Hodge Close and Cathedral Quarry's
 
Sunday 18th January 2004

Weather :- Cold and overcast to start but got wet and windy later on.

Accompanied by :- Dad and Matthew.

Total Distance 4.27 Miles, total height ascended approx 1200 Feet

 

A bit of a first this one! The first walk on this web site that contains no summits! The first walk with my Dad since the Old Man had a heart attack on the Old Man! and the first documented walk with Matthew, aged 5 ½ ! I had planned a day out with Matthew for today, I was planning a trip around some of the places that I have found interesting on my travels. With Matthew not being into walking yet, put a football in front of him and he will run for miles, but ask him to walk, no! Last time I took him for a walk in the Lake District I ended up carrying him half way around Hallin Fell, he was NOT impressed! I thought a trip around some places of interest without actually having to walk up a hill would suit him, but then with the snow that has been about during the last part of the week I thought it would be good to take the micro sledges that we bought and took for a test run last time out up as well, I thought it would be good, Matthew thought it would be "COOL!" I also asked my Dad if he fancied a trip up as I seem to be telling him about these old quarry workings and he tells me about old quarry workings that he knew about, maybe they were the same but called by a different name! It would be good to compare notes with my Dad about his walking days back in the "old days" or as Matt would say "the really, really olden times!" Apparently there was a time when the M6 wasn't there. No M6? how strange was that then!

Without having to wait at Preston for John and Sarah to travel north we left at 8am prompt! This was early for me now! I had to defrost the car as it was about -2 at this time of the morning! It was a great morning, cold and crisp but with overcast sky's. Maybe the weather man had got it right for a change and the weather would deteriorate later in the day, I hoped not! Traveling up north I had to put up with chorus after chorus of "are we there yet?" and "are we in the Lake District yet?" I honestly don't know who's worse, Matthew or my Dad! I drove up to Kirkstone Pass expecting perfect sledging conditions but was disappointed to find some, but not enough snow up there. As the view north showed no sign of snow low down and I did not think that Matthew would want to climb up high to reach the snow that we could see (even thought he thought it would be easy) I turned round and headed back down the struggle and into Ambleside. There was no sign of Windermere under a blanket of mist, I think I prefer the view of the mist, much more spooky! So it was back to Plan A now, go and find somewhere to park that would enable a round trip of Hodge Close and Cathedral Quarry. I first attempted to get down by the side of the river Brathay on the Little Langdale side but found nowhere to park, I even went as far as the river and had to reverse back some way before I was able to turn around! (lesson for the future!) There was no option but to drive back around and get on the main Coniston road and park near the high point of that road, where the small road to High Oxen Fell turns off. This was easier said than done as Matthew kept spotting large amounts of snow in the fields and wanted to stop all the time so he could go sledging! I had to keep refusing him and started to feel that I was being a bit of a bad Dad now, spoiling all his fun!


The road towards High Oxen Fell Low Oxen Fell
As I parked the car in an area where there was lots of snow Matthews eyes lit up! It took a while before everyone was ready and we set off. I planned to walk along the road to High Oxen Fell, down to Hodge Close for a bit of an exploration and then along the bridle way to Stang End, down to Cathedral Quarry for another exploration and back up the road to the car, Matthew planned to stop at every opportunity and go sledging! The first part of the road was covered in ice and snow, it made it fun walking as I soon found out. The white stuff offers more grip than the slippy clear stuff! Matthew thought it would be great for sledging, unfortunately I don't think he has done "gravity" at school yet! He was most upset when he sat down on his sledge on the ice....and nothing happened! We had to try and explain to him that as well as ice or snow a sledge needed a slope to go down! See, there I go spoiling his fun again!
Matthew trying out the micro sledge! Looking towards Fairfield
As we passed Low Oxen Fell Matthew kept wanting to get into the fields, I must admit they looked ideal for sledging, but once he found the road heading downhill he soon found out what gravity coupled with a down hill slope, ice and a sledge means. Fun! Whist he played on the ice I cast my eyes over to the high fells. Above Elterwater hung a mist and over that we could make out Fairfield, it looked very good with the snow on top!
The gate past High Oxen Fell Matt and his sledge again
As we reached High Oxen Fell and opened the gate that led towards Hodge Close we were caught up by a group of motor cross riders. Four of them passed through the gate that we held open for them. This is one of the things that I like about this part of the Lakes, these bridle ways hold something for everyone, walkers, mountain bikers, motor cross riders, horse riders, everyone can enjoy the place no matter what their mode of transport.
The track Between High Oxen Fell and Hodge Close Matt getting the sledging wrong!
A bit further down this track we came to a place that Matthew had been waiting for. Snow and a slope! He seemed a bit tentative at first but soon got the hang of it! I even had a go, but sort of sank into the snow too quickly for my liking! Matthew was up and down it numerous times, and with words of advice gained from the test drive on Great Mell Fell he was sliding down like a professional! Sometimes he got it wrong and spun out of control but I guess from the laughter he was enjoying it more than when he went in a straight line.
That's better! Further along the track
While we passed some time here some mountain bikers passed us, they were having fun trying to ride across the icy bits! With one more go dad, please! And then another and another we eventually set off. The track made its way up and around the fell side and then started to descend towards Hodge Close. At one point I looked behind me to see my Dad playing with his digital camera, I looked up and saw a huge flight of birds in a V heading north, I shouted back and he managed to get a great shot of these birds flying north. Birds flying north in January, is that normal or do we not have proper winters anymore?
Matthew and Dad (three generations of fell walkers!) Nearing Hodge Close
As the track started to descend Matthew managed to slip and fall on the ice a few times. At first I was concerned but then I remembered he was only a kid and that kids bounce! Well Matthew does, unlike his elder sister who has never bounced, only broken things like limbs and knees and things! But that's another story! By now Matthew wanted a snowball fight and I had to show him how to make a snowball, kids of today, don't they know anything! This was a mistake because from then on I kept getting hit on the back of the head to the accompaniment of laughter from him, parenthood is never easy!
The entrance down to the quarry at Hodge Close The two holes into the big hole
Arriving at Hodge Close and the entrance down into the quarry's I was in a bit of a dilemma. The way down is quite steep and was covered in snow. Was it safe to go down or not, would it be icy or easy! Dad seemed happy to go down so we slowly made our way down. I hung on to Matthew as we made our way down, I don't think he was too happy about this but there was no way I was letting him loose down here! Dad followed even more slowly, but at least he knew what he was doing, I think! With only the odd moment or two we safely reached the bottom and made our way to the big holes that look out over the water in the big hole. It was quite noisy down here with all the water running down the sides of the quarry face from the melting snow, there were even drips coming down from the quarry roof.
Looking out over the water Matt starts the climb out
We stopped for a coffee and something to eat here as we looked around. I explained about the pool of water and the passage way out to the big hole and how divers often visit the pool. Just as I was saying that we saw bubbles coming to the surface and move around the water. Even though it was very cold there must have been divers in there today as well.! Rather them than me ! Once our curiosity was satisfied we started the climb out of the quarry. This was a lot easier than coming down, especially for Matthew who had a whale of a time climbing up! The drips of water that had been coming down from the roof followed us back up, at first I was a bit confused but soon realized that it was trying to snow, it wasn't trying hard as it soon turned to rain!
Looking over the spoil heaps towards Little Langdale The track from Hodge Close to Stang End
Once out at the top we had a walk around the road to look down into the big hole. This was a bit of a worrying time for me as I had to try and make sure that Matthew went nowhere near the edge at the same time as trying to keep an eye on my dad, all the time being pelted with snowballs!, I don't know which is worse, trying to keep an eye on a child or a parent! So as well as warning Matthew not to go too near the edge I was also giving the same advice to my dad! The rain looked like it was going to stay with us so we set off towards Stang End on the bridle path. This was an old metalled road that made it's way through the trees and then out onto the open fell side under Little Fell.
Further along the track Stang End
Along here we passed the first fellow walkers of the day. When the road that led down to the River Brathay came into sight I was able to look round and recognize the hill that Cathedral Quarry is in. In fact I was sure that I could see the entrance out onto the fell side that I had come out of on my last trip here. Back then there was still a lot of leaves on the trees and I couldn't really see a lot. Now without the leaves it was obvious, it also made the fell look smaller than I remembered it! Matthew once more got his sledge out and had some fun near the road as we made our way down to the river and then into the quarry. My dad noticed the sign about "Sheep Drops" just as I had done! Matthew was starting to disbelieve me about the tunnels as it was not until we stood outside and I put a head torch onto his head that he noticed the tunnel entrance.
We made our way into the tunnel and soon came out into the cavern with the big supporting pillar and the pool that allegedly contains goldfish. This time the water was crystal clear but I could still not see any fish! Time to get out the cooker and brew up some hot chocolate for Matthew then. As I did this my dad had a good look around and to my surprise pointed out the goldfish! At last, three goldfish swimming very slowly in the pool. The largest must have been about 6 inches long, how did they get here and what do they eat? I was well chuffed that I had seen these elusive creatures of the Lake District at last! So after having the hot chocolate and a bit more to eat it was time to set off again. I put the head torch onto Matthew again and went through the other tunnel to the main quarry. To get up to the main level there is a bit of a scramble, I had to lift Matthew up on one part, he was just too small to reach up. My dad looked a bit skeptical and asked if we were returning this way, the rock was very wet and slippy so I could understand his reservations. When I said no he
The supporting pillar in Cathedral Quarry
started to follow us up and I led them straight towards the wall of the quarry. I could tell he was not convinced ! Last time I was here I thought that the chains were there to stop people from getting into the tunnel entrance. This time I approached from the left instead of the right and the chains sort of led you to the entrance! It was a case of a bit of a scramble over and around some fallen boulders and then you are able to stand upright in the tunnel. We walked straight past the turning to the right and soon found ourselves on the other side. I had to bend down more than I remembered from last time, memory is strange isn't it! Once outside we could clearly see the road that we had walked on below us so we headed off to the left and followed a path down to the bridle way that leads to Tilberthwaite, turning left and walking along until we joined the road by the bridge. Now it was just a case of following the road back to the car. Unfortunately this was the worst part for Matthew, it was uphill, it was raining and it was TOO FAR! It was not the best walk due to the weather, it was just a case of getting on with it. At one point Matthew started to tell me that everyone lied to him. When I questioned him about this I started to think where it was leading, such is the mind of a 5 year old! "Even you lie to me dad!" he said, oops, what have I done now then? He then started to tell me that I was lying about how far it was back to the car! "You said it's not far and it is see" he said! How can you explain relative distance to a 5 year old! To give him his due he just kept walking and saved me from having to carrying him back. There was still the odd mumbling or two but even these soon stopped as he found that lumps of ice acted like a football if he kicked it up the road! It was not long before we arrived back at the car. Matthew was happy now. We got him dried out and into some dry clothes and headed back home, I think he lasted about 5 minutes before he was asleep!
GPS Track log from today's walk.

On the trip back I chatted with my dad about what he used to do when he came up here. Back then it was a case of hitch hiking up here and meeting in Ambleside. Wagons, buses?, and trucks where all used. Back then people were happy to offer and accept lifts, how things change! There were not many private cars about and the Lake District must have seemed such a long way away. They used to stay in the Youth Hostels in Ambleside and Elterwater. I just can't imagine how different it must have been back then, but one thing is the same and has not changed, the fells and lakes themselves!

So that was that, three generations of the Siddall's out on and in the fells. A great day out apart from the weather late on. The quarry's around Coniston and Little Langdale are fascinating places to visit, I recommend them to anyone.