1st May 2012 Waterfalls , Mines and Wainwrights

1^st May – Waterfalls , Mines and Wainwrights

Moss Force

View down the Newlands valley from Newlands Hause

Cool , overcast day...we decided to get in the car and see if we could find some waterfalls. From the cottage we drove up the Newlands valley up to Newlands Hause, and parked up. As usual in the Lake District there were spectacular views down the valley from here. We walked up the path to Moss Force waterfall and took some pics. From there we drove onto Buttermere and then up the Honnister Pass to the Slate Mine.

Moss Force

Slate Mine Tour

The tour of the mine was great – the guide was Cynthia who is the mother of Mark Wier , a local businessman who had   rescued the closed mine by buying it, renovating it and turned it into a working mine and tourist attraction. Tragically Mark had died last year in a helicopter crash, but Cynthia delivered the tour with great passion and emotion. Predictably I was the only person to smack my helmet on the roof of a tunnel a I was walking through.
The family dogs accompanied us down the mine – a black retriever/ lab, and a golden retriever…lovely dogs. Made me dog broody....still missing Tammy!

 The views down the valley from the mine entrance were stunning. From there I could clearly see the dip of Littledale from Hindscarth to Robinson that I had walked a few months earlier.

Galen Force

From the mine we headed towards Stonethwaite where we parked up and walked down the valley to Galen Force rapids and waterfalls. Everywhere we go we are rewarded with fantastic views and scenery…this was no disappointment. The only problem is that I am running out of adjectives….I need to take up poetry …it would help if I could write poems!!

Galen Force

Knott Rigg – Ard Crags

Crag Hill Range from Knott Rigg

We drove back up the Honnister Pass through Buttermere and parked up again at Newlands Hause. I got out and Anne drove on back to the cottage. It was about 4 PM so I reckoned that I could walk back over the ridge in a couple of hours. Fantastic walk up the slope to Knott Rigg and then along the ridge to Ard Crag. To the right is Robinson, and to the left is the Crag Hill range.  Very windy at times , but managed not to get blown off.  I used walking poles for the first time and found them very useful (I have used a singe pole previously). From the summit of Ard Crag I descended down to the Beck Rigg bend in the road where the beck passes under the road (next to a Grand Designs type house on the corner). Half a mile up the road to the cottage ....and food. Great end to a great day.

Along the ridge from Knott Rigg

Great linear walk….you always need someone (like my lovely wife) to help with these,...or catch a bus at the end.

Newlands Valley from the top of Knott Rigg

About 6 miles in total -  English Lakes OL4