Blea Tarn - Boot - Stanley Force. Eskdale

Hiking from Eskdale Green to Blea Tarn in the Western Lakes, walking on coarse-grained granite once out of the woodland but with a chilly wind when out on the fells. Then along the ridge to the stone circles on White Moss (250 m.).

The view back to the coastal apron was sunny but up to Scafell and Gable looking thick with dark cloud. Down to Boot and the restored Eskdale Mill.
Over the River Esk by footbridge as the water level was too high at the stepping stones by the church of St. Catherine. Up to Stanley Force (waterfalls) where the Birker Beck drops more than 50 m. through a series of cascades in a gorge. But many paths and viewpoints are closed due to unsightly forestry works at one side of the gorge; they’re clearing the gorge but also we saw a lot of damage from the storms at the end of last year here and in other woodland.
Back through the magnificent redwoods around Dalegath Hall and over the narrow gauge tracks at a pedestrian crossing of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway.
Driving back and enjoying a very satisfactory sunset over the Irish Sea and the north of the Isle of Man, that’s the first sunset over water I’ve seen for a couple of years.
Thanks to Samuel for leading a well-paced hike making the best use of the window in the weather.