GLW2017 : Killington Reservoir

Sunday 22nd November 2020

Finding a new walk locally is becoming increasingly difficult.  However, whilst contemplating a BOOTboy outing, the idea of Killington Reservoir came to mind.  A bit of research led to two possibilities.

One from the ConradWalks website is totally on road.  Over 5 miles of it.

The other, from MyPacer, hugs the lake.  At 3.3 miles / 223 feet this seemed favourite, given the chilly wind and the possibility of showers.

To reach our chosen start point, I thought I would switch my brain off and let Uncle Google's perfidious daughter take us there.  I told her where we wanted to go and from where we were going to start.  She told us which way to head and how long it would take.  And then she sulked or went for her midday break or whatever. Not another word did she utter.

Never mind, I thought.  Get on the back road to Kirkby Lonsdale, pass under the motorway then take the first road on the left and that will take you in the right direction. Well, there were roads off to the right but it was nearly three miles before we found the first road on the left and that proved to be a dead end although it did give us a good view over Wyndhammere.  

Eventually we met the Old Scotch Road which I knew would take us directly to Killington Lake.  However, I reckoned without a road closure sign so we had to undertake a detour before returning to the OSR near Three Mile House.  It was not long afterwards that we reached Killington Reservoir where we found a good parking place.

It was chilly with a nasty wind coming from the southwest- exactly the direction we were headed with the lake on our right.  Across the water we could see the Killington Motorway Service Area and hotel.  

Soon we came to the Sailing Club HQ.  Lots of canoes and yachts laid up for the C-19 duration.  The shorter walk route went through here but the gate was locked.  

Instead, we continued along the road to the south end of the lake.  

I thought I had found a way to the lakeside path but the cold was getting to us.  To return the way we came would be about 1¼ miles.  To continue would be another 3 or more miles.  We turned round.  

By the side of the lake we saw the occasional angler, sitting motionless.  I can't understand what pleasure they get.  

We got our pleasure from the exercise and particularly from the coffee and cake that we had back at the car just as it started to rain.  We'll return one day when it is warmer and the ground isn't boggy.

Don, Sunday 22nd November 2020