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OS Grid ref: NY 31263 23075
Lat/Long: 54.598161, 03.065438
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A dark and rainy drive north on the M6 motorway to the start of
my walk at Wanthwaite Bridge, Cumbria. The forecast said the
rain would have stopped but I put on full waterproofs for a
drizzly start to the walk along the road. I headed south along
the road and passed Lowthwaite Farm and the large house adjacent
which always seems empty.
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Further on I came to the forestry road turn off to the left and
was glad to say goodbye to the busy road. I was heading for
Fisher’s Wife’s Rake and following a gps track I’d downloaded
off a walking website. The track wound up to Bramcrag Quarry
which seems to be used as a timber cutting depot. I came this
way on my last visit to the gill in Dec 2005 and the view was
similar. There was lots of old equipment lying around and recent
saw cutting activity by a large building. I turned left to
scramble up a slope to a higher level of the quarry where I
noticed a gate up ahead on the fellside. |
The wired up gate. |
The depot this morning. |
The depot in Dec 2005. |
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There was a faint path leading to it but when I got there the
gate was wired into the fence and couldn't be opened. I had to
climb over the fence to make progress. My next objective was
Fisher's Wife's Rake which I could see up ahead in the mist, it
looked very steep. The guide notes I'd seen online recommended
keeping left to follow the wall all instead of taking the direct
route. I decided the wall was the safer option and was prove
right as I followed a a route across short grass with a faint
path. Higher up I turned right to follow a diagonal narrow path
to the base of the the rake. This is where route finding became
difficult as there was no obvious way. I crossed to the where I
could see steep grass heading up. The middle of the gully was
loose scree and would not be a viable route. I reached the grass
and headed straight up up finding it quite difficult due to to
the grass being very wet and the steep gradient. The best way up
was to keep going and not look down. Eventually I got to the top
of the steepest section and came onto a path which had been
engineered sometime in the past. This implies it was a
reasonably well used route but the steepest part must have
disintegrated over the years. |
Looking up Fisher’s Wife’s Rake. |
Looking down Fisher’s Wife’s Rake. |
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Following up the zigzag the gradient eased and I managed to
reach the top top of Sandbed Gill. It was still a bit misty with
snow patches appearing. In the distance I could make out Jim’s
Fold which is an old sheep fold. I’ve camped hear previously but
today it was mostly covered in snow. The wind was cold but I
found shelter behind the wall and stopped to eat my sandwiches.
I started again at a brisk pace to warm up and head upwards
through the mist to Clough Head Trig Post. |
Jim'sFold |
Clough Head trig post. |
White Pike. |
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As I reached it the weather cleared enough for me to see
Blencathra in the distance. I continued straight ahead to
descend through the snow to White Pike. I now had a reasonable
view down below and across towards Penrith. The path turns left
and makes a steep descent to start with and eases further down.
Below I could see three walkers coming up. At the bottom I reach
the Old Coach Road where I turned left. |
On the Old Coach road. |
Clough Head trig post - Blencathra in the background. |
The walking was now very pleasant as the weather was improving
and clearing. Shortly after the track started it's steep descent
I came to the line of the old mineral railway which crosses it.
I carried on straight ahead and came to a memorial bench seat up
on the left. I stopped to check it out and the memorial plate
said:
“Erected to the Memory of John and Tamar Jackson Late
of Hilltop Farm and Threlkeld.” |
Memorial seat. |
Wanthwaite Bridge. |
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I then continued down the track and through the woods back to
the road. On the way there were more signs of fallen trees and
many had been cut into many had been sawn. As I reached
Wanthwaite Bridge the sun came out and the weather looked
promising for the next hour or so. |
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