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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It is not too often nowadays that I have a route planned the evening before a walk. I may have an area in mind but the walk itself depends on how I feel on the morning of the walk. On this occasion I had planned a walk taking in the Outlying Fell of Great Burney as it seemed a while since we last visited. However when I awoke I had a sharp stabbing pain under my left shoulder blade. I have had this before and it is normally a slight muscle tear usually caused by morning coughing due to the problems with my lungs. Hoping that it wouldn't bother me too much we set off and I parked up near Great Burney for the walk. However after a few short steps I knew that to carry on would be foolish. As my breathing got heavier the pain intensified and spread under my armpit. The walk therefore was abandoned but not wishing to waste all the travelling I suggested to Edith that we carry on to Haverigg for this walk. I didn't have a map of the area but it is basically a case of just following the lagoon round.

Route Map

A better view today of the Conistons from near Lowick.

After abandoning the walk up Great Burney before it had even started we drove round to Haverigg on the Duddon Estuary. It is many years since we were last here and I parked the car on the roadside near Haverigg Pool before I realised there was a car park with cafe and toilet facilities a stones throw away.

This is the bit we walked last time, a section of the Cumbria Coastal Way from Bootle.

Haverigg Pool. Our route would take us over the bridge.

Looking along Haverigg Pool from the bridge with the sands of the Duddon estuary in the distance.

Black Combe.

We are now walking along what is known as the Outer Barrier looking towards where we left the car. The Outer Barrier is the containment for the Hodbarrow Nature Reserve which was the site of a large iron ore mining operation between 1855 and 1967. The reserve includes a lagoon and the surrounding scrub and grasslands. Its varied habitats, through which paths lead, provide homes for many types of wildlife.

Inside the barrier is Hodbarrow Lake. I think the small section nearest to us is for the use of the Port Haverigg Holiday Village to the left through which our return will be made. The narrow spit separating it from the rest of the lagoon is relatively new.

There were quite a number of Bee Orchids in the grassland.

A look back along the Outer Barrier towards Black Combe. The barrier along this length is about 180feet wide. If I have researched this correctly and I do try to post the correct information, the barrier was built to protect the iron ore mines from flooding. When mining ceased the area within the barrier was allowed to flood giving us this wonderful enviroment. The barriers were built in 3 stages and are part sea defence and part earth dam. For those wanting to know a little more there is quite an interesting article HERE

Looking across the Nature Reserve.

The seaward section of the barrier as been further protected with huge concrete blocks to protect it from the storms surging into the Duddon Estuary on the predominantly SW winds.

Distant Wind Farms.

Looking over to Barrow-In-Furness and Walney Island. The large building in centre picture is the Devonshire Dock where the Nuclear Submarines are built.

Looking over to Black Combe

When the Board of Trade gave there consent for the Hodbarrow Mining Company to build the Outer Barrier they also stipulated that they should build a lighthouse on the outer curve of the Barrier. The  Lighthouse was opened in 1905 and was in operation until 1949. It fell into a state of disrepair until in 2003 it was renovated .Funds were raised by Haverigg School and the Heritage Lottery fund donated £20,000. It has been adopted as Haverigg Primary School's logo and the pupils have been appointed honorary lighthouse keepers......If Jean Marsh, one of my Facebook friends is reading this I hope I have got it right!!

Looking across the lagoon from near the RSPB hide.

Looking across the Duddon to Askam and the Pier.

I think this place will come into life during the winter months but it is a pleasant walk at any time. The wall running from right to left is I believe a section of an old sea-wall.

Our path continues ahead towards Hodbarrow Point.

A look back from near Hodbarrow Point.

Even the small climb up the the ruins of the old windmill was painful. The windmill was here before mining began here and I believe was in a similar state way back in 1850. I believe it is called the Towsey Hole windmill.

Close to the old windmill a trig point at the princely height of around 55'

Looking back along the barrier.

Northwards to Black Combe.

And to Lakelands highest fells.

And across the Duddon estuary.

The now flooded Hodbarrow Quarry which provided limestone blocks for the Outer Barrier.

A look over to Lakelands finest as we continue.

Hodbarrow Quarry again but from the other end.

Hodbarrow Beacon....it was built in 1866 to guide ships into the mouth of the Duddon estuary and safely past Hodbarrow Point to the company's pier at Millom, but was replaced by the new lighthouse on the Outer Barrier in 1905.

We are now making our way around the northern end of the lagoon.

Passing what appears to be the remains of a wooded area.

There were masses of wild raspberries along this length but not yet quite ready.

Looking over to Millom.

Our route then took us through the holiday village back into Haverigg....

.....where we spent a short while enjoying watching the young ones at their school sports day.

And finally....back over Haverigg Pool to visit the cafe at the car park.

Next Walk:      27th June 2011 - Local - Heysham to Morecambe

Last Walk:       22nd June 2011 - South Cumbria - Duddon Estuary memories...42 years on.

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