|
GLW1203:
Rather Heath and Ashes
Wednesday
16th May 2012
It
being,
in Kendal, an unusually sunny day for this pretty poor
May, we drove to Staveley and parked at the Mill Yard
finding £4.23 on the ground by the car. We
determined to put the money in the first collecting
box we found for a charity of which we approved.
Our
start point was to be the top of Hollins Lane, above
Burneside so we caught the 555 back towards Kendal.
|
I
spent some time photographing the Elba Monument and
two Shetland ponies whilst a frustrated wife set off
across the extremely busy A591.
After a couple
of fields and passing a strange garden shelter (or was
it a rather grand water tank entrance?) we joined the
path taken by The
BOOTboys on
BB1215,
my birthday outing.
The
weather seemed cloudier than it had been before and
a cold northerly wind was blowing.
|
|
This time,
on reaching Moss Side, we found an attractive ivy covered
barn and some unusual hens. However, Margaret
had no interest in the pile of abandoned building stones
in the field. It shows the different interests
of Boys and Girls!
At
Ratherheath Tarn, this time we did what Tony had suggested
and followed the path round the lake, ignoring the "Private,
Windermere Angling Club Only" signs. The
few anglers didn't seem to mind.
|
|
Rejoining
the permitted path through Rather Heath, we passed some splendid gorse and
a large number of wind felled trees. Eventually
we reached Ashes Lane.
Beyond the caravan site,
this becomes a white road "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles".
I remember driving it many years ago. It
was unsuitable then.
"Unsuitable" is a Westmerian term
for "an interesting challenge".
|
After
the lane becomes a very rough track, there is a rocky
outcrop with such a fine view that we stopped for a
snack. I forgot to mention that the flask had
leaked at the bus stop so there was precious little
to drink but we still had a chocolate biscuit and an
apple on which to feast.
At
The Ashes, we parted company from the BB1215 route
and carried on past the attractive cluster of houses,
one with a splendid garden after which Margaret lusted.
It also had an interesting crow scarer- an artificial
raven
However, these were somewhat trumped by what looked
like a Voysey house before New Hall, where we turned
right to head to Staveley.
The woods were full
of bluebells, although past their best. The next
house we passed had a splendid early show of azaleas
and rhododendrons.
|
Once
over the A591, we dropped into the outskirts of Staveley;
for us, this is a part of the village that we have seldom
visited and found a number of interesting buildings and
gardens.
Back
at the Beer Hall in the Mill Yard, I was looking forward
to a pint of Hawkshead's finest but Margaret had other
ideas.
|
Lakeland Limited was calling so there we
went to enhance the Raynor family's fortunes with numerous
purchases and an early (and tasty) tea.
At the till was a
collecting box for Kendal Mountain Rescue. It
seemed an appropriate charity for our car-park findings.
After all, we might need to call them out one
day.
Don,
16th May 2012
|
Distance:
4.4 miles; Height climbed:
358 feet
E-mail addresses on this web site are protected
by
Spam Trawlers will be further frustrated
by
Spam Blocker:
help fight spam e-mail!
|
These
pages are
photo archives of
Don and Margaret's
Great
Little
Walks
BOOT
boys
Home
Page
|
