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.

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I had popped in to see the Silverdale Orchid a day or two previously and was surprised to see how far along it was. I was no big surprise really as everything seems to be a couple of weeks ahead of itself this year with the fine, warm weather. Knowing that the Lady's Slipper Orchids at Gait Barrow are usually ahead of the Silverdale one we decided on this walk which would also include the Nature Reserve at Trowbarrow and Hawes Water.

Route Map

After leaving the car at the RSPB Centre at Leighton Moss a short walk up the road brought us to the fingerpost (l) which is the start point of two footpaths. Ours was the one to the right into the woods.

The path passes through lots of limestone outcrops until it reaches this rather splendid memorial gate and plaque. Unfortunately even this is not safe from those mindless ones who have tried and partly succeeded to bend the bars.

A short distance on and we enter the Trowbarrow Nature Reserve.

A disused quarry it is popular with climbers and walkers.

The Shelter Stone under which the old quarrymen would shelter when blasting was being carried out.

Warning!!

It doesn't look like much can come away from that wall.

I love watching these guys in action but it as never really appealed to me. Didn't mind some scrambling when the joints did as they were told but never climbing.

Think this is a Large White Butterfly.

I saw this caging at the top end of the quarry but there was nothing that I could identify within it.

We left the quarry a bit disappointed. Any orchids that we had seen were very poor probably due to the parched ground.

A Speckled Wood on our way through the woods.

We are now on the lane towards Hawes Water and looking over to Eaves Wood with the top of the disused Middlebarrow Quarry showing.

I'm not sure why this row of houses were built here. I suspect they may have been for the managers of the old quarry.

Edith trying to make friends....

....and succeeding.

We leave the metalled lane...

....to enter Gait Barrows

Hawes Water. It is a lovely spot but difficult to get a good picture for the bushes.

We left Hawes Water to visit Gait Barrow.

The Cowslips are shooting up thick and fast now.

An Orange-Tip butterfly

Bugle

A Green Veined White butterfly.

Walking up through Gait Barrow....

....we come to a splendid area if limestone pavement.

Perhaps because it lays at a good slope it doesn't seem to have weathered as much as that elserwhere.

The cairn on Gait Barrow

We soon came across the clumps of Lady's Slipper Orchids that are part of a regeneration project.

These were the nearest ones to flowering.

We found our return path towards Hawes Water

I decided to return to Hawes Water and walk back along the opposite bank...

.....on the way, in a drinking trough for the cattle I saw this chappie walking on water.

Near Hawes Water we came across some Birds-Eye Primrose

We are at Red Bridge now and the cloud as filled in a bit but it's still fine. All that is left is a short road walk back to the car.

Part of the Silverdale Golf Club.

Crossing the railway lines next to the car park.

I have posted these out of sequence intentionally. We found these two and another (which came out blurred) in an area off the beaten track and obviously not meant for public display.

The Silverdale Orchid.

Regular readers will know that I like to see how the Silverdale Orchid is doing each year and this as been no exception. I have visited it a number of times and have posted pictures both on Facebook and Twitter. Below are a few pictures with the relevant dates on them.

27th April 2011.....I popped in to see how the orchid was doing for the first time and found it to be doing quite well.

3rd May 2011.....I was in the area so again popped in to see how it was doing. There are only two flower heads this year perhaps the dry weather as something to do with this.

13th May 2011...Edith and I had been to Arnside for a coffee and popped in on the way home. I was expecting it to be past its best but it was just right.

13th May 2011.....A close up of the flower.

14th May 2011.... Online Fellwalking Club friends Jill and Nigel Batchelor who were staying in the Lakes contacted me having seen the picture on Facebook. They had been staying in Ambleside for the week and were moving today to Keswick. Jill loves her orchids and we agreed to meet at Arnside from where we drove them to the orchid. I'm not sure how many pictures Jill took but I'm looking forward to seeing them. Jill as a lovely website..... HERE.

Next Walk:      30th April 2011 - South Cumbria - Holme Park Fell & Farleton Knott

Last Walk:       28th April 2011 - Lake District - Tarn Hows and Black Fell

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