BB2414 : The Haunted Frightened Trees Revisited

Thursday 2^nd May 2024

Seven years ago, in the January, I wrote about the Haunted, Frightened Trees on Scout Scar.  It now being May and well into spring, I didn’t expect to be repeating that line from Mr Tambourine Man.  But I am.

We set off from Stuart’s house in Underbarrow.  It was a much colder day than forecast, with a strong wind blowing from whichever direction it wanted.  That didn’t stop us having a pleasant wander north along old lanes.....

..... past the unwelcoming Tranthwaite Hall, to then climb west up Gamblesmire Lane with its bluebells.....

..... and onto Cunswick Fell.

There was a debate about the meaning of that strange name, Gamblesmire.  Robin and TV Mike have strong Scandinavian connections.  They concluded that it derived from the word “Gammel” meaning old.  So it’s an old boggy lane, which is how I remembered it.  Fortunately today it was mostly dry.

We had Robin’s and Stuart’s dogs with us- Holly and Maisie.  They proved a magnet for many other hounds, some of which were quite magnificent big beasts.

I had promised Tony a noon lunch stop at the Mushroom and had he not stopped to take so many photos that would have been achieved.  As it was, we were only ten minutes late.  Today, I couldn’t refer to the Mushroom as a shelter.  It didn’t matter which of its four segments you were in, the bitter cold wind knew how to find you.

All around were barren trees.  They looked just like those haunted frightened ones from midwinter seven years ago. 

However it is now May and they ought to be bursting into life.  Sadly they are not.  I’m not very good at identifying trees, especially when they have no leaves, but I was told they are Ash and seemingly suffering the effect of Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus, otherwise known as Ash dieback, a disease that is killing Ash across Europe.

We headed south to the parting place.  Stuart with Tony would return home to the west whilst Robin, TV Mike and I headed east over Helsington Barrow. 

It was good to see the Blackthorn in good bloom, fortunately not affected by any dieback.

We dropped down through fields then to crosss the River Kent. 

At Natland we had a dilemma.  Should we call it a day and let Robin drive home?  Or should we add another two miles to our journey by heading up to the Punchbowl at Barrows Green then back?  Robin solved the dilemma.  He would drive us there, join us for a pint then leave us to walk back home.  Perfect.

We returned to Natland and that was that. 

Nothing else to report other than we had heard what, for me, was the first cuckoo of spring.  It had been at had been a good day out other than for those poor haunted, frightened trees.  Let’s hope they recover.

Don, Thursday 2^nd May 2024

Comitibus:  

      Stuart (+ Maisie), Tony                                                                Don, TV Mike, Robin (+ Holly)

Bonus Pictures From Tony

Map:  OS 1:50k

STATISTICS

BB2414 :  The Haunted Frightened Trees Revisited

Date:

Thursday 3rd May 2024

Features:

Scout Scar

Distance in miles:

Blues 9.4;  Reds  6.4

Height climbed in feet:

Blues 1,249;  Reds  937

GPX track:

BB2414.gpx

Comitibus:

Don, TV Mike, Robin (+ Holly), Stuart (+Maisie), Tony

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