Cartmel to Haverthwaite walk
A short Cumbrian walk (approx 8.5m)
(Photos/words © urban75, 1st Sept, 2008)

The skies looked grey and forbidding, but we were on holiday, and we were ruddy well going to enjoy our country walk, no matter what!

Happily, the threatening storms never materialised, although we did trudge through a near-constant drizzle which reminded me very much of growing up in south Wales. And what's a bit of rain when there's sights to be seen?!

Our ad hoc route took a meandering path over hill and crag, eventually walking along Ellerside, Speel Bank, completely missing Haverthwaite before doubling back (courtesy of some woeful orienteering) to find Haverthwaite railway station.



The footpath takes you right across the track at Cartmel's racetrack which felt a little strange - you haolf expect a load of horses to come hurtling by.



After a sharpish climb through a wood, we walked across some open fields.



Check out those horns!



Seeing as we'd forgotten to pack some water for our walk, we were happy to come across this organic farm shop.









Windswept tree.





The cows don't look so interesting, but if you look to the far right you can see the misty outline of the Sir John Barrow Monument (Hoad Monument) which was modelled on the Eddystone Lighthouse.

Built in 1850 to commemorate the Ulverston local boy's illustrious career as the Second Secretary to the Admiralty, the Grade II listed building is built from limestone quarried from nearby Birkrigg Common and stands 100ft tall.



The walk afford spectacular views over Morecambe view - even if it was a bit misty. But at least it had stopped raining.





The impressive railway bridge across Morecambe Bay.





It really was a fabulous view!





Crossing the River Leven.



We took a bit of a catastrophic wrong turn as we neared Haverthwaite and walked along this rather spooky stretch of abandoned main road which had since been replaced by a bypass.


Eventually, a local took pity on our pitiful map-reading skills and escorted us along a cunning shortcut through a wood which took us straight to Haverthwaite station, ready for our steam train journey to Lake Windermere.




« Lake District homepage     Lakeside Railway »