GLW1806 : The Red Squirrel

Sunday 23rd September 2018

When you are sat on a bench by the side of the road, admiring the view over to the Lakeland Fells, it is not that unusual for there to be a passer-by.  It is a little more unusual for that passer-by to be a squirrel.  And a rather unexpected thing these days for it to be a red squirrel.  But that is what happened today.  However, that is almost the end of the tale.

The beginning was not that far away.  We were parked by the side of the road having a picnic lunch in the car, as old timers do, enjoying the spectacular panorama that is offered on the back road from Ings to Troutbeck.  

We thought about leaving the car there to start our walk.  Our altruistic motive for moving was to allow others to enjoy the view- there is only a short stretch where you can stop and see the full panorama.  Another, less altruistic, reason was to shorten the amount of road slog we would have to undertake.  Had we not moved the car, we wouldn't have spotted our furry friend.

The objective was to walk along the Dubbs Road to its junction with Longmire Road along which we would return.  Roads, they are called.  Roads as we generally know them they are not.  Dubbs Road is a green lane- i.e. not properly surfaced but open to cars if you are daft enough.  Longmire Road is now a bridle path.

Dubbs Road leads up to the Dubbs Reservoir.  It is a pleasant stroll but no view of the Lakeland hills other than Sour Howes on our right.  The reservoir is now a fishermen's pool, but seemingly accountants are not welcome, hence the Beware Adders sign.

The Dubbs Road climbs gently beyond, the track gets rougher and the splendid view over the Troutbeck Valley starts to open up.  

We were passed by father and son on their mountain bikes.  It brought back memories of Jamie and I having similar outings.  At the turning point- where the Dubbs Road becomes the Garburn Road, father and son were putting more air into their tyres for the descent. Mountain biking has become much more technical.  

The 12 year old lad must go to a good school.  It is the first time I have heard such a youth use the word Schadenfreude!

The visibility was excellent but there were clouds that threatened to provide rain but fortunately it missed us.  There was however a remarkable small but broad rainbow at the top of the Troutbeck Valley, at Threshthwaite Mouth.

The descent was more or less parallel with the ascent but had an unobstructed view over to the Central Fells with a rain shower passing over Coniston.

On reaching Moorhowe Road (a proper one this time) we had a decision to make. Had we taken the shorter route, along the tarmac, we would not have seen the squizzer.  However, I wanted to climb Allen Knott- a small hill that is thought to have been an Iron Age fort.  

There is an interesting article about it at Archeology Data Service.

Its learned author, R. A. C. Lowndes M.A., concluded, in 1963, that:

The natural strength of this hill-top position, the substantial length and thickness of the rampart, and the probable size of the area enclosed, would seem to indicate that this earthwork can be regarded as a fortification, rather than simply as a stock enclosure.

The date of its building continues uncertain. It is surely not a Roman military work; if it was constructed as a defence, this would not have been permitted to the local dwellers during the Roman occupation. It might be post-Roman; it seems at least equally probable to be earlier. There are no relevant parallels in the neighbourhood. Perhaps the most one can say is that there is nothing to contradict its being a small Early Iron Age hill-fort.

I can't argue with that.  It is a fine view point, both scenically and defensively, but there is little obvious evidence for the layman to draw any archeological conclusions.

Our route took us through Far Orrest Farm and on to Near Orrest Farm.  Over the years, the dereliction of the outbuildings has lessened somewhat and the field was not the cowplop quagmire of our last visit.  We emerged onto a tramacadamed road, rounded the farm buildings (much less unimpressive when viewed from here) and then attempted to access the footpath that would lead us back to the car. There was a sign at the stile which said that it was closed due to Sheep Escaping. A substitute route was proffered.

Consequently, we chose instead to continue up the lane to the junction with Moorhow Road.

It was not far to the car.  As I settled into the driver's seat, what should we see running along the wall right in front of us?  Yes- a red squirrel.  

Whether it was the same one, I don't know but it certainly was a red squirrel and it quite made our day.  Another Great Little Walk.

Don, Sunday 23rd September 2018

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