The Walk

How best to spend an extra day in the Lake District? Really no question! For example, there was an opportunity to go up to Latrigg (368 m) north east of Keswick. In this context, Skiddaw had been the original aim, but the gathering clouds gave a message that less ambitious aims should be contemplated! However, with the storm clouds in the offing, the views from the top of Latrigg were really very impressive. As if to emphasise the benefit of caution, it started to rain on the return to down-town Keswick, but not before I was able to say I had had a good and interesting day - as can usually be expected in the Lake District!

The view from the summit of Latrigg across Derwent Water to Cat Bells was given an added sense of drama by the prevailing weather conditions.

And here is what you'll see on my walk up to - and of course down from - Latrigg, which is Keswick's very own local viewing point to the north east.

• The Walk
• Keswick - The Old Station
• Ascent to Latrigg
• Latrigg Summit - Nice Views
• Return to Keswick
• Walk Features
• Evening


• Please Read Me! Thankyou!

Keswick Station

The route led past the old Keswick railway station. The line from Penrith to Keswick closed to passengers in 1972 after the Beeching Report of 1963, in the frenzy of railway cuts that unfortunately characterised the 60s and 70s. There have been moves to try to reopen the line between Penrith and Keswick, as a means of taking some of the traffic off the very busy A66. However, recent floods have destroyed two bridges, which was not really very helpful. It's - as so often - a question of finance. The will is there but the money purse is light, too light.

Here's the platform canopy ...




... and another view from the platform itself.




Victorian cast iron elegance abounds.



The adjoining hotel has taken over some of the old station building. Through the glass, one can see some railway-themed pictures adorning the walls. The pictures include this copy of the print version of William Frith's famous "The Railway Station" which he painted in 1862. The station in question is of course London's Paddington Station in broad-gauge days. There is a wealth of Victorian detail. For example, on the right hand side of the picture you can even see two constables - hand-cuffs at the ready - about to arrest an errant member of the public!
By the way, as with the print in the "Horse and Farrier", the frame and mount are my humble embellishments, courtesy of HTML5.




A last look at the station.




A little further away from the station, on my walking route,
is a guest house with an interesting name (minus apostrophe).




Yes, it's named after the late Dr Beeching - but not in a way that he might have appreciated.
Note the steam train heading through the landscape.




The guesthouse used to be the station master's house.
With a house like this, the station master must have lived quite comfortably, thank you.

Ascent to Latrigg

It's quite warm and sultry today. Hence the more modest aim of going up Latrigg instead of venturing on to Skidaw. Being in a thunderstorm on a mountain top may be an interesting experience, but one that is not really recommended. Anyway, on the ascent to Latrigg, despite the haze, there are some good views towards Keswick in the south and towards Grisedale Pike and Whinlatter in the west.

On leaving Keswick, Derwent Water and Cat Bells appear in the hazy sunshine ...




... while to the right, one can catch a glimpse of Bassenthwaite Lake - the Lake District's one and only lake. Now there's a quiz question.




Fine views here - another view across to Derwent Water.




Here's looking west, before taking the Latrigg path.

Nice Views from Latrigg Summit

The views on the ascent of Latrigg become even more splendid on the summit. And with a height of 368 m, Latrigg is only a mere dwarf among Lakeland peaks. In addition, the clouds add that sense of drama, in the way that we experienced two days ago on Blencathra.

From Latrigg's flattish top ...




... the view unfolds. Here we see Derwent Water, Cat Bells and much more. Nice.
The path on the right is the way up to Latrigg from the west.
It's the way I came up from Keswick.




And here is your quiz question again. What is the Lake District's only lake?
Why, it's Bassenthwaite Lake ... of course. You knew that.




I think this is Clough Head ...




... however, I didn't get to where I am today, but not knowing that this is yours truly.
Thanks to the photographer ... whoever and wherever you may be.




Leaving the summit by the western approach, the nice view towards Derwent Water ...




... just does not go away. Sometimes it is framed by hardy trees as here ...




... and here.

Descent to Keswick

The way down the east side of Latrigg led to a newly opened woodland path. From this it was possible to reach a quiet road leading past a riding school for the disabled, and thence on to "Beechings (no apostrophe) Folly". Once in down-town Keswick, the rain came - but no matter, the main walk had been in the dry. The weather had been largely well behaved despite earlier ominous signs.

On the eastern descent, that noble pile they call Blencathra appears.




To the south, it's Clough Head ...




... joined now by (is it?) High Rigg.




A new "Woodland Path" leads back towards Keswick
and gives nice views towards Derwent Water through the trees.




More stately woodland ...




... and yet more stately woodland.




Finally, the path joins a hardly used narrow road, on which is located a riding centre for the disabled. Taking pictures of the same was a tad awkward, but I got a picture at the entrance of a stone whose chiselled inscription gives some of the centre's raison d'être.




Here's a nice house ("Windebrowe"?) - probably no longer a private residence.




The house has a nice access drive, graced by flowering rhododendrons.

Evening

It was a pleasant, albeit quite quiet, evening back at Scales, where I enjoyed the fare at the "White Horse". Obviously quieter than the other evenings, but also a time for reflection on the activities of the previous most memorable days.