When I looked in my old hand-written walking diary I was surprised to find that it was nearly 16 years since we had been up Potter Fell. We were last up there when we did the route as described by A.Wainwright in his "Outlying Fells" book. Todays walk although following part of that route was not a "bagging" exercise, it was merely a case of visiting a few old haunts and seeing if things had changed. We decided to leave the car in Stavely as we weren't sure which route back we would take. There are parking places on the back road between Staveley and Bowston but those planning on using it please be aware that it is a single carriage track and as we walked from Staveley to the track to Side House we were surprised to see how much black plastic bumpers, pieces of trim and two wing mirrors there where along the way.

I know, I always start a Staveley walk with a picture of Reston Scar.

The village hall that later today would be the venue for the Wainwright Societies AGM. As we passed it was just being prepared for a coffee morning.

The weir at Barley Bridge.

Walking along the back road Edith made friends with a couple of the locals.

Approaching Side House

Side House

The waterfall at Side House

About 0.25 miles past Side House there is a waymarked route to Potter Tarn. This picture is taken just after we started ascending the route.

The Coniston Fells in the far distance were just cloud topped. The smaller fells in mid picture are Reston Scar and Hugill Fell which I was walking on last Saturday

Potter Tarn

Having walked around Potter Tarn we then took the rising path to Gurnal Dubs. This picture is looking back to Potter Tarn

The delightful Gurnal Dubs.....after 16 years still looking as good as ever

From Gurnal Dubs we decided to make our way across to Ulgraves passing the reedy Middle Taggleshaw tarn

The final climb to Ulgraves

Ulgraves summit cairn overlooking the beautiful Longsleddale valley

The Whinfell Ridge from Ulgraves

The western Howgills from Ulgraves

It was no hardship returning along the way we had come although at the tarns we could walk around the opposite side. Back at Gurnal Dubs.

Looking across to the "island"

Back at Potter Tarn. You can just see the crag drawn in AW's Outlying Fells above the walls

Descending to Frost Hole

You can just see Frost Hole through the trees and the farm track which we would take rising through the field

The bridge across the beck to Frost Hole with one of the many cats keeping guard.

I love seeing these moss and fern covered walls

Looking back to Frost Hole. We had spent 15 minutes chatting to the owners.

Looking over to Brunt Knott

Reston Scar from Staveley Park

The River Kent near Staveley Park

Back to Staveley

Main Street, Staveley. We were parked on the recycling centre.

Next Walk:      22nd January 2008 -- Eaves Wood and Arnside Knott

Last Walk:      16th January 2008 -- Scout Scar from the Underbarrow road

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