The Windermere Way 06 :  Ludderburn to Gummers How

Saturday 29th September 2018

This section (seven months after the last) got off to an annoying start.  My gps wouldn’t work.  I wasn’t that bothered as I have the OS maps on my phone and that also has gps.

We couldn’t quite start from where we left off at Ludderburn as there is no official way through to the footpath so we had to take the one from the Oaks that leads to the back of the High Ludderburn buildings.  We didn’t make the mistake that the BOOTboys made when they walked this way. Instead we (i.e. I) made a different mistake.  I knew that we needed to take the left hand track.  However, it wasn’t clear how to cross the fields to access the Moor How Park area.  I checked the phone and, as it annoyingly does with Outdoor Map Navigator, it had gone to sleep.  When it woke up, it wouldn't show me the maps.

So we carried on walking.  And trying to kick the maps into action.

Evenutally, afer several fields, the maps did wake up and we discovered that we were now on a rather eccentric route.

It needed a bit of creative thinking (i.e ploughing through fields and climbing over walls) to get back on track.

Basically, we had taken the wrong left hand path.

In contrast to the boggy irregular ground that had gone before, the legitimate trail through light woodland alongside Burrow Beck was a delight.  

We emerged into the Gummers How area where Ian and I took the high road to the view point whilst the girls took the low road to ….., well, actually to the road!  

They missed a treat.  What a view point.

There was one moment of high anticipation for me.  Ian called "Don, there is a lady here who has found a pair of glasses.  Have you lost yours?"

"Yes," I replied. "Last time I was here I lost my very expensive, photochromic, varifocal spectacles".   Oh! Joy.  Could they possibly be mine?

I had a look at them.  They were mine.  The only problem was that they were the ones I had been wearing five minutes earlier but had removed (as per last visit) because I can see better what I am doing with my feet when not wearing them.  I had put them in my pocket and (as per last visit) they had fallen out.  

Note to self: In future stow spectacles in secure place.

We were now well behind schedule.  The girls had a cunning plan to walk along the road and down to the Mason’s Arms at Strawberry Bank. I managed to persuade them that it would be a long and rather boring slog.  Much better to continue with the original plan and head into the woods.  

Consequently, we all headed along Sow How Lane, through the farm and round by the lovely Sow How Tarn.....

..... before dropping down to Heights Cottage.  This is a project in waiting for Ian to develop.  The only problem is how to get there other than on foot.  Or horse.

Before we could descend to Cartmel Fell Church, we had to cross Raven’s Barrow, stopping briefly at the Monument to enjoy another fine viewpoint.

The Church is an ancient gem.  

Of particular note is its triple decker pulpit and its modern window behind the font.

The grand finale came after the cars had been retrieved when, at last, we were at the Mason’s Arms.  The Rabbit Stew was spectacular whilst the Sweet Potato Soup was pretty good also.

Don, Saturday 29th September 2018

For the index page and other stages click on:

The
Windermere
Way

Map: OS 1:50k

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although mostly from Ian and me. Likewise written comment.

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