I love maps of The Lake District and take great pleasure in the tiny detail of the 1:25,000 series. There is nothing better than spreading out on the carpet with a map of central Lakeland and a steaming cup of tea. That’s what long winter nights are for, planning your summer adventures!
My latest exciting map purchase has been of single sheet Ordnance Survey maps dating back to the 1950’s covering areas like Buttermere, Borrowdale and Ullswater. The fells have not changed and happily most of the settlements remain the same too. However the map covering Keswick shows a section of the railway between Penrith to the West Coast. The North Lake District line connecting Keswick to Penrith closed in 1972 and is now a scenic 4 mile trail for bikes, boots and dogs. There are several dog friendly Lake District cottages in the surrounding areas which would make an ideal base from which to explore this lesser known historic part of the Lake District.
Trees line the route through Greta Gorge as the trail makes its way out of Keswick. A boardwalk section takes you round the hillside, which the train would have passed through. You can see the remains of the tunnel arch if you look behind you as you finish the boardwalk.
The original railway crossed 78 bridges between Keswick and Penrith, 8 of them remain on the path between Keswick and Threlkeld, offering excellent stopping points for peering over the girders into the water below and daydreaming.
There is a wealth of natural and manmade features along the route and I like to look out for the hidden relics of the time when the trains ran along here. See how many you can find! Stop to explore every gate and stile. Some lead into woodland and ancient silver birch plantations, others right under the modern A66 road and towards Castlerigg.
Along the route you will find two old railway huts, great for a lunch stop on a chilly day. I am always fascinated to think what history these little building have. Look out for the blackened walls inside, relics of the days when a fire would have burnt to keep the workers warm. The information boards inside tell you about the wide variety of wildlife to be spotted along the route. Apart from the stalking herons in the river below, I like to look for red squirrels when I reach the final bridge to Threlkeld.
There are plenty of Lake District cottages ideally located for enjoying the railway line whether you walk, cycle or even run. The Salutation Inn and The Horse and Farrier, both in Threlkeld are highly recommended for a lunch stop before turning back to enjoy the route from the opposite direction.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Walking At Night In The Lake District
Now that all the fuss of Christmas and New Year is over we can get back to the proper business of being on the fells!
Why not try something different this year and head out after dark. January and February offer some of the best opportunities for a moonlit walk with this time of year having the highest luminosity. The Lakeland fells take on a whole different character once the sun has set and look utterly spellbinding in moonlight, it truly is a sight to behold. You can even take your trusty pooch with you, apparently most of them have quite good vision in the dark. Unfortunately my dog Moss is actually afraid of the dark so I’ll probably have to leave him at home on this occasion.
Choose a fell you are familiar with and one that does not have sheer edges you can walk off! Latrigg, Barrow, Binsey and Dodd are excellent starter hills and easily accessible from several dog friendly Lake District cottages in the area. With the right conditions you could even attempt Skiddaw or the smooth western flanks of Helvellyn, both of which have summit shelters to enjoy a hot drink in!
For a moonlit walk you will need your usual hill walking kit plus extra warm layers, a hot flask and some yummy chocolate. A map, compass and first aid kit are essential as is your head torch and spare batteries. On a clear night you should be able to walk with the light of the moon - however it is imperative to still take a head torch for emergencies or if the weather changes. Use the red light function for map reading or anything else that requires extra light. This will not affect your night vision when you start walking again.
Familiarise yourself with the route in daylight and make a note of any key features to be aware of. Leave a route plan with someone responsible and, where possible, notify the local mountain rescue team of your plans. It is not uncommon for well meaning folk to report lights on the fells leading to the rescue teams being scrambled, only to find the lights belong to people who don’t need rescuing!
Once you are finished and back off the fell you can kick back and relax in the warmth of one of the many Lake District cottages in the area or nip to the nearest pub for that well earnt pint of ale!
Why not try something different this year and head out after dark. January and February offer some of the best opportunities for a moonlit walk with this time of year having the highest luminosity. The Lakeland fells take on a whole different character once the sun has set and look utterly spellbinding in moonlight, it truly is a sight to behold. You can even take your trusty pooch with you, apparently most of them have quite good vision in the dark. Unfortunately my dog Moss is actually afraid of the dark so I’ll probably have to leave him at home on this occasion.
Choose a fell you are familiar with and one that does not have sheer edges you can walk off! Latrigg, Barrow, Binsey and Dodd are excellent starter hills and easily accessible from several dog friendly Lake District cottages in the area. With the right conditions you could even attempt Skiddaw or the smooth western flanks of Helvellyn, both of which have summit shelters to enjoy a hot drink in!
For a moonlit walk you will need your usual hill walking kit plus extra warm layers, a hot flask and some yummy chocolate. A map, compass and first aid kit are essential as is your head torch and spare batteries. On a clear night you should be able to walk with the light of the moon - however it is imperative to still take a head torch for emergencies or if the weather changes. Use the red light function for map reading or anything else that requires extra light. This will not affect your night vision when you start walking again.
Familiarise yourself with the route in daylight and make a note of any key features to be aware of. Leave a route plan with someone responsible and, where possible, notify the local mountain rescue team of your plans. It is not uncommon for well meaning folk to report lights on the fells leading to the rescue teams being scrambled, only to find the lights belong to people who don’t need rescuing!
Once you are finished and back off the fell you can kick back and relax in the warmth of one of the many Lake District cottages in the area or nip to the nearest pub for that well earnt pint of ale!
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Greystoke - It's not all about Tarzan!
Greystoke is a charming little village with traditional slate roofed cottages dating from the 17th century. Just five miles west of Penrith, Greystoke has a pretty village green with an ancient market cross thought to date back to the early 1600s. Unfortunately it has no direct link to Tarzan but we think he once stayed at one of the very first Lake District holiday cottages in the area.
Situated opposite the village Green is The Boot and Shoe, a 17th Century Coaching Inn. It is a traditional family owned pub serving homemade meals and locally produced real ale along with specialty curry, steak and tapas nights. All year round you will find an eclectic range of live music performed on Sunday afternoons. Watch out for the Christmas Carols along with traditional mulled wine and mince pies. If you are not tired enough after a day in the fells you can join in with the Boot Music Jam session playing, singing or just listening, every 2nd and 4th Monday.
Greystoke holds a beer festival with live music in September raising funds for the open-air swimming pool. Tickets are available locally or volunteer for a stint behind the bar in exchange for free entry!
The village store is situated right in the heart of the village. You can expect friendly service from the family run store, selling the usual newspapers and groceries along with local meat and freshly baked bread. Open seven days a week, the store also has a post office counter.
A jewel in Greystoke’s crown is the open-air swimming pool which opened in 1973. There is a small toddlers pool adjacent to the main pool, which has a small slide into the shallow end. Snacks and drinks are available to enjoy sitting on the poolside picnic benches. The pool is open between April and September and is staffed by volunteers so it is recommended that you ring ahead or check their website for opening times.
The pool is part of the District Sport Association, which also offers two children’s play areas, a football field and free village car park.
For safe family cycling, Greystoke Forest, part of the castle estate, offers miles of tracks in a beautiful woodland setting.
An important location for cyclists, Greystoke is at the crossroads of the Coast to Coast and Lands End to John O’Groats route. The well-appointed tea garden and cycle café offers pretty views across parkland to Greystoke Castle and all manner of home made cakes, cream teas and lunches for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. The barn operates a self service for cyclists with not only hot food and drink, but spare inner tubes, chain oil and sudocreme!
The cycle café also runs ‘quirky workshops’ all year round from dry stone walling, chicken wire sculptures and first aid to all manner of painting and drawing. It is worth checking their website for the extensive and eclectic list.
St Andrews church is a good example of a pele tower, structure unique to the north of England, specifically built to protect against attack from invading Scottish forces. The church holds much of interest including ancient stained glass, modern sculptures, and artefacts dating from the 14th century with full details on information boards throughout the church.
There are several Lake District cottages in the surrounding areas of Greystoke which make an ideal base from which to explore this unknown quantity of Cumbria.
Situated opposite the village Green is The Boot and Shoe, a 17th Century Coaching Inn. It is a traditional family owned pub serving homemade meals and locally produced real ale along with specialty curry, steak and tapas nights. All year round you will find an eclectic range of live music performed on Sunday afternoons. Watch out for the Christmas Carols along with traditional mulled wine and mince pies. If you are not tired enough after a day in the fells you can join in with the Boot Music Jam session playing, singing or just listening, every 2nd and 4th Monday.
Greystoke holds a beer festival with live music in September raising funds for the open-air swimming pool. Tickets are available locally or volunteer for a stint behind the bar in exchange for free entry!
The village store is situated right in the heart of the village. You can expect friendly service from the family run store, selling the usual newspapers and groceries along with local meat and freshly baked bread. Open seven days a week, the store also has a post office counter.
A jewel in Greystoke’s crown is the open-air swimming pool which opened in 1973. There is a small toddlers pool adjacent to the main pool, which has a small slide into the shallow end. Snacks and drinks are available to enjoy sitting on the poolside picnic benches. The pool is open between April and September and is staffed by volunteers so it is recommended that you ring ahead or check their website for opening times.
The pool is part of the District Sport Association, which also offers two children’s play areas, a football field and free village car park.
For safe family cycling, Greystoke Forest, part of the castle estate, offers miles of tracks in a beautiful woodland setting.
An important location for cyclists, Greystoke is at the crossroads of the Coast to Coast and Lands End to John O’Groats route. The well-appointed tea garden and cycle café offers pretty views across parkland to Greystoke Castle and all manner of home made cakes, cream teas and lunches for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. The barn operates a self service for cyclists with not only hot food and drink, but spare inner tubes, chain oil and sudocreme!
The cycle café also runs ‘quirky workshops’ all year round from dry stone walling, chicken wire sculptures and first aid to all manner of painting and drawing. It is worth checking their website for the extensive and eclectic list.
St Andrews church is a good example of a pele tower, structure unique to the north of England, specifically built to protect against attack from invading Scottish forces. The church holds much of interest including ancient stained glass, modern sculptures, and artefacts dating from the 14th century with full details on information boards throughout the church.
There are several Lake District cottages in the surrounding areas of Greystoke which make an ideal base from which to explore this unknown quantity of Cumbria.
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