountain pass of Coledale Hause bounded back down the path, from where it is a relatively short vanishing back into the copse. The walk to the high-level ridge above whole encounter only lasted about a Hobcarton Crag. This is one of minute. those ‘wow’ moments, with an Stoats are relentless hunters of incredible wall of crags in front of rabbits, which are said to be transfixed you plunging down into the U- in sheer terror by their presence. shaped valley of Hobcarton Gill – During myxomatosis outbreaks stoat make sure you view these crags populations tend to decline, but from the safety of the path as there currently the rabbit population in many are sheer drops. An excellent ridge parts of our region seems to be on the walk now ensues, one of the finest increase so you may well encounter in Lakeland, up onto the summit of one of these ferocious predators, Grisedale Pike. This small rocky especially at dawn or dusk, when summit is a superb viewpoint, with they’re particularly active. (sweeping north through to east and south) the Skiddaw range, As you get to the top of the pass with Grisedale Gill falling steeply Phil Gates 2 away to your left and Coledale to Derwent Water, Cat Bells, Causey (with the col of Coledale Hause WALKFACTS Pike, High Spy, Dale Head, just across to your right) you come your right. The steep section is BIRDWATCH Grasmoor and Hopegill Head all in to a fork in the path (small cairn) – soon over (after about 300 metres), Distance: 11.25 km (7 miles) follow the path to the right down and a clear path leads straight on NTICIPATION levels soar in mid- clear view. The descent is also quite Time: 4 hours a thrill as the path drops steeply into the bottom of the col of along the crest of the ridge (Sleet April, with the bulk of our Coledale Hause (between Sand Hill How) between Grisedale and Steps taken: 15,772 steps A summer visitors due to arrive down along quite a narrow and to the north and Eel Crag to the Coledale to reach a clear fork in the (pedometer) over the coming month. In recent rocky arete that separates south) where you reach another path after a further 700 metres. years, however, this has been tinged Grisedale from Coledale. A Maps: OS Explorer OL4. path junction (at the foot of Sand Follow the clear path heading down increasingly with dread – about what rewarding day amongst Lakeland’s Hill). Take the right-hand path and to the right from the ridge, slanting Start/Parking: Braithwaite village might fail to appear. mountains is now complete. follow it, level at first, then down across the steep hillside (with Refreshments: Pubs and shop at This isn’t some irrational depression gradually rising up across the Coledale falling away to your but a factually-based trend. As I’ve THE WA LK Braithwaite. No facilities en route. south-eastern slopes of Sand Hill to right). After a while, the path turns mentioned before, I’m in the process of From the Royal Oak in the Terrain: A clear track leads reach some fenced-offold mines quite steeply to the right down the entering all my records since 1960 on 1 centre of Braithwaite (with gradually up into Coledale, at the shafts. Follow the path passing grassy slope onto a broad, grassy to the British Trust for Ornithology’s your back to the pub), head left head of which a rough stony track these fenced-offmine shafts, just ridge of land (Kinn) where the path BirdTrack database so I’m reminded along the B5292 Whinlatter Pass climbs steadily up to reach after which the path steepens and levels out. Follow the path straight constantly of massive changes in the road towards Cockermouth and Coledale Hause (mountain pass). leads up to reach the path along on across this broad ridge, then status and distribution of a wide range follow this road up out of the the crest of Hobcarton Crag (cairn) gently rising up across the top of A path then heads gradually up of species over those five decades. village alongside Coledale Beck on across the flanks of Sand Hill to your left. Just after leaving the and an old stone wall interspersed this ridge, with Hospital Plantation In the case of summer visitors, the across to your left and Coledale reach the high-level ridge above number of North-East sites where I village, as the road bends up to the with rusty old fence posts, with the down to your right, to reach a fence Hobcarton Crag (cliffs). This ridge expect to find cuckoo, tree pipit, wood right, take the wide footpath that valley of Hobcarton Gill falling corner on your left. Follow the path is then followed up onto the warbler and spotted flycatcher in the leads up to the left, marked by an away in front of you (warning – straight on alongside this fence on summit of Grisedale Pike, which breeding season is down dramatically. iron bench (signpost Coledale beyond this old wall are sheer cliffs your left gradually dropping down is exposed to the elements with Despite concern nationally about Hause). Follow this path climbing and crags). at first, then more steeply down steep slopes on virtually all sides. redstart and pied flycatcher, I’ve up across the steep hillside, with and passing a plantation on your The path down from this summit continued to encounter them Coledale Beck down to your left Follow the clear path straight left (ignore any paths offto the is initially steep and rocky along a reasonably widely during recent (steep drops to the side of the path) 3on (to the right) alongside the right) down to reach a stile over a fairly narrow ridge, however, the springs – but with their return to join a clear gravel track (miners’ old wall on your left rising up to fence across your path (by a small gradient soon eases and a clear imminent, I wonder whether this year track). Turn left along this track quickly reach the summit of clump of trees). Cross the stile and path leads all the way back down less will be heard of their songs in and follow this for 3km up into Grisedale Pike’s south-western follow the path straight on with the dales woodlands too? Coledale. As you approach the subsidiary top (739 metres). From to Braithwaite. plantation just across to your left Probably several factors influence abandoned Force Crag Mine at the this subsidiary top, carry straight How to get there: Braithwaite lies (Bassenthwaite Lake in the these declines. Of particular head of the valley (sheltering on along the clear ridge-top path just offthe A66 to the west of distance) heading steadily down significance could be problems in their below the impressive outcrops of dropping down at first then Keswick. across the hillside for 400 metres African winter territories and during Force Crag) the track forks – follow straight on along the top of the then, where you reach the steep Warning: This is a strenuous their lengthy migrations from and to the track down to the left to reach a fairly narrow ridge (with the old slope above the Whinlatter Pass mountain walk to the summit of them, perhaps combined with failure to ford/stepping-stones across wall on your left) before climbing Coledale Beck. After the stream, up onto the conical summit of road, follow the path bending sharp Grisedale Pike (791 metres). There produce enough young during our are sheer crags on the northern capricious summers to make up for follow the rough track climbing up Grisedale Pike (791 metres), with right, gradually slanting down side of the ridge above Hobcarton resulting population losses. the hillside ahead then bending up the valley of Hobcarton Gill falling across the hillside to join this road Fortunately, the changes aren't all to the right. The track now climbs away to your left and Coledale to (by its junction with the Force Crag Crag leading to the summit of one-way. For example, considerably steadily up across the hillside, with your right. miners’ track). Turn right down Grisedale Pike – keep to the path more will be seen in our region over the head of Coledale down to your along the road back into across this ridge. The initial the coming months of two summer- right, and leads up passing above As you reach the rocky summit Braithwaite. descent from the summit of visiting raptors – marsh harrier and Coledale Beck (waterfalls) down to 4of Grisedale Pike, carry straight Grisedale Pike is very steep across osprey – than would have been your right (and Force Crag across on across the fairly narrow summit Mark Reid loose rocks down across an possible half a century ago. That's easy to your right) up onto the saddle of ridge for 75 metres then, where the Author of The Inn Way series exposed and fairly narrow ridge. to predict as the number nesting land to the left of Force Crag (you old wall bends sharply away to the innway. co.uk Coledale Beck is crossed via nationally has risen from a tiny handful emerge into a vast bowl of land left (two old rusty fence posts), you stepping-stones, which may be to hundreds, increasing prospects of surrounded by mountains). As you come to a fork in the path (with a NAVIGATION SKILLS WEEKENDS difficult after heavy rain. Coledale migration appearances. reach this saddle of land above the steep slope in front of you dropping Do you want to learn new outdoor Hause may be confusing in mist. Our nearest osprey pair is at waterfalls, the track levels out and down into Grisedale valley) where skills, feel more confident in the OS map and compass essential. Bassenthwaite Lake near Keswick in soon reaches a ford across the you follow the path to the right outdoors, plan your own walks or the Lake District. A special viewpoint is infant Coledale Beck. After the (follow the slightly higher of the learn how to use a compass? Mark ■ While every effort is made to ensure again being run in Dodd Wood so stream, follow the clear path two paths to the right, although Reid now offers weekend that walks are accessible and are people can study the nest through straight on steadily climbing up both lead to the top of the arete) navigation courses in the Yorkshire rights of way, The Northern Echo telescopes from just 400m. More through this mountainous bowl, bearing down to quickly reach the Dales (National Navigation Award cannot guarantee that fields, paths or details: ospreywatch.co.uk and then winding steeply up onto the top of the steep, rocky arete that Scheme bronze level). LIMITED pubs will be open. If you are walking in bbc.co.uk/cumbria col of Coledale Hause (mountain leads (eastwards) down from the AVAILABILITY the countryside, please remember the Country Code. Brian Unwin pass), with the crags and sheer summit (Sleet How ridge). Follow teamwalking.co.uk slopes of Eel Crag to your left. this arete steeply down (take care), northernecho.co.uk/leisure/walks