| Walk: | Harry Guard’s Wood, Holme Fell, Hodge Close, Stang End, Colwith Force, Hollin Bank, Low Arnside, Iron Keld Plantation, Tarn Hows and Tom Gill | ||
| Start Point: | Tom Gill car park (pay) | Grid Reference: | SD 322 999 |
| Distance: | 7.8 miles | Ascent: | 1,487 feet |
| Time: | 6.25 hours | ||
| Weather: | Misty and muggy at the start with the clouds lifting early afternoon when the sun made its presence felt | ||
| Comments: | The leader today was a very brave young
lady who volunteered, for the first time, to take her more mature
friends for a walk over the Lakeland Fells. Starting at Tom Gill car
park on the Ambleside to Coniston road the path passed through Yew
Tree Farm to start the longish ascent through Harry Guards Wood and
Uskdale Gap to Holme Fell. Here the “A” party did a short optional
walk to higher ground before rejoining the main group on their
descent to an un-named tarn and a quarry at Hodge Close. At this
time there was a little mist about and it was rather humid. A few
minutes were spent at the quarry whilst a man was watched climbing a
sheer face. Fortunately our new leader did not choose this route but
continued on through the natural beauty of Lakeland along more
suitable paths towards Strang End and on to view Colwith Force.
Shortly after, the group stopped for lunch below Hollin Bank and
gazed on the beautiful scenery as the clouds began to lift revealing
some of the higher and more distant fell tops. The route then
continued upwards again to Iron Keld and Iron Keld Plantation.
(“Keld” is possibly a Scandinavian word for a Spring). Before
descending to Tarn Hows a splinter group climbed to take in the view
from Black Crag. (Very versatile is the new leader!). On
re-grouping, the party then descended towards Tarn Hows (which until
1974 was in Lancashire) and walked clockwise around it to leave it
to follow a watercourse on the south west tip of the tarn. This path
descended quite steeply through a wooded area passing Tom Gill on
the way. (“Gill” can mean: small ravine, a wooded glen or a brook).
Shortly after, the group arrived back at the car park a little tired
but exhilarated by the walk and surroundings. The leader made such a
good job of leading that the group are looking forward to her next
walk. Thank you Deborah! NB. If you are reading this and you lost some keys on the path around Tarn Hows, they were deposited with the Warden there. |
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Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Deborah and her group
A misty and muggy start at Yew Tree Farm
Climbing to Holme Fell through Harry Guards Wood
The 'A' party off to Holme Fell
Deborah leads her group down through Hodge Close and quarries
A hitch hiker
A small un-named tarn
Circumnavigating the tarn
A crossing of the waters
A climber in action at Hodge Close
The site of a former quarry
Not the end of the road for walkers!
Roses around the door at Hodge Close
On the way to Colwith Force
Nearing Colwith Force
Colwith Force
Lunch stop near to Hollins Bank
The clouds begin to lift
Climbing Hollins Bank
Sue, David and Bill catching up
Along the mountain track
Descending to Iron Keld and Tarn Hows
Name these fells
Part of Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows
Local residents
A popular spot on Tarn Hows
Tom Gill