Pandemic Peregrinations: Scout Scar, Cumbria, Spring
I’ve had a hankering for getting up Scout Scar for a little while now…
The limestone cliff of Scout Scar, which suddenly drops 100 ft or so down into the Lyth Valley.
I’ve had a hankering for getting up Scout Scar for a little while now.
As I’ve mentioned on this site many times before, Scout Scar holds a special place in my heart. It was here that Lisabet and I spent our first morning together, and it was also where I truly, madly, and deeply fell in love with the Lake District.
After consulting our maps, we took a new (to us) route up to Scout Scar from our front door. And it was rather delightful! The weather was much cooler today, with a stiff breeze, and with little cloud cover, giving us lovely light to work with.
If you’re curious about the name “Scout Scar”, the aspect scar ultimately comes from the Old Norse sker, meaning “to cut”, and was often used in reference to cliffs or other rocky outcrops and islands that were “cut” from the land (it’s the same root as “skerry”).
The main roads are still eerily quiet.
I love the criss-crossing of drystone walls.
Looking back down the route we were taking to Scout Scar. In the distance lies Kendal, with Benson Knott to the left, and even further in the distance you can make out the gentle rolling hills of the Howgills.
This is where the track takes you, right out onto the edge of Scout Scar. In the distance, the Eastern Lakeland Fells.
Standing right on the edge of Scout Scar’s limestone cliff, looking down the sheer drop to the Lyth Valley below.
Following the line of the limestone escarpment all the way north.
The northwards limestone escarpment of Scout Scar. You can just about make out the sea of Morecambe Bay to the right.
A runner ahead of us, as we take the route back down to Kendal from Scout Scar.
Even in the “middle of nowhere”, somewhere around Scout Scar’s gently sloping eastern side, you can find a beautifully wrought iron gate.
Heading back down to Kendal town centre via Beast Banks, one of the steepest roads in Kendal. In the distance rises Benson Knott.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Bird's Park Reservoir, Cumbria, Spring
The weather’s really been glorious in the last week or so. Thankfully, it’s made our daily One Government Sanctioned Outdoor Exercise Session Per Day a lot more pleasant.
The weather’s really been glorious in the last week or so. Thankfully, it’s made our daily One Government Sanctioned Outdoor Exercise Session Per Day a lot more pleasant.
About a week ago we ventured from our front door up towards Fisher Tarn, once dammed for use as a reservoir in the 19th century to support Kendal’s growing population and importance as a textile centre. During that walk, as part of consulting our map, we learned there was another nearby reservoir and vowed to visit on a future wandering.
Today was that day, and the reservoir in question is called Bird’s Park Reservoir.
This reservoir proved more difficult to access. In fact, we never actually saw the body of water, despite almost being upon it. The route to its dam was padlocked (no idea why), so we took the track to its northern tip. However, it seems that Bird’s Park Reservoir has long been abandoned, even though it’s still owned by United Utilities. Most access gates around the reservoir were rusting and padlocked, and the area was very much being reclaimed by nature.
Nevertheless, despite not actually being able to see the reservoir, we enjoyed a wonderful walk. The woods around the reservoir housed some beautiful trees, and in a month’s time will probably be full of bluebells. Above the reservoir is Paddy’s Lane, which we’ve hiked along before and offers enchanting views towards Kendal, its valley, and the Lakeland fells beyond.
In other news—as of the time of writing—78,991 have tested positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus in the UK, and 9,875 have died from it. May all those suffering find peace.
Miller Bridge in Kendal. The River Kent is extremely dry at the moment.
Stramongate Bridge and its weir. I’m ready for more leaves on the trees.
The views quickly open up once you pop out of East Kendal from Sandylands. The Lakeland fells start to become apparent too.
This is the pedestrian tunnel that crosses underneath the railway line. My lovely Lisabet here, demonstrating how low it is (she’s around 5ft 3in and had to hunch over).
High Jenkincrag Farm with Ashstead Fell (469 m/1,538 ft) in the distance. I liked the framing of this composition.
Looking back up at the farms along Paddy Lane from lower down on the Old Sedbergh Road. Love the criss-crossing of all the drystone walls.
I’m a sucker for a meandering drystone wall, especially if they’re undulating over the folds of the landscape.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Fisher Tarn, Cumbria, Spring
The weather was warmer and brighter today, so on our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period we ventured up Park Side Road, passed Castle Green Hotel, through Singleton Park, and onwards towards Fisher Tarn Reservoir.
The weather was warmer and brighter today, so on our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period we ventured up Park Side Road, passed Castle Green Hotel, through Singleton Park, and onwards towards Fisher Tarn Reservoir.
Fisher Tarn was dammed in the 19th century to help supply more water to a growing Kendal town. These days its use as a reservoir is no more and is now known for fishing.
I hope you enjoy these photos from today’s wander.
In Kendal each “yard” (or “ginnel”, basically another word for “alley”) is numbered, and all branch off from the main road through Kendal. Dr. Manning’s Yard was formerly called “Braithwaite Yard”, where a George Braithwaite established a drysalter’s business in 1713, supplying dyestuffs, alum, fuller’s earth and other technical materials to Kendal’s world-famous textile trade.
At the junction of Park Side Road and Singleton Park Road you can spot a small lane that runs alongside the grounds of Castle Green Hotel. What we found was a cool, mossy, and quite beautiful lane that leads directly onto the farmland around Singleton Park.
The moss slowly envelops the dry stone wall.
Spring is here.
Plenty of North of England Mule ewes mothering their new lambs in the uplands above Kendal.
Managed to snag this shot of a ewe cuddling up with her twin lambs.
Cracking views from Paddy Lane, above Kendal.
Lovely lines created by the freshly mown grass and the contours of the land.
Resting in the shade of some trees near Fisher Tarn Reservoir. Plenty of daffodils about.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Kendal Castle, Cumbria, Spring
This time we made our way towards the river and scanned it northwards, branching off towards the northern path that heads up Kendal Castle.
It’s so easy to become lethargic when you’re having to spend most of your time in lockdown in your house.
Activity breeds energy. The opposite is also true.
Nevertheless, Lisabet and I mustered up the drive to head out for our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period. This time we made our way towards the river and scanned it northwards, branching off towards the northern path that heads up Kendal Castle.
There’s been a castle or some sort of fort here for around 800 years now. Its most famous claim to fame is that it was once the home of the Parr family, with Catherine Parr being King Henry VIII’s sixth wife, the only one who outlived him.
Despite promises from various forecasts of skies brightening up as the day went on, the conditions we enjoyed were nevertheless quite overcast with soft light to boot.
It’s still always nice to visit the castle.
In other news—or really the only news that’s occurring currently—41,903 have been “officially” infected with the Coronavirus in the UK as of 4th April 2020, with 4,313 deaths from COVID-19 recorded as of 3rd April 2020.
Stay safe, everyone.
Stramongate Bridge, dating from 1794, but there’s been a bridge here for centuries. Records from 1379 named it as De ponte de Strowmondgate.
What’s left of the castle’s walls and the keep.
You can see why a castle was built here: it offers unparalleled views of the town.
The largest part of the castle that’s still standing: the keep and its tower. Modern additions like the stairway have helped people explore the ruins more fully.
The main way back down to Kendal from the castle.
Kendal’s pretty. I never tire of it.
Miller Bridge, originally called Mill Bridge. This version of the bridge has been standing since 1818.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
It seem to me that there’s a cruel twist of fate in action, that the weather in Cumbria should consistently become drier and brighter just as the whole of the UK goes on lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
It seem to me that there’s a cruel twist of fate in action, that the weather in Cumbria should consistently become drier and brighter just as the whole of the UK goes on lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Nevertheless, during our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period, Lisabet and I hiked from the front door up to Kendal Fell, through its golf course, and back down.
After a fairly mizzly start to the day, the light this afternoon was wonderful and my camera was very happy.
Take care, and stay safe everyone.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Cunswick Fell, Cumbria, Spring
Today, we ventured up towards Serpentine Woods, up and over Kendal Fell, and onwards towards Cunswick Fell, with gorgoeus views along the way.
My Lisabet, navigating through a narrow stile in the wall. The yellow fell in the distance on the right is Cunswick Fell, with the jagged peaks in the distance being the Lake District fells.
It’s easy to lose track of time at the moment.
The UK is on a full lockdown. People are to stay in their homes and only venture out to shop for essentials, for medical purposes, to get to and from work, and once a day for exercise.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the time of writing has infected a confirmed 17,000+ people in the UK, killing over 1,000 people. May the dead find peace.
Lisabet and I are immensely fortunate in that for our allocated outdoor exercise time we can walk straight from our front into the open countryside around Kendal.
Today, we ventured up towards Serpentine Woods, up and over Kendal Fell, and onwards towards Cunswick Fell, with gorgoeus views along the way.
I hope you enjoy these photos. May they give you calm during these troubling times.
This gorgeous cottage sits just below Serpentine Woods. You should seeing it during Christmas…
Another cottage that sits at the entrance of Serpentine Woods. This one, unfortunately, hasn’t fared so well.
As the views started to open up you could really get to grips with how Kendal is situated in its valley.
I mostly took this because I enjoyed the way the dip in the field below mirrored the shape of Benson Knott in the distance. That’s all.
Working our way around the shoulder of Kendal Fell.
These are the sort of gorgeous views I’m talking about.
The summit of Cunswick Fell (175 m/574 ft), with the Kentmere fells in shadow in the distance.
A closer view of the Kentmere fells from the summit of Cunswick Fell.
A panoramic view looking back to Kendal Fell, which also houses a golf course.
My little Lisabet looking small in the limestone landscape of Cunswick Fell.
It was super windy on the fells today, meaning that the sun kept playing hide ‘n’ seek throughout our hike. Here the sun illuminated Cunswick Fell.
Two Swaledale ewes, Cunswick Fell, and the Lake District fells in the distance. Such a Cumbrian scene.
It’s still weird to see the roads being empty…
The way back home. Spring has arrived.
Nearly home.
Take care, you. Stay home and stay safe.
This, too, shall pass.