Sunday, 16th May 2010

 

Walk: Dunsop Bridge, Closes Barn, Langden Intake, Langden Castle, Bleadale Water, Totridge Fell, Hareden Farm, Closes Barn
Start Point: Dunsop Bridge car park Grid Ref: SD 661 501
Distance: 11.6 miles Ascent: 2,100 feet
Weather: Misty rain at the start but soon cleared to a dry but overcast day
Accompanied by:

On my own

Comments: After navigating around Closes Barn, a short stretch along the road brought me to the entrance to Hareden Farm. Here the route crossed Langden Beck an went through pasture land with some quite a mixed group of sheep. They were also very watchful and as I crossed another bridge I realised that a number of their lambs were on the opposite side of the stream. Leaving the various families behind, I walked alongside the brook to Langden intake. A wide track took me up Langden valley to the Castle - a ruin of unknown origin. The path then forked off to follow Bleadale Water onto the fells tops. Before long I was walking through a section of peat hags but as the ground was firm underfoot I quickly made my way on to Totridge Fell. Investigating one steep descent I found a pleasant sheltered spot for lunch, enjoying quite an extensive view. I then backtracked to pick up a path the descended more gradually until it passed through Hareden Farm. It was then a matter of retracing my steps along the road and past Closes Farm, to take a short break on the village green before exploring the post box - situated in the dead centre of Great britain and 401 associated islands, also being the 100,000th public payphone.

 

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

This family group seems to be very inquisitive . . .

 

and follow me . . . 

 

across the bridge (where more of their lambs are waiting)

 

Langden Castle - at least the windows remind you of a caslte!

 

Looking back down Bleadale Water . . .

 

Grouse butts are found at the tops of the track

 

Heading through a section . . .

 

of peat hags on the way to . . .

 

Totridge Fell

 

One route of descent looks over the River Hodder to Birkett Fell . . . 

 

and across the flank of Totridge Fell to Staple Oak fell

 

Langden Brook

 

The War Memorial in Dunsop Bridge . . .

 

and the bridge over the River Hodder . . .

 

adjoins the village green where the ducks are taking an afternoon nap

 

The 100,000th public payphone to be installed by BT . . .

 

in the exact centre of Great Britain and 401 associated islands

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