A Trio of Barrows.
Start. Derby Arms, Witherslack.
Route. Derby Arms - Latterbarrow - Longhowe End - High Fell End - Church Road - Yewbarrow - Lawns End - Witherslack Hall Farm - Whitbarrow Scar - Buckhouse Wood - Whitbarrow Lodge - Low Fell End - Mill Side - Old Road - Derby Arms.
Notes. My apologies it's a while since my last entry, we've had a new addition to the family, a little girl. Always referred to as the bump, the bump decided it wanted to be the bump no longer. Various medical personnel attempted to delay the birth but she wanted out, born under a full moon, eleven weeks premature little Luna entered this world a tiny dot with limbs and a head. Life in a plastic bubble means as a proud grandparent with a car, most of my spare time's spent driving up and down the M6, mother and baby are doing fine. This afternoon was mine to do as I please, I decided to take a wander over Whitbarrow via the lesser heights of Latterbarrow and Yewbarrow. A delightful walk through mixed woodland, grassland and over stunning limestone scars.
My afternoon started outside the Derby Arms on the old Barrow Trunk Road. With tarmac under foot I wandered west to be met by a finger-post inviting me to High Fell End, I obliged passing through a gate to enter Latterbarrow Nature Reserve. On way-marked paths I wandered north, woodland and scrub soon gave way to sheep pastures before I reached High Fell End. From this cluster of houses and converted farm buildings clinging to the end of the fell a flight of stone steps guided me into woodland of ash, yew, oak and holly. Gaining height with every step I soon passed through a field gate to start the short ascent to the limestone crowned summit of Yewbarrow, it may be but a pimple of a hill but the views are exceptional. I continued, a green lane now guided me to Lawns House then on to Witherslack Hall Farm, here a finger-post invited me to the top of the bill, master over all it surveys, Whitbarrow.
With way-marked paths under foot I continued, along the edge of the football field then over a ladder stile. Now in woodland I headed north hunting for a path junction, easily found, I turned right to start an exhilarating ascent, a path honed from the cliff face guided me into the promised land, depositing me on Lord's Seat the summit of Whitbarrow. This is a special place this plateau above the scars, woodland and grassland, limestone pavements, erratic boulders and low cliffs, a site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, it forms part of the Morecambe Bay Pavements Area of Conservation, and since the removal in 1999 of a Corsican pine plantation stunning views. I wandered into said views, the sparkling waters of Morecambe Bay beckoned me forward. Through Flodder Allotment I strolled, then Farrer's Allotment before reaching the south west corner of the plateau. Reluctantly I descended into woodland, the path, another honed from the cliff face ushered me through a long abandoned quarry before depositing me on a old metalled road. This narrow track once echoed to the sound of horse drawn carriages, a super highway in the 18th century linking Levens to Witherslack and the rest of what would have been Cumberland and Westmorland, now Cumbria, it guided me west passed Whitbarrow Lodge then on to Mill Side via Low Fell End depositing me on the old Barrow Trunk Road. This modern road built in 1922 replaced the metalled track I'd just left, it's since been replaced by the A590, the main Barrow road, a mile of easy walking followed, I may have had tarmac under foot but the only wheeled transport to pass me were those powered by men and women in lycra.
En-route through Latterbarrow.
From the ascent of Yewbarrow, a small view-point gifts me with views over the Winster Valley.
Arnside Knott stands proud guarding the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay.
Looking over the flatlands of the Winster Valley with Gummer's How dominating the horizon.
Woodland rambling, my guide to the summit of Yewbarrow.
Soaking up views from little Yewbarrow, the Kent Estuary with the cliffs of Whitbarrow to the left.
Spectacular views across the summit of Yewbarrow.
The imposing face of Chapel Head Scar.
Toiling up Whitbarrow with this view for company, Gummer's How over the woodland of Low and High Park.
Free of the trees taking a breather drinking in views to Arnside Knott.
The Lake District skyline as seen from near the summit of Whitbarrow.
Wonderful vistas over Lyth Valley, Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar backed by the ridges of Whinfell.
From the summit of Whitbarrow views over the Lyth and Kent valleys, across the skyline the Middleton and Barbon High Fells.
Climbing the final few feet with a view to Kirkstone Pass to enjoy when you reach the summit.
Lord's Seat the summit Whitbarrow.
Above the valley of the River Winster looking to Gummer's How.
A wonderful slice of the plateau above the scars, Flodder Allotment. Allotments were formed in 1815, part of the Heversham enclosures act, named after the farms of the people where they were appointed.
A slice of the picturesque, the cliffs of Chapel Head and the summit of Whitbarrow.
Guarding the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay, seen over the mosses of Foulshaw and Meathop Arnside Knott.
Seen from the southern slopes of Whitbarrow, another slice of limestone excellence, Farleton Fell.
Arnside Knott seen before disappearing into the trees.
Views taken over the roof tops of Whitbarrow Lodge.
Whitbarrow christened by our norse forefathers "White Hill", a navigation beacon to guide them to the fertile lands of South Lakeland.
Free of traffic the Barrow Trunk Road, my guide back to the delights of the Derby Arms.