Route: Duddon Valley
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 4th July 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.0 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Sunny, cloudless and very hot
On yet another hot and sunny day we set off from the North Lakes to the Duddon Valley. The valley is also known as Dunnerdale and stretches 10 miles from fell to sea. It was one of Wordsworth’s favourite places in the Lake District and he dedicated a series of 35 sonnets to the river.
Even though the Duddon Valley is only about 15 miles away as the crow flies, it took us over 1.5 hours to drive there thanks to the high fells between the two, and numerous single track roads in the valley. We eventually arrived at the start of today’s walk – the Forestry Commission car park by Hinning House Close. We walked along the road for a short distance, leaving it to cross over Birks Bridge, which is famous for the deep crystal clear rock pools below it
We followed a path through Dunnerdale Forest, where non-native trees are being felled and gradually replaced with native species. After emerging from the woodland we walked across open countryside, descending to High Wallowbarrow and then to the pretty village of Seathwaite
The return leg along the other side of the valley was an easy affair across beautiful countryside. We arrived back at the valley road and followed this for about 1 mile to the end of the walk. In 3 hours or so we’d only seen a small handful of other walkers – one of the benefits of the inaccessibility of this place
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The day before the walk, a red squirrel in the garden
Looking along the River Duddon from the Forestry Commission car park at the start of today's walk
Birks Bridge
The clear rock pools for which the bridge is well known - much shallower than normal in view of a lack of rain for several weeks
We follow a path uphill towards Birks
Birks
Looking back to the far side of the Duddon Valley after passing through Birks
We follow a track through Dunnerdale Forest
I don't recall seeing heather in bloom so early in the year, presumably on account of weeks of uninterrupted sunshine
Hardknott Forest, which is gradually being converted to a broadleaf forest with the help of Friends of the Lake District and other bodies
We pass through Grassguards
Ruined barn beyond Grassguards
There is some very substantial dry stone walling around here...
The path contours around the lower slopes of Ulpha Fell
Looking back
On Rowantree How...
The start of the descent to the valley floor as we approach Low Stonythwaite
Wallbarrow Crag is on our left as we follow the path downhill...
High Wallowbarrow as we reach the valley floor
A short woodland section before crossing the River Duddon
We cross the river via a bridge with a plaque 'Built by W. Grisenthwaite for A.F & R.A.F. 1934'
Bonnie
A cooling woodland section
We arrive in Seathwaite, and visit Holy Trinity Church, where there is a tribute to 'Wonderful Walker', who was curate here for 66 years as well as being a farm labourer, teacher and doctor
Herdies in the fields beyond Seathwaite
Long House
We follow a path towards Tongue House
Looking back
We pass by an attractive old cottage
Looking across to the Seathwaite Fells
We follow a rocky path across the lower slopes of the fells
Descending to the valley road
We follow the quiet road back to the start
The River Duddon from the car park...
...and a welcome opportunity for Bonnie to cool down in its clear waters
