Winter walk 12th February - Kendal

Published 22:29 on 13 Feb 2018

SWSC Winter Walk 11 February 2017 Kendal

12 trusty souls and 2 dogs met at the Strickland Arms, Sizergh in spite of a not very good forecast. Having left the NT car park at Sizergh we plodded through soggy grass up the hill on to the ridge to Helsington Chapel of Ease above Brigsteer. We were in time to get a reasonable view across the Lythe Valley before the Old Man and other fells disappeared into the snow showers. We were in the right place and kept the sun and shelter from the cool NW wind. We descended across agricultural fields- (definitely agricultural) passed Briggs House, High House and Lane Head farms enjoying views of Kendal and the A591 from a different angle. Under the A591 by the underpass brought us to Helsington Laithes, a familiar location on the A591 on the way into Kendal. Continuing through Scroggs Wood brought us to the River Kent and some pleasant warm sunshine as we traversed the muddy path on the meadows on the west side of the fast flowing river. Lunch was accompanied by a short light snow shower on the river bank from where we crossed the river on a road bridge badly damaged by the last floods but now fully repaired.

The view from the east bank was a contrast to that to the west as we climbed and the river passed through a rocky gorge with exciting white water. Re-crossing the river via the wobbly suspension bridge we left the muddy gloopy paths behind for much cleaner roads on the way up Nannypie Lane to the Strickland Arms for a welcome drink. A lovely 6.5 mile stroll on what turned out to be a good winter's day.

Last updated 14:36 on 2 March 2024