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BB2423
: The Search for Targets
Tuesday
2nd July 2004
As
a young boy living at the bottom of Windermere
Road a good day out was to set off with
a pint bottle of lemonade and a cheese sandwich
and head for the turkey farm(now a primary
school), on the north side of Kendal Green.
On the way I would collect mates and we
would each gather a good handful of undamaged
turkey feathers, and make our way over The
Heights on Kendal Fell to The Targets on
Cunswick Fell. In those days The Targets
was a substantial concrete structure sunk
deep in the ground and accessed by a steel
ladder. A ideal place for young lads to
play without any interference from adults.
Later we would take the steep path into
Cunswick Wood and use the turkey feathers
to make perfect flights for our bow and
arrows. What has this got to do with today’s
walk you may wonder?
Having
lived in Levens for many years Robert has
walked on Scout Scar many times but I discovered
he had never heard of The Targets or been
to Cunswick Scar so that needed to be remedied.
It
was a slightly overcast cool morning as
we avoided the edge of the Scar and took
a direct route to the trig point before
carrying on to the Mushroom. There were
the usual excellent 360 degree views with
a slight haze over the mountains and it
was starting to get very warm. Whilst walking
from the Mushroom I discovered that Robert
was unaware of the path crossing the by-pass
to Boundary Bank and had never been there,
so an inspection of the building works which
were going on when I was last there was
warranted. I was amazed at the number and
size of the new buildings that have been
erected, and further works are still in
progress. We followed the path between the
original farm buildings, and took a direct
line to the footbridge over the by-pass,
avoiding the temptation to check the mullioned
barn and farmhouse looking north above Plumgarths.
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The
Targets are, or were, in the
field immediately to the right
after the footbridge.
I
took Don there several years
ago (BB1330)
and was disappointed to find
the majority of the structure
had been filled in and grassed
over.
All
that was left was the remnants
of a large concrete opening
which had been covered by slate
slabs.
Today
was even more disappointing
as even the slabs have gone
and no trace could be found.
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We
continued to the cairn on Cunswick Scar,
intending to descend via Cunswick Wood to
the tarn, but our mileage was heading towards
double figures so instead we headed straight
back to Scout Scar where we had a leisurely
lunch at the first seat.
The
steep path down to Barrowfield Farm was
taken and we were surprised not to see any
livestock whatsoever, nor any sign of human
life at the farm. All became clear when
we reached the road and saw a ‘For Rent’
sign. If only I was a young man!
Time
was now pressing on so a slight diversion
to the hide was resisted and we carried
on through Brigsteer Wood where the usual
muddy path has been replaced fully by a
smart gravel path. Well done National Trust.
We
arrived back at Robert’s house just in time
to avoid the first spots of rain. A great
day to be out - someone up there likes us!
Stan,
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
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