BB2605 : How Much?

Thursday 12th February 2026

It was Tony’s birthday outing.  It was a big one.  Birthday, not walk.  A bit after the actual day but that’s just the way things worked out.  I gave Tony some route options to which he predictably replied “How much?”  meaning how far would each be.  He chose the one I expected.  Not too far and even with a fair bit of faffing about, it ought to give us time to go over Kendal Fell, drop down to the Museum then on to the Brewery for the birthday treat he had promised us.

I should have mentioned that, for once, we allowed him a late start.  Indeed a very late start.  Partly so he could have his lunch at noon before actually hitting the trail and partly because the Brewery didn’t start serving food until late afternoon.

I should also have mentioned the weather forecast.  Both the BBC and the Met Office were predicting rain coming in for the afternoon.  Martin, who unfortunately had the lurgi and wasn’t able to join us, predicted that it would be fine.  Being a former professional balloon pilot, he had access to a superior weather forecast service which, fortunately, proved to be the more accurate.

The climb up to the Monument on the Castle Howe mound is quite steep.  Partly stepped and partly a slightly dodgy path with a steep drop to one side.  It was once a castle (11th Century motte-and-bailey) and this would no doubt have deterred marauders.

The monument is somewhat odd.  It is a tall, rectangular obelisk erected in 1788 to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1688 Glorious Revolution in which the Divine Right of Kings was curtailed.

In the distance we could see, steaming its way north, LNER Peppercorn Class A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter.  I have, of course, subsequently underlined it in my Ian Allen British Railways Locomotives Combined Volume, 1959 Edition, 10’6.

Before entering Serpentine Woods, we found the gate post in which a man and four children are carved, sculptor unknown.

In the woods we searched for and eventually found the place where the one-o-clock gun was positioned.  A crude wooden Xylophone now stands there.  We also found a set of concentric tree rings, purpose unknown but good fun for kids (of all ages).

Next we had to cross the golf course.  Stan was a bit disappointed not to find an angry golfer with whom he could have an argument as to who owned rights of access across the land.

A small field, an outpost of houses (with more interesting features) and another field led down to the small, modern Boundary Bank trading estate located next to the by-pass.  We continued north.  Ill bell could be seen looking grey.

We rounded Helsfell Nab and examined the huge structure now used as a barn but once was Helsfell Hall.

There had been so much to see and explore that we were now behind schedule but Tony wanted to find the caves under Kettlewell Crag which Stan remembered from his youth.  We found the crags but not the cave entrance.  I think it has been blocked up.  We also found the most evil style I have ever known.  It needed much force to stop the metal gate slamming back on you.

The lane known as The Tramway, presumable as it was used as such for quarry spoils, took us down to the top of Kendal.....

.... and Entry Lane took us down, passing the ancient Grandy Nook houses .....

.... and the not so ancient first house that we bought, into Maude’s Meadow.  There is a memorial to Samuel Clarke Noble in the middle dated 1929 but Stan insisted that he remembered the area, Noble’s Rest, being used as a rugby pitch.  So either Stan is much older than we thought or the memorial was moved when the Rugby Club decamped to the other side of town.

Approaching the Museum, we met Terry and later, inside, came Mike B.  The purpose of the visit was to see a temporary exhibition of old Kendal. 

There was much to remind Stan and Tony about their youthful days in the town and at the Grammar School but time was now tight- we had used up all the contingency I had built into the schedule.  So, after having our photo taken with the Polar bear and checking that our tickets allowed re-entry for 12 months, we left to return to the Brewery.

Here we met Stephen and Ian.   Tony kindly fed and watered us all liberally.  It was a jolly way to celebrate his birthday.  However, when the bill was presented there was a shriek of horror and the inevitable exclamation: “How Much?”

Don, Thursday 12^th February 2026

Comitibus:   

Don,         Bryan,         Stan,         Terry,         Tony,         Mike B,         Bruno

Comments

Maude's Meadow as a Rugby Pitch

Stan:  Maude's Meadow and Kendal Rugby Union Football Club. Kendal clubs did play at MM from 1872, but KRUFC was not formed until 1905. From 1906 until 1927 MM was the official ground of KRUFC following which they moved to the Mint Bridge ground which they eventually bought. They remained at Mint Bridge until the ground was sold to Sainsbury's.

Don:  Coincidentally, on Facebook recently was an ancient video of what looks like the celebratory end of a Rugby match, played at Maude's Meadow.

Click on the photo on the right for more excitement.

Staveley's Blue Ribbons

In last week's report (BB2604) I mentioned the blue ribbons on the footbridge railings in Staveley.  

This led to Amanda prompting me to find out their significance.  

I put the question to our learned friend in the village, Richard, who responded that he thought they were a tribute to a family man who had committed suicide.  This was unexpected and has affected many in the village profoundly.

Barley Bridge Weir

Also in last week's report, I referred to the breaching of the weir at Staveley's Barley Bridge and attributed it having been deliberately broken.  I had heard that some organisation (South Cumbria Rivers Trust?) had been planning such demolitions as part of a re-wilding plan, as happened with the Bowston weir.

However Bryan has discovered that:

The Barley Bridge Weir in Staveley collapsed in December 2025 due to a combination of long-term structural neglect, deterioration of 19th-century brickwork, and heavy rainfall.  The failure occurred following intense, heavy rain causing the structure to collapse into the River Kent. 

Nature doing the job for them at, presumably, a somewhat lower cost to the public purse!

Do you have any comments or questions?

If so, please click on .  We look forward to hearing from you.  If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate.  Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let us know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.

STATISTICS

BB2605 : How Much?

Date:

Thursday 12th February 2026

Features:

Kendal Fell

Distance in miles:

4.6

Height climbed in feet:

702

GPX track:

BB2605.GPX 

Comitibus:

Walking: Bryan, Don, Stan, Tony
Supping: Ian, Mike B, TV Mike, Terry,

Home

BB04

BB05

BB06

BB07

BB08

BB09

BB10

BB11

BB12

BB13

BB14

BB15

BB16

BB17

BB18

BB19

BB20

BB21

BB22

BB23

 BB24

 BB25

Archive