Bridgend

The principal “river” in Patterdale between Ullswater and Brotherswater is Goldrill Beck. That’s it there, just right of centre and to the left of the “holiday village” of Hartsop Fold. But compare it to the map, which shows the beck hugging the road, hidden by the trees of low Wood. In the late 18th-century, the beck was canalised, made straighter between embankments in an attempt to drain the fields and make them more productive. The beck became fast flowing with uniform depth and a lack of natural features made them a poor wildlife habitat. And the high embankments actually prevented the fields from draining into the beck and so became boggy and reed-filled. This was done in many of the valleys of the Lake District, but Goldrill Beck also had a particular issue for Goldrill Beck as its canalised route alongside the A592 caused it to continually undercut the road. This was particularly bad during Storm Desmond The National Trust, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, Natural England and Cumbria County Council have undertaken a project to restore Goldrill Beck to a more natural course with features such as gravel bars, riffles, and meanders. The parlance is to re-wiggle the rivers although in the case of Goldrill Beck it seems to be one big loop but at the lower end of the loop the beck is split into multiple channels where it joins Angletarn Beck. The old river channel has been partially filled so that it may act as an overflow pond at times of high rainfall. Ahead, on skyline, are the twin summits of Angletarn Pikes. To the left the deep gash of Dubhow Beck with the cottage of Dubhow and its foot. It’s just occurred to me that the online mapping below will eventually be updated to show the new river system, so for posterity here is a link to the 1920 O.S. Map, Link For sources see my blog Link

The car park at Cow bridge has that essential quality of anywhere I choose to leave a vehicle - it's free. Consequently, it is also likely to be full very early in the morning. Today we won, and this footpath is the one that led us onwards (and eventually upwards) up Dovedale to a traverse of Fairfield (a mountain I seem to have climbed or descended in pretty much every available direction).

The conceptualisation of a footpath being "to" or "from" a location depends on the direction of travel of the person doing the describing. Today we had started at Cow Bridge to ascend Fairfield via Dovedale, so this photo looking back qualifies as a "from" Cow Bridge. Equally, it passes Hartsop Hall before heading upwards and these could have been "to" if looking the other way, whilst Brothers' Water is definitely a "past" whichever direction one is walking.

Hause Gate is the bridleway which enables walkers to stay on the east side of Goldrill Beck, away from the main road. However, whilst the route to the photographer's left continues to Hartsop for both walkers and riders, the continuing path towards Patterdale is for those on foot only, while the bridleway cuts back and crosses the beck via Menneting Bridge. Cyclists or equestrians desperate to reach Patterdale without encountering heavy weekend traffic must turn off a little earlier and make a 230m ascent to Boredale Hause before dropping even more steeply back towards Ullswater. There is also a permissive path heading up-valley to the left on the far side of the bridge, but this is not signposted prominently to attract attention.

Coming off the Place Fell summit ridge. Patterdale and Brothers Water are down below.

The path has come down off Place Fell.

One of several paths which meet on Boredale Hause.

A pass between Patterdale to the left and Boredale to the right. This view looks up towards Place Fell but the summit is hidden behind Round How. The pile of stones in the foreground on the left is all that remains of a former chapel which served the residents of both Patterdale and Boredale.

The higher of two paths which come off Boredale Hause.