Keswick Railway Path and Latrigg with Ness

Name of walk Keswick Railway Path and Latrigg with Ness
Date of walk 2014-08-13
Distance walked (miles) 6
Duration of walk 2 hours 30 minutes
Weather Windy
Peaks on walk Latrigg
Walked with Ness
Parking Bottom of Spooney Green Lane.

On Wednesday my sister, Ness and I drove to Keswick to amble along the very easy Railway Path and up to the summit of Latrigg. A walk of about 6 miles. The back of Latrigg has a very gentle incline and is easier to go up than the Spooney Green Lane path, which we will use as our descent. We parked at the bottom of the lane, which is free and also ideal for the short walk in to the town center. Later in the afternoon we would call in to see Father John Inglis at the presbytery in Cockermouth. He is up for his annual walking holiday. When I was in Brighton in September he took me on one of his favourite South Downs walks, but those are just little hills!

1

The old station at Keswick which is now a hotel.

2

The start of the railway path.

3

The River Derwent from one of the many bridges. Latrigg behind.

4

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The boardwalk that covers the section where the train track went through a tunnel.

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The very top of the now filled-in tunnel.

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Low Briery platform.

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The bear at Low Briery.

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Selfie.

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A torrent!

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A bowstring bridge.

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The Railway Man's Hut.

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We now turn off the main path and head up towards Latrigg through the gate just before the hut. View out to Catbells and Causey Pike.

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Border Collie sign for Lonscale Farm.

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View back towards the Mell Fells.

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We are being followed!

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Blease Fell on Blencathra.

22

High Rigg and St. John's in the Vale.

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View to Derwent Water.

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it was windy on Latrigg summit, but the views were worth the effort.

25

We head for the seat.

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Latrigg has excellent views out over Keswick.

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View from the seat.

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As we head down there are bits of blue sky appearing.

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Skiddaw still under cloud.

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We zig zag down the path back to Keswick via Spooney Green Lane.

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We leave our gear in the car and head into Keswick for coffee and cake and a bit of retail therapy. View back up to Latrigg.

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Bunny! On the grass outside the Leisure Center.

34

We cross over the River Derwent once again.

35

Keswick Town Center is not very busy today, the unpredictable weather must be a deterrent.

36

Father John had invited us to the presbytery at St. Joseph's in Cockermouth for afternoon coffee. This is the first time he has stayed here, in previous years he was situated in Keswick at Our Lady of the Lakes and St. Charles, which is more walker friendly. He is supplying for two weeks for Fr. Tom Singleton, who was the priest who did my son Tom's First Communion, and then Tom became one of his servers at St Columba's, on Walney too.

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The church is situated right on the river and suffered from the flooding in 2009. John and Ness

38

John gave us a tour of the church and presbytery.

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After the floods the church got new flooring and is looking rather smart.

40

Ness and John in the presbytery flat which has been very nicely renovated.

41

Me and John.

The walk took about two and a half hours. Ness was glad to have achieved her second Wainwright in a week. Only 212 to go! The rain held off and it turned into quite a nice afternoon. It was good to catch up with John again too. Ness was returning home on Thursday morning so John and I planned to do a walk together the following day, nothing too demanding as John’s legs were aching a bit after his recent excursions up big mountains.

Jo.

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