BB1704 : A Comedy Of Errors

Thursday 26th January 2017

Today was a sort of comedy of errors.  We met at the Staveley Mill Yard, got changed and ready to go.  Just as we were about to set off, I remembered that the Mill Yard was not the intended start point and that we needed to be on the minor road that runs to the west of Potter Fell.  Fortunately Stuart and I both felt comfortable in driving with our boots on.  That is one aspect that favours a Forester over a Jag!!

So back into the cars we climbed and set off.  However the road to our chosen parking place, a junction near Birk Field, was blocked by a sign announcing a delay of 15 minutes whilst some road works were being done.  At least I assumed that was the reason and not that of Hacking Harry, the erstwhile barber of a village not that far away where his “Back in 15 Minutes” sign was for a completely different purpose.  Strange that the sweet shop next door had a similar sign.

That was not too much of a problem as there was an alternative way round.  We reached the chosen spot, one I have used many times in the past.  However this time the farmer drove by and shooed us away.  Down the hill we went, intent on driving round and up the valley again to find a different place, only to find that we had hit the "Delay of 15 Minutes” section from the other side.  Surely the 15 minutes was now up? To be fair, it didn’t take long for the mini road roller to compress the new tarmac and clear out of the way for us.

Once back on the right road, we found a convenient parking place and set off on the ascent of Brunt Knott.

We had expected low lying cloud.  The subhills would be engulfed in fog leaving the higher tops with distant views over lakes of fluff.  To say we were pleasantly surprised by the weather is an understatement.  Instead we had clear views and bright sunshine. Cold, though, and the ground frozen when in shade.

Brunt Knott is a steep but relatively short climb, trackless from the south.  

Once there, we had a decision to make.  The original plan was to drop down to the River Sprint, then round to Garnett Bridge before climbing to Gurnal Dubbs (a very attractive medium sized tarn).  However the clear skies opened up a different possibility- to climb up Potter Fell then drop down to Gurnal Dubbs.  Down then up or up then down?

Which would you choose?  Terry insisted on the latter.

Potter Fell actually has two tops.  Wainwright regarded the more northerly one as the summit although the Ordnance Survey rates them the other way round.  

We went with AW.  Heathery plod then the vision of Gurnal Dubbs where we had lunch enjoying the view.

Thereafter we rounded the tarn and dropped down the hill to the next one- Potter Tarn.

following which we carried on to Birk Field and the non-parking place from which we had earlier been evicted.  

It should then have been a simple walk along the road back to the car.  However, I had been having trouble with the technology (or my brain) which told me that if we took the footpath off across the field we would have an alternative, softer underfoot option.  The trouble was that I was in the wrong place.  Another error.  The Grand Old Duke of Don led them up to the top of the hill then Martin led them down again.  He knew where we really were and could guide us back to the cars.  This was just as well as the clouds were starting to gather in the west, masking the lowering sun.

On the way we passed what looked like a small and very new graveyard.  At first I thought it was for pets but when you looked closely you could see that there was a full sized coffin disturbance in the ground and a headstone.  A passing couple informed us that it was the private burial place for the former landlord of the Station Inn at Staveley who died last year.  Someone known to Tony.

Given the deceased's profession, it is hardly surprising that Tony knew the occupant but it is amazing how we learn something new every time we go out, even when covering regularly traversed ground.

We completed the journey back to the cars without further incident and made no error in reaching our subsequent destination-  the Brewery at Staveley Mill yard.  How did you guess?

Don, Thursday 26th January 2016

Comitibus: Potter Tarn

Map shown: Anquet Harvey's 1:25k

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1704 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heightages (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

Photos have been gleaned from many sources
although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.

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BOOTboys 2017

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