GLW2013 : A Grayrigg Round

Sunday 11th October 2020

When Margaret learned of where Tony and I had been on our Elephant and Kangaroo outing (BB2036) she wondered whether any of the route could be adapted as a Great Little Walk as it was an area that she and I had not previously explored together.

It being Sunday (and a lovely day), there was no difficulty in parking at Grayrigg.  One thing I noticed about the Church that had escaped me last time was that the tower had a gargoyle high up on the middle of each side.  I wonder if they represent anything or are merely decoration?

As per BB2036, we walked past Grayrigg Hall, a very smartly maintained farm, to go up the track towards High Barn with Whinfell Beacon and the masts forming the backdrop.  

The footpath left the track and headed for Whinhowe Gill, a pleasant beck and possibly a good place to bring young children to picnic and play in the stream.

Beyond is Whinhowe itself with its ruined barns and rusting old farming machinery.  A scrap collectors dream!

We stopped for lunch at the clay shooting shelter.

Refuelled, we descended the radio mast access track to the narrow, winding road that runs below the Whinfell range, and joins Grayrigg to the A6.

We had fine views of Longsleddale, .....

..... the Coniston Hills......

..... and back to Whinfell.

On BB2036 we had crossed over to a track that took us to another ancient implement graveyard.  Today, however, we turned left along the road until we crossed Whinhowe Gill once more.  We followed the gill south, firstly high above its banks then dropping down to a narrow wooded path that led to the confluence with Grayrigg Hall Beck.  Between the becks and before the footbridge would be another good picnic place for young children.  

I don't know what it is about this area but a little further on we found a graveyard for abandoned cars, just before Bye Mill.  Bye Bye cars?

The A685 lay ahead but fortunately so did a footpath that led down to Blackett Bottom where a left turn pointed us back in the direction of Grayrigg.

This is an area of pleasant rather than beautiful countryside but also offering views of the distant hills.  It certainly qualifies as a Great Little Walk.

Don, Sunday 11th October 2020