Home Preamble Index Areas Hills Lakes Dales Places Map References Me Drakkar
We had hardly set foot in Near Sawrey when a woman asked if we knew our way. And we
had hardly replied before she’d told us that she was 81, that she used to live in
Near Sawrey and had come back to see old friends but there were none still here,
all the houses now being holiday lets. We talked about where we planned to walk
and she obviously knew the paths well. In due course we were able to set off but
perhaps it would have been better to have heard more of her reminiscences, because
Near Sawrey has changed greatly since she lived here.
A view of Wetherlam, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes
We walked on to Wise Een Tarn, which is not as attractive as Moss Eccles Tarn but has the advantage of the backdrop skyline of the Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes. At the small tarn to the east of Wise Een Tarn we heard a distinctive call identified (not by us but by an app) as that of a reed bunting. We were lucky to hear it in a period of silence because on this walk we were frequently assailed by jets. I suppose we must accept that these flights are necessary but what is learned by repeatedly booming along Windermere?
Wise Een Tarn
Otherwise this is a delightful walk, easy-going and with open views. To the north, however, we entered forestry, where there are many public footpaths and forestry tracks, not all of which are easily relatable to those shown on the map. Nonetheless, we skilfully weaved our way through to Latterbarrow (244 metres) which the OS map dignifies with a viewpoint symbol. And it deserves it, as this modest height provides an excellent panorama to the west and north, to the Old Man of Coniston, Wetherlam, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes, Fairfield, Red Screes and the Yoke-Ill Bell-Froswick ridge. I didn’t inspect the impressive obelisk to see if it commemorated some significant event or person: I assume that it just marks the viewpoint. The structure is always called an obelisk but an obelisk is defined to have a pyramidal top, coming to a point. Perhaps there was once a pyramid?
The view north from Latterbarrow, towards Fairfield, Red Screes and High Street
The view west from our lunch spot on Latterbarrow
There isn’t a view of Windermere from the top of Latterbarrow but there is from the path down to the north-east (which turned out to be the only real view of Windermere that we had on this walk). We then tackled a path south-east through woodland across Nor Moss and Scab Moss before reaching a crosstracks, where we had a decision to make.
Windermere from the path down from Latterbarrow
We had thought about returning south on the path across The Heald, which may provide views of Windermere – but may not since it may be through woodland. But we were feeling physically and mentally tired. The novelty of the challenge of navigating through woodland paths wears off, as the trees and the tracks all seem much the same after a while and the views are disappointingly limited.
Home Preamble Index Areas Hills Lakes Dales Places Map References Me Drakkar
© John Self, Drakkar Press, 2018-
Top photo: Rainbow over Kisdon in Swaledale; Bottom photo: Ullswater