For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

Ever since the Rheumatoid Arthritis flared up and the subsequent damage to my lungs my the Methotrexate I have been reluctant to join organised walks as my limitations are far below most walkers. Today however was an exception. This was a long standing promise to a fellow member of the Online Fellwalking Club to take her and some family members on one of our "local" walks. The original plan had been to do Warton Crag but on the morning of the planned walk it was absolutely bucketing down. A call to Jill who was staying in Ambleside and plans were changed to just meet up at Levens Hall for a chat and cuppa but to take the boots and other gear "just in case". In the event we managed to fit this leisurely walk in with only the lightest of showers and that was right at the end.

The River Kent from Levens Bridge

Group picture (l to r).....Matthew and Rachel, Nigel, Jill, Edith and Richard.

Matthew & Richard are Nigel & Jills sons and Rachel is Matthews girlfriend.

Before we go any further Jill as the most fantastic website to which I am a regular visitor. Take a look HERE and I'm sure you'll agree with me.

Normally on this walk we go to the top of the park and return down the other side....

Today however knowing that a field corner on t'other side would be flooded I had to thinl of an alternative return.

Richard noticed these two deer at the side of the river. There is quite a large sized herd of Norwegian Black fallow deer in the park.

These four Bagot Goats were engaged in an headbutting competition.

One of the young goats

Meanwhile younger members of the group are off up the park

A glimpse of Whitbarrow one of Wainwright's Outlying Fells through the trees

An unusual limestone seat. Nobody volunteered to sit on the wet moss.

Any eggs?

Oh no!!!.....not another Dr Doolittle

Very friendly chucks

Apart from this one with her chicks

Cottages at the top of the park and a return route as come to me.

A short walk along the road and then onto the old towpath of the Lancaster Canal which is overgrown now to the left.

Must be all of twenty years since I was last here. This is the Hincaster Tunnel....look very carefully at the dark tunnel and you can see a spot of light at the far end. The tunnel is lined with about 4 million bricks made from clay dug from the canalside a short distance away. (Another piece of useless information)

Information Board

Leaving the canal we took a path past Hincaster Hall. "Hennecastre" is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It's name is thought to come from the old English "henn" and "ceaster" meaning a fortification haunted by wild hens. (Maybe those chucks we saw earlier are there descendants)

A short climb, then it's all downhill with Whitbarrow in front of us.

Nigel gets in on the picture taking

Walking through the farmyard at High Barns. Actually I had missed the RoW but they were pleasant enough. I still think it was Richards fault ;-)

A cottage at High Barns which Jill & Edith both insisted ws leaning. Don't make much difference with my levels anyway!!

Levens Bridge from the grounds of the hall.

Levens Hall

And finally into the cafe.

Many thanks to Jill , Nigel and family for your company on this walk.

Next Walk:      31st July 2009 - Lake District - Heughscar Hill / The Cockpit and the Cop Stone from Askham

Last Walk:       27th July 2009 - Lake District - The Kendal Scars

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