The Windermere Way 09 :  Lakeside YMCA to Ash Landing

Saturday 16th February 2019

If you are getting confused about our Round-the-Lake itinerary, join the club! However we never promised to do it sequentially, nor to cover every inch of shoreline.

So, although our start point is listed as Lakeside YMCA, I should come clean and admit that this is not actually at the place named Lakeside but is a bit further up the Lake.  In our defence, we could have dropped down to it on WW07 but we didn’t as it would have complicated things and only added the joy of an unremarkable, lakeless view, road slog.

On the other hand, today's end point of Ash Landing is actually the car park for the Claife Station viewing point WW08 so I feel that even less of an apology is called for in this respect.

Before going any further I must record our thanks to YMCA for allowing us to park there.  Without their kindness, finding a start point for this stretch would have been very problematical.

Today, Ian and Cynthia had brought along Nellie, a lovely Working Cocker with boundless energy.  

The first mile or so heading north is a pleasant gently undulating path alongside the lake.  The weather was, as expected, light cloud but, not as expected, the sun was starting to break through.  Crowds, there were none.

At Boat House Wood we had to climb through the woods.  Fortunately we found a sneaky short cut, off piste but much easier under foot and less height to be climbed and then lost.

Soon we were back alongside the lake, for another mile or so.

We had fun trying to identify the Arts & Crafts style Blackwell House and the Voysey designed Motor Racing Boat Club.  There was no such problem spotting Storrs Hall as its white shape could be seen for miles down the lake, such is its commanding position.  In the end, all three became obvious.

Another unofficial track led us back to the car park.  Unfortunately, we arrived (by car) a minute too late for scampi and chips at the Tower Bank Arms, at Near Sawrey.  However, the boys were able to have a bit of fun in the gents, playing a novel game of trying to put the ball into the net.  Enough said.

Have we now finished the Windermere Way?  Well, there is a bit of work left to do joining the two sides of the bottom of the Lake.  This could be done in a variety of manners.  Tempting is to finish in style, using the short, summer only ferry coupled with a train ride to Haverthwaite!

For the index page and other stages click on:

The
Windermere
Way

Map: OS 1:50

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although mostly from Ian and me. Likewise written comment.

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