Binsey, Whittas Park, Ruthwaite, Cumbria.
[ 10.7 km] Wed 14 Sep 2011

NY 2352 3509
Last week I decided to climb Binsey for the first time. Torrential rain and thick cloud meant that I didn’t see much and the summit views that other have descried as being excellent were denied to me. I decided to return, have another go and walk across ground I didn’t cover last week. Parking in the same place near Binsey Lodge didn’t give me much confidence in getting a summit view. This time I headed straight up Binsey and not at the end of the walk as last week.

Binsey summit in the mist

It wasn’t raining but within minutes I was in cloud. Binsey summit is at 447m and by 350m I could only see a few metres in front. I pressed on regardless to the summit. This time I checked out both summit cairns then carried on over the top and on to the descent of the other side.

I headed off across an open area called Whittas Park but found the path everyone was using was blocked by a locked gate.

The gate rungs were well polished as everyone had climbed over, which is what I did.

I was now under the cloud then had reasonable views and could now see Bassenthwaite Lake. As I wandered along I was looking for an interesting chimney and fire hearth as I’d seen a picture of it on the web.

As I got nearer to the A591 road I saw the chimney and then the hearth with the interesting iron pole in front. Various comments on the web mentioned it possibly being all that remains of a house but I reckon it had something to do with a nearby small quarry and may have been used for an industrial process. The hearth didn’t connect directly with the chimney but had a large flue, indicating something other than domestic use. In front of me I had a good view of the Caermote Roman Fort which stood out distinctly on the landscape.

steps where Ireby Grange used to be

I joined the path heading NE along the side of the wall. The views north were across the Solway estuary and Scotland was clearly visible. Approaching High Houses I turned right to follow the path along a farm track by the wall. After descending the field to Humble Jumble Gill I re joined the track I was on last week. After passing through High Ireby I walked along the lane by the Ireby Grange entrance. I had a closer look at some of the old abandoned stone staircases before continuing to Ruthwaite. I searched out the path by Lower Ruthwaite Farm and headed SE across the fields to join the Uldale Road where I turned right and headed down the narrow lane and over Rosthwaite Beck to Marshalls House. Staying with the road I turned left for the uphill walk back via Binsey Cottage to the car. I didn’t get a view from the tops so it will stay on my list for another visit sometime.