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!
Fell and Rock Memorial Bridge.
After the purchase of Great Gable and other fells by the Fell and Rock Climbing club in 1924, £55 of the £600 subscribed remained in balance. By 1957, through accumulation of interest, it had grown to £115 and Dick Plint, the then treasurer, wondered what it could be used for. When one of the club members mentioned that the Friends of the Lake District were considering launching an appeal to climbing and rambling clubs for funds to repair the bridge over the Liza on the track from Pillar to Scarth Gap, it seemed the ideal opportunity for the surplus funds to be put to good use. The old bridge was in poor condition, but no-one would accept responsibility for repairing it. The track was on a right of way and therefore the responsibility of Cumberland County Council, but the proposal put forward by the Lake District Planning Board for repairing it had been rejected by the Highways Committee, who argued that the Forestry Commission had built it for their own use and that there was an adequate bridge 1 mile downstream, (the Forestry Commission concrete road bridge.) By way of a compromise, the County Council offered to pay two thirds of the cost of a new bridge if Ennerdale Parish would pay one third, but the Parish Council couldn’t raise the money. The Friends of the Lake district were about to launch their appeal to the clubs when the Fell and Rock Club saved the day with an offer to put up some of the cash needed to have a new bridge built, in memory of members who fell in the 1939-45 war.
Work on the new bridge went ahead and the formal opening was held on the 8th of May 1960, the anniversary of V.E. Day. Invitations to the opening ceremony were sent to those relatives who could be traced of the 13 members who had fallen, together with officials of Cumberland County Council, the Forestry Commission and the Lake District Planning Board. The Forestry Commission relaxed its ‘no unauthorised vehicles’ rule to enable guests to b brought up to the bridge by car, and over 100 people walked over the fells from all directions to witness the opening of the new bridge and the unveiling of a bronze tablet fastened to a granite boulder. Preparation of the granite boulder before the attaching of the plaque is reputed to have taken the edge off twenty four chisels.
Mr John C. Appleyard, of Torver was given the honour of unveiling the plaque, and the dedication was by another long standing club member, the Rev G.W.Ellison, Vicar of Langdale.
The cost of building the bridge was £582, the club contributing nearly £200.
The plaque reads
“This bridge was reconstructed in 1959 by the Cumberland County Council.
The Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District
bore a share of the cost in memory of those of its members
who fell in the World War of 1939 – 1945.”
One wonders if Tom Wren attended?
Once again thanks to Bob Orrell for allowing me to quote from his book - Lakeland Monuments, volume 1 - North.