Cowling Hill

Yesterday the weather had been pretty miserable, snow fog, damp and dark all day.  Today was a whole lot better. Gail, Monica and I had arranged to meet at 10.30 by Ickornshaw Church for a good Sunday walk.  It didn’t start well.  I arrived to a text from Monica saying they were just by the Church on top street. No sign of them so I rang.  Monica said stay put with you in a minute we’re at the wrong church. Two minutes later they arrived.  I’d found my OS map – Monica had the book and we’d all brought a sandwich to keep us going half way round.  As we walked down past the church we came across some sheep dog trials that were just starting.  Amazing what you see on a walk. 

As we walked along the farm track it gave us a taste of the walk ahead.  Muddy boots already and we’d just got going.  Ickornshaw beck was flowing fast after all the rain we have had lately and the water was beautifully clear. 

As we walked along we passed quite a few dog walkers and an old lime kiln.  It was well preserved how or when it had been used we had no idea as it didn’t seem to be near any houses or even the remains of some.  

We eventually dropped down to a footbridge to bring us onto a road.  Here we turned up and through another stile to drop down stone steps and onto a further road. 

Climbing up here out of the valley bottom we eventually turned left over a stone stile into fields looking across at Cowling Pinnacle at the far end of the field we found a natural seating area and as it was quite warm just here we stopped for a drink and a sandwich.  The view was across to Earls Cragg.

It was pleasant just sitting and chatting – as we did the sheep in the field being nosey started coming towards us baaing to each other at the same time.  Monica said this always happens when she has Walkers crisps – sheep must like them – there’s an idea for an advert.  After our lunch stop we set off again walking down a grassy walled way to a ford and footbridge at the bottom.

Here we were joined by a golden Labrador that was loving just splashing about in the beck.  From here we took the track up the other side of the hill out onto a back road and Cowling Hill.   From here it was just a short walk to go through a farmyard taking a right turn into a field along a muddy wall side track to the far edge of the field.

This was hard work negotiating the least muddy pathway through.  We then dropped down the fieldside through gap stiles to turn left at the bottom on an access drive taking us back onto Gill Lane. 

From here it was a straight walk back to our cars – stopping at a well along the way to clean our muddy boots.  What a great way to spend a Sunday morning.  It was fun a good 5 miles walked.