Whitbarrow Scar, Cartmell Fell, Witherslack, Cumbria.
[21.5 km] Wed 02 Jan 2013

SD 4406 8287

It was a gloomy weather forecast and the rain had already started when I arrived at a lay-bye near the Derby Arms at Witherslack. The road is a dead end but used to be the main A590 before the new dual carriageway was build. It was just coming light as I set off along the road towards Mill Side. I soon left the road to turn left along a rough track to a house then on along a very wet track to Strawberry Syke. It took me to a lane which I followed into Mill Side. There was an information board but it didn’t show much in the way of footpaths. A track took me up into Buckhouse Wood and I was hoping to find a path to take me up to the southern end of Whitbarrow Scar.

Further along the track I saw a ‘permissive path’ sign heading up to the left. I took it and was pleasantly surprised to see that it had stone edgings and was in good condition. It was shown on my map but as I got higher I hoped to find another path going straight up the hillside. I couldn’t find one so had to head straight up through the trees on a steep climb to a wall. It was here that I came across a muddy path which wasn’t shown on the map.

I was only at an altitude of 150m but soon headed into low cloud as I followed a very muddy path up towards the Whitbarrow Scar summit. The path became less muddy and was easy to follow but with no visibility I just pressed on to the summit cairn which is a memorial and has inscribed on a stone tablet:
"This Reserve Commemorates CANON G.A.K. HERVEY 1893-1967 Founder of the Lake District Naturalists Trust"
It commemorated George Aiden Kingsford Hervey who was the Rector of Great Salkeld and a Botanist.

It was here that I saw a lone runner coming up through the mist. She reached the cairn and continued without stopping. I turned left and began the descent to the west. The path was firm underfoot at the start but as I got down to the trees became very muddy. Across a football field I crossed another field to the road at Witherslack Hall School.

The road headed north through Low Park Wood to Pool Bank where I left it to turn left along a muddy track. I was heading for a footbridge over the River Winster and was concerned that it may not be accessible because if recent rain. Fortunately the bridge was there and fully accessible from both sides. The field on the west bank was very wet and parts were underwater. At the road I crossed over then walked past Swallow Mire Farm, along another track to the road at Cartmell Fell. I took another track so that I could approach the Church of St Anthony’s through the rear gate.

This is the first time I’ve visited this hidden gem and was surprised to see how old it was. Inside the lights came on automatically and I had a pleasant wander round the early 16th century church. I left through the main front Lych Gate, which is a memorial to the men who died in the Great War. The hall on the left used to be the local School but it closed in the early 70s. I followed tracks and woodland paths to Thorphinsty Hall where I joined Tarn Green Road.

It was a pleasant change being on solid ground. I stopped briefly to have a look at the old waterwheel at Low Tarn Green. I pressed on to Holme Road and turned left to reach Bleacrag Bridge over the River Winster. On the bridge is a boundary stone showing the old boundary between Lancashire and Westmoreland. The interesting thing to note is the different spelling of the bridge name. The stone reads as follows:

Blaycrag Bridge
River Winster
LANCASHIRE WESTMORELAND
1816

At Slate Hill I headed through the woods to Church Road then at High Fell end headed off across fields and a track again. If I’d known what I was going to find I’d have continued along the road. The path was just a sea of horrible deep mud. I was so glad to reach the road and short walk back to my car.