The Eden Valley - longer views

To many people the Eden Valley is small roads, high hedges, lots of woods and forests. But every so often if you are walking or maybe cycling so that you don't rush past you get the opportunity to see these lovely long views.This picture was taken coming down into Armathwaite from Coombs Woods.It is looking towards Ainstable and then up to the Pennines.

Christianbury Crags

Christianbury crags are north of Penton and towards the border with Scotland.This is a remote wild part of Cumbria with deep bogs, large conifer plantations and very very few people.

It's a completely different landscape to the more intimate beauty of the Eden Valley but none the less

perhaps redolent of a more primitive time before even the border reivers were here.

Hive of industry to peaceful countryside

This is a walk through peaceful countryside just a few miles north of Great Salkeld, which you may now find it hard to believe was once a busy mining area and a village supporting the industry's needs. The walk is 3 1/2 miles and should take you between 2 to 3 hours.

No refreshment stop on this walk I’m afraid, but it’s such a peaceful ramble that it is well worth the effort to carry the flask and make your own stops.

Park the car at "Five Road Ends" grid reference NY 607423 (can't remember if there is a sign post!!) so with your back to the road leading to Busk set off along the metaled road to your right. You will soon see the village of Renwick in front of you before dropping down a steep hill to Ravenbridge Mill and of course Raven Beck which would once power the mill. Turn left at the junction crossing the beck, shortly after there is a footpath sign which directs you over 2 fields to Renwick, follow the arrows.

Once in Renwick take note of the buildings, but follow straight through until you come to the Methodist Chapel, with clock. Turn right here, up the road signed Outhwaite but as you climb the hill reflect on the fact that this peaceful village, you have just pssed through, was once a hive of mining activity – coal was the product, and the production was such that the village had a Coaching inn as well as a number of pubs and blacksmiths to service the horse drawn transport. All this gradually drew to a halt as better and cheaper coal was able to be brought in to the area with the opening of the railway in about 1880.

Peaceful though the church, in Renwick, on your left may now be, legend has it that in 1733 the church was in a poor state of repair, so the villagers club together to offer their skills and make the necessary repairs. Suddenly whilst rebuilding they were frightened by a monster, which had the body of a cockerel and the tail of a dragon, it flew up from the ruins. The Cockatice scattered the villagers except one, John Tallentire, who armed himself with a Rowan bough (Google Rowan tree and you find many fascinating facts) known to ward off devilry and witchcraft. John was able to destroy the beast and for his services to the village was granted ownership of his cottage and he and his descendants were exempt from tithes.

Walk on up the hill passing the road to Outhwaite a small display board describes the area further up the hill “The North Pennines”, we took a style about 100yds further on to our right, then walked across the fields to Outhwaite, through the farmyard, then following the footpath signs we eventually came to the small river where, the river bank affords an ideal location for lightening the flask and biscuit box, just before crossing the bridge.

Comfortably refreshed the longest uphill part of the walk takes us to Haresceugh Castle Farm and joins the road from Renwick to Hartside the summit of the A686. As you join the road turn left and follow the road for about a mile until you come to a lane on your right. Take your time up this road as on a good day there are excellent views over the Eden Valley to the Lakeland Fells. Blencathra with it's saddle ridge can be clearly picked out, Helvelyn and Sheffield Pike in the Ullswater Valley, round to the ridges of south eastern Lake District.
Selah Bridge just beyond the point from where we make a descent along a lovely old lane down to join the Gambelsby to Renwick road and the starting point. If it weren’t for the cars descending the A686 behind us, you could perhaps envisage yourself in rural England 150 years ago.

Crosby Ravensworth and the Eden Valley

Crosby Ravensworth lies at the start of the Eden Valley proper. It's a remote village with a small green, stream and its surrounded by lovely limestone fells. There are wonderful views to the west when you climb the hills ( not a difficult walk).

Tourists rarely find there way over here and the most excitement you will see is often the local farmer rounding up his sheep.

However there was once a large hall here...and a murder.Best that we quote directly..

" In 1286 John le Frauncey and Robert de Appleby killed Nicholas de Hastings in the ditch outside the gate of Crosby Ravensworth Hall".

We have no record of what the dispute was or what punishment was meted out to the killers.

But it offers a small glimpse back into a more violent time.

The Hall itself was purchased by Sir John Lowther and repaired by his son in law back in 1682.

Nowadays it is mostly demolished.

Kirkoswald Castle

Just across the river Eden from Great Salkeld is the charming village of Kirkoswald.

What many people, even locals, don't always appreciate is that the village has a castle!

Well the remains of one anyway.

So what is the history here?

Well

1. Look to the west of church where there is a large double ditch enclosure in the middle of which is a platform, 50m by 20m within a ditch up to 8 m wide.
2. There was reputed to have been a large wooden tower here.
3. The licence to crenalate was given in 1201 to Hugh de Morville ( just one before he died).
4. The house was said to have then been burnt by the Scots in 1314.
5. Lord Dacre then took possession and substantial stone buildings were erected.
6. However their lands were forfeited for rebellion in 1569 and in the early 17th century the stones were plundered by Lord William Howard for the building of Naworth Castle.
7. By 1688 it was mainly a heap of stones and some ruined towers.

Cumbria - in Scotland or England?

This little piece of history often amuses our guests and might one day be a trivial pursuit question.

Back in 1136 King Stephen of England was forced to cede Cumbria to David 1st of Scotland. However far from heralding an influx of Scots the existing Norman lords were allowed to remain as long as they acknowledged their new over lord.

But all this changed in 1154 when a stronger King sat on the English throne, Henry II, and Scotland was no longer in a strong position under King Malcolm. This led to Cumbria returning to England in 1157.

So you see Cumbria ( or Cumberland as it then was) was the county which moved!

Lonnin Head Dub,Drovers and the new playing field

There is a tremendous buzz in Great Salkeld at the moment, the Spring has been warm and dry and now summer is here, blue skies abound. All this good weather has brought all ages of villagers into the newly created Playing Field and has created a great feeling of village fellowship. In fact I would go so far as to say “ the new playing field has been the biggest boon to the village since the school opened in 1821"

Great Salkeld has been a great resting place for travellers for hundreds of years, however many of the earlier travellers were drovers moving cattle, sheep and also geese around the county and country even. The roads leading to and from Great Salkeld feature wide verges and these, allowed the animals somewhere to graze and rest whilst on their journey. Of course the local farmers used them to take cattle to the markets, such as at Lazonby or Penrith.

Cattle were brought in from Ireland via Silloth Docks and once a rail link was established for Silloth they were moved by train. I remember my father and uncle buying Irish Cattle to fatten at Cockermouth, sold in lots of 15 as this was the number that would fit in a train wagon. Other long distant droving routes no doubt ran through the Eden Valley as well, as Drovers moved cattle from Scotland to London and other cities.



Geese were also brought over from Ireland in large flocks and then sold as the drovers passed through the various towns and villages. The geese would be fattened ready for Christmas. To stop the geese having sore feet they were driven through hot tar which stuck to their feet, then sand which stuck to the tar, creating a protection for the feet of the geese.


Cumbrian author Irvine Hunt has written “The Drovers’ Boy” a book about Geese Drovers. This is a book that will appeal to all ages as well as those who enjoy reading aloud to children. It is in paperback and can be obtained from local bookshops in Penrith.


Part of the Millenium Project undertaken in Great Salkeld was to clear the Lonnin Head Dub as a wild-life area to protect the habitat of the resident and rare Great Crested Newt. Lonnin means Lane and Dub means a small pond.

The Dub was used by the drovers to water their cattle. The Dub is about a half mile walk from Wetheral Cottages and is part of a short walk that can be taken, around the lanes and side-roads around Great Salkeld.