A Circuit from Oxenholme.

Start. Oxenholme.

Route. Oxenholme - Burton Road - Under Helm - Stang - St Sunday's Beck - Halfpenny - Stainton Road - Stainton - Dreamland Farm - Crosscrake - Low Barrows Green - Barrows Green - Burton Road - Oxenholme.

Notes. Before we continue I had no intention of recording this walk, boredom got the best of me, so I sat down to share my misgivings and misfortunes. This was an off the cuff ramble, a late afternoon wander after being tied up all morning. I've only ever walked the valley of St Sunday’s Beck in dry weather, today I got a lesson in why the humble rambler’s wardrobe always contains gaiters, unfortunately so wet, muddy, cold and miserable was it I threw the towel in.

My afternoon of torture started easy enough rambling south out of Oxenholme, after passing a lay-by usually filled with dog walkers cars, I joined a bridleway cutting across the bottom of The Helm. This was my first taste of South Lakeland mud, after braving the mire a short descent deposited me in the valley of St Sunday's Beck, the mud wasn't too bad just boot sucking, the final field before Stang was flooded, I picked my way through to the bemusement of a couple of horses. Once on tarmac I turned left, teetered through more flood water before descending through more mud to St Sunday's Beck. As I crossed the fields bordering the beck I floundered many times, when I say the mud was knee deep that's no exaggeration. The final field was the last straw, I stumbled onto Cockrigg Lane at Halfpenny with thick brown mud up to my crotch, wet feet and no wish to carry on.

Abandoning meant walking to the junction of Cockrigg Lane and Burton Road, by the time I reached there my mood had lifted, so across the busy road I rambled to access Stainton Road, with the narrow lane to guide me I rambled on, a little way. After half a mile a flood sign greeted me, with no way round I just paddled through, whilst squelching my way into Stainton I decided as I had wet feet and a soggy crotch I’d abandon, pick the quickest route home.

The quickest route home was to cross the narrow footbridge at Stainton then continue up the lane, these lanes are quite pleasant to walk, quiet, only the locals and a few cyclists use them. My route climbed out of the valley to join another narrow lane cutting across a high ridge, through Crosscrake I rambled before climbing a steep hill to access Low Barrows Green, I was soon wandering into Barrows Green to start the short ramble back along Burton Road. Once home Sue bluntly refused to let me into the house, trousers and socks were removed in the kitchen and thrown straight into the washing machine. Ramblers I salute you.

view route map.

home.

The bridleway that cuts under The Helm, a taste of things to come.

It looks pleasant enough, lets continue after drinking in views over the valley of St Sunday's Beck to the Middleton and Barbon Fells.

Last time I passed this way this was just a small muddy puddle, the view was the same, The Helm from the South.

Flooded fields near Stang.

Footbridge over St Sunday's Beck.

Looking to The Helm from Stainton Lane.

Stainton Beck.

Probably dating back to the 17th century, the Pack Horse Bridge at Stainton.

From a tarmac lane near Stainton views to The Helm.

Long shadows in the fields above Crosscrake.

Stunning Winter views over the Kent valley.

Approaching Low Barrows Green enjoying wonderful views to the east, carrying a little snow the Middleton Fells.

Near Low Barrows Green looking to Wellheads.

A final look back across the rolling farmland of South Cumbria.

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