BOOTboys

GLW2113 : Things Behind Ings

Saturday 20th March 2021

Ings was our next target as a start point for another GLW. The trouble is the A591. To perform a circuit to the south would involve a lengthy stretch along what has become a busy road despite Lockdown. The solution was to go north in order to go south.

Having crossed the A591 we took the road up to Broadgate Farm. We enjoyed the views east to Reston Scar.....

..... and north to Sour Howes and Sallows.....

..... then turned south at Mislet- a rather fine house. Further down, at Heaning we would take the bridle path that lead down to the A591 and a direct crossing to where we wanted to be.

Heaning is the site of the Windermere Lake Cruises' repair depot and Google Earth gave the impression of it being an interesting place to pass, having various boats to be seen in the yard. What hadn’t dawned on me was that was a working week activity and that on Saturday the workshop would be closed and all the boats put away. Or maybe with the current lack of activity on the lake there is no work currently needing to be done. Either way, there was nothing to see except an old tin-roofed building that might have been a croft or stable boy's dwelling at one time.

South of the A591 was a somewhat different matter. This very minor road we remembered from a night many years ago when we used it, somewhat unsuccessfully, as a would-be detour to avoid a lengthy traffic hold-up. I remember having to stop and open many gates. Now several have cattle grids have appeared but there are still a few gates, not that this deterred us when on foot apart from the worry of picking up something nasty from the latches.

Just before the railway bridge we found a grassy knoll to have our butties and enjoy the panorama. The high cloud made an interesting display whilst more lurked amongst the hills.

Next was Blackmoss, a large cattery with only one cat in it. Another C-19 hit business.

Soon we reached Whasdike, a “Full Circle Retreat” specialising in the use of Clydesdale horse as part of the therapy. For similar reasons to the cattery, we didn’t really expect to see anything but our timing was perfect. As we passed, three splendid Clydesdales were being ridden back to the centre.

At Yews we left the road and took a pleasant path across fields to re-join the road, thereby saving half a mile of hard surface. Sallows and Sour Hows reappeared, this time accompanied by the Kentmere fells.