Westmorland Way

WW03: Gaythorne Hall to Maulds Meaburn

Saturday 22nd May 2010

It was the hottest and best day of the year. Hotter than Germany. Hotter than France. Hotter, even, than Greece. There was only one substantial cloud in the sky over the whole of England. But as we drove up the M6 to Tebay we could see it lurking ominously ahead. And as we passed Orton, we knew for sure that it was hanging over Crosby Ravensworth and the rest of our planned route on the third stage of the Westmorland Way.

All that sun cream that we had lavished on ourselves was to be a complete waste. On the other hand, even if the views were coated in gloom, it would keep the temperature down to a level more suited to physical activity.

With us today were Roger and Denise. At our suggestion, they had undertaken WW01 the day after us, had enjoyed it just as much and were keen to sample more of the area.

We parked on Bank Moor near the Tumulus and headed east across moor and northeast by field and woodlands to pick up the track down to Gaythorne Hall to rejoin the Wway where, to Margaret's delight, there was the first of many displays of washing.

Gaythonre Hall washing

Gaythorne Cottage washing

Bank Moor team picture

From the Hall we followed the track south south west to Gaythorne Cottages (and more washing) and then back onto the moor and to the car, close to which we stopped for our team picture.

The bridle path heads north west across the moor before dropping down to Crosby Ravensworth. High above the Lyvennet Beck we found a seat with what would have been a very pleasant view on a clear sunny day. Lyvennet; an unusual name for these parts. It sounds as if it ought to have a distillery on it.

"Will ye no take a wee dram of The Lyvennet, Margaret?"

"Och aye, Donny, ye wee rascal. Make it a double."

Tne Lyvennet Valley

Down in pretty Crosby Ravensworth, there was plenty more washing on display. St Lawrence's Church looked in good order, the coronation bench seat less so! It seemed to be the school fete as the bunting was out and in the playground was a dodgem car arena.

Crosby Ravensworth

Second CR washing

School Fete dodgems

First CR washing

St Lawrence's Church

Coronation seat

Maulds Meaburn

We followed the road to Maulds Meaburn, another fine village but with a warning freshly attached to the reverse of the road sign which could be interpreted as "Gyppos, get lost!"

Presumably the village has its fair share of travellers before and after the Appleby Horse Fair.

Having crossed the Lyvennet, we headed back south its the eastern side.

This took us by a building, Flass House* , that, with its Palladium style, looked as if it more properly should have been in Brighton.

No caravans, vehicles, camping, fires!

Apparently it was not long ago a school for the performing arts although there was no hint of this as we passed by. The school was successfully sued in 2004 for breach of contract because a singing course failed to live up to expectations and maybe it never recovered from the £33,000 fine?

Flass House

You can read more about Flass House at the National Monuments Record website.

The car, the path and the sunshine!

We returned along the river to Crosby Ravensworth and back across the Moors to the car. At last, the cloud had dissipated and the sunshine that the other 99.999999% of the population had enjoyed became ours.

I confess I drove back over the moors on the grassy bridle path. However, even as the police car passed by just as we entered it, I wasn't worried, as it is marked on the map as a bridle path open to all vehicles. That's me!

Our objective was the Butcher's Arms in Crosby Ravensworth, which apparently reopened in April but, today, was closed until 6 p.m..

As it was only 5:52, it was clearly unreasonable to expect us to wait. We headed instead for the George at Orton.

Maybe that was a mistake. It is a bit run down and the beer garden was full of dandelions and the sound of the kitchen extractor.

The sign outside and the wall of hens were amusing, however.

Customers wanted!

The George's hens

Having Roger and Denise with us for company on this stage had been good and I hope they might join us again on a future stage or two.

It was a stunning evening as we drove home and, of course, as we progress along the Wway, the distances to travel will become thankfully shorter!

Don, 22nd May 2010

By the way, Tony advises that the fish spotted on WW02 was
"a stone loach also known as a snotty bully".

* Flass House Update:

It is now over ten years since I wrote this report. Since that time Flass House has been through some troubled times, having been used for growing cannabis on a major commercial scale and later becoming a target for "Urban Explorers".

Click on The Steeple Times "before and after" picture below for the story. It's a good read.

If you are thinking that their "before" photo of the house as it used to be bears an uncanny resemblance to mine, shown higher up, so it does!! It would appear that they have used my photo for their article!

Flass House was sold at auction in 2020 for £500,000.

Don, June 2020