Wild Ennerdale
“Ennerdale is a spectacular upland landscape with rock outcrops, extensive woodland, dynamic natural rivers, a glacial lake and highly valued flora & fauna. Established in 2003, Wild Ennerdale is a partnership of people and organisations led by the principal landowners in the valley, The Forestry Commission, National Trust and United Utilities with the support of Natural England.”
From the Wild Ennerdale Partnership Briefing Notes.
“To allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology”
The Wild Ennerdale Vision.
For more information on the Wild Ennerdale Partnership please see their website at www.wildennerdale.co.uk
This is one of a series of caches that follows the ‘Big Valley’ cycle route in Ennerdale. The route is wholly on good forest roads. There is a ford that has to be crossed at the head of the route. This may be impractical during, and just after, periods of heavy rain. The total distance is around 11½ miles. A shorter loop is available by crossing the river at the Middle Bridge, giving a ride of about 7½ miles. The whole route is virtually traffic free. There is no vehicular access to the general public beyond the car park at Bowness Knott. See waypoint.
Bowness Knott is located at N 54° 31.537 W 003° 22.601 British Grid: NY 10999 15351
The route is not waymarked, but should be fairly obvious – up the north side, and back down the south. An OS map may be useful – or the ‘Big Valley Cycle Ride’ map is available from local accommodation providers in the valley, Caravan sites and Tourist Information centres at Whitehaven, Cockermouth and Egremont or you can download one from the Wild Ennerdale website.
The caches are all placed with the agreement of the Forestry Commission. All the caches are simple 330ml clip lock boxes. As ever with me, they are ‘tat free zones’ containing only a log book and pencil. Please use the hints as we want minimal disturbance to the area.
Refreshments are available at Ennerdale Youth Hostel between April and October, which is located at Gillerthwaite, between the caches at ‘Irish Bridge’ and ‘Gillflinter Beck’.
I am aware of two places locally offering cycle hire.
Braemar Bikes in Whitehaven, 01946 813112
Ainfield Cycles in Cleator Moor, 01946 812427
They both have a bike collection service for the very popular C2C ride, so may well be prepared to arrange to meet you at Bownesss Knott car park - you can but ask!
Barnard's Cairn view.
On Monday August 14th 1876 the fifty year old Edward Barnard left the Scafell Hotel in Rosthwaite. His intended route for the day was over Sty Head to Wasdale. He would then return to Buttermere via Black Sail Pass and Scarth Gap. From Buttermere he planned to catch the afternoon coach back to Keswick. Edward Barnard was a Silversmith from London. He had two days previously ascended Helvellyn. He wore a grey tweed suit and a black soft felt hat. He carried an umbrella and a brown paper parcel was strapped to his chest.
Edward reached Wasdale Head Inn. William Ritson, proprietor of the inn, and well known mountain guide, remembers advising him ‘as to the proper route to pursue.” Ritson also remarked that he looked weary, and advised him to rest. Edward Barnard though was worried he would miss the Keswick coach. Wearing his thick tweed suit, and in blistering heat, he set off for Buttermere. He was never seen alive again. Indeed it would be several weeks before his body was eventually found.
Once his wife had raised the alarm about his failure to return a search was mounted. The head of Ennerdale was searched, as was the route over Scarth Gap to Buttermere. No sign of Edward Barnard was found.
Rumours started to circulate that he was not missing, but that he had in fact ‘run away’; like an early day Reggie Perrin. These rumours prompted James Barnard, Edward’s cousin, to place an advert in the local newspaper.
To the Shepherds of Cumberland.
I who have been several days in the search, feel that we must look to you. Do not let it drop because you hear the missing man has taken himself off. I knew him and he was not a man to do so. Be assured he is somewhere on your fell, and s brave men with tender hearts for his poor waiting lady exert yourselves to clear up this sad mystery.
A reward was offered to those who found Edward - £100 if alive, and £50 if dead.
Several letters were received expressing theories. The most popular of these was that Edward had missed his way and had continued up Mosedale. He would thus have descended into Ennerdale from Wind Gap, to the west of Pillar. A ‘sandwich and a half’ was found on Steeple, thus adding some credence to this theory. A further search was mounted, but still Edward Barnard was not found. Twenty seven days had passed before a local shepherd finally came across the body, on Sunday September 10th. The body was found adjacent to a rock, in a sitting position. At the subsequent inquest it was felt that he had died from natural causes – either heat or sunstroke. It was felt he was trying to seek shelter behind the rock – although he was within 200 yards of the River Liza. His body was found some distance from the Black Sail to Scarth Gap path. The feeling was that he had been trying to take a short cut in order to save time. After the inquest which was held at Gatesgarth Farm in Buttermere the body was returned to London and buried in Highgate Cemetery. The body was so decomposed that identification proved difficult. It was finally done by some of his possessions - a silver Geneva watch, a corkscrew and a discoloured bill made out to Mr.Barnard for supper, bed and breakfast at the Scawfell Hotel. The brown paper parcel was still tied to his chest, and the umbrella lay nearby. He also had on him £13 in gold, which tended to rule out any suspicion of foul play
The six searchers who had found the body each received a cheque for £8.6s.8p reward money.
The relatives of Edward set about building a cairn at the point where his body was found. The boulder against which the body lay was incorporated into the base of the cairn. The cairn stands around 8ft high.Originally mounted on the cairn was a semaphore, one arm indicating the way to Scarf Gap, the other to Wasdale. This feature can be seen by looking in the Historic Images section, under Resources, of the Wild Ennerdale Website.
In 1927 the area around the cairn was planted, and it was not until 2004 that the cairn once again was revealed when the trees were felled. Two simple plaques are attached to the cairn.
The Body of
Edward Barnard,
of Angel St & Highbury Grove, London
who was lost in this district Aug 14th
was found on this spot
September 10th 1876
and
The builders of this cairn request
that visitors will respect its
purpose and not mark it with
initials. Octr 1876
Nowadays it is not possible to reach the cairn, as the surrounding area has been enclosed by a high deer fence by the Wild Ennerdale Partnership, in order to allow natural regeneration. It can be difficult to pick out on the hillside above. Two photos in the gallery should help you to locate it on the fellside above the cache site.
I first became aware of Barnard's Cairn when I read an article in 'The Great Outdoors, June 1988' by John Wilson. A sporadic campaign to locate it over several years resulted in abject failure! When the trees were chopped down in 2004 success was finally mine one evening! For once the miles back to Bowness Knott did not feel quite so long! Further information was garnered from what is almost the bible to several caches in this series - Bob Orrell's 'Lakeland Monuments, Volume 1 - North.' Other odds and ends were gleaned in Whitehaven Archive Office, and from the Wild Ennerdale website.