12th February 2010 - South Cumbria - A section of the CCW

Area:	South Cumbria	Ascent:	220feet
Walk No:	345	Time:	3hours
Date:	12th February 2010	Parking:	A lay-by on the A590 near Greenodd
Distance:	5.50miles	Weather:	Fine & Sunny

Route:

Car - Roudsea Wood - Haverthwaite - Roudsea Wood - Car

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.

This walk had been planned to visit an area of South Cumbria we last walked about 20 years ago. It also fit in nicely with a dicky knee which after a few consecutive walks was starting to play up a little. A simple easy to follow walk with little problems in route finding. It is not for those wanting excitement from there walks, just a pleasant way to spend a good half-day.

Route Map

After leaving the car in a lay-by we took the path shown alongside the tidal River Leven towards the footbridge using the Cumbria Coastal Way.

As stated this section of the River Leven is tidal and at the moment the tide is in. It is also a popular spot for anglers although catches comprise mostly of "white flukes" or flounders to give them there popular name.

Setting of (l) and a look back to Greenodd (r). The bridge you can see on the left is the A590 roadbridge over the River Crake the outflow from Conistonwater.

A gentle well-trodden path takes you across the fields towards Roudsea Woods.

A look N'wards towards the Rusland valley

There are many embankments (l) in the area to help prevent flooding. Approaching Roudsea Woods (r)

A look back before we enter the woods.

A deligtfully lichen decorated tree as we enter Roudsea Woods.....The path through the woods is short but for those more interested in nature than walking there is much to see.....more HERE We did see evidence of Otters later in the walk.

Leaving the woods we could see what I think is the Ellerside/How Barrow ridge. It is an area I am not really familar with but would like to put that right this summer.

After leaving the woods the path moves more or less alongside the River Leven. It is still tidal at this point, in fact it is throughout the walk. I wonder what it ws like here in the November '09 floods.....I imagine that I would be in water!!

Farm outbuildings near Cat Crags.....the river is behind the reeds, the gate is for anglers only. Later our reurn path would take us through the woods opposite.

Although far from perfect there were a few opportunities for a few reflection shots

Leaving the path we have been on up to now the CCW crosses the footbridge .

The B5278 road bridge over the River Leven near Haverthwaite. We would cross the bridge and walk up to the village to pick up a path for our return.

We left Haverthwaite on a delightful path passing a few of these large South Cumbrian chickens along the way.....think this one was called Chris Rhea

Plenty of snowdrops here on a sunny south facing banking.

A look back

This is the only point where you need to be careful with your route finding. Being more concerned with possible picture shots I missed our turn off. Fortunately I realised it here and we only had to go back a 100 yards or so to pick it up.

Eventuall the path leads you to first to Rusland and then shown here back to the River Leven

It is then simply a case of following the bank

Looking over the disused railway line towards Biglang Heights, Ellerside and How Barrow.

The old railway bridge over the River Leven. There was plenty of evidence of Otters here with lots of paw prints in the river banking. We crossed this bridge and took a turn on the left.