Brackenthwaite Hows - Lake District Walk
Monday 6th November 2017
The forecast was for rain in the afternoon so we had planned a local walk to the small summit of Brackenthwaite Hows, which despite our numerous trips to the Kirkstile we had never visited. In the end it turned into a follow your nose type of walk where we kept on walking until rain stopped play.
Start: Kirkstile Inn (NY 1411 2092)
Route: Kirkstile Inn - Lanthwaite Wood - Brackenthwaite Hows - Lanthwaite Wood - Crummock Water - Kirkstile Inn
Distance: 3.5 miles Ascent: 197 metres Time Taken: 2 hrs 10 ins
Terrain: Good paths
Weather: Dry to start with rain at the end.
Pub Visited: Bank Tavern, Keswick Ale Drunk: Jennings Cumberland
No sign of the promised rain as we start our walk with a fine view of Whiteside across the fields.
After a short stroll along the road a farm gate provides a convenient spot to stop and admire the view of Rannerdale Knotts further down Crummock Water.
This first task was to find the path to the top as I was basing my route on the Hileys numerous trips to the summit, but wasn't quite sure where the path to the top began.
After one wrong turn we soon found the path through the trees and emerged out of the wood to find ourselves looking across at the summit.
Even before we reached the summit we stopped to take in the view down Lorton Vale.
On top of the summit we spend time trying to work out the various routes we still had to walk up Whiteside in order to finish the Birketts.
Grasmoor, from the summit of Brackenthwite Hows, which is also known locally as Scale Hill.
From the summit we have a good view of three valleys, here looking towards Loweswater and Carling Knott.
Looking in the opposite direction, along Crummock Water, Red Pike is disappearing and judging by the view it would be a good time to start descending back into the wood.
Before the rain arrives I manage a few more shots, here looking towards Mellbreak and the Peel where later we would cut across the fields to pick up the track to the road.
Judging by all the recently planted trees this view of Grasmoor might not be possible in a few years time.
The rain passes over very quickly and in the shelter of
the wood we opt to explore a little further, rather
than return along the main path.
We follow a small path around the edge of the woods, trusting our instinct to tell us if we are heading in the right direction. At worst we can always turn around and go back to the main path.
The path soon takes us down to one of the main tracks and rather than follow it further we turn right and take the broad track, which soon takes us back to the shores of Crummock Water.
The wind has increased since we began our walk and there is no chance of any reflections in the water today.
In fact judging by the lack of a view at the end of Crummock Water it might be time to think about heading back.
There is plenty of water coming over the sluice gate at the end of the lake. Shortly after taking this shot the rain started and it was time to pack the camera away and head back to the Kirkstile for a coffee. It looks like a shopping trip to Keswick for some new boots for John and lunch in the Bank Tavern beckons.
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