Author Archives for Richard Jennings
September 4, 2024 9:30 am
Published by Richard Jennings
Several sections on the Lakeland Way include some exposed paths with light grades of rock-scrambling, so please take care and always check for weather updates and be prepared. Lake District conditions are very changeable, so always take the appropriate gear, plenty of food and water, and a vital one to remember is: “GPS devices are handy, but paper maps are essential”. We are happy to provide the detailed information that we do, but you are fully responsible for your own health and safety. If you have any questions regarding any of the sections, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we are happy to help. Be AdventureSmartAsk yourself three questions before you set off: For more information and advice: Adventure Smart Essentials for a safe journey What to do in an emergency Recommended GPS location appsGPS Location apps like OS Maps and What3Words work by translating the geo-location data on your phone into another ‘language’. With OS Locate Me (previously OS Locate), which is now integrated into the OS Maps app, the data is translated into two letters followed by either six or eight digits (eg: NY21350785), and for What3Words it is translated into three words (eg: ///ambition.interacts.creatures). The OS Locate Me language relates to your location according to the National Grid (eight digits are more accurate than six), while the What3Words language relates to a 3m square ‘box’ on the surface of the earth. Mountain Rescue Teams prefer an accurate six or eight digit grid reference, coupled with an accurate description of where you are. On the What3Words app you can change the settings to provide a grid reference as well as three words of your location. During your phone call to the emergency services it is going to be really beneficial if you can accurately confirm your location. The more accurate, the better. But this is where some mistakes are occurring: The two most common errors when using the apps are either that the phone still thinks it’s somewhere else (your phone lost signal in a dead spot at a previous location), or in transmitting the three words over the phone (they are either spoken or heard incorrectly somewhere along the process). For example, ///ambition.interacts.creatures locates you at the notorious junction of Piers Gill on the Corridor Route in the Lake District, while ///ambitions.interacts.creature locates you in the Republic of Congo! With this example it will seem obvious...
August 21, 2024 8:53 am
Published by Richard Jennings
There has been a small route change on Day 4 between Buttermere and Braithwaite. Any GPX or maps downloaded before 21.08.24 should be replaced with the following files: Full GPX route of the Lakeland Way: Download Full GPX route of the Lakeland Way Ultra: Download Day 4 – Buttermere to BraithwaiteGPX route: DownloadPDF maps: Download As you approach the village of Braithwaite towards the end of Day 4, the usual route was to follow a short traverse from the old Force Crag mine road and then down to the village. This path, above Coledale Beck, usually becomes overgrown during the summer months, but in recent years it’s become far worse. In places, the narrow path has given way due to people trying to avoid running the gauntlet of gorse and brambles, and risk damaging those expensive waterproof jackets. Because of this, and with no signs of the path being maintained, a decision has been made to change the route to follow the old mine road to its end, and where it meets the Whinlatter road (B5292). The following images show the state of the path in August 2024: During a family day out enjoying the glorious weather, we decided to do a recce of the traverse. Two weeks prior to this Jaclyn was walking this section while on her Lakeland Way adventure, and had reported the condition of this path. Gorse and brambles now hinder progress along the path. This section is where clothing can get damaged as you try to push your way through the dense undergrowth. The decision has now been made to change this section on Day 4. Emily is seen here climbing up the steep bank and taking a shortcut back to the old mine road. The following three images show the traverse in April 2022, when the path is much easier to walk along: The next image shows the old mine road in May 2018, where it meets the Whinlatter road: Back to the top
June 1, 2024 9:15 am
Published by Richard Jennings
3rd August 2023 – The Big LaunchThe website had been ‘live’ for a year, but folk were starting to come across the site while searching online, so it seemed the time was right to share it on social media. John Falcus, who had searched online for a walk from Patterdale, had come across the site by accident and contacted me on 20th June 2023, to say he was “hooked” on the route and was already in the “advanced” stages of booking his accommodation. John completed the walk on Saturday 29th July, and is officially the first person to walk the whole route in one go. I was absolutely delighted and privileged to cross the River Esk and walk with him for the last mile to Ravenglass. After following John’s adventure and seeing him complete the walk, this was the ‘kick up the butt’ I needed to launch the Lakeland Way and finally share it with the world. Up to this point only a few of my close friends knew about the project; people that had followed the process and provided much encouragement and guidance over the last few years. Even though there was still lots of content to add to the website, there was enough information for any person wanting to give this long-distance walk a go. So, on 3rd August I nervously shared the Lakeland Way on social media, and to be honest I was totally overjoyed by the positive feedback I received that evening. Some favourite comments and feedback: “Fantastic achievement in devising this Richard. Great to see you unveiling it. Can’t wait to walk it.”George Kitching “Richard – you probably won’t remember me, but in 2012 I walked the Coast to Coast and you provided me with some maps and advice for my first ever long-distance walk. I did it and raised £1500 for the Miscarriage Association and two years later I completed the Hadrian’s Wall path with my father – a fantastic father/son bonding experience. The walk you have created looks beautiful and I am inspired by your positivity and kindness. I think it’s so important for our own mental and emotional health to be getting outdoors and doing what you do – very inspiring! I just wanted to write this to say thank you and well done. What an amazing thing to have created this and then to share it with all of us. I...
December 4, 2023 7:50 pm
Published by Richard Jennings
Lord’s BridgeThis elegant double-arched stone bridge spans the River Esk at Muncaster Head. The bridge was built in 1889 by Richard Cousins, who at the time was a well-respected builder from Whitehaven. The bridge was built at the request of Lord Muncaster, who, having acquired the manor of Birker and Austhwaite, wanted to extend his “private” coach road over the parish boundary at the Esk, between Muncaster Head Farm and Forge House (farm). Initially, this coach road on the south side of Muncaster Fell, continued north from Muncaster Head Farm to the parishes of Irton and Eskdale. Prior to the building of the bridge, during the early part of the 1880s, the coach road had many improvements, including diverting and widening of some sections. After the work on the road and the building of the bridge, a much improved link was created between the parishes of Muncaster, and Birker and Austhwaite, and a more direct link into Eskdale. In May 1892, a large crack appeared in the central foundation of Lord’s Bridge, due to a series of floods since its construction three years earlier. Richard Cousins and his team from Whitehaven conducted emergency repairs by temporarily diverting the river, and the necessary work was completed by the following month of June. A few examples of storms leading up to the repairs:On Monday 6th January 1890, after a heavy storm of wind and rain, many streams overflowed their banks and caused many floods in the Lake District. The lakes of Bassenthwaite and Derwent Water met, resulting in many hundreds of acres of land being inundated by flood water. For three days in early October 1890, the district witnessed one of the heaviest falls of rain in living memory. On Wednesday 1st October, the bridge that spans the River Brathray at the hamlet of Skelwith Bridge, collapsed and was carried away. The nearby valley of Langdale resembled a “seething lake”, and the rain gauge on Loughrigg Fell registered 6 inches of rain in 30 hours. On the night of Monday 24th August 1891, houses at the town of Cockermouth were flooded, and Waterloo Bridge which spans the River Cocker was considerably damaged. The following week the Lake District witnessed an extraordinary storm and thousands of acres of land were submerged, destroying all the crops in the path of the flood. Back to the top
November 5, 2023 6:11 pm
Published by Richard Jennings
“The highest point is a boss of rock, and this is crowned by a professionally-made round flat-topped cairn, below which, set in the rock, is a commemorative tablet: a war memorial to the men of Borrowdale, effective and imaginative.”Alfred Wainwright, The North Western Fells, 1963 The cairn has since been shaped into a small wind shelter. Castle Crag was given to theNational Trust in memory ofJOHN HAMER2nd Lieut 6th KSLI Born July 8 1897Killed in action March 22 1918Also ofThe following men of BorrowdaleWho died for the same cause2nd Lieut H.E. Layland R.E.Pte G. Bird 1st Border RegtPte E. J. Boow 2nd Border RegtPte J.H. Dover 11th Border RegtPte J. Edmondson 1st Border RegtPte F. Hindmoor 7th Border RegtPte W. Nicholson 5th Border RegtPte T. Richardson 6th Border RegtPte J.W. Rigg 8th Border RegtPte A.E. Wilson Kings Own Royal Lancasters In 1918, Sir William Hamer and his wife, Agnes, purchased the land on top of Castle Crag for £150 from the executors of the Estate of Colonel CV Conway Gordon, as a memorial to their son, John, aged 20, who was killed in France in March 1918, during the First World War. In 1920, William and Agnes handed over the land to the National Trust, with a request that a plaque affixed to the summit rock on Castle Crag to be solely in memory of their son. However, shortly before his death on 28th May 1920, Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, one of the founder members of the National Trust, suggested that the dedication should also include the ten men of Borrowdale who also died in the First World War. Canon Rawnsley was also a Chaplain to the King and Chaplain to the Border Regiment Territorials (and the army rank of Colonel). The plaque, made from local green slate, was erected on 11th June 1921. William Heaton Hamer was born in Leeds in 1862, the eldest son of John Hamer, J.P. He was a scholar of Christ’s College, Cambridge and graduated twelfth wrangler in 1882. He adopted the profession of medicine, and was Kirkes Scholar and Lawrence Scholar at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School. He qualified M.R.C.S. in 1886 and graduated M.B. in the following year. Hamer became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1889 and became a M.D. in 1890. He entered the medical service of the London County Council in 1892 and joined the...
October 20, 2023 10:28 am
Published by Richard Jennings
During a wonderful trip camping the Lakeland Way in September 2023, I took the opportunity to record each section again with my GPS device, and also take note of any adjustments that I thought could be made to enhance the route. To give two examples, on Day 12, the routes over Barnscar and up to Stainton Tower are much improved. Also, after further reflection, I’ve included some alternative routes on the PDF maps to avoid areas where weather conditions could have an impact on your progress. Because of these changes, any GPX files or PDF maps downloaded before 20.10.23 should be replaced from the following page: Downloads Crossing the River Esk over the stepping stones near St Catherine’s Church in Eskdale, was always a little tricky; not much sunlight penetrates the canopy of trees along the river, so the stones tend to be slippery most of the time, and it doesn’t take many days of rain for these stones to be submerged. However, during a storm in spring of 2022, two of the boulders dislodged from their position making the crossing even more difficult. It is not known if or when these stones will be put back in line, but a safe alternative route (purple) is to cross the river a little further upstream over Girder Bridge. At first glance you may wonder why the Lakeland Way doesn’t carry on down the road to Dockray? Well, after walking 5 miles along the rough terrain of the Old Coach Road, the grassy pastures leading to Matterdale Church are very rewarding on the feet. This route is of course optional, hence the alternative, but personally a visit to the 16th Century church is worth the extra half mile of walking. A pleasant roadside path along the A5091 then leads to Dockray. Please note that Matterdale Church, as the crow flies, is the furthest point from Ravenglass on the Lakeland Way. Like Matterdale Church, a visit to Walna Scar Quarries is an optional diversion. If time allows, exploring these old quarries and ruins is highly recommended. Traversing Wallowbarrow Gorge is one of the highlights of the Lakeland Way, and is highly recommended if the conditions are suitable. At one section the path is very narrow above a steep drop, so care should be taken especially if the ground is wet. On arrival at Fickle Steps (stepping stones) over the River Duddon, a decision...
October 16, 2023 8:54 am
Published by Richard Jennings
Seen from Lanthwaite Green, Gasgale Gill appears as a gateway to the unknown. It is inviting, but it does contain a few obstacles. At its foot the ravine is narrow and twisting, hiding its true beauty and keeping the walker guessing of what lies ahead. The usual Lakeland Way route turns left after crossing the footbridge and follows a high-level traverse above the gill. However, for a more interesting route that follows the waterfalls and cascades of Liza Beck, turn right after the footbridge. The ravine is very steep-sided, and both traverses include some rocky sections, however, it’s the lower traverse (purple) that should be respected the most and should be avoided in damp conditions. In dry conditions, the short rocky scrambles are a fun playground for the family. Initially the path undulates through heather and over some small rock sections. After a short distance the main waterfall is reached. This is a wonderful location to bathe those aching feet, especially during very hot weather. Note the rock face on the left; this short but steep scramble is the main obstacle on the alternative route and should only be attempted when the rock is dry. Just beyond the rock face the path reappears and continues along Liza Beck. Don’t forget to look down though, or you’ll miss Turtle Rock taking a dip! The deepest pool of all is located a little further up the gill from Turtle Rock. The rocky sections are now complete and the path is much easier to negotiate. However, care still needs to be taken on some of these scree slopes. Some sections of the path have given way to small landslips. This is more apparent deeper in Gasgale Gill and beyond this ‘alternative’ section, where much larger landslips have taken the path completely away. Jaclyn is seen here approaching the point where the lower traverse (alternative route) merges with the higher traverse (Lakeland Way path). A sneak peak around a rock face reveals the continuation of Gasgale Gill, where it widens and rises more gently to higher ground and beyond to Coledale Hause. Emily, Tika and Jaclyn, however, seem keen on walking the whole route to Braithwaite! I finally managed to gather up all members of the Jennings family, and now we are heading back to Lanthwaite Green via the higher traverse. These following images will show the difference in height between the higher traverse...
September 30, 2023 10:57 am
Published by Richard Jennings
Looking over to the west from the Romano-British farmstead on Barnscar, an enclosed marshy depression on Birkby Moor defends the next objective, Stainton Tower. Locally known as the “Pepperpot”, the tower commands the horizon and stands on the last hill and climb on the Lakeland Way. The view from here, looking out to the Irish Sea, is your reward for all your effort over the last twelve days of walking. To get there though, you must survive the Bog of Birkby Moor, and a marsh pool located in the centre of the walled quagmire. Located on a broad raised terrace on Birkby Moor, known as Barnscar, between the steep craggy peaks of Birkby Fell to the east and the steep-sided Muncaster Valley to the north-west, are the remains of three ancient settlements. This Scheduled Monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of a large prehistoric cairnfield within which are two prehistoric hut circle settlements, 15 prehistoric funerary cairns, a Romano-British farmstead and trackway, and a medieval shieling. From the terrace of Barnscar the Romano-British trackway is well-defined, and can be easily followed across the western reaches of Birkby Moor. At the lowest point of the depression a wall is reached that forms a large boundary around an ancient livestock grazing pasture. Today the pasture is still used for grazing livestock, but these are not the only beasts to roam this enclosure. Lurking beneath the purple moor-grass and rush, a serpentine-like creature waits for any walker that wanders off the track. Legend has it that “The Bog Monster of Birkby Moor” coils its body around the legs of cattle until they fall into the marsh, and eventually succumb to the depths of the waterlogged peat. Over time their bodies become mummified larders for the creature to devour during lean times. The wettest area of the marsh is just beyond this lonely tree on some raised ground in the centre of the enclosed pasture. Where the trackway enters the wettest area of the marsh, the bog monster has churned up the peat below to create a ‘marsh pool’ and a trap for any unsuspecting walkers or animals that venture this way. To avoid the trap walk across three or four metres over on the left, and take advantage of the tall tussocks that provide a safer passage. Over on the right the marsh is mostly made up of a raft of moss...
September 10, 2023 8:42 am
Published by Richard Jennings
Wednesday 6th September 2023Day 5Castlerigg Farm to Brown Hills – 13 miles 07:35Morning all, and yet again it’s a lovely glorious start. I had a wonderful night here at Castlerigg Farm; I managed a good six hours of sleep and I’m feeling pretty good except for my right foot, which is still sore after that epic walk from Buttermere yesterday. It’s been a very lazy start to make the most of the wonderful facilities; the showers are free and very roomy, so I couldn’t resist having another dip before breakfast. Sadly it’s plain old pasta and soup again, but I do have a nice variety of snacks for my walk today to Brown Hills. 08:40I’ve been sat here for an hour now, chatting away with fellow campers and just chilling. Anyone would think I was on holiday! Anyway, I’d best start packing my gear and preparing myself for another hot day of walking on the Lakeland Way. 10:00How do you move two horses from a gate? They were actually in separate fields but have obviously come together for a good old natter. I couldn’t encourage them to move, so in the end I had to climb over a stone wall. I hope no one saw this fiasco! I didn’t want to leave the campsite to be honest; I actually hung around long enough for the tent to completely dry and I finally left at 9:30am. I’m now on the track heading west from the campsite, where Blencathra dominates the scene ahead. 10:45I’m just sat on a rocky outcrop looking back towards Castle Rigg (the campsite is out of view being on the other side of the ridge). Walking over these grassy open fields was a delight this morning, and my feet are certainly thankful for it. However, this feeling won’t last for long, a mile away is the beginning of the Old Coach Road, which is a five-mile stony track all the way to Dockray. Firstly though, it’s a visit to St John’s Church. 11:00I’ve just arrived at the church only to find that their tap, on the outside of the building, is “out of order”. Yet again I make another silly mistake by expecting things to be as they were on previous visits, just like I did with the shop in Braithwaite. I didn’t carry much water with me from the campsite, and I know any water collected from...
September 6, 2023 5:00 pm
Published by Richard Jennings
Saturday 2nd September 2023Day 1Ravenglass to Wasdale Head Inn – 14.5 miles 08:00“I woke up this morning feeling fine, with something special on my mind!” That was me humming to myself 48 hours ago, having just looked at the weather forecast for the next two weeks. One hour later, after begging my wife to set me free, I rang the boss to give him the bad news. I then spent the rest of the day planning the itinerary and pre-booking campsites and evening meals. The following day my wife and I were running around like headless chickens buying essentials and getting all my gear ready; my poor family, the things I put them through. However, with their help and of course the boss for giving me time off at such short notice, my Lakeland Way adventure would never have started. I’m now in the process of putting my gear in the car ready for my wife to take me to Ravenglass on the west coast of Cumbria. It’ll not be easy to leave my family behind as I’ve never spent this much time away from them; maybe my wife and daughter are looking forward to a break for freedom? or will they pine for my return? It’s probably best not knowing either way! 11:30Here I am at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway turntable, the starting point of the Lakeland Way. Believe it or not, I’m actually pulling my stomach in on this shot. Maybe I’ll look a tad different at the end? On my Coast to Coast walk in 2011, I actually put on a stone in weight, but that was with the luxury of using a luggage transfer company and staying in posh hotels and b&bs. However, this walk is going to be very different as it will include carrying all my gear and camping each night. So off I go leaving my wife to run the fort for twelve days. I’ve only walked a few hundred yards out of the village and I’m already living off the land by stuffing my face with succulent blackberries; maybe I didn’t need to carry all this food after all? It looks like the crumbling walls and arches of the Roman Bath house have gained some temporary supports after recent concerns of collapse. Walking over the grassy hill of the old Muncaster deer forest is as pleasant as ever; don’t forget...
