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.

There's still no signs of any improvement with Edith's bronchitis and with the weather being a bit colder today with a temperature of around 2°C I was in two minds whether to go out in it or not. However as there was no wind and the walk would be easy and local, I left Edith with the television and drove to the Crook O'Lune picnic site. I was surprised to find the car parks all but full but managed to squeeze the car in and do this walk along the river with a return down the cycle track.

Route Map...There is normally plenty of parking spaces at the Crook O'Lune picnic site but at weekends and Bank Holidays it can get quite busy. When you get back from your walk I can recommend the bacon butties at Wallys.

Looking up the Lune valley with Ingleborough in the distance. My walk today would take me along the right hand side of the river with a return along the old trackbed  of the "Little North Western Railway" NWR.

A look over to Caton Moor with its wind farm, all of which are stationary.

From the picnic site I walked down to the old trackbed to cross this old railway bridge and then made my way down to the riverbank. The railway bridge is one of a pair which cross the Crook O'Lune about 250 yards apart. They were designed by Edmund Sharpe and are Grade II Listed Building.

The riverbanks had looked quite muddy from the picnic site but I was surprised to find the ground rock hard.

Approaching the weir and flow measuring station.

There was a bit of melt water coming down the river but not as much as I thought there might be.

Looking towards Clougha Pike and the Bowland hills.

Approaching the footbridge over Artle Beck.

Looking over to the stationary wind farm on Caton Moor. After reading an article in the daily paper over the Christmas period I am beginning to believe that they play little or no part in the energy provision of the UK. I checked when I returned home and found that in the previous 24 hour period Wind Power had provided a measly 1.3% of the countries needs and had been as low as 0.5% in the coldest, quietest period. A Google search says there are currently around 3200 of them at present, goodness knows how many would be needed to provide a significant amount of generation.

The Waterworks Bridge. This carries two pipelines that supply water from Thirlmere in the Lake District to the thirsty folk of Manchester. My original intention had been to cross the bridge and return down the other bank but I wasn't feeling too bad so decided to carry on and return down the old railway line.

I am now approaching the oxbow bend in the river with Ingleborough ahead and Pen y ghent to the right of the tree.

At the bend and from here left to right can be seen Gragareth, Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y ghent.

A look back as I make my way along the bank towards the cycletrack.

Probably my favourite of the day when there was just a touch more light for a short time.

There were lots of geese in the fields as I approached the cycleway.

The old trackbed is a very popular spot and can be followed into Lancaster and then along the riverside to Glasson Dock.

Passing by Ellers Farm.

Station Cottage at Caton.

I'm now back on the old railway bridge looking towards the road bridge. All that remains is a short walk back to the car park....

....where I enjoyed a bacon buttie and a mug of tea before returning home..

Summary....A pleasant and easy walk, probably best in the springtime when the woods on opposite bank to which I walked are rich with the smell of wild garlic. Maybe today was bit on the cold side for my problem lungs as the following day I awoke feeling like I had been 10 rounds with a boxer. My ribcage was hurting like hell probably due to my various bouts of coughing.

Next Walk:     11th January 2011 - Lake District - Scout Scar

Last Walk:    1st January 2011 - South Cumbria - New Years Day on Arnside Knott

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