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BB0610
Whitbarrow, Yewbarrow and a history lesson
Thursday
4th May 2006
I
just can't get this thing about clouts right. After
last week's little problem, "She Who Knows About These
Things" informed me that what I thought was May blossom
was in fact Blackthorn blossom. The clue is in
the name, it was only April and anyway spring is late
this year.
So,
better informed this time, I decided clouts should still
be uncast.
We
weren't helped by the forecasts. BBC promised
wall-to-wall sunshine whilst MWIS threatened showers
and 55 mph winds.
We
chose Whitbarrow Scar as I had to take the car in for
its MOT in Grange so Bryan picked Tony up in Kendal
then came to Grange for me and we parked at Raven's
Lodge, under White Scar and set off towards Rawsons
and up into the forest. It was almost raining
but not a problem in the trees. What became a
problem was the awful mess the Forestry Commission have
made of what used to be nice forest trails. It
is a disgrace. They are now massively rutted and made
what should have been a pleasant gentle stroll into
more of an obstacle course. See photo for the
evidence at Rut Junction!
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Rut
Junction
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Cuckoo
Spotting
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Coming
out of the forest at the north end of Wakebarrow it
was definitely raining but eagle eyes Hardaker spotted
that the low limestone outcrop actually had an even
lower overhang where we took shelter and a team picture!
It was whilst sat here that I saw my first ever
cuckoo. How do I know it was a cuckoo? Because
as it flew by it told us its name.
The
rain was very light and didn't look set to last but
even when it stopped the visibility was disappointingly
poor so when we reached Lord's Seat we could see there
was quite a vista that was not going to be seen today.
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Lord's
Seat
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Whitbarrow
Scar
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As
we descended the seriously steep Whitbarrow Scar path
down to the Whitbarrow Hall seriously naughty boys'
school the sun came out and it started to become seriously
hot. Also the air quality began to improve and
it became seriously clear. After the Hall
we went up the track to Lawns beyond which we came across
an old guy looking lost. Whether he was really
lost or he was using it as a pretence to ear-hole a
ready audience I am not sure. Anyway we got the
history of the Stanley family back to the 12th century,
how Lord Derby was given Whitbarrow estates as a reward
after the Battle of Bosworth, how and when the hall
was built and how the descendent old girl is living
in a poor way in the village now. I am sure Tony
or Bryan could give you a more detailed account if you
want it so enrapt were they. Not!
Shortly
afterwards we took a small detour to take in the top
of Yewbarrow and it was well worth the minimal effort
involved for the panoramic view of Whitbarrow Scar.
It
was now very hot and, having got the clouts decision
wrong, I had to remove the lower part of my zip off
trouser legs to reveal some fetchingly blue tights.
Or to be more precise to unzip the trouser leg
bottoms and roll them down into my socks because I couldn't
be bothered taking my boots off. Sometimes Bryan
despairs about me. Or rather about being seen
out with me! I have a nasty feeling Tony is going
to distribute an incriminating photo before too long
so I will pre-empt him:
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A
lovely view
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Another
lovely view
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Given
the warmth and the exercise, it was too good an opportunity
not to close one's eyes and drift away. Bryan
claimed that the sound of the wind kept him awake but
I can vouch for the fact and have the photographic evidence
that before the wind got up all that could be heard
was the sound of the meadow pipits and the snores from
the two sleeping beauties. However up the wind
did get and it was mighty blowey
Refreshed
we made our way through the woods out of the wind and
down to the road and then bridle path back towards the
car. Before reaching it Bryan decided that the
walk had been far too tame and suddenly set off vertically
up the hill. It turned out to be a very good move-
he had thought that it would be a shame to go home without
first seeing the base of the scar at close quarters.
And quite a remarkable sight it is.
From
there it was an easy short stroll back to the car and
on to Grange where the good news was that the old banger
had passed its MoT.
It
had seemed a very gentle walk with no real steep climbs
apart from the little burst at the end so it was a surprise
when the computer told me what we had covered. It
didn't feel anything like that.
Don,
4th May 2006
STATISTICS
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Distance:
8.6
miles
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Height
climbed:
1,850 feet
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Map
reference:
See Map
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Wainwrights:
Whitbarrow
Scar
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