The Windermere Way 05 :  Linthwaite to Ludderburn
(plus bonus visit to Holehird)

Sunday 24th February 2018

It was a cold and frosty morning and if there were any mulberry or similar fruit bushes to go round, the birds would have feasted on them by now.  The early start was due to Ian needing to be on swimming coach duty in the afternoon.  Despite the hour, Margaret and I somehow managed to arrive at the meeting place slightly ahead of time.  

Our start point was up the Crook Road opposite the Linthwaite House Hotel, which is still closed for its development under its new owners.  Clearly a massive amount of money is being spent.

We headed south via Lindeth and across the Winster Road.

We were aiming for Rosthwaite Farm but as we passed Rulbuts Hill we noticed that there was a newish looking finger post announcing a permissive footpath to the summit.  The opportunity was too good to miss.  It proved to be a good place to stop for a coffee and enjoy the view except that of the small plaque lying on the ground marked Dad.  Fortunately we didn’t see any remains of Dad to put us off our coffee and cake.

In the distance we could see a building that at first we thought was Linthwaite only it wasn't.  Linthwaite is further back, hidden by trees.

Rosthwaite Farm is always interesting although there was nothing like the activity we spotted on GLW1505.

Rosthwaite Heights is a superb viewpoint with a kindly supplied bench and, I am pleased to report, no sign of Dad. Or Mum.  Etc.  

The only problem was that there was a very cold wind blowing so we continued on to the lovely Ghyll Head Tarn.....

..... then past some rather aggressive "keep out" notices from, of all people, the Boy Scouts!  "Be Prepared" to be reported to the Police if you dare to set even a foot into their woods.  Soon we were back at the other car which we had left at Ludderburn.

We had made good time so we were able to interrupt the final stage of the car shuffling exercise with a bowl of soup at Blackwell.  

We didn’t have time to explore its Art Deco interior.  {** see comment below}  However we have been there before.  The building and its views are fabulous.  It must have been a great place to go to school.  I can’t get as excited about its exhibitions.  I much prefer its Lakeland Arts “sister”- Abbot Hall.

After the shuffle was completed and Ian & Cynthia had departed, we wondered how to spend the rest of the afternoon.  Then Margaret came up with inspiration that would make the most of the sunny day and keep us away from the hordes:

Holehird

Hardly a soul about (not surprising as apart from the snow drops there are not many flowers showing their delights).  

What took us by surprise was a walk through the grounds that led us down and round a tarn (or more precisely a small reservoir), watched longingly by a couple of swans who hoped we had some butties to share.  

We hadn’t.  And that is why we continued on our way to the old Post office in Troutbeck- always a good place for tea and cake.  Earned or not.

Don, Saturday 24th February 2018

* Cynthia has corrected me regarding Maggie.  She is a Parson Russell terrier not a Jack Russell- a slightly bigger dog bred for showing rather than ratting and with a better temperament.

** Ian takes me to task for calling Blackwell "Art Deco".  He tells me that the Arts and Crafts Movement was its guiding light.  As an architect, he knows these things.  I can't tell my Arts from my Deco.

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