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.

Bank Holiday Monday and where to go? I didn't fancy driving into the heart of the Lakes and the traffic but it was a glorious morning so I suggested Staveley near Kendal. Edith jumped at the idea thinking that a reunion with the dog Jess that came with us on a walk over Reston Scar was possible but our route today was the other way. After leaving the car we walked up to Barley Bridge to take a path, steep in places over Spy Crag and down to Frost Hole. From there it was another climb up to Potter Tarn. A descent past Ghyll Pool to the Potter Fell road followed from where we picked up the Dales Way at Hagg Foot for a return to Staveley. Surprisingly for a Bank Holiday we only met a few walkers along the way.

We left the car at the roadside in Staveley with this view of Reston Scar.

We walked back the short way into the village and took the Kentmere road as far as Barley Bridge. There was vey little water coming down the River Kent as the dry spell continues.

From Barley Bridge we walked but a few short yards along the Potter Fell Road before taking a path on the left which leads up towards Spy Crag.

A perfect day for walking.

A view back towards Reston Scar.

Along the lower Kentmere valley with Black Crag AW's Hugill Fell summit to the left of centre.

As we gain a little height the fells of upper Kentmere come into view. To the left Sallows and Sour Howes, to the right Mardale Ill Bell and Kentmere Pike.

Looking down to Staveley with School Knott and Grandsire in the distance.

I think this would have been Ediths preferred route, the bungalow on the path to Black Crag, home to Jess the wayward collie.

The head of Kentmere opens up.

We are just about the highest point of this leg now. The summit of Spy Crag lays a short way behind us.

It's downhill for a while as we head for Littlewood Farm with Brunt Knott behind.

A look to Piked Howe as we make our way down to Frost Hole.

Frost Hole.

From Frost Hole it was another steady plod up the fellside towards Potter Tarn.

As we gained height the views started to appear

and ahead of us lay Potter Tarn.

A short walk up a grassy knoll to the south of the tarn gave fantastic views into Lakeland.

Looking towards the Crinkles, Bowfell and Langdales. The white building in centre picture is Littlewood Farm.

Looking over Reston Scar to the Coniston Fells.

We then dropped back down to the tarn.

The level of the tarn was reduced by half by reducing the dam wall around 1990. I'm not sure if Croppers Paper Mill still uses the water but if they do they aren't getting much at the moment.

The outfall from Potter Tarn runs down into Ghyll Pool before continuing to Burneside.

From Ghyll Pool we continued down to eventually join up with the Potter Fell Road.

The Conistons and Reston Scar as we desend.

Close up Coniston

On reaching the road we walked back towards Staveley until we reached Hagg Foot....

...where we left the road to take a path over the River Kent to pick up the Dales Way.

The River Kent from Hagg Bridge

It is now just a case of following the Dales Way back to Staveley

And finally.....nearly back to the car.

Next Walk:    4th May 2010 - Local - Heysham Barrows and Village

Last Walk:    2nd May 2010 - Arnside & Silverdale - Warton Crag  

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