For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

Towards the end of July I received an e_mail from a Polish lady named Ewa Nartowska who is a regular reader of this website. In it she said that she would be visiting Kentmere from the 18th - 28th September and would we like to meet up and have a walk around the Kentmere valley. Of course we were delighted to accept and this is a record of the walk. When we arrived at Kentmere I parked the car near the church and then gave Ewa a call. She walked down from the cottage where she was staying and then we went back there with her for a cup of tea. Ewa said that she would like to walk to the reservoir but as she had a problem with a knee wasn't sure that she could do it from the cottage as she wanted to walk the path up the eastern side of the valley. We therefore took the car and parked it at High Lane near Stile End. The original intention was to walk to the reservoir with a return the same way but as Ewa was feeling fine when we reached the reservoir we decided to return down the western side past Hartrigg. After arriving back at the cottage and another cup of tea we said our farewells and Edith and I returned to the car. A lovely day with a lovely lady......Thank you Ewa.

We arrived at Kentmere around 10am and managed to get the last parking place near the church. I phoned Ewa from the phonebox there and while we were waiting for her I couldn't resist this shot of Kentmere Hall and the Garburn Pass.

When Ewa arrived we walked back to the cottage where she was staying. This was the view from the back garden.

Group picture......kindly taken by a friend of Ewa's

After a chat and a cup of tea we walked back down to the Church to get the car and go to the other side of the valley. The cross which I have never noticed before is on the hiiside near the cottage. I have no idea of it's story.

Kentmere Church.....On the community board inside there were some pictures of Ewa's Uncle & Aunt who lived at Low Bridge Kentmere untill they passed away. This is how Ewa got to know and love the Kentmere valley by visiting them over a number of years.

Looking down towards Low Bridge from the Church.

The plaque in the Churchyard near where a tree was planted by the new owners of Low Bridge in memory of Ewa's Aunt & Uncle. Ewa had lit the candle the previous day.

We are now parked up at High lane on the other side of the valley.

Upper Kentmere.....This is where I started my fellwalking days and a valley that is very dear to me. Those of you who know me from the many walking forums will know my "nickname" of Kidstypike or Kidsty1944 which is my favourite summit and which was always visited as part of an extended Kentmere Horseshoe from here. I wish I still had that many miles in the legs nowadays.

Looking across the valley to Castle Crag with Sallows to the left and the ridge to Yoke on the right.

A short stop at Hallow Bank wile the sheep are brought in.

Overend

From Overend we took the lower, valley bottom path towards Tongue House.

Rainsborrow Crag, Rainsborrow Cove, Ill Bell and Froswick.

Whilst I was taking the previous picture of the tree in the rock there was a roar coming up the valley. I just managed a quick shot before it was gone.

Update......I am told that it is the Eurofighter Typhoon. (Once again thanks to Sheila from Gosforth)

Long abandoned quarries

At this point we have just passed Tongue House and are walking around the end of Tongue Scar

Ewa and Edith deep in conversation as I do my usuall trick and disappear ahead.

The path at this point is right against the River Kent

Approaching Whether Fold and the dam comes into view

Kentmere Reservoir.....The reservoir was built in 1848 after the mill owners on the banks of the River Kent decided they needed a regular and regulated supply of water to drive their water wheels.

Made it.....and the knee is fine!!

Lingmell End with the "nick" of the Nan Bield Pass in centre picture

There was very little water going over the weir.

It had been suggested that a return to the cottage via the reservoir road would be better than retracing our outward path so we mad our way over the footbridge below the weir.

Reservoir Cottage....Owned I believe by the Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council as a youth facility

There were a number of vehicles, some with occupants still in attendance along the road. These were the followers of an hound trail that was going on, on the slopes of Smallthwaite Knott and on Hallow Bank Quarter.

The noise of frenzied hounds was coming from Smallthwaite Knott but we only saw them occassionally.

A brief glimpse of sunshine which unfortunately didn't last.

The farmyard at Hartrigg with yet more vehicles

Hartrigg

Looking across the valley to where the car was.

Sunshine on Scales

Green Quarter

Not far now ladies.

Back to the cottage and a lovely cup of tea and a chat before sying our goodbyes.

Our path back to the car ran round the back of the cottage and down into the valley bottom.

An old Fordson tractor which, like me as seen better days.

Crossing the footbridge over the River Kent from where we walked up first to Low Lane and then to High Lane.

Looking back down to Low Lane as we walk up to the car.

And finally .....back to the car after a very enjoyable day

Ewa's pictures of this walk are HERE

Next Walk:      28th September 2008 -- Lake District -- A tour around Borrowdale

Last Walk:       23rd September 2008 -- Arnside Knott from Arnside

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