Wansfell from Brockhole
Volunteer duty with the National Parks.
Looking after people, showing them the way round the Lake District Hills. Always interesting.
Volunteering on n a recent park walk I discovered a route I’d not taken before.
Starting from Brockhole,
and met some wonderfully interesting people.
Seven from eleven were from the US.
Being a naturally garrulous person gives a new captive audience for my increasing knowledge of Lake District trivia.
The A65 is the most hazardous feature of the walk.
Heading a little south from Brockhole it has to be negotiated. Then following the gently rising Wain Lane,
Middlerigg Tarn
as it winds past Middlerigg Tarn up to
Troutbeck was almost too idyllic for our visitors from the Big Pond. They could not contain their delight as the tiny old post office selling cakes and ice cream. Picture perfect cottages and the somewhat grander houses of the Victorian Gentry.
Troutbeck Village House
You’re as likely to meet sheep as fellow humans on the old drove roads which once funnelled many more from the fells. Now those that stray into lanes display ridiculous confusion. Never being able to get out the same way they got in.
Drove road lane
Once on the first peak of Baystones there’s a view over to Kirkstone Pass and its Inn.
Baystones
Then we followed the ridge over to Wansfell.
A less precipitous ridge than many, but still with lovely views over to Windermere and the coast on a clear day.
Paths and trails criss cross Wansfell. Making many choices for an exit but we headed more or less due south to pick up the main drove road at High Skelghyll Farm.
Baystones and the Kentmere Range
Pick up the track by following a wall south and there is a modicum of arrows until picking up a farm track. As long as you keep going down hill you’ll hit the required lane somewhere. You just might have a longer walk back.
Windermere from Wansfell
There’s a few choices of path or bridle way back. Robin Lane and Skelghyll Lane both head in the general direction. Just take care to branch off down the bridle way, Mirk Lane.
It’s signposted to Brockhole and the road.
You’ll only end up in Troutbeck again if you go wrong.
Windermere from Wansfell
