Westmorland Way

WW14 Windermere to Underbarrow

Wednesday 20th October 2010

Now we know the Wway!

Paul Hannon's guide book to the Westmorland Way has arrived.

Fortunately, other than where I had deliberately chosen an alternative, we got most of it right.

Or, at least, sufficiently close not to warrant revisiting a section for that purpose!

Our start point today was Windermere station so we had to trek up the busy A591 for half a mile before actually joining the Wway as it dipped down over fields in order to cross the railway line.

Margaret thought the garden at Broomer Gill, on the other side of the railway, would have been perfect for an impressionist painting.

Crossing the tracks

The impressionist's garden

School Knott was in sight and we soon conquered this little hill.

Windermere and the Lakeland Fells from School Knott

It is a fabulous vantage point but, strangely, one that we had never been up before. And we could hardly have picked a better day, for the time of year. Hardly a cloud in the sky, lovely autumn colours and excellent air quality. The only downside was a cold breeze, which meant that we didn't linger there too long.

School Knott team picture

School Knott Tarn

After passing School Knott Tarn we briefly joined the Dales Way- the first section DW01 that we had tackled nearly four years ago. After parting company, the Wway follows the Gilpin south through gentle countryside as far as Gilpin Farm.

Washing at Hag End

An ancient lane

A Gilpin Bridge

Gilpin Farm sign

It then heads south east to Atkinson's Tarn, unnamed on the map but a Windermere Anglers' Tarn, so no doubt one in which Tony has stood for many a happy hour, up to his nethers in freezing water!

Atkinson's Tarn

Had I been constructing the route, I would have taken the Wway by St Catherine's Tower- the old partly ruined church near Crook that stands in the middle of a field.

A last look back at the lake district

St Catherine's Tower

Although we could see it in the distance, we passed some way to the south of it and it is not mentioned in the guide book. From a selfish point of view, I was quite pleased as it was taking us across paths that we had never before trodden, even though we were less than five crow miles from home.

Washing at Low Fold

White horse

Nearing Mountjoy Wood

We passed round the bottom of Mountjoy Wood before reaching Underbarrow where we had left Margaret's car.

Underbarrow with Scout Scar behind

All Saints Church, Underbarrow

In the second half of the walk, with the Lyth Valley coming into view, the nature of the countryside started to change; appropriately described in the Wwaybook as charming, unsung country.

This is our song for it.

Don, 20th October 2010