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Whittle Wander|
Keswick, Whinlatter, Broom Fell, Lord's Seat, Cumbria. Wed 29 Mar 2006 |
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Drove in to the car park at the visitor centre at the summit of Whinlatter Pass, Keswick; then drove out again when I saw that I would have to pay £4 to park my car. Once again, greed means getting nothing. £2 max should be the charge and I would have paid that. A short way up the pass road was a lay-bye so this is where I left the car. I continued west in the cold morning sunshine until I came to Scawgill Bridge. The map showed a waterfall in the pine forest so I set off along the path by the river. I soon arrived at Spout Force and had a look at it from the viewing area. A path wound up through the trees so I followed it to try and get up on to the fell. |
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Before long I was battling my way through dense gorse where the path had been allowed to deteriorate through neglect. Further on I had to climb over a huge tangle of fallen and felled trees. This is not what forest management is about and perhaps they should divert manpower from emptying parking meters to looking after the landscape. Eventually I emerged above the tree line and followed an easy path up to Broom Fell summit. The temperature was 5deg C but it felt very cold in the wind. It’s the first time I’ve walked in this area and I found the scenery very good. A substantial tall cairn adorned the summit and I sheltered behind it to have a quick coffee from my flask. The path to Lord’s Seat followed the open fell top and there were great views in all directions. |
| I didn’t linger when I got to the summit but descended to the minor summit of Barf, which had superb views over Bassenthwaite Lake and across to Skiddaw. The path was very wet in places though this could have been due to the recent heavy rain. This is where I stopped for my lunch and a superb place it was. |
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Marvellous views and a nice grassy ledge to shelter from the wind. I certainly needed my sit-mat as it was like sitting on a very wet sponge. By the time I set off again some patches of warm sun had emerged. I descended to Beckstones Gill and crossed into the Pine Forest. The main way ahead had a ‘closed’ sign up and a notice saying for access information phone a certain number. What use is that? |
| Another track took me up to a higher track where the going was easier and better underfoot as it was a forestry access road. It was an easy and pleasant walk back to the main Whinlatter visitor centre and car park. By now many people were about and enjoying themselves. A little further on I was back at the car. |
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