MW04 : Shap Abbey to Clifton

29th May 2014

Whilst she was serving a fine full English breakfast, we asked the Crown & Mitre waitress about the Miller's Way.  Despite the fact it goes right past her door, she had never heard of it. Maybe we are pioneers? 

On meeting up with Ian & Cynthia we debated whether to leave the pick up car at Lowther or at Clifton.  As we had walked further than originally intended, we chose the latter, despite the fact that I had only printed off the route as far as Lowther.

Squirreless view of cottages from our bedroom 

The drop-off car returned us to Shap Abbey. Or rather to a sheep parade which we were enforced to watch before we could reach our predestination.  

The new way of shepherding

The old way of shepherding

Follwing the inevitable examination of the Abbey, we took the path taken when Margaret & I did the Westmorland Way.  Indeed, that was how we had first discovered the Miller's Way, from some waymark signs in this stretch.

Looking back to Shap Abbey

Another way marker

the view up to Haweswater

We were soon back at Bampton.  Had the "Always Open (within reason)" Mardale Inn actually been open the we might have paid them a visit.  However, reason has gone out of the window and the place looks very sad and always (for the time being at least) closed.

Bamton Grange Church and the Crown & Mitre

Not open

Inside St Patrick's church

Open

Instead we were invited into the caravan for a light lunch plus the danger of a time consuming snooze.  However, the mission was resumed and we continued along the embryonic River Lowther to the suspension bridge.  Here we crossed and climbed through the gorse, in full bloom, to the red telephone box (see WW06.)  This time there was no display.

The Lowther suspeonsion bridge

Knipe phone box

Washing photo for Margaret

Strange summerhouse

Bluebells

Across the fields to Helton

Our route took us into the Lowther Castle grounds, past the souless church to the fork where left goes across and up the river to Eamont Bridge and right returns to Clifton

Ladies and a Rape field!!!

Mr & Mrs S

Lowther Castle

Mr & Mrs G

We went right, north to Clifton where a surprising number of historical events had happened.  That we visited the George & Dragon was not surprising.

Lowther's gothic cow shed.....!

Eat at your peril

Clifton Hall.....

.... and gatehouse

St Cuthbert's church, Clifton

.... and interior

The George and Dragon

Scottish Burial Ground

What Ian and Cynthia (and Margaret as I haven't told her yet either) was that I discovered on our return that the authentic route had gone across the river to Eamont Bridge.

This leaves us with a bit of a dilemma as to how to plan MW05.  However, as they say, we will cross that bridge when we come to it.  

Or not.

 Don, 29th May 2013

The eagle-eyed reader who is following these narratives closely may have noticed that the photo size ratios have changed in this publication.  Most such folk (if they exist) will think no more about it.  Those somewhat aspergerly obsessive, like me, may find it disturbing.  All I can say is sorry for somehow inadvertently messing up the settings on my camera.  Normal service will be resumed.

Thanks to Ian for several of the (better) photos above and right.
Here are a couple more of his.

 

STATISTICS:

MW04

Wednesday 29th 2013

Distance in miles:

10.6 (Garmin E-trex)

Height climbed in feet:

721 (Memory Map / OS)

Cumulative miles:

30.7

Cumulative feet:

3,247

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