Fear not. There are plenty of trees being planted in their place, although I'm told not at the very top of the fell. The plan is to plant more deciduous trees, so I am told, as the pine trees adversely alter the structure of the soil. I hope you enjoy it.
Hello, Eric - we 'tried' to do this walk...actually, we got too 'clever' & use a map on the phone which led us up a rabbit trail to the other side of the top of the hill, to where we should have been - we should have stuck to the path, of course...but it was so tempting... :) However, we did enjoy some lovely views, but not to the south so much. We saw the osprey's nest, from a distance. However, a lovely walk & very peaceful :) Thanks!
Hello Clive and Petra. So glad you enjoyed this one. The Ospreys nest is the bonus, and you certainly came at the right time of year for it. From what you say you appear to have turned right too early, and ended up on the other side of the fell, although I could be wrong about that. The views from Dodd are superb all around, and the last time I was there, which was some time ago now, there was major tree felling taking place which may have resulted in the closure of some of the paths and the re-routing of others. Next time I am able to do so, I may well pop back to check out whether the trails have changed in any way. It seems to me like a good excuse to get back up to the summit! Take care, Atb Eric Worsley
Thank you. It's a walk I always enjoy taking, especially as there is usually some very yummy Lemon Meringue Pie or Pavlova at the Tea Room afterwards. (didn't film that bit!)
We had such an excellent day, walking with you Eric. From the farmlands taking in St Bega's and Mirehouse, culminating in the beautiful walk up Dodd. And thankfully, it was a walk. No hands on rocks needed. Surprise View while mist-laden was still a breathtaking sight. The Sandwiches and hot coffee were imbibed with gusto, while sitting on that very seat. Whetting our throats for the simply superb Pavlova in the Tea Room you mentioned at the beginning of the vid. All in all it was a wonderful day with a Tour Guide who never stopped filling us all with entertaining history of where we were and what we could see. We can't wait to do another walk with you.Brian.
Thank you Brian. It was a lovely day out, one of the best I've had this year. I think the ease of the path is one of the best parts of this walk, it enables ease of access to the fell, and as you found, the views are simply superb. Been enjoying the photos that you took, and I can assure you that the Pavlova is just as good. With regard to your next walk, all I can say is that there is a lot of Lakeland to show you, so I hope you enjoy it as much the next time.
Thank you. My notes tend to be in the form of random jottings and lots of photographs, however, there is a gap in my records as my introduction to digital photography almost 20 years ago did not go well. All was fine until I tried backing up my data, and ended up deleting a whole years worth of pictures. No matter, it was a great excuse to go back and do all the walks again.
I enjoyed this video very much. To cut a long story short as to how I found it, from 1979 to 1980 (the year John died in the accident you mention) I was a classmate of John Lole on the Aeronautics & Astronautics course at Southampton University. I only knew John for the few months between when we started at Southampton in the autumn of 1979 up to the time of the tragic accident in 1980. My memory fails me of the exact month of John's death but I do remember very clearly the day our professor told us all about what had happened and the whole class was so upset even though none of us had had the opportunity to get to know him for too long. I suspect John was that type of chap - affable, outgoing and upbeat to a fault such that even a short time spent with him left a positive long lasting effect on a person. Again thank you for the video. And John - continue to rest in peace, my friend.
Thank you Mark. I am pleased you enjoyed it, and also interested to hear of your association with John Lole. He and Ian Sandelands were clearly well liked for the scout group to place the memorial stone at the top of the fell. I cannot have been an easy project. Your description shows just how well like John Lole was, and the effect that his tragic loss had on those who had met him. So sad that his life was cut short before he could go on to enrich the lives of those who would meet him in later years.
These videos really make me want to get back to the lake district, haven't been there since November last year. Hopefully doing Blencathra next weekend though!
Thank you. Almost perfect weather for doing Blencathra at the moment. Whether it is as a result of lockdown and so therefore less traffic, or just a trick of the light I do not know, but at the moment the clarity of the views on fine days is superb. Enjoy and stay safe.
Thank you David. It was just a shame about the heat haze, as the view of the mountains of South West Scotland are superb on a good day. Hope you get good clear weather when you are here.
Thank you. That first mile is not as hard as it looks. It is uphill all the way, but it is never terribly steep. The first seat is brilliantly positioned, both for the view, and the fact that from there the next quarter of a mile is quite easy going. The last 500 feet are a joy! Having said all that, I walk up to ten miles at least 3 days a week, and always a couple of miles each day, so staying fit is easier than if I was sitting down in an office all day, as I used to.
Yep we enjoyed that one Eric, the story about the monument was very interesting. You can't beat a good old fashioned monument on a hill or mountain, and especially for such a nice reason. It's interesting to see how places have changed since wainwright wrote his books, some of the pathways nowadays are totally eroded or nothing like what he wrote about. Thanks for uploading. Regards James and Kirsteen
Thank you. I couldn't agree more. The original Wainwright Guides are interesting to follow nowadays, as some routes are as accurate as the day they were written, whilst others, like this one, have changed beyond all recognition. Fascinating to cover the ground now and then look back to see how it was 60 odd years ago.
What a superb walk Eric and yes, the view from the seat is amazing, well worth the effort. I took my grandson up Catbells last week, for his first climb, which he loved, so this is definitely on the list for his second. Cheers Alan
Thank you Alan. If he enjoyed Catbells then he'll like this, especially as there is the added bonus of the tea room to visit at the end of the day. The car park is big, but if you want to extend it a bit you can park close to St Bega's church, about half a mile away, which is well worth as look as it is over 1,000 years old and still being used. That first mile is a bit of a slog. 26 degrees the day I filmed it, so the trees were welcome shade, but the views are wonderful. Look forward to seeing any pics you take when you do it. Many thanks, Eric.
Dodd wood has to be one of my favourite woods and bassenthwaite Lake I've stayed at the Calvert Trust centre many a times and gone for walks in Dodd would always recommend this walk when in or around the Keswick area
Thank you Daragh. Dodd Wood is one of my favourite places, especially when the rest of the Lakes is really busy during the high tourist season. I think the region around Bassenthwaite has a wonderful timeless quality that makes it so peaceful and relaxing at any time of year.
I'm exactly a months away from going back here! This might be a walk to go for since we're at Bassenthwaite, La Trigg could also be a good possibility!
Lots of great walks, both high and low, close to Bassenthwaite, and it is a bit quieter there than in the central and southern lakes. Latrigg, Dodd Wood and Castle Crag all cracking walks that are not high or are easy paths. Whatever you choose, have a great time and I hope the weather is good for you.
Lovely video Eric - shame you didn''t get a view of the ospreys to cap it off, but as you say, there's always another day. I am always full of respect that you are able to do the commentary to the camera without any signs of breathing heavily especially on a hot day as this was :) Fantastic. All the best
Thank you Stuart. You are right, it was a hot day, but an off camera ice cream, and plenty of water, helped keep me cool. Plus it was not actually too warm amongst the trees, and there was a nice breeze on the top, so an ideal walk for a day like that. I think to see the Ospreys either a cooler day, or a visit early morning or later in the day would be best. As long as they return next year I think I shall have to make more of an effort to see them, as opposed to just hoping that they appear.
Kenny, I was first asked this question when I was about 16, and have been asked it many times ever since. It also does the rounds on Facebook nowadays. The answer very much depends upon how you define a lake. Is it a lake if the word lake is in it's official name, or is it a lake if it complies with a more general definition, ie: a body of water which has an inlet and an outlet. So by the first criteria Bassenthwaite Lake is the only lake, and very beautiful it is too, however, modern folk would have you believe that there is a body of water called Lake Windermere, despite the 'mere' part of the name meaning 'lake'. However, Windermere is often called Lake Windermere, or coversely Windermere Lake, to differentiate it from the town of the same name, which is actually not directly named after the lake, but the railway station, which was originally named 'Birthwaite', and changed to 'Windermere' very shortly after the line opened when it became apparent that the proposed railway was not going to reach Low Wood Bay, it's original destination. Place names and the like are wonderful, and are constantly evolving. Bassenthwaite is lovely, I was on the other side last week, looking across to Skiddaw. Peace and tranquiity all around.
I'm in Windermere, about a mile and a bit walk from the Lake, just over a mile to the top of Orrest Head, and about 15 mins from my favourite fell of them all, School Knott.
Wow, how nice that must be, Ive never heard of School Knott, you will have to film it sometime and air on here. We are coming back to the U.K. this June sometime, but down in Somerset, maybe once settled I will take a trip up to the Lakes for sure. Thanks for the replying Eric TC and looking forward to watching your latest walking videos ATB Kenny.
