Start point - Layby on south
approach to Windermere (SD 416986)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Orrest Head
783
238
SD 4142 9935
Allen Knott
741
226
NY 4142 0107
Preface
Allen stared glumly out of the
window at the rain pouring down. "It's so miserable and
unpredictable at present, that it's not worth going on the high
fells."
"Cheer up", said Tetley
who had overheard him, as he strolled in with Grizzly.
"Does that mean we are going
walking tomorrow?, replied Allen, visibly brightening.
"Yes" said Grizzly
excitedly, "we are keeping low, but doing Orrest Head, one
of the few remaining Outlying Fells, we both need to climb, in
our catch-up operation."
"That's not too far",
chimed in Shaun, "so if the weather forecast for rain later
in the afternoon is right, we may get round in the dry."
"Can't wait for tomorrow",
cried Little Eric.
The Walk
It is only 25 miles to Windermere,
so it did not take very long. Dad found a convenient layby beside
the main road just by the speed restriction sign, to park. Once
we were settled in the rucksack, Dad walked down the road passing
the Windermere Hotel, taking the clearly signed tarmac road to
Orrest Head.
As you can see it states it is 20
minutes to the top, and even allowing for stops for photographs
Dad did it in this time too. The road meanders and climbs
steadily. By a gate this donkey stood patiently watching passers
by.
Where the road ends we went right,
climbing steeply for a short distance to a path junction, where
we turned right to a kissing gate. Through this it was just a
short walk to the summit.
As you can see on either side are
engraved slate tablets, that read as follows -
Left - This stone was placed here
in the year 1902 by the inhabitants of Windermere in remembrance
of the wide and beneficent liberality of the late Arthur Henry
Heywood of Elleray, and as a mark of gratitude to his widow and
daughter, who as a memorial dedicated Orrest Head to the use of
the public for ever.
Right is this prayer -
Thou who hast given me eyes to see and love this sight so fair
Give me a heart to find out Thee, and read Thee everywhere.
This fell also was of great
significance to Alfred Wainwright, and could be described as his
eureka moment, from which was eventually to come the Pictorial
Guides etc. In 1930, at the age to 23, he saved up enough money
to take a holiday in the Lake District, away from his native town
of Blackburn. On arrival in Windermere, he immediately climbed
Orrest Head. This is what he says on reaching the summit, quoted
from his book "Memoirs of a Fellwanderer" -
'...quite suddenly, we emerged from
the shadows of the trees and were on a bare headland and, as
though a curtain had dramatically been torn aside, beheld a truly
magnificent view. It was a moment of magic, a revelation so
unexpected that I stood transfixed, unable to believe my eyes. I
saw mountain ranges, one after another, the nearer starkly etched,
those beyond fading into the blue distance. Rich woodlands,
emerald pastures and the shimmering water of the lake below added
to a pageant of loveliness, a glorious panorama that held me
enthralled. I had seen landscapes of rural beauty pictured in the
local art gallery, but here was no painted canvas; this was real.
This was truth. God was in his heaven that day and I a humble
worshipper...' He ends...'Those few hours on Orrest Head cast a
spell and changed my life".
Well, as we looked out on that
scene, rather ominous with the dark clouds above the fells, we
could understand how he felt.
Dad had passed a couple on the way
up and they arrived a little afterwards. They were from Cheshire
and had never been to the Lakes before. They agreed the walk was
worth it for the superb view. There were people coming and going
all the time and Dad, being the sociable type, talked to a few of
them. He did of course find time to take our picture too. He
would have been in trouble if not.
About half and hour had passed, so
Shaun said, "hadn't we better be getting on with the rest of
the walk"
"Yes you're right "
replied Dad, "but let's just pause a moment longer, to see
where we will be going to."
The white building is Causeway Farm,
which we had to make for first. The buildings further back and to
the far left are Far Orrest, rising just behind which is Allen
Knott our ultimate objective. The distant high fells whose
summits are covered in cloud are, on the left Caudale Moor and
right of the dip, from back to front, Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick
& Ill Bell.
Setting off we headed north off the
summit and descended, to climb stiles and over pastures to a road.
Just before the road we passed this pretty stream with a tiny
bridge. We were to cross the bridge on the return leg, then going
by the wall.
Turned left along the road to pass
Causeway Farm and Crosses Farm, then along a track that led to
the farm at Far Orrest. By a gate we wondered if we had stumbled
on the Far Orrest branch of Currys?
Through the farmyard, and along
another track. Then turned up right off this to climb by the wall
to our second summit Allen Knott.
Dad took our picture here, but
then Tetley said, "take Allen on his own as the fell and he
have the same name."
"Thanks", replied Allen
as he scampered back on to the rocks.
The view from here is similar to
that from Orrest Head, but by now the fells had disappeared as
the rain forecast for later this afternoon arrived early, so we
had a rather damp second half of the walk. We descended back to
Far Orrest then on a footpath over fields and stiles to Near
Orrest. It was very boggy in places. In one field was a number of
cows and calves, including this one.
Eventually we returned to the road
by Causeway Farm and took the same stile in the opposite
direction, crossing the tiny bridge over the stream. Then along
by the wall to cross more step stiles and fields.
These brought us to Common Farm and
the road. Walked along this passing some very nice houses and
Grove Farm, then a little further we went right on a path into
Common Wood. It was absolutely delightful walking through here.
We crossed the stream twice by bridges, this being the first .
The path then climbed to come to a
well signed three way junction.
Our way was left 'A591 Windermere'.
This led on through the woods and then out over open pastures to
the A591 and the start.
We were glad to get into the car,
dry out and have our picnic, as we were all ravenous by now. Dad
drove the short distance to Booths supermarket to get some
shopping and have lunch at the cafe - soup, sandwich, cake and
tea. Well you might well know that there was bound to be cake!
Allen, Grizzly and Little Eric
bagged Orrest Head, while we all bagged Allen Knott.