Route: Brothers Water
Area: North Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 8th May 2014
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.2 miles
Weather: Overcast with a few spots of rain
After our enjoyable walk to Dalemain yesteday we decided to return to the north east lakes. We were keen to get up in the fells but once again low cloud was hanging around and rain was forecast, so we decided to stay low – with no reluctance when the countryside is as stunning as this
We parked at Cow Bridge car park and followed the beck for a short distance before reaching the shore of Brothers Water. This may be regarded as one of the district’s smallest lakes or one of its largest tarns, according to your preference. However you define it, it’s beautiful
We walked as far as Hartsop Hall before heading over to the other side of the valley and walking into the picture postcard village of Hartsop. The path to Hartsop is alongside the A592, and we weren’t looking forward to this section. As it turned out, the road can’t be seen from the path and you’d hardly know it was there so this didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the walk at all
After leaving Hartsop the path climbed up the fellside giving us great views back to Brothers Water and the surrounding fells. This was a delightful part of the walk. The return leg back to the start was across fields and through woodland. It was a fantastic round
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Close up of a red squirrel in the garden before we set off this morning
Cow Bridge from our parking space
From the car park we take the path beside Goldrill Beck
We soon reach Brothers Water and follow the easy track along the shore
Bonnie
Looking back along Brothers Water to Brock Crags and Angletarn Pikes
And now looking ahead to Hartsop Dodd and High Hartsop Dodd
Approaching Hartsop Hall
Hartsop Hall, which dates from the 16th century
Just before the valley head, we cross to the other side over fields
High Hartsop Dodd
Looking across to Brothers Water
We cross Kirkstone Beck
Kirkstone Beck
The path by the A592 which is above and out of sight
Down on the other shore of Brothers Water
We arrive in Hartsop, at the foot of Hartsop Dodd
Looking over Hartsop to Brothers Water
A view back to Hartsop and Hartsop Dodd
A good place to enjoy the flapjack we’d brought with us
A glimpse of Ullswater in the distance
Outdoor learning with the Outward Bound Trust
They were scrambling up Angletarn Beck
A brief ray of sunshine looking towards Cow Bridge
Brothers Water again
Looking back to Angletarn Beck and Hartsop Dodd
We turn sharp left here to return to the far side of the valley
Gilly is exhausted by now (to tell the truth it’s a mountain rescue training dummy)
Looking into Deepdale
We learned from someone we met a little earlier that these lambs were about 20 minutes old - or young
We walk into Low Wood and this path takes us back to the start
