1st May 2012 - Lake District - Wray Castle

1st May 2012 - Lake District - Wray Castle
(Pathfinder Central Lakeland, Walk#16)

Tuesday started looking very cold and dull (for May!), and there were warnings of 40-50mph gusts on fell tops. We decided, therefore, to try a low level walk near Windermere,  High Wray.

Arriving around 09:30, we found the suggested (free) car park at the end of a very narrow track at Red Nab, near to High Wray village. 

The route took us along the quiet Western shore of the lake, through woodland, and paths and tracks under renovation.

This we followed for around 1.5 miles before turning left towards Wray Castle. It was here we saw a farmer herding/feeding his sheep via quad-bike.

Wray Castle was built in 1840-1847, created by Dr. James Dawson, a Liverpool surgeon. Rather than a traditional castle it is more a mansion, and though Dawson's wife funded the castle, she refused to stay in it. Beatrix Potter did stay though when she was 16, and later bought much of the surrounding land. The castle is now owned by the National Trust but is only very occasionally open to the public, though the grounds are freely accessible.

We followed the path in front of the castle and out by the gatehouse, turning right up the roadway and then following grassy tracks to Blelham Tarn.

However..... it was just after the Tarn on an ascending path into fields we encountered the cattle above (and more), mainly cows with calves. One calf headed down the path towards us with mother in tow, bellowing and snorting at us, persuaded a swift turnabout and exit, and an alternative route found. We have had experience in the past of agitated cows and have no desire to repeat it if it all possible!

Walking in the country we often encounter cows, sometimes quite closely, but there are cows and then there are mean cows. 

We back-tracked to the roadway about a mile or so, and then followed the road up the other way to meet the return route at High Wray village and avoided the battle with the bovines. From here it was a left and up a long ascending track into forest.

Two gents also starting to follow the ascending track. You can't see from this photo but the bike on the left was powered by the guy moving his arms in circles, he wasn't pedalling (we'd seen him earlier getting out of a wheelchair so presume limited use of his legs) and his hands weren't propelling the wheels. It looked a really good piece of kit but must have taken immense work from his upper body to get up the gradients here. 

It was clear that for some reason vehicles were not welcome as we got deeper and higher into the forests - How many locks??

For the effort we were expecting some fine views over Windermere..............................

We were disappointed there were none!!

After looking at trees for too long, we found the track descending via a stony, long, stepped path.

Once down, after about half a mile we arrived back at the car park.

The cow diversion had cost us about 1.5 miles, and there was not even a good view from the "high point" of the walk.

Our Walk Score: 6/10

Disappointed, we drove the short distance to Hawkshead, bought some jam and pickles, and ate some cake!

The tea room we went to last visit was closed for the day.....

We did find another one, though the Victoria Sponge was not as tasty, but still nice after a morning's walk.

Then it was back to the Patterdale...............