AROUND CROOK

Grizzly passes 5,000 miles walked


Summary

Date - 16th May 2020, 3rd August 2021 & 2nd September 2023
Distance - 6 miles (5.75 miles-2021 & 2023)
Ascent -
950ft
Map - OL7
Start point - Crook Memorial Hall (SD 4543 9512)

 

Summits Achieved

No summits were reached on this walk

 

Preface

Tetley and Allen were huddled over the laptop, when Southey trotted into the room.

"What are you looking at pals?"

"The pictures Dad took on the walk yesterday from Levens Hall", replied Tetley.

"We have done the walk a few times, but Dad said that he would write yesterday up as a new story", went on Allen.

"So it is good that he took some many pictures and that there are plenty of excellent ones to illustrate our adventure", said Tetley.

Southey looked over their shoulders and pointing said, "those of the bluebells in Larkspring Wood are super. Isn't nature wonderful."

"So is tea and cakes", cheered Allen, as he spotted Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric coming into the room.

Tetley let out a bellow of laughter. "You truly do take after Dad, pal."

Southey had gone to get the plates and mugs, then he helped Shaun fill the latter.

"Thanks pal."

"So what delights of cake do we have today?", asked Tetley.

Little Eric volunteered the information. "Grizzly has made peach and apricot slice, and I have made chocolate topped flapjack."

We all dug in, and there were murmurs of contentment.

"The flapjack is delicious", enthused Allen, as he took another slice.

"So I see", laughed Little Eric, "that's your third piece."

"Just showing my appreciation", he replied smiling. "Oh and keeping up with Southey too."

Ha ha", replied Southey. "Though you are right I seem to have inherited a liking for tea and cakes from Dad."

"The peach slice is scrumptious too", went on Shaun. "Thanks Grizzly."

Tetley then said, "Do you think we will get out for a walk this weekend?"

"The weather is dry for Saturday, but rather cool with a brisk wind", said Little Eric, having looked it up on the iPad.

"That won't bother Dad, other than having to wear long trousers again", replied Grizzly.

"We need to come up with an idea", mused Southey. "I wonder if we might venture into the Lake District?"

Allen replied, "I do not think Dad would be too happy about that in view of the virus, despite the rules having been relaxed. However maybe just a little further into Cumbria perhaps."

"Let's get the walk index up, and see what we can find", suggested Grizzly.

This done we scanned down. "Look" pointed Little Eric. "There's one in the Crook area. The walked date in 1986, long before any of us was adopted. Let's see if it has been done more recently."

Bringing up the walks done sheet, Grizzly applied a filter. "Well what do you know, 1986 is the one and only time Dad has done this. Sounds like it is a candidate for Saturday."

"Let's get the sheet out of the binder, so I can go and ask Dad", said Allen.

Between them Tetley and Southey carefully lifted it down, then extracted the sheet.

"OK, I'm off. Please fill my mug up for when I get back."

"Will do pal", replied Shaun.

It was not long before he returned. "Dad is surprised that this walk has only been done once, although he is sure that parts of it have been done since on other walks. However he is happy to do it."

"That's great", cheered Little Eric. "Here's to Saturday."

"I can't wait either", said Grizzly, "as I will pass the milestone of 5,000 miles."


3rd August 2021
On a warm sunny day we decided to repeat this walk as the countryside is so lovely. Very quiet tracks and paths, only meeting one other walker and seeing two others from a distance. The area is just a few miles from Bowness, that would be thronged now. Some contrasts from last May in that the bluebells and wild flowers were over but everywhere was green with verdant vegetation everywhere. Dad took just a few pictures today and we have included some to enhance our original account. The slightly shorter distance is due to at the top of the lane from Brow Head Farm, we did not go across to the wood, as it was not bluebell time. He was in time after to go to one of his favourite cafes for lunch, the River Bela Cafe in Milnthorpe. We get to go in too and quietly had our picnic sitting on a chair.

2nd September 2023
Summer has been more like autumn. Now we are in autumn we are to have a heatwave! After two years decided to repeat this walk, through the beautiful countryside in this area. Apart from two walkers on the Dales Way section and two gentlemen with their dog at the old church tower, we had the walk to ourselves. So peaceful and there was just the sound of the birds and sheep.

 

 

The Walk

The weather was as predicted, rather cloudy and a brisk cool wind, so sensibly Dad was for once in long trousers and had his jumper on.

We were to find that the original instructions were mostly accurate, although the nature of the stiles had changed somewhat (e.g. ladderstile had become a kissing gate).

Were eager to be off, so once Dad had loaded his gear we ran out and settled on the front seat.

"Which way do we go to the start?", asked Southey.

"Up the M6 to junction 36 then along the A591 link road that bypasses Kendal."

This was quiet, Dad commenting, "I'm glad that the majority of people are still avoiding the Lake District."

At the end of the dual carriageway, we turned left, signed to Crook, following the road as it meandered through the lovely countryside, until we arrived at Crook Memorial Hall, our start point.

Looking at the map and instructions, Shaun said, "we should go left as far as the access to Yew Tree Farm, then over the stile on the right."

Arriving we saw that this was now a kissing gate. "It is not surprising there have been changes in the more than 30 years since it was published in the Lancaster Guardian", commented Allen.

As pointed by the signpost the path was across the pasture keeping right of the rise, to a stone step stile between two gates in the distant wall.

There Shaun instructed. "we cross this next pasture diagonally to a stile by a gate, and then go left keeping by the wall."

On the August day in 2021, Little Eric said, "that is a lovely pastoral scene across the fields to the buildings of Beckside. The highest points are Brackenthwaite left and just to the right Kerris Hill."

Near the corner we then climbed the stile over the wall we had been walking beside.

Sheep and lambs abounded here. "Ha ha", laughed Southey. "There goes your sheep picture free story, pal."

Hmph", grunted Allen. "I'm not surprised."

"According to the instructions, we keep to the right of the buildings of Crook End", advised Shaun.

This caused Dad to go right through a gate, and then cross the ensuing field to a further gate. Now it was along the walled track to a gate and exit at Crook End.

"Oops", called out Little Eric. "A sign on the gate says that there is no right of way along the track we have just walked."

"I should have just kept on up the field where the sheep were", said Dad. "Well never mind, no one saw us."

In 2021 we made sure to follow the correct route, keeping as Dad said on up the field, passing this pair of impressive oak trees...

...to the second gate, then right on a shelf like path to a kissing gate into the garden of Crook End Farm and as per the instructions passing right of the buildings to the access.

"OK, we follow the tarmac access to the road", advised Shaun

A clump of large trees were almost immediately to our left. "The bluebells underneath are lovely", called out Little Eric.

As Dad strode on, Tetley pointed right. "Look at the gorse. Beautiful."

The drive bent right, and Southey pointed, "there is more wonderful gorse. Stunning."

At the drive end, Shaun instructed, "we go left."

The quiet narrow lane was lined with wildflowers. "How lovely", said Southey.

By a gateway these tall yellow flowers made a pretty sight.

"How about having our picture sitting by them?", suggested Grizzly.

We scrambled out and tried to group ourselves, but it proved difficult due to the uneven nature of the ground. Dad then said, "it is just not suitable as trying to get you quite close up then I cannot get the flowers in. We are bound to find somewhere further on to do this."

"What are then flowers called?", asked Southey.

There was silence. Allen piped up, "we'll just have to ask our pals, Bracken and Moss, who are our hug experts on flora."

Without hesitation they told us that the flowers were Greater Celandines.

Having got ourselves back in the rucksack, Dad strode off again and coming to a junction, Shaun advised, "we keep on ahead, then we are looking for a track branching left that is the Dales Way."

The road climbed steadily on and on, before Little Eric called out, "there's the track."

The walled track eventually brought us to two gates to the right, where we did not need any instruction from Shaun, as a sign indicated we should take the left of the two. Now in open pasture a wide clear path left us in no doubt as to the route.

"Wow", pointed Allen. "That's a super view of the Coniston range. Please try and get a shot Dad."

"I've still a few of those to bag", commented Little Eric.

"Well lad, once the current crisis is over and I have built up my hill fitness again, I hope to take you there", replied Dad.

Beyond a gate, Shaun then said, "we should go right round the far end of that plantation."

The stony path then soon brought us to a junction.

"I guess it is straight on, along the Dales Way", suggested Grizzly.

"Actually pal, we take track signed to Borwick Fold, along by the plantation", informed Shaun.

The path led through a gate in the wall that can just be made out in the distance, on the right side of the picture.

"Aww, just look at that cow and her calf", said Tetley.

"The gorse behind makes a beautiful sight", added Grizzly. "This is certainly one of the best times of year to do this walk."

By now we were approaching Borwick Fold. "That will make a lovely picture with the trees rising behind the buildings", pointed Allen.

"At the bend in the track, we should head left over the rough pasture", called out Shaun.

Here there were more sheep and lambs. "That lamb is begging to have its picture taken", pointed Southey."

"Hmph", grunted Allen. "Hope that's the last for this story."

The ground dropped down to a stone step stile in the cross wall. "Here", cried Little Eric. "Good place for our picture."

Over the stile, Dad then followed the narrow trod to a gate towards the left end of the wall ahead. Through this the path veered left to then follow as it bent right, to this tall gated step stile. "That's a bit of an unusual stile", commented Grizzly.

Then just up the field to the gate onto the road. "We go left past the house called Outrun Nook and then take the stile on the left and rejoin the Dales Way", advised Shaun.

"We have been past here before on a walk from Ings", remarked Tetley.

"I never cease to be amazed at your memory pal", said Southey in wonder.

The path kept by the wall to the left, passing a rocky outcrop.

"That impressive oak tree is worthy of an appearance in our tale", pointed Allen.

The path led to Crag House. Here Shaun said, "we don't go to the house, but keep by that wall on the left."

At the field corner a sign for the Dales Way pointed left. "Not our route", called out Shaun. "We need to go right through that gate."

Dad followed the stony path that then became grassy and led on and on to a gate by which was standing this young cow.

It basically ignored us, as Dad climbed the stile to the left of the gate and then crossed the footbridge, over the infant River Gilpin, seen in the background of the picture.

The path climbed initially then led ever down through a valley. "The scenery here is just heavenly", said Southey. "I know I keep saying it but how truly wonderful is nature."

Tetley said, "I am pretty sure we have been on this path as well in the past."

To the left were banks of gorse while to the right, on the far side of the River Gilpin, is Gilpinpark Plantation where the bluebells were in full glory.

After passing through three gates the route became a walled track, and so down to the road.

"We cross and take that minor lane leading left", said Shaun. "We should then ignore any lefts and rights."

This brought us to Spigot House. "The azaleas look pretty", commented Grizzly.

Past here it became a gravel track, along which we met only the second group of walkers, a lady and gentleman.

They were following a Mary Welsh walk that had been published in the Westmorland Gazette in 2000.

From this Dad had a discussion mostly with the lady how each of us indexed out stock of walks using Excel.

Dad explained, "mine are just numerical, and I use filters to search by distance, start point etc."

The lady replied saying, "my system is more complex split by area and difficulty."

Dad then introduced us, the gentleman saying, "I had spotted them."

He told them our names and how far and long we had been walking, and then mentioned our website. They thought is was super that Dad took us, and the lady said, "we will have a look at the website."

Dad did explain that it maybe a few weeks before this account was written, but perhaps they will eventually read it and we hope they like that meeting them is included.

So saying our goodbyes Dad walked on, the track taking us past Milldam a fishing lake and out to the road.

"It's right", instructed Shaun. Then he said, "very shortly we will come to Brow Head Farm on the right."

"We go left up the lane opposite", he went on.

This climbed steadily, and then went sharp right to Birk Moss. "We should go left here, through that gate", pointed Shaun.

Looking across the field to a wood (unnamed on the OS map), Allen called out, "the bluebells in the wood look fantastic. Let's go and have a closer look."

"Wow", said Little Eric. "Get the camera out Dad."

Passing through the gate as instructed by Shaun, the path followed the wall on the left. "Wow", pointed Tetley, "What a superb view of our beloved Lakeland Fells"

Southey not being so familiar with the outlines of the fells asked, "so pals what can we see?"

There was a little discussion then Allen said, "OK Tetley we'll leave it to you to voice our thoughts."

"On the far left are the Crinkle Crags, the lighter coloured triangular summit in the foreground at their right end being Pike o'Blisco. Then going right the pointed top is Bowfell then Esk Pike, with Great End poking out behind. The pronounced dip is Esk Hause and the rounded top to the right is Allen Crags, after which you are named pal looking at Allen. Continuing right the low fell in the foreground is Lingmoor, then on the far right, is Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark."

"Amazing knowledge", said Southey in wonder. "However you have missed one in the background to the right of the Crinkle Crags."

There was more muttering, then Allen said, "we are not entirely sure, but it must be one of the Scafell group. Probably Ill Crag."

So now time to tear ourselves away from the view and continue on the a gate and stream crossing then on to soon come by the fence on the left once again and walk on to a facing wall with a gate.

"We don't go through the gate, but rather go up left by the wall", said Shaun.

At the top it was right through a gap to follow the path over open ground to the tower that is all that remains of old St Catherine's church. "We have been here a few times before on different walks", commented Grizzly.

The plaque above the arch told us - 'The tower, built about 1620, is all that remains of the old Church which served the parish from 1516 to 1887 when, due to structural defects, the body of the Church had to be demolished. The tower was allowed to remain as a local historical landmark. It was restored in 1993 with grants from English Heritage and the Lake District Special Planning Board and a generous donation in memory of Judy Logan of Birk Moss, Crook 1963 - 1989.'

Ready for the off, Shaun pointed, "we follow that path leading a little left."

At a path junction we then joined the stony track leading to the road, with to our left the present St. Catherine's Church.

Now it was just a short walk right uphill to the start, Dad pausing to take this close-up of bluebells.

"What a super walk", said Little Eric. "Thanks Dad on behalf of us all."

"You are welcome lads. "It was about time I repeated the walk after 34 years!"

We got settled in the car and once Dad had got his boots off we headed home. He called at Prizet for diesel, and then at Low Sizergh Barn. The cafe is of course closed but the shop was open. He stocked up on beer, biscuits and bacon, and had a take away cup of tea that he enjoyed outside sitting on a rock. Well he deserved it!

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