Latrigg
Walk Date – 18th February 2016
Distance – 5.2 miles
Weather – dry, sunny spells, not cold, slight breeze on the top
The spell of cold, dry weather has come to an end for the time being. It rained all day yesterday so the drying out process has been stopped in its tracks. However, there’s a good forecast for today, before the rain returns tomorrow, so I opted for a solo walk up Latrigg.
Route
Here I am on Spooney Green Lane starting out for Latrigg which is up ahead of me.
The Skiddaw fells, with their tops camouflaged by cloud and snow, from Spooney Green Lane.
My outward route took me over the busy A66, the return leg will also involve crossing this road but that will be by a similar bridge further up the road there.
Some of the things you might see in Latrigg woods.
Looking across Keswick and Derwentwater to the north western fells. I had to remove one layer at this point, even in the shade it was quite warm work.
Two old gateposts at the first bend in the path. I had to wait a minute or two here as I could hear voices below, it turned out to be two runners charging their way up the path. I wish I could run and talk at the same time, well come to think of it, I just wish I could run!
What you might see in Gale Ghyll Woods.
The Skiddaw group of fells, still with their heads in the clouds.
At this point the path becomes a series of hairpin bends each providing a gently rising section of path.
The north western fells from the signpost. You can see how the path rises gently across the fell side, and how steep the ascent would be if it wasn’t there.
Another hairpin bend from the remains of a very old gatepost.
Another hairpin bend, but I am almost at the top. The deep grooves in the path the result of torrents of water running down during all the storms we’ve had and simply washing it away.
At the end of the hairpins is a seat with a view. Keswick is down below, at the northern end of Derwentwater, with the north western fells beyond it.
From this angle you can just see a little of Bass Lake over on the right. The little fell along its shore, with a splash of sun on it, is Barf.
Unfortunately there was quite a bit of cloud around this morning so the snow capped tops of the fells are not very distinct.
The view behind the seat. As you can see I’m not at the summit yet and that hump on the skyline isn’t it either.
Nobody but me up here at the moment.
I was just about to leave when Grisedale Pike suddenly got a splash of sunlight on it.
A rather misty shot of High Rigg, down there in St John’s in the Vale.
Walking across the broad top of Latrigg with a view of Clough Head, on the right, and the two Mell Fells over on the left.
There isn’t anything which marks the highest point on Latrigg but this scrape of rock is the generally accepted summit.
Over to my left are the cloud covered fells which are clustered below Skiddaw.
Snow capped Clough Head, and to the right of it you can just make out the slopes of Great Dodd. I had to put the hood up along here as it suddenly became very breezy.
The snow capped fell in front is Blease Fell, which is really the western shoulder of Blencathra.
I chanced a shot to the south while there was some cloud cover. In the centre is Bleaberry Fell, and the flat-topped, dark shape below it to the right is Walla Crag.
A look back as I begin to make my way down Latrigg.
A flat and broad expanse of grass makes for pleasant walking down off Latrigg.
Farm vehicles have made the grooves which were already there even deeper in the very wet ground, and although it wasn’t icy you were only a wrong step away from an unwelcome sit down, as it was very soft and slippery underfoot along here.
Another look back before the view disappears.
The grassy track eventually gives way to this gravel one, it passes through a group of gorse bushes and you have a view of Clough Head all the way along.
At the end of the gravel track is the junction with Brundhome Road. I turned right at the junction for the road walk back into Keswick. If you look carefully you’ll find a view of Robinson between the twigs on the lowest branch on the right hand side.
It was quite warm walking along here with the sun over on my left and sheltered from the breeze by the slopes of Latrigg on my right. There’s a clearer view of Robinson over there on the skyline too.
More storm damage. Down on my left the River Greta is flowing through the valley. During Storm Desmond the swollen river washed away large sections of the fell side and caused several landslips. The landslips have ripped the tarmac apart.
The damaged road from the other side. I kept coming across sections like this all the way along the road. A little further along from here the road had a barricade across it with a ‘ROAD CLOSED’ sign attached to it.
I’ve yet to walk along a forest road without coming across stacks of felled tree trunks somewhere along the route. I thought they had a lovely orange glow to them in the sunlight.
This is the second bridge crossing over the A66. Its not very pleasing to look at, but at least I have a view of Catbells as I cross over the noisy road.
Approaching the Calvert Trust Riding Centre, with quite a good view of Robinson in the centre behind it.
An even better view of Robinson through the trees a little further along the road.
A close up of the snow capped Robinson above the green slopes of High Snab Bank.
Sunny Robinson opposite a dark and brooding Causey Pike.
I’m about 100 yards away from the car as I reach the end of my walk and take this shot of Latrigg.
Finally, a view of Dodd, the little sunlit fell on the left, with Carl Side to the right. Two horses in their winter rugs are grazing in the field below, and two more walkers, by the gate on Spooney Green Lane, are just starting their walk up Latrigg. When I arrived there was only one car parked on Brundholme Road. When I returned two hours and twenty minutes later it was as full as a millipede’s sock drawer, I’m glad I came early.