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High Rigg, nr Keswick, Cumbria. Wed 22 Dec 2004 |
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Regular readers of these pages will now be fed up of me complaining about the dark and wet drive from Whittle to Cumbria. Well the days are now supposed to be getting longer but it was still dark and wet. I arrived with Eric and his grandson Jimmy at the small lay-bye near Catlerigg stone circle, Keswick at about 7:40. It was still fairly dark as we set off heading east along the road. We took the first path south to take us up on to the fell and soon reached Tewet Tarn. It was a lovely green trail even though the weather was blowy and wet. On a nice day it must be a delight. At the church of St John's in the Vale we turned east along the road for a short way then down a track to skirt the east side of High Rigg. |
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Along the east side of High Rigg |
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St John's in the Vale. |
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| It was still very gloomy weather but eventually the outline of Castle Rock appeared ahead. Originally I'd planned for us to climb to the top but by the time we reached the base of the main cliff I realised we wouldn't have time as Eric had to get back for a Council meeting in Chorley at 17:30. What a stupid time for a meeting, just as the rush hour is at its height! So we returned to the main A591 and took a path directly up the south end of High Rigg. It's very strange that the path isn't marked on any of the Ordnance Survey maps but is well marked on the ground and in good condition. It was very pleasant climbing up through the lightly wooded areas along a soft grassy path. Over the top the trail wound in and around various knolls until we reached a small cairn, which appeared to be the summit. The cloud base was just above out heads but distant views were reduced by drizzle. On a clear day it must be a wonderful place to be. |
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Jimmy, Eric and Boyd on the summit of High Rigg with Thirlmere in the background. |
| A short steep descent took us back down to St John's in the Vale church where we stopped in the
entry porch to eat our sandwiches. Then we headed west along the road and down to the path crossing the valley and fields to Nest Brow on the A591. The narrow Castle Lane took us to the stone circle at Castlerigg where we wondered about the people who built it, and why. A place for the imagination to run riot. |
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Eric and Jimmy at the Castlerigg stone circle. |
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| Back at the car we changed into fresh clothes then drove through Keswick to visit the magnificent church of St Kentigerns at Crosthwaite. | |
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