Saturday Walk - The Dunnerdale Fells.
Clare & Mick, Jan, Kevin & Tina, Ruth, Mike Wilson, and David.

Mick reports - "Eight of us turned up. Kevin led us up onto Great Stickle and then we wandered amongst the many tarns of Tarn Hill to Stickle Pike, swearing at the noisy antics of a bunch of lads on trail bikes. Some of us took in Park Head Road Top (a Synge to add to our 4 Birketts for the day) on the way to the slate and iron quarries of Stainton Ground (Jan did a bit of research on the quarries - see below). We climbed to the day's highpoint of Fox Haw and descended into Long Mire, following the bridleway through the garden of Carter Ground to the superb 'secret' packhorse bridge at Lind End. A short stroll on tarmac took us back to the Blacksmiths Arms at Broughton Mills for a couple of pints in the sunshine. It was Sunday teatime but the local lads in the bar, gathered around the big table, were in fine voice. Well, loud rather than fine. Five Fellfarers, rather more sedate, had a well-earned meal in one of the quieter rooms. About 6 hours of easy walking in a wonderful landscape and a great day out. Thanks Kevin"

Jan adds - "I have been doing a little bit of digging about the Quarries we walked through on the Dunnerdale Walk and found a reference to an account in 1860 of Stainton Ground Slate Quarry and Stainton Ground Iron Mine.  My book doesn't mention Stainton Ground Slate Quarry specifically, but the description it gives of transporting slate from the area indicates that the view down the peaceful Duddon estuary may have looked a little busier in the 1800s. The Duddon furnace was, I've been told, at the junction of A595 and the Corney Fell (GR 198 883) road and is described in the book as 'an entire self-contained community with numerous dwelling houses and store building…representing the charcoal-iron industry at its most ambitious'.  Ore was brought to the furnace and iron sent away from Lady Hall Marsh (GR 198 869) and I guess that iron from Stainton Ground Mine may have been processed here too.  The furnace closed in 1867 but the derelict buildings including the furnace stack were still in existence in 1973."