Ski Club of Manchester Walk, Boot Anticlockwise to Eel and Burnmoor Tarns, Saturday 9th May 2026

Reporter: Jonathan Pollock

Elizabeth Moore had kindly done a reccy of the walk to ensure it was relatively easy to tackle and might allow for some inclement weather.

We set off from the Boot Inn making a climb through the atmospheric Haws Wood. A raised platform provided a lovely view up to the fells. We continued south to the River Esk and had a delightful sunny stretch along the valley which was like an impressionist painting showing off great swathes of English bluebells. Then Liz sensibly planned a coffee break at the photogenic Doctor Bridge. We headed north through the Woolpack Inn then onto moorland.

Suddenly the clouds became threatening, so we put on waterproofs at a derelict stone house. The rain was cold and wind got up — ungloved hands became numb and some of us of had the ungainly challenge of putting on waterproof trousers on windswept open ground. Crossing a small beck with a ‘helpful’ piece of timber Jonathan slipped, nearly coming to grief in the boggy ground. We made Eel Tarn at just before noon.

At 12:30 we ate our packed lunches under the shelter of some impressive rock cliffs just above Brockshaw Beck with a sweeping view across the valley running back to Boot. We crossed Whillan Beck at Lambford (foot) Bridge.

At 13:40 we were overlooking Burnmoor Tarn which was delightfully uncrowded despite improving weather. Next to the Tarn is Burnmoor Lodge a foreboding dark brown building which looks as if it is being very slowly refurbished but is fenced off with barbed wire — Barry reminding us how horrible this cheap fencing can be. We took a relatively gentle decent on the Northwest side of the Whillan Beck valley stopping at about 15:00 for some of Steve’s delicious Eccles cakes — thank you! — and Brian’s fortifying flapjack.

We descended into pretty mossy woods arriving back at the Boot Inn at 15:30. This gave plenty of time and energy for us to prepare for supper later that evening.

Liz seemed a little apologetic that we had been “short changed” perhaps by not climbing higher — absolutely not as in our 7 miles we had real “value for money” enjoying a wonderful variety of scenery and weather — only 915 feet of elevation can give a great sense of grandeur.

All our group really enjoyed the manageable pace and the good company.

Our great thanks go to Liz.