Bigert Mire, Yoadcastle, Devoke Water, Woodend, Crosbythwaite, Cumbria.
[ 14.8 km] Wed 24 Dec 2008

I returned to Bigert Mire to check something I saw last week. It was still dark when I arrived and was just coming light as I set off towards Hole House. I reached the end of the tarmac road at Holehouse Bridge and took the rough track on the left which leads up to Bigertmire Pasture. It was overcast and a bit hazy but very mild for the time of year. To the right I could see the Slate Quarry I’d visited last week but now I was heading for Storthes Gill to check out something I saw in the distance last week.

Just before sunrise.

It looked like an mine entrance but the distance was too great for me to be sure. As the gradient eased the track became very indistinct and then petered out. The map shows a path to a footbridge overt Holehouse Gill but there was no sign of a path and I missed the bridge location so I don’t even know it there was one. I did come to an interesting sheepfold and sheep wash by the river. I crossed the wall into Storthes Gill and tried my best to cross the very wet bog which was virtually swamp in some places.

I emerged onto the drier slopes of Ulpha Fell and when I got to the spot I’d seen I found it was an old stone sheep fold of unusual design. It was the ideal place to stop for a coffee and there was an excellent view down the valley and across to Lowick High Common. Higher up I reached the main, and much drier, path to Yoadcastle. It was much different to last week when I had to find shelter from the wind. Now I sat on the summit with not a breath of wind and distant views all around. It was still overcast and some mist was rolling up from the valley bottoms. Its many years since I visited the area to the north of where I was so I headed to the prominent tall cairn on White Pike to have a look. The mild weather and lack of wind made the walking very pleasant.

View from Yoadcastle.

Devoke Water and the boat house.

I got a very nice view down to Devoke Water and across to Sca Fell. I descended to the waterside via the wonderfully names Stord’s Hill. Just before the stone boathouse at Washfold Point I turned right to find the minor track to Woodend. The farm is very active and lots of sheep and cattle were about but several sets of gates had to be negotiated to get through the yard and join the track past the domestic cottages and on towards the main Birker Fell road. This is where I saw the only person of the day, a woman walking her dogs back to the farm buildings. At the road I wandered aimlessly to Crosbythwaite and took in the impressive surroundings. Just after the farm I took a path to the right which climbs past an ancient enclosure and back over to Holehouse Gill and the car.