Martins's Birthday Walk - The Cumbria Way Near Carlisle

As the date of Martin's Birthday Walk got closer the weather forecast looked awful but we decided to go for it and Tom, Peter, and myself met Martin, John, and Ken at Carlisle Station at 9.30am as they arrived from Edinburgh. We immediately caught a large taxi to take us 8 miles away to a bridge past Dalston so we could walk the final leg of the Cumbria Way following the River Caldew. We started the walk at 10.00am and it was still dry and remained that way until the last half hour of the walk.  

I am told that this house is the Bishop of Carlisle's Palace and is now up for sale. Why do the Church of England clergy have to live in such palatial houses?

The River Caldew where it forms an Island

The snow covered hills in the background and we are all well wrapped up as it was very cold especially for the 1st of April.

Lime House School near Dalston 

Our route took us through the Dalston Farmers Point to Point jumps course where they were getting ready for a meeting on Easter Monday.

Near Dalston is the factory of Jacob Cowan & Sons Ltd. and I used to visit there many times in my Atlasair days as I flew their products to many places round the world. The mill stream is diverted from the Caldew.

Jacob Cowan & Sons Ltd. and still in use producing cotton products that go into bandages and other health products. We also passed the factory of another of my old customers Stead McAlpine and they are still in business and very busy.

My favourite bird the Dipper on a rock beside the river Caldew

This weir is next to Holme Mills which is an old textile mill now converted to posh flats.
By now it was raining hard but we were back in Carlisle and finished the day with a nice afternoon meal in The Bobbin at Linton Tweeds.