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Don’t worry; there are no salacious details of time spent in the shadow of the submarine sheds down on Lakeland's southernmost coast. Instead, here’s a brief report of one of those unexpected and enjoyable walks snatched late in the day on one of the lower north western fells.
A tray of recently discovered slides revealed a shameful neglect: I’d last been in this part of the Lakes back in the 1980s, and my Wainwright count for this neck of the woods was a paltry two. One was, predictably, Catbells, while the photographic evidence of the other only confirmed the summit rather than the route to getting there – so no additional tops could be claimed.
This evening outing, therefore, proved to be a splendid reintroduction and a taster for future visits. In addition to giving glimpses of things to come it was one of those walks ideal to shake out the stiffness of a day spent either trapped in the car or staring at a screen. I’d arrived at the campsite at Braithwaite by 5.00pm accompanied by a clearing sky and only a remnant of the wind that had bedevilled visitors earlier in the week. Skiddaw dominates the skyline to the north east and lures the eye, but above the village, Barrow sat temptingly.
- Skiddaw
As the Newlands road leaves Braithwaite, the path heads up to the right, leading you towards the farm at Braithwaite Lodge. Once above the cluster of buildings and over the stile, the path goes left then, within just a few yards, strikes up the ridge, through the bracken, with only one destination possible.
- Catbells from Barrow
Evening sunlight on the fells above Newlands are a foreground to those further south, but it’s worth succumbing to the temptation to keep turning round as you rise up the ridge. The little stops may punctuate any attempt to establish a rhythm on the ascent, but it’s only going to last about forty minutes so it’s no big problem. The benefit is the evolving view back down Bassenthwaite and across to Skiddaw.
- Braithwaite and Bassenthwaite from slopes of Barrow
With the route back down to the village, via the col at Barrow Door and the path above Barrow Gill, clear, it’s time to sit on the summit and soak it all in and plan the forays for the future – for me it was tracing the line of the objective for the following day, the Newlands Horseshoe.
- Across Keswick to Blencathra from Barrow Door
- Blencathra
As the shadows lengthen across Skiddaw, the descent drops gently down the easy-angled path and back into Braithwaite.
- Evening light on Skiddaw
After just ninety minutes out, a new top had been visited and enough effort had been expended to justify a good meal in the Royal Oak. Southern friends of mine once exclaimed at the size of “northern portions” when they visited pubs anywhere above Watford Gap – they wouldn’t have been disappointed here.
