Return to Whittle Wanderer

Jockey Shield, Talkin Tarn, Farlam,Talkin Fell, Hynam Bridge, Cumbria.
 [16.6 km]  Fri 10 Mar 2017
OS Grid ref: NY 55812 55532
Lat/Long: 54.892560, -02.690448

 I drove via the M6 to the start of my walk which is the same point where I started last week. I returned to Jockey Shield and left my car in the long laybye and walked down the hill to Hynam Bridge. At this point I turned left and followed an unsurfaced track which soon split, the right branch heading up through the woods along a stony path.
Path through the woods

Talkin Head terrace

Talkin Church

Talkin Church interior
Talkin Church plan
The overcast weather earlier was even more dismal and I had slight drizzle as I climbed up to the gate where I met a track where I turned left to descend to Talkin Head Farm. On the way down was an ancient ruin on my right and shortly after the bridge I came to tarmac and a long terrace of single storey cottages on the approach to the farm.
Further along the lane I descended into the village of Talkin and stopped to look at the Church on the left. The Church dates from 1842, is listed and the English Heritage Building ID is 78046.
The Reading Room
It is on a slight hill and the pews inside look relatively new. Back on the road and almost opposite is a red sandstone building of the ‘Reading Room’ and a date stone of what looks like 1898. Next is the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel dates 1860 and then further on and on the left is the Blacksmiths Arms Public House. One the grass opposite was a metal cabinet with a label ‘Fibre Broadband is Here’
The old Wesleyan Methodist Church

Blacksmiths Arms
First view of Talkin Tarn
I left Talkin village and headed north west along the lane towards the entrance to Talkin Tarn. It is shown as a Country Park on the map but before I reached the main entrance I saw a footpath sign taking a path across a field to the south shore of the tarn. I left the road here and join the path which is a circular route around the tarn. It was very pleasant and picturesque walking and many other people were out.
Path along the shore of Talkin Tarn
Just before I reached the main buildings I stop briefly by a stone boathouse. The cafe at the main buildings was shut so I continued along the shore to an area in the woods where there were some wooden carvings of hedehogs. The pleasant route continued along the north side of the tarn until I left it at the east end and headed up through fields to Farlam.
Boat House on Talkin Tarn

The old timber framed changing room on stilts is long gone
Here I join the road and set off towards Boon Hill and then up to Dunning Hill where I turn right along the road to a junction that took me south to High Close.
Talkin Tarn Centre

Hedgehogs in the woods at Talkin Tarn
I continued along the road noticing that several sections of dry stone wall had been rebuilt, generally not very well. The lane continue to climb and even though the weather was dull and overcast the view up the valley was very impressive.
Heading up to Whinnyfell

New use for the old quarries
After Whinnyfell I turned right up a track by some old Quarry buildings which are now a residential home. The track continued up into the quarries which are long abandoned and now used for grazing etc. I climbed some rough ground around the edge of the first quarry then re-joined the old quarry track which was very muddy and rough.
Talkin Fell Trig Post

Curricks on Talkin Fell
I continued south but up to my right could see the summit of Talkin Fell which was my next objective. The track was so rough I decided to leave it and head across open fell until I joined the minor path up to Talkin Fell. I continued over the stile and onto the fell summit and its summit Trig Post. There are many curricks making it an extremely interesting summit to walk around. Many humps and ditches sow that it will have been used for quarrying in the past. Although still overcast I did have some nice views to the north and west. I left the summit and returned along the path but took the right branch and headed steeply down to an incredibly wet track across open ground and down to the property called The Greens.
The Greens
 There was nobody around and it was in good condition but the doors and windows were boarded up. The main door had a steel gate across it indicating it was probably only occupied in the summer. The track was only grass and rough and wet in places. I left the house and headed west slightly uphill to join the main track heading west and descending steadily down the fellside. At Holme Gill I reached the gate I’d used on the way up and went through it and down to return to Hynam Bridge. I continued up the hill again to return to Jockey Shield and my car.
Descent to Low Hynam