GUMMERS HOW - CIRCULAR

 Sunday 20th July 2025

The car park at SD38958763 on Fell Foot Brow was quite busy when we arrived. Lots of folk milling around chatting. We managed to park up but the lay bye’s on the road still had plenty of room. It’s a busy spot for some reason. I guess it’s the proximity to the road and the great view of Windermere from the top. 

Walking through the car park a short path is used through the woodland, emerging at a gate leading across the road and through another gate to the Gummer How path. 

There a notice board that informs you of what is happening in the surrounding area. 

On the way up we encounter a few people on their way down, quite a few young children are stood wondering what to do about these brown and white giant beasts which are blocking the path. 

The cows have calf’s and they are lay down all over the place. They are not a bit bothered about the humans and neither are their mums and Dad. Lots of photos are being taken and we join in. The breed has been selected by Defra along with the landowner and Natural England. They are Luing, from Argyle.

The path up to the summit is easy although the direct route involves a little bit of hands on. It’s far from difficult and there are many easy options to both sides. 

The view from the top today is stunning. The length of Windermere is visible as are the Coniston Fells and the coast down to Morecombe Bay. We are so lucky with the visibility today. 

I hadn’t realised just how large the Town Head House Estate was. Its size clearly appreciated from the cairn atop Gummers How. 

We head off in the direction of the small reservoir to the east in a plantation called Birch Fell. The path winds its way down, eventually meeting up with a fence surrounding the reservoir. Care is needed during the descent in bad weather as there are a couple of steep drops. 

A stile over the fence allows walkers to get to the reservoir area. We didn’t go over even though it looked enticing. 

We followed the fence line south until in 10 minutes it joined up with the path going up Gummer How. 

Although this top is easy it’s still worth doing if just for the views alone as it is the highest point in the area. 

Cannot say I have come across this badge before so if anyone has a name for it please leave a comment.

Birch Plantation Reservoir (Un-named)

Back across the main road and into the woodland we followed the footpath leading to Sow How Lane which we followed through the farm of the same name. Quite a few bikers use this route too although there are lots of gates to open and close.

Through 2 fields of sheep of varying breeds and through 2 gates we left the main  track for a footpath heading into the forestry and towards Simpson Ground reservoir. It was soaking wet in the forestry, dark and with lots of wind blown trees.

It started raining and went very dark. It was that fine rain which wets you through. It was time to don waterproofs but because the humidity was so high we decided to delay putting them on. The trees sheltered us to some degree which was very welcome.

One of the many MF tractors at Sow How Farm. Probably having a bit of a service. MF 6180

Looking back at Sow How farm.

Entering Astley's Plantation.

Out of the woodland we came to the wall of the reservoir dam. It seemed quite out of place. I managed to scramble up the wall using the fence atop to gain a photo position. I should have known better after my episode in Greece.

Simpson ground reservoir. Getting darker.

Back on track we were almost run over by a utilities vehicle which came around a blind bend going to the reservoir. It was really quite dark now and as we left the shelter of the forestry we had to put on waterproofs. The hills disappeared as the rain swept in. It wasn’t long before our thin lightweight, useless, waterproofs were swamped. Why we ever buy 2 layer waterproofs is beyond me but I always consider that good makes like RAB and MARMOT know what they are designing and they will work. But they don’t. They never do and we waste lots of money.

The rain was now teeming, the ground more and more sodden making the footpaths into rivers. I checked the map and we were heading into more woodland and guessed that it would be better if we stayed on a reasonable track in the open rather than get even wetter in the woods where the humidity was still high. It meant that we would be shortening our planned route but it was no fun.

Another small lake came into view near Simpson’s ground allotment but there was a “private” sign on the gate. Approaching Poor House Allotment we were met by 2 drenched mountain bikers on what looked like very expensive bikes. I didn’t get a photo as we were negotiating a gate for them to pass through without alighting.

Private pond on Simpsons Allotment

Rain was still sweeping across the fells, sometimes you could see a hill the next nothing. Sheila had completely lost her bearings at this point and thought we should have been going in a different direction. I checked the map and showed her where we were and where we were heading. Because of the weather it did seem as though we were walking further than we actually were. I’m glad I decided to change our planned route for a shorter one.

When we reached the minor road at Poor House we turned left (north east) heading for Foxfield Farms. The rain eased a little and it was a bit brighter. The narrow road eventually turned into a track and walking was pleasant and easy although with numerous undulations. I noticed 2 logging vehicles tucked away but I managed a photo. I’m not sure of the make or model.

Marshall 802 2WD tractor at Foxfield Farm. Circa 1982/4

The track eventually brought us back into the grounds of Sow How Farm where we took a side track to another lake which we spotted through the trees. Appropriately named Sow How Tarn. We had seen people there earlier and thought it would be a good spot to have a coffee etc. We were quite peckish now.

Unfortunately once again the “private” sign was in abundance, stopping us from going to the waters edge. We found a large tree stump for baggin’ time.

The tarn is not natural but a man made Fishery with a very nice boathouse.

Late lunch spot at Sow How Tarn.

Sow How Tarn.

No idea.

At the start of the next shower we packed up and headed back towards the farm. Good to see the farmer was a Massey Ferguson fan as there must have been 6 or 7 tractors parked up. I managed a photo of a couple of them.

Once again, instead of entering the woodland, we stayed on the farm road where we reached the minor fell road leading back to the car park.

Somebody must have been looking after us because we had only just taken our boots off and sat in the car finishing what was left of our coffee when the heavens opened. It was a huge downpour and I felt sorry for all the people out, walking Gummers How etc with only lightweight gear, if any, they would have been totally soaked to the skin.

Luckily back at the car.

Route..... 11km 3.5hrs.

St. Georges castle . Argostoli

 Wednesday18th June 2025

Greece is so Soporific.

It’s tough getting your mindset in place to do long walks here. The heat is draining. 

Our day started straight up and straight down a winding back road over a hillside heading to the bus station in Argostoli. It took roughly an hour. 

We bought our ticket to Traviata on the bus which terminates in Poros. It cost €2. 

We boarded the bus and although we had seat 24-25 on our ticket we just sat at the front because we were getting off in around 15 minutes. The bus was leaving at 11.30. I think we were the only Brits onboard. At around 11.25 a guy at the back shouted something to the driver and everyone laughed loudly. We only recognised the word Yannis so we put 2 and 2 together and thought he’s telling the driver not to go without his mate. This one bus only goes every other day. At 11.28 the driver started his engine and again another shout from the back and another barrage of laughter. At 11.29.30 Yannis, an old man, made an appearance and wondered why he was getting a round of applause and short shift from his mate. I bet this happens every week. So funny. 

So at 11.30 on the dot the bus gets on its way. It’s full of chat and we are just a little worried we might end up in Poros. We come to Traviata sign post and we just carry on down the road. He didn’t stop. Sheila was in aisle position and gets to the driver and says Traviata! We eventually stop in the next village called Mazarakata. Nobody got on and we were the only ones to get off. I bet we were the talk of the wash house. 

As it turned out, luckily, it actually did us a favour. We were heading up to the castle of St. George which sits atop of a prominent limestone hill at 320 metres. and I hadn’t realised that there was a better route up to the top from this village. 

A pleasant back road gained height quickly and relatively traffic free.  The views opened up across to the west coast highlighting why the castle was strategically built by the Venetians all those years ago. 

 Just passed the signpost for the derelict church of Ayioi Theodorio, we found another short cut, or what we hoped was a short cut and not a path into someone’s garden.  So we tentatively made our way up the path.  It turned out good and brought us out directly on the Main Street to the castle. 

For as long as I can remember and I’m going back into the 1980’s, there was no entry fee charged to go into the castle. The castle is basically just a perimeter wall with a kind of dungeon in the middle and that’s it. 

However, this time we were asked to pay, which we declined to do.  As I’ve been in a dozen or so times I know it’s not worth paying for. 

Now the real reason why we came all the way up here was that we had been told of a new cafe right next door to the castle pay office.  So we went in. It’s called Lily’s.  They do some unusual soft drinks which are very nice but very little in the way of food. We had a Cretan Salad which I found bland. Certainly not as good as a Greek salad and a small variety of cake. I think they need to get this first tourist season done and dusted and then over the winter find a way to offer more choice. Oh yes, husband and wife team are very friendly and helpful. 

Lily’s cafe 

After lunch and in the hottest part of the day we again found another short cut through the surrounding old houses, the path being about 1 metre wide and walls delightfully covered in Bougainville  and other climbers like Jasmine, it led down towards the main road and our way back towards Argostoli. 

The houses surrounding the castle are very old and many suffered at least partial destruction during the 1953 earthquake which destroyed most of the island. Over the last few years we have seen an influx of money and numerous old properties have been renovated delightfully. The restaurant across the road from Lily’s is called Kastro, we have eaten there many times and it’s wonderful. 

The short cut brought us out beside a very old house which I think is a holiday rental property. It would certainly be a quiet place to spend some time. After a ten minute walk down the road we come to what the locals call the M25. It’s just one of the main arterial roads in Kefalonia not that busy but it probably feels that way to local folk. 

We had to follow it back into town as I don’t know of an alternative route off road which goes in our direction. A separate road adjacent to the M25 has been built recently but no traffic ever uses it. It is a road and not a cycle track but it was ok for us and provided safe walking for a mile or two. I asked a local what it was and why it was built and the answer was “nobody has the foggiest idea”.

No shortage of signage 

At the end of the ghost road a land rover track takes us all the way into the outskirts of town. We were feeling the heat, dripping in sweat and we needed more liquid. A petrol station provided 2 bottles of freezing cold water. We drank one straight away and kept the other for the next 2 hills. 

It seemed to take us an age to do these hills and I admit I was feeling shattered at the watershed of the 2nd hill. I needed a seat, a biscuit and more water. We had a ten minute break then descended the couple of kilometers to our apartment where we just crashed out for an hour. 

In total we did 17.52km. Locals who asked us what we had done today said we were crazy and that they wouldn’t do that in the winter never mind the summer. I did this blog post using Apple notes. Composition was easier than blogger. But the shortfalls I found was that once the text was copied and pasted into blogger it wasn’t straightforward if you wanted to add a new paragraph. It’s probably just a learning curve. 

Another thing I found out was that on the go you can use Notes as a dictaphone which converts the audio into text for you so you can “write” your blog as you walk. 

Then once the text is in blogger add the photos where ever you want them. 

It’s not perfect but it works. 

Trial run. 1 notes

This is just a trial run at an alternative method of blog composing not using blogger. I am using Apple notes as the basis. 

What I am trying is writing in notes and uploading a photograph. Then copying the “post” completely then pasting it into blogger. That’s the idea so let’s see if it works

In the bay close to our apartment is moored The Al Mirqab yacht it is owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who served as Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Not bad for a politician. 

Ok. So it didn’t like uploading a heic image so I will convert it to a jpg and try it. 

Ok so it worked as a jpg. 

That was easier. I’m sure there will be problems but it’s a start👏

A narrow escape from hospital.

 Monday 16th June 2025.

On a 15km walk in temperatures of 33 degrees C we stopped for a coffee at an out of the way place we have known for years. Across the road was a yard with some machinery for sale. One vehicle was a Belorussian tractor. 

After coffee I just had to get a photo but there was a metal fence between us which didn’t make for a good picture. 

I climbed onto a wall which was less than a metre high so that I could get the camera above the fence. All good. 

As I jumped down from the wall my hand stayed where it was. My 1860 family heirloom ring had got stuck on a spike on top of the fence. The pain was intense, I thought I was about to loose a finger or a least break a finger. Luckily the ring snapped and I reached the ground. 

The ring and my finger was not pretty but I felt lucky and relieved that the damage was superficial and didn’t look like I needed a stich or two.  A pharmacy was only a couple of km’s away so that’s where we went. It made the walk slightly longer but at least……….,,,,

I did get the tractor picture. 

Belarus Tractor built between 1977 -1994. A good reliable workhorse built in Minsk. I’ve never worked on one but seen a couple of them in Greece. 

A return to Greece.

 Kefalonia 9th June 2025

We arrived here on 2nd of June after spending a night at the Tribe hotel at Manchester Airport. I recommend it. Getting an early flight at 6.25am staying over just takes the stress away.

Getting through the airport procedures was easy enough but I have to say I do dislike terminal 2. 

It’s great to be back here, it’s our 2nd home. I worked it out that I have spent over 5 yrs of my life here. 

I’m only doing a short post because blogger is not suited to my iPhone and it’s awkward to say the least. Today’s walk we did in 30degrees temp. 19.02km.  

Kefalonia is very hilly so it’s virtually impossible to do a flat walk. Our walk today is classed as mad by the locals. To be honest it is steep but for a hiker it’s just a walk up hill. 

On route we pass a small church which is open so we enter with respect. 

It’s a small church with room for about 40 people. Sitting and standing. It’s beautifully clean and serene. 

A little further on we came across another small church but it was closed and neglected. Such a shame. 

At our highest point we had a good view of the Islands highest point. The ridge leading to Mount Ainos. 

Wild flowers adorned our route and below are a sample of what we saw today. 

Prickly Pear. Unfortunately no fruit yet.

Clematis Flammula.

Squirting cucumber.

Nerium

Canna Lily.

We needed to buy some food for tea as we were eating in tonight. It is a steep drop down into town and a sweaty walk back up the same route. The photo below doesn’t do justice to the incline. 

With hearts pounding we stopped a few times for water. Thankfully we didn’t forget to bring the cool bag. 

We passed a small holding with a few goats where Sheila decided to go over and have a chat with them. I was thinking more on the lines of a curry. 

With about a km to go, (all down hill) Sheila says her legs a feeling wobbly. It’s not surprising as this is the longest we have walked for 2 years and since my cancer treatment. It was great to achieve this and I felt good if tired. Nothing that a cool fruit drink, a banana and a cup of green tea won’t cure. 

Surprisingly I have managed to get this far with the post. Only loosing it once and having to re-download images numerous times. Not a single tractor seen. Oh well, next time maybe. 

Oh yes and here is a photo for Sir Hugh. A couple of relic VW campers.