The Windermere Way 04 :  Miller Howe & Bowness

Sunday 4th February 2018

I could have got cross.  There were no cars in the Lake District National Park's Miller Howe parking area and not surprising given the £5.50 charge for the day. However it was where we wanted to be so I “invested” the money.  But the machine failed to give me a ticket and there was no telephone number on the machine to ring to complain.  So we left an explanatory note in the car then set off on the next stage of our Windermere Way.  Or to be more precise Cynthia, Ian, Margaret and I admired the expensive expansive view and then set off walking.  

100 yards down the road we found a lay-by.  Half empty and free.  Aaaagggghhhh!

Rant over.

It was a cold but sunny day.  Down at the lakeside there were quite a few people out for a stroll, one couple with a sad old Labrador that was very much on its last legs but still gamely attempting to recapture its youth.  There were many yachts out racing.

After the lakeside stretch we climbed back up to the road near Rayrigg Hall then went off-piste up by the side of an old quarry in order to reach the Rayrigg Wood track that leads into Bowness, passing on the way the rugby ground and emerging by the cinema.  Our route had been strategically planned so that we could take lunch at a suitable establishment.  After rejecting a few we opted for the Angel Inn, just off the main road.  It was quite like a skiing holiday, having lunch sat outside in the sunshine, wrapped up well against the cold.  The only difference was that instead of Goulash Suppe, it was lovely onion soup.

A short climb up from the Inn is the end (or in our case in 2006 the start) of the Dales Way.  However we soon branched off to climb to the viewpoint.  I didn’t get close enough to photograph the gorse bushes that were in full bloom as I didn’t want to disturb the courting couple who were in full bloom behind them!

The slope to Brant Fell was very slippery but it is a much better viewpoint (but not so good for courting).

It was a minor challenge finding the way off to the track that leads eventually to the Crook Road.  Here a decision had to be made.  Head straight down the road to Ferry Nab or cross over and head for Ferney Green then double back along the bridle path past the Linthwaite.  As the latter only saved about 400 yards of main road and might have taken us through some very boggy ground, we decided on the road slog.  We didn’t quite go as far as Ferry Nab although we did notice the new signs for the payment system that has already been abandoned due to it being ridiculous, complicated, slowing things down, getting travellers wet through in the rain and inclined to rant.  Whoever’s brain dreamt up such a daft system I don’t know but you would think they would either have learnt from the previous ticket machine fiasco in South Lakeland or applied common sense.  However it’s only tax payers’ money that was been wasted so it doesn’t matter.  Does it?

After rounding Cockshott point we arrived at the sliding rock.  Jamie and Emma will remember this from their childhood.  I did manage to persuade Margaret to climb up but she refused to slide down with me.  Still she had been to the top so had merited her ice cream reward.

The swans were also being rewarded, mostly by orientals.

The original intention had been to use our bus passes for a free ride back to the car but rather than wait 40 minutes or so we decided to walk back up.  A bit of a road slog but we still beat the bus.  There were now several cars in the parking area.  Had they paid or not?  No-one was ranting so I suspect not.  We'd had too good a day to worry any more about it.

Don, Sunday 4th February 2018

Bonus picture courtesy of Ian:

For the index page and other stages click on:

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