Cumbria Ways Day 14 - Caldbeck to Pooley Bridge

Distance: 17.2 miles
Ascent: 390m
Weather: hot and sunny
Cows, sheep (inc balwen?), pied wagtail, swallows,  pheasant,  orange tipped and speckled wood butterflies, gyrocopter thing, paragliders.

It was quite warm last night and there were some disturbing sounds coming from another room like a walrus being poked repeatedly with a stick. After putting in earplugs, sleep was achieved.

We were set off by about half past nine, and left the village by the Cumbria Way but then soon turned left down a stony lane. We crossed fields with sheep and cows, interspersed with bits of road walking on quiet lanes. Saw a BT van a couple of times but that was about it.

The sun was shining, and it was hot going up the hills, not something we've been used to at all so far on this holiday.

We had a variety of reactions from the animals, there were cows that ran circling races around us, placid cows that just watched us from afar and cows that stalked us through the hedges. The sheep seemed mostly determined to get up and leave their shady spots as we went by, even though we told them there was no need to move. I felt a bit guilty.

The footpaths we used today are not on any Way or Trail and it was obvious they didn't see much action. The condition of the stiles and signage generally improved during the day, and in some cases over the space of one field. We crossed some stiles that were totally overgrown or broken and others which were shiny and new with place names. We followed the signpost to Heggle Lane but didn't make it there because the footbridge was gone. So went back through the farm and along the lane to the next bridge down.

Being good, we walked back to meet up with our intended route rather than taking a sneaky shortcut,  then walked up a hill through a field, again, it was hot, stopping for a rest and early (ish - for us) picnic on the tiny village green.

We walked through Scale Farm and along Scale Plantation to Cow Snout Wood. Here there were some Swallow Holes. We don't know what they are.

We followed the footpath through the trees, again grateful that it has been dry lately, and then out onto wide grassy meadow with a limestone rocky edge, grass and sheep.

In Berrier,  we passed the Bird Bistro, a shop selling food for wild birds and red squirrels, where pigeons were hanging around.

Had a sit on an ER 1953 commemorative coronation bench while Rob sorted the tape on his foot out. We passed a couple of shut pubs and the shop in Dacre is gone. So no ice-cream for us.

We saw St Marys Well from afar, from Brockhole Hag, and also a hare. By now it was clouding up a little, but still warm. The path went around Dunmallard Hill, rather than over it, which was a relief and then along the River Eamont into Pooley Bridge.  We crossed their very nice temporary bridge and arrived at the Pooley Bridge Inn. We have a balcony.