BB1412 : The Dam Busters March

Wednesday 2nd April 2014

There we were in the car making our way to Hartsop when Tony mentioned that Hayeswater, which we would shortly be visiting, was to be decommissioned as a reservoir, its dam dismantled and it would then revert to its original state, a natural Lakeland tarn.

Having parked at Hartsop, we saw confirmation.  The was a planning application notice with a proposal for the "Construction of a temporary construction compound to support works to discontinue Hayeswater Impounding Reservoir".  I am not sure exactly what this means other than it makes it pretty clear that Hayeswater as we know it is under threat.

Off we set up the valley, above Hayeswater Gill,  On reaching the lake (sorry, I should say "reservoir") there was no sign of any imminent action but, silly boys that we are, we couldn't help doing a Dam Busters dance to the Dam Busters March at, surprise, surprise, the dam.

None of this was in my head when we set out.  The objective was, and remained, to pick up more Wainwrights for John.  Just how many would depend on the weather, the forecast suggesting that it might not be that many, a possibility seemingly confirmed by the clouds dramatically swirling around the reservoir.

Hayeswater

We climbed to the Coast to Coast ridge where a decision had to be made. The Knott or not?  Although in cloud, it was so close that it made sense to make the ascent.  So we did.

Retracing our steps, we continued along the C2C northwards with ever improving weather before branching left for Brock Crags (another W) and lunch at this fine view point with a panorama round from Brothers Water, the Helvellyn range to Ullswater.

The next Wobjective was Angletarn Pikes but we adopted an unusual route.  Passing by what is probably my favourite tarn, we followed a distinct path to the east of the Pikes before branching left to conquer both summits.

Panorama looking south over Angle Tarn from Angletarn Pikes, Brotherswater to the right.

The business of the day completed, we returned to the valley via Boredale Hause and the track back to Hartsop.  Our march was over but we have made a note to revisit Hayeswater once the dam deed has been done.

I have mixed feelings about the project.  I can understand the thought of returning Hayeswater to its natural state but will that really be the end result?  Will there not still be signs of its erstwhile purpose, not least the track up to it or the associated buildings?  Is there really any public benefit?  And is there any taxpayer money (i.e. yours and mine) involved?  Or is it averting a potential future catastrophe?

We shall return once the Dam Busters' work is completed and report further.

In the meantime, I will sign off with another rendition of:

Derrrm dum dum dum diddy dum dum dum
Dum dum dum diddy dum dum dum

Dum dum dum derrm dum-dum

Dum dum diddy dum derrm.............

Over and out.

Don, 2nd April 2014

For more about the de-damming of Hayeswater, see:

Back to the Future United Utilities
Return to Mountain Tarn  BBC Cumbria
Lakes Reservoir could be restored.... Westmorland Gazette    

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1412 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - see: Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see: BB Log.

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me!
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