EK NEWS ARTICLE: ERIC KENT     This week's Duncanrig Ramblers walks were both routed round the picturesque
Derwent Water in the Lake District. The club bus was full due to the popularity of this destination with the club members. Both the high and the low walks commenced close to the village of Portinscale in glorious weather and it was interesting to watch the local farmers lifting their hay crop for their animal's winter feed. We the walked through the sleepy village of Portinscale admiring the houses with their facings of local stone before walking along the western shores of Derwent
Water. The area around Portinscale is well known for its links with Beatrix Potter. Between 1885 and 1907 the Potter family took their summer holidays at Lingholm and Fawe Park, both now private houses, on the Western shores of Derwent Water where Beatrix spent many hours making sketches of the woods, gardens and landscape which were to feature in several of her books. At Lingholm, just beyond Portinscale, the abundance of red squirrels (still there but in lesser numbers) is said to have inspired ''The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin''. The garden of Fawe Park is ''Mr McGregor's Garden'' and can be glimpsed from the footpath between Nicol End and Hawes End. Other local landmarks can be seen in her illustrations, for example ''Owl Island'' is St Herbert's Island in Derwent Water. Walking through the woodland between Fawe Park and Hawes End was very pleasant as the trees maintained the remains of the morning coolness in such a hot morning. At Hawes end the high and the
low walk split off. The low walk then continued round the edge of the Derwent Water via the shore line and the woodlands to the Chinese bridge which spans the River Derwent and is a popular place for locals to go swimming. From here there are good views to the south and the "Jaws of Borrowdale", dominated by the central Castle Crag, which once used to have a
Roman fortress on top. The low walk then enjoyed their lunch at the river bank close to the bridge The high walk branched off uphill at Hawes End  on to the ridge which leads up to the Catbells summit. Catbells, which is situated on the western shore of Derwent Water stands only 451 metres high. However, despite its modest height it is one of the most popular fells in the area for walking. The slopes of Catbells had three lead mines the last of which closed in the 1890's The area has been extensively mined since the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 when there was a demand for copper for the production of arms and the strengthening of warships. In 1564, due to a lack of skilled workforce in the area, expert miners arrived from Germany to
fulfil both the demand for copper and provide royalties for the Queen. The Society of Royal Mines was established to finance and organise the operation. Considerable deposits of copper were found in the Newlands and Borrowdale Valleys. Cat Bells was extensively mined, the spoil heaps that resulted are still visible at Brandlehow Bay on Derwent Water. Silver, lead,
graphite and copper were also found. Graphite, a particularly valuable find, was claimed by the military and taken under escort to London. It was used to line the moulds for making cannon balls and rifle shot, and when mixed with grease, as a lubricant for the gun carriage axles. When they went back to Germany they left the people of Keswick the Moot Hall (now the Information centre) in the centre of Keswick, and Cumberland sausages. From the top of Catbells the high walkers enjoyed great views down over Derwent Water to Keswick and over to Skiddaw and Blencathra to the north , west to Helvellyn
and east to Grassmoor. The weather had cooled down quite a bit on the summit with a cool wind blowing and we postponed lunch until we were about a third of the way down to the lake near  Black Crags where the walkers enjoyed fabulous views over the southern section of Derwent Water and were able to watch the Keswick Launch ferry as it made some of its seven pier stop journey around Derwent Water. After lunch we completed the descent and crossed over the flat land at the head of the lake on to the Chinese bridge. We continued along the eastern side of the lake looking over to the great views of Catbells and its ridge. The path improved as we moved northwards, St Herbert's Isle which was once the home of a hermit stood out on the water and looking to the east was the imposing view of Falcon Crag. These landmarks were soon past and we enjoyed some excellent walking past Stable Hill and on to the beauty spot of Friars Crag. This famous view point is best visited on a still summer's evening, providing an excellent view of the lake and the Jaws of Borrowdale (looking down towards Castle Crag). The name comes from the Friars that would bring supplies for the hermit St. Herbert, who would row across from his island at their signal. We continued  on past the ferry terminal and the "Theatre by the Lake" and on past the beautiful Hope Park into Keswick where both  walks ended. Keswick, the name of which derives from Old English for a cheese farm, is pronounced "Kezzick" and is one of the most popular resorts in the Lake District. Although the town has
old roots, mainly due to the mining activities it expanded rapidly as a tourist centre after the railway was built in 1865.The railway is now gone and access is by the A66 road.  Flora spotted today by both walks included Flag Iris, Jack by the Hedge, forget me not and spotted Orchid. Wild life seen today included Ravens, Buzzard, Canada Geese and red and Blue Damsel
Flies and Hardwick sheep, a hardy resilient animal able to withstand extremes of weather. The social hour was enjoyed by all at Keswick.