BB1442 : In a Valley Let Alone

Thursday 27th November 2014

In a Valley Let Alone sounds as if it should be the title of an epic poem but, as far as I am aware, it is not.  It is the title of the report of a walk around the Winster valley. Posted on the EveryTrail website by Skelwithpad, it provided the multiple inspiration for today.

Firstly, the forecasts weren't too clever.  In fact, the prevalent word was "murky" and we didn't fancy going high and not seeing anything.

Secondly, the fact that Skelwithpad had posted his tracklog gave us the opportunity to test our gps skills by using them to follow someone else's route.

I didn't have to wait long.  We parked at the Holy Trinity Church, then, leaving its exploration for later, set off south following the GPS trail.  

Looking across the Winster valley to the fine houses

Three hundred yards later we were there at Bryan Houses.

There was little point in delaying our walk further so we followed the Skelwithpad trail as it led us up Crag Lane.  When we passed through a lightly wooded area, the Garmin was struggling to know which way we should be going but it was pretty obvious.  Once across the A5074 it really got confused and tried to send us up the wrong path only to then tell us, Duke of York style, to go back down again.  From then on, however, it more or less behaved itself though it did have momentary lapses.

The Skelwithpad Trail led us up over the wonderfully named Bow Mabble Breast "white road" and along other quiet paths and roads through pleasant countryside north then west to return to the A5074.

It was here that Martin suggested a different route onwards, one that would take us to a viewpoint that was new to me.  The gps experiment had worked and we now knew how to use the Garmin to follow someone else's trail.  Also that trail appeared to be heading into territory that we believed not to allow public access so Martin's diversion seemed a good idea.

His route led us through Bellman Houses and Bellman Ground before turning south to the very impressive Rosthwaite Farm complex, complete with its horses, statues, pond, hens and a pal of Tony's working on the garden.

We left the path to climb to the top of Rosthwaite Heights.  This offers a different perspective of Windermere from that of either Gummer's How to the south or Orrest Head to the north- a sort of half-way house.  It is a fine viewpoint.

Looking north over Windermere

Our decision to stay low was vindicated by the lack of sight of the top of Coniston Old Man.  It was indeed somewhat murky but nevertheless a good place to take lunch (although, for Tony, nearly an hour too late).

Our route back led us past Ghyll Head reservoir and along to the Birks Bridge Ford.  We didn't need to cross it but spent a while playing ducks and drakes, skimming pebbles across the River Winster.

Playtime over, we headed north on the footpath to the Georgian looking Winster House where we joined, left erroneously and rejoined the Skelwithpad Trail.

Soon, we were back at the church.  

Holy Trinity Church, Winster

This we examined before jumping in the car to be driven five hundred yards to the Brown Horse.

The return home was enlivened by John deciding that we ought to drive through the Birks Bridge Ford, so we did.  And then we did it again the other way round as we hadn't needed to do it in the first place. And then we went home and the valley was let alone once more.

Don, Thursday 27th November 2014

Blue is the Skelwithpad route.  

Red is the BOOTboys trail.

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1442 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - see: Which Wainwright When?

For the totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see: BB Log.

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me!
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