Stickle Tarn and waterfalls (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Stickle Tarn and waterfalls

10:00am Friday 28th January 2011 in Walks By Ron Freethy

Stickle Tarn and Waterfalls How to get there: From Ambleside follow the A593 in the direction of Coniston to reach Skelwith Bridge. Turn right and follow the Great Langdale road. Close to the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel find a substantial National Trust car park on the right. This is the starting point.

Map: OS Explorer OL6

Car park grid ref: 296 065

Length of walk: 2.5 miles

Introduction: Although this is only a short walk it has very steep areas and visits should be as carefully planned as would be the case for much longer trecks. The initial terrain is a very steep ascent, but obviously the return trip is downhill, but it can be very slippery so care does need to be taken. This sort of terrain, however, is ideal for all of us who love waterfalls and this is the place for naturalists to enjoy the sight and sound of the resident birds prominent among which are dippers and grey wagtails. The areas below waterfalls are ideal habitats for aquatic wildlife because the fast moving waters have oxygen bubbled into them and are also less likely to freeze than is the case with slower moving water. Stickle Tarn is pretty at any time of the year but especially on clear cool days when the views are spectacular.

Route: 1 One of the real joys of this walk is that there are wonderful waterfalls to be seen from the very beginning. From the car park, follow a very rough track leading up and along Stickle Gill beck. The spelling here is interesting because the watercourse is ‘gill’ whereas the hotel is written ‘ghyll.’ 2 Follow the track with waterfalls to the left and Tarn Crag to the right. These rock formations are to say the least impressive and in the summer this is the place to look out for ring ouzels and to listen to the haunting sounds of the skylark and the cuckoo. Those beyond the first flush of youth will find the paved track up Stickle Gill somewhat lung-bursting but there are plenty of chances to stop and pretend to admire the view.

3 Approach Stickle Tarn with the rock formation known as Pavey Ark seen in the distance and slightly to the left of the tarn. I love the old viking name of tarn, which translates as a tear drop. There is a dam across the bank of the tarn and the set of stepping stones prove irrisistible to children of all ages. My black labrador knows this tarn and the route which leads up to it.

Approach Bright Beck which feeds its waters into the tarn with Stickle Gill draining down out of the tear drop. Bear to the right and soon the route turns very much more sharply to the right. This is the Blea Rigg area with rigg being the old name for a rocky ridge. The route now begins to ascend steeply and after reaching the summit, the rest of the stroll is steeply downhill.

4 Continue the descent to reach a walled enclosure which is accurately known as the Horse Intake. Here was an area where horses were kept and were so confined to stop them wandering. Holly trees grow here, close to where Mill Gill is crossed by a bridge made up of flat stone slabs. The holly is truly a winter tree because the red berries add colour to an otherwise drab season. Some holly trees, however, do not bear berries and this is because the two sexes are carried on different trees. Obviously only the female trees have berries.

Pass Millbeck Farm and the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel on the left with Stickle Barn on the right. Return to the starting point after crossing the beck via another stone slab bridge and a wooden footbridge. Both these spans are excellent places from which to watch birdlife along the watercourse. Look out for an impressive yew tree.

The yew is one of the longest living of all trees and some specimens can live for as much as 1,000 years. Being an evergreen the yews can provide shelter and long before churches were built or christianity was thought of, religious gatherings were focussed on these trees. At one time the side branches of the yew were cut to provide the flexible timber from which bows were made. The man who made the bow was called Bowyer, the arrow maker was called Fletcher and the man who fired the weapon was named Archer.

Surnames of people and the place names of England have always been of interest to me and this stroll has provided lots of food for thought.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.