With the tops covered in clag and strong winds forecasted we did a valley walk and as we hadn't visited the Keswick railway path since the floods we came to see how things were and try the new permitted path.
The start of the railway path in Keswick
Autumnal colours
On the boardwalk section
Damaged riverbank
One of the bridges
It was good to see the bridges that were still intact and undamaged by Desmond
A sad sight
This was where one of the bridges has gone, it was upsetting to see. We’d walked past the new permitted path signpost to continue on the railway path as far as we could. The path is fenced off but the riverbank can be accessed to the left to view the damage. We retraced our steps back to the signpost
Beefy filming at the permitted path
The path leads steeply upwards through the woods
We turned right at a waymarker arrow and traversed through the woods
The traversing path narrows in places and is beside a bit of a drop so care is needed in a few spots. We stopped for some lunch in the trees then dropped down a stepped path to the riverbank at a path junction. I'd hoped it would join the railway path after one of the downed bridges. We came to a sign saying the permitted route wasn't in use because of lambing. What a shame, we could have joined the railway path to Brundholme. Instead we climbed up to the other path and got to the Brundholme Road
On Brundholm Road
There was another sign here at a fence barring the way indicating the way left along the road to Keswick was closed. I think it is due to landslides. We could see by the footprints that walkers had ignored this and had walked around the fence to the right of it.
A space where the bridge was at Brundholme before Desmond arrived
There was another sign at the gate at Brundholme barring access to the railway path because of lambing. It is a shame because access here from the permitted route to Brundholme would open up most of the railway path. It seems it is not just the damaged bridges that is stopping use of the railway path, the landowner is denying access to it too
The route as it is now is still a nice walk to do but it does have a few ups and downs so it might not suit those who only like walking on the flat. The railway path is such a miss, it could be used by everyone on wheels and was an easy flat route suitable for everyone.
On the way to Threlkeld
After another steep bit up to Wescoe Farm we arrived in Threlkeld and got the bus to Keswick then a bus to Grange. The wind was going to be strong overnight so for the second week in a row we camped on a campsite, this time at Hollows Farm. We had the Woodland Field to ourselves and it felt like a wild camp. We had some tea and it was dark before we knew it. We opened some wine and wondered how strong the wind would get. Apart from a few gusts it was sheltered where we were although we could hear the wind howling above us. Our route was Keswick - railway path - permitted route to Brundholme - Threlkeld 8.5km with 338m ascent. From Grange bus stop to the campsite and then to Hollows Farm add 2.5km. We’d walked to the camping area first to see how many people were camping first (none
)
We woke while it was still dark and had our breakfast. We'd heard a male deer grunting very close to us during the night along with owls and other animal sounds that we weren't sure of. The clocks had gone back and we had an extra hour to play with. I got up to go to the loo and stopped still beside the tent. I saw two deer near the yurts. They'd seen me and I expected them to scarper. I whispered to Beefy we had deer in the field. The deer looked at me for a bit then they carried on eating the grass.
The MSR and the deer in front of the Yurts
We'd both took some photos and I needed to pay that visit and I started walking to the loos. I expected the deer to leg it but they looked up at me a few times then carried on eating the grass. Astonishing, they must be used to people camping here.
A close up shot but I missed a bit of the deer in my hurry to get the shot
It began nibbling the grass again
I walked back to the tent again, still expecting the deer to run off
The deer kept looking up at me but stayed put
I walked on the other side of the campsite hoping to get some more close up shots but this did spook them. Beefy had gone to the loo too and they must have felt surrounded and they walked from the campsite area into the bracken behind the toilet block.
Into the bracken
I’d climbed up a hillock and where we'd pitched the last time we'd camped here to get closer to them again and get more shots
The deer smelled the air as Beefy arrived on the hillock
The last shot of the deer, we were getting cold by now, the wind was bitter
We had planned to leave the site at 8am and walk to Keswick but watching the deer and getting photos and footage had been more important so we did a shorter walk.
The MSR on Hollows Farm campsite
We packed our things away and started walking to Grange for the bus, we were getting the early bus home from Keswick. It was really cold despite the blue skies and sunshine with the very cold wind. We walked by Hollows Farm along the footpath that leads to Manesty but turned right down to Grange. Better than the road we thought.
Castle Crag
Nitting Haws
Catbells and Skiddaw from Grange
Grange Bridge
We had a brew and some food here while we waited for the bus. What a nice weekend it was, shame we had to leave early on Sunday. It was a short walk 2.4km with not much ascent. An unexpectedly fabulous time camping at Hollows Farm, shame it closes for the winter at the end of October.