Walk Summary
A short walk that packs a lot in. Visits Jenkin Crag with great views on to Windermere and over to the Coniston and Langdale fells. Plenty of wildlife and flowers to be seen in Skelghyll and Blue Hill Woods.
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Date: 11/05/2022
Length: 2.032 miles
Height Gain: 170 m
Terrain: Boggy paths, grass paths, stony paths, woodland paths
Navigation: Woodland walking. Map and compass useful.
Start: Low Fold Car Park, Ambleside
Route: Low Fold Car Park Ambleside, Skelghyll Wood, Jenkin Crag, Blue Hill Wood
Map: OL5 The English Lakes North Eastern Area
Weather: Blue skies, white clouds.
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Skelghyll Wood Flower
Captain's Log
Late Start
Grey skies joined us at breakfast and then we had the occasional smattering of rain. It was a case of waiting until things improved. By the afternoon, the grey sky had turned blue with white fluffy ones drifting in from the west. Eventually, it had turned out a nice day.
I decided to do a short walk up to Jenkin Crag and back through Blue Hill Wood. A short walk but it packed a lot in.
Ambleside Lambs Taking It Easy
Skelghyll Wood
The day had turned out surprisingly warm. The lambs in the fields seemed to be taking it easy with most of them catching some sleep in the grass. I headed up the road to Skelghyll Wood. I spent a few minutes following a bee about to see if I could get a good photo. This provided much amusement to some walkers, who I'd not noticed, further up the path. I was more lucky getting a picture of a Robin who was having an afternoon snack. There were plenty of people coming down the path. Maybe they were doing the round trip with Wansfell Pike and Troutbeck.
Robin Having A Snack
Langdale Bound Helicopter
Jenkin Crag
I turned off the path over to the rocky outcrop that is Jenkin Crag. It has a wonderful view over Lake Windermere to the Coniston and Langdale fells, although it is a little obscured by the surrounding trees. Three women arrived at the crag as I was taking photos and we chatted for a while. Once our conversation ended I started making my way back to the main path. I almost reached the path when I heard a roar behind me; a huge plane was making its way over Lake Windermere. I dashed back to see if I could grab a photo, but I was only able to see the massive tail wing disappear behind the trees. What a miss! If only I'd stayed on the crag a few more seconds when talking to the women, I'd have got the perfect shot. I did photograph a helicopter heading for Langdale, before I'd entered Skelghyll Wood, but a photo of that huge plane would have been better.
Skelghyll Wood Bluebells
Buzzard, Bluebells And Brooks
I headed up the path that takes you to the top of Wansfell Pike. The woodland floor was awash with bluebells. I spotted a buzzard soaring in circles above the trees but I couldn't get a good picture because of the branches and leaves. I arrived at a crossroad of paths. Carrying on straight across and uphill would have taken me up Wansfell Pike. I took the left path that contours along the hillside through woodland . Before leaving the wood I crossed a stream which I believe to be Stencher Beck.
Stencher Beck (I Think)
Fairfield Horseshoe
Ambleside's St Mary's Church
Blue Hill Wood
It was good to reach open fell and see the neighbouring fells again. I searched the skies, hoping that the buzzard might have followed me along the hill. No luck. Just a few crows having some fun. I climbed a small hillock and had a tremendous view of the Fairfield Horseshoe. Looking down into Ambleside, there were so many trees around St Mary's church, it looked as though it was located in a wood. It seems a lot more urban when you are down there.
I made my way down through Blue Hill Wood and back into Ambleside. The walk had only taken me about an hour but was really good value.