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OS Grid ref: NY 31628 24994
Lat/Long: 54.615449, -03.060247
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Today is May Bank Holiday and I knew the weather forecast was
for rain from later in the morning. The M6 motorway was almost
deserted for my drive north. I reached the second Threlkeld road
turn off the A66 and parked on the verge which has a
hardstanding area. Another car soon arrived and a man and a
young boy got out to set up their bikes for a ride. There was
already a little rain in the air so I set off in full
waterproofs. |
The first bridge. |
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The line opened in 1864 and closed in 1972. The line west of
Keswick closed in 1966. The last time I walked it was 2011 when
all the bridges were in place. Since then we’ve had storm
Desmond in Dec 2015. During the storm nearby Honister Pass
recorded 341mm of rainfall in 24hours. Also, nearby Thirlmere
recorded 405mm in the same period. Between Keswick and Threlkeld
8 bridges were needed to cross the winding River Greta. The
storm washed some away. Repairs have been done, new bridges
fixed and the path re-surfaced. In spite of heavy rain there
were plenty of people out enjoying it. |
New surface and bench. |
Hut by the track |
26th May 2011 |
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The path starts immediately across the road and down a zig zag
to the River Greta level and first bridge. Once over I had trees
both sides and before long people, runners and cyclists were out
on the trail. The surface is tarmac and excellent walking. I
came to the wooden hut by the track line that I’d passed 10
years ago. After a mile I came to the new bridge where a link
track joins the minor road near Brundholme. |
Inside the hut. |
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I’m planning to access the road here on the way back. Further on
is a path diversion on the north side of the valley where the
original line was washed away during Storm Desmond in 2015.
During the storm nearby Honister Pass recorded 341mm of rainfall
in 24hours. Also, nearby Thirlmere recorded 405mm in the same
period. Between Keswick and Threlkeld 8 bridges were needed to
cross the winding River Greta. The storm washed some away.
Repairs have been done, new bridges fixed and the path
re-surfaced. |
Approaching the first short
tunnel. |
View from the tunnel. |
Same view 26th May 2011 |
View from the tunnel. |
The Bobbin Mill. |
Storm Desmond aftermath 2015. |
The last Train Sat 4th March 1972. |
Bobbin Mill Tunnel |
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Approaching the spot where the bridge takes the A66 across the
valley I saw the new portal of the Bobbin Mill Tunnel ahead. It
has a satestone of 2020. It wasn’t accessible 10 years ago and
they've added a section at either end. The internal lighting is
bright and impressive. Out the other side was a plaque by the
track referring to the concrete bridge overhead. |
Mosedale Beck. |
Bobbin Mill Tunnel interior. |
Bobbin Mill Tunnel interior. |
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Greta Bridge. Voted Best Concrete Engineering Structure Of
The Century September 1999.
Consulting Engineer: Scott Wilson
Kirkpatrick & Partners.
Contractor: Tarmac Construction.
Maintained by: The Highways Agency. |
Route of the old Railway. |
I was now on the outskirts of Keswick and soon crossed over
the A5271 road and adjacent River Greta then almost immediately
was on the Keswick Railway Station platform. It now seems to be
part of the adjacent hotel and is still as grim looking as when
I was here 10 years ago. |
Greta Bridge over the Bobbin Mill Tunnel. |
Reaching Keswick Railway Station today. |
The same view in May 2011. |
Keswick lads leave the Station to head for the front on 14th
Sep 1914. |
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I set off again by the car parking area then east along
Brundholme Road and up a rough track where I stopped to eat my
sandwiches. I continued up to rejoin the main Brundholme Road
higher up. I crossed over the main A66 and then into Brundholme
Wood. The road was now deteriorating and a road closed sign was
warning to vehicles. The road undulated and sections were
falling apart due to subsidence. |
Collapsing road in Brindholme Wood. |
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I was high above the valley but couldn’t see much due to the
density of the woodland. I left the road to turn right down a
path through the trees then a flight of wooden steps down to the
River Greta. I followed the north bank and back to the rail
track route where I had to climb the fence to regain the track
even though I was on a path. Further east I reached the
connecting path to the minor road then up to Wescoe. The rain
increased as I walked back towards Threlkeld. At the next road I
turned right and back to my car where the parking area was now
full. |
Full parking area when I got back. |
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