Walk Leader: Jane Anthony (on behalf of Sue Fagg who was not available)

Number on walk: 11 plus 4 dogs

Distance: 10.4 miles

Weather: Sunny but quite cool – perfect walking weather

11 of us set out from the main car park on Beacon Fell crossing the country park to descend (steeply) down the Rosemary Bullivant memorial plantation and onto Bleasedale Road. We left the road and took the access road to Waddecar Scout camp, using the permissive path through the camp to drop to the lush Brock valley. A gentle meander took us past the scout archery area and along valley before we veered to the right to ascend out of the valley bottom, through woods then not-too-boggy fields and out onto Bleasdale Lane.

A short stretch along the quiet lane and we followed the path through Weaver’s Farm, across fields and onto the track towards Bleasdale Tower passing an ‘old’ packhorse bridge and a ‘new’ glamping site. We turned right before Bleasedale Tower and followed the estate road round the Bleasdale bowl. We had lunch with the fells at our back and some fabulous views over to Beacon Fell.

Before reaching Bleasdale Church, we added a short detour to visit the site of Bleasdale (wooden) Circle, possibly dating from the Bronze Age. It is an inspiring spot and easy to see why it was considered a special place in past times. Unfortunately many of the trees in / around the circle had fallen down in the storms so we had to scramble about to view what we could.

On returning to the track we passed Bleasedale Church and School and reached the road again. A steep climb up the road out of the valley, then we headed across fields of sheep and geese, following a wall side and crossing a tricky stile at a very wet (even after the dry weather we have had this spring) gateway.

We followed the road for another short stretch to Woodacre farm, enjoying the lovely sunny weather and crossing fields before a steady climb back up to Beacon Fell Country Park, finishing with a visit to the Trig point before returning to the Car Park.