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!
Tom Wren boulder.
A large glacial boulder, with a simple plaque attached.
“In memory of Tom Wren, 1913 – 1998”
When the Forestry Commission acquired the Ennerdale valley in 1925 and built two workers bungalows at Gillerthwaute, the first tenants were John Wren and his wife Nellie. Several of their sons worked in the forest but one by one they left home for other occupations. In 1927, at the age of 14, Tom Wren gave up working on a local farm to join his father who by now had been appointed foreman in charge of the forest workers.
A programme of fencing the entire forest boundary was in full swing, and a series of paths had been built by the men to enable a mule, owned by Tom's father, to carry the heavy bundles of fence posts and rolls of netting up the fellside. Tom's first job when he reported for work on Monday the 16th of November 1927 was helping to load the mule and, in places below Pillar Rock where it was too rough for the animal to negotiate, he had to carry the rolls of netting on his back.
When the boundary fence was completed, the boggy hillside had to be drained and young Tom and his companions spent months digging ditches and diverting water courses before planting could be started. The working conditions of the men in those days was particularly arduous. There was no free issue of waterproof clothing, and if they could not work because of bad weather they did not get paid. When King George V died in 1936 the men were given the day off for the funeral, but were told that if it rained on the day they could not have worked so they would not get paid. Fortunately the sun shone for the funeral and they got their pay! Tom, and three others were not so lucky when, on one occasion, while planting trees near Pillar Rock they were asked to assist in a mountain rescue, They spent hours carrying the body of a climber over Black Sail to Wasdale, but their public spirited action cost them a severe reprimand and a days pay for leaving their job without permission.
While working below Pillar, the only shelter the men had from the rain, snow and gales was an old tarpaulin they tied to one end of a large glacial boulder and crouched under. Determined to find something better, Tom managed to acquire an old hen hut which, having been transported up the valley after working hours and fixed against the boulder, provided 'luxury' shelter for a number of years.
In spite of the hardships he experienced working in the forest and living in an extremelt isolated location, Tom Wren considered the Ennerdale valley to be the most beatiful place on earth, and when he died in February 1998 the large boulder was named in his memory.
I first came across this boulder when returning from an unsuccesful attempt to locate Barnard's Cairn some years ago. Bob Orrell's book once again provided the background information. 'Lakeland Monuments, Book 1 - North.'