Name of walk | Catbells and around Derwent Water |
Date of walk | 2013-04-20 |
Distance walked (miles) | 13 |
Duration of walk | 6 hours 0 minutes |
Weather | Blue skies and sunshine |
Peaks on walk | Catbells |
Walked with | On own |
Parking | Portinscale Bridge |
This is the walk I was going to do on Monday, but after listening to the 6.30am Fell Forecast of rain and gales, I went back to sleep! Not today though! The weather is even better than forecast so I change my original idea of walking Catbell’s lower terraces, to going over the top, as there is no wind at all.
I park by Portinscale suspension bridge at 9am and make for Nichol End Jetty. The end of the jetty is underwater and I wonder if I will be able to reach Lodore by the boardwalk route, or whether it is submerged and I will need to go via Grange.

View out to a cloudy Skiddaw

Looking across Derwent Water from the route up Catbells

Catbells' summit

Looking back

Summit reached by 10.30am

Panoramic view of the north western fells. Hindscarth, Robinson, Red Pike in the distance, Knott Rigg and Ard Crags, Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike, Grisedale Pike

From the summit I can see the boardwalk all the way to the Chinese Bridge......so no problemo! I head down

.......and down

Looking back up

Everywhere is very wet and muddy

Wet and muddy

The Lodore Falls Hotel ahead. Ten minutes until I'm sitting in it, with an ice cold diet coke!

Centre is Castle Crag

View back along the boardwalk

Very high water level

Chinese Bridge

O'er! A couple walked through it. The water came to just above the knee. They wore flip flops....coming prepared. But the water was freezing. I don`t want to get my boots wet, but neither do I like the look of the sharp stones on my bare feet. I give it a go, but after about 20ft realise that there was no way I was going to make it without doing some damage, so I "ooh-ah" back out the water. I could go through in just my boots and put my socks back on after I've bailed out my boots, but I`m not in any hurry, besides I quite like Grange!

Grange Holy Trinity Church built in 1861

Plain glass! Churches without at least one piece of stained glass is like having fish and chips without vinegar....it is just not the same! Talking of fish. Whoever wrote the inscription near the ceiling should have emphasised the G a bit better!

Some people are making the water crossing

It has taken me an hour to reach the other side of the water. With all the money they spent on re-doing all the boardwalks, they really should have extended it to cover the last 100m! It was a group of old folk who had crossed the water, one chap must be late 80's. They are wet up to mid-thigh. I chat with them. They complain about water sloshing about in their boots. They didn't have the energy to go around! I overtake them and head for the hotel. I finally get my iced coke. I sit in one of the luxurious armchairs in the bar. I would not have been able to do this if I was wet! On my way out I pass the group of old folk sitting at an outside table laughing as they pour the water from their boots and wring out their socks.

Great weather for ducks!

I have lunch on the rocks at the side of the lake. Some of the paths are underwater so for much of the route back I had to do small detours




Ashness Jetty

So still

The Millennium Stone is under water too

Looking back over to Catbells

There were hundreds of toads in the ponds at The Ings

Back at the Landing Stages of Keswick I pay my respects to George Fisher, then visit Sean McMahon's shop, as I know he stocks Mr. Vikkis Chilli Jam.

I then have a coffee in one of the cafes with outdoor seating in the sun

(John Inglis, does this look familiar?)

Our Lady of the Lakes and St. Charles, built 1927. Also totally devoid of any stained glass windows! The latest priest here is Fr. Joe O'Connor. He used to be Parish Priest at St. Columba's on Walney Island (before Fr. Bernard). My son, Tom, was one of his Servers. I thought he had retired totally. I guess it is correct...... old priests don`t retire, they are just recycled. When Tom was a Server he always managed to get rostered on the mid-week, early morning Masses in the side chapel, during school holidays. So I always had to take him there and back. Those at the altar often outnumbered or matched the congregation...... (the congregation being 33.3% protestant!......Me. Such fun!)

Lambs!
With the detours the walk was over 13 miles, but still easy. It took under six hours.
Jo.


