Walk Summary
Fairly short walk that starts and finishes at Wray Castle. Opportunity to take a tour around the photographic exhibition in the castle. Tremendous views from the summit of Latterbarrow. Woodland walking through Claife forest and alongside Lake Windermere.
Date: 03/07/2023
Length: 5.32 miles
Height Gain: 217 m
Terrain: Stone tracks, grass tracks, muddy tracks, forestry roads, stone steps, lightly used roads
Navigation: Map, compass and gps required. The tracks are reasonably obvious although signage is sometimes lacking. The Tree Troublers may close sections requiring some flexibility. Navigations hints on the map.
Start: Wray Castle Carpark. Red Nab is an alternative free carpark.
Route: Wray Castle Carpark, High Wray, Latterbarrow, Scab Moss, Belle Grange, Red Nab
Map: OL5 North Eastern Lake District
Weather: Grey. Sunny outbreaks. Light showers.
Walkers: Nun
Captain's Log
Wray Castle
The weather forecast predicted a grey day with showers and so I tailored today's walk accordingly. It would be a shortish walk from the National Trust's Wray Castle to the summit of Latterbarrow, and a return through Claife Forest. I figured that if it was going to rain then it wouldn't be as bad amongst the trees.
I wanted to have a look around the inside of Wray Castle (see NT Wray Castle) but the sign at the carpark said that it didn't open its doors until 10:00. I'd have to have a wander around the place after I finished the walk. I set off southwards along the bank of Lake Windemere. It was a bit grey and muggy but at least there was no rain. A few Swallows swooped low over the lake, scooping up their breakfasts. They'd then go and sit on a wire fence to have a rest before setting off on their bug hunt again. I soon left the lakeside path and headed up to the village of High Wray. There seems to have been some house building going off on the outskirts of the village for months, but they never seem to make much progress. Some of the bunting was still up in the village from the Coronation or Royal wedding/funeral, or whatever it was in May. I left the road and followed a farm track up to the National Trust's Base Camp. I'd wondered if the place was derelict the last time I was here, but I could see a car outside one of the buildings today. I continued along the track into Claife Forest and almost immediately branched off on to a marked footpath towards Latterbrow.
Squirrel Alert
Wray Castle
Pillar On Latterbarrow Summit
Latterbrow
After 10 minutes, I escaped the trees and entered another forest of head high ferns. They were wet from the morning rain and so my trousers and shirt got a soaking. At least it cooled me down a bit. The stone pillar on Latterbrow's summit finally came into view. The pillar is well built and quite impressive. It looked like I'd got the muggy top to myself today. I felt a bit like Mugsy Alone. To the west, the Coniston fells were clear of mist and the sun tried its best to illuminate the Old Man. I started making my way down the other side of Latterbarrow. A chainsaw whined away in the section of forest that I approached. I hoped that the Tree Troublers had not shut the footpath off.
'We're not supposed to be on this footpath, but the bridleway is far too muddy.' Three elderly mountain bikers were heaving their bikes over a stile on my footpath. They'd started out on the bridleway to Hawkshead but the condition of the track was so bad that they'd decided to divert on to this footpath instead. I sighed; I'd need to walk on a section of that bridleway later on. If it was too muddy for mountain bikers, then it was going to be horrendous for walkers. I told them they'd done well to make their way down this footpath since I remembered from a previous walk (see Wray Sawrey Latterbarrow Potter) that it had been fairly difficult to progress along, even on foot.
Looking To Lake Windermere From Latterbarrow Summit
Tree Troublers
Indeed, the track hadn't improved at all since my last journey along it. I waded through the tree branches and undergrowth that had overflowed on to its path. After 15 minutes, the track reached the bridleway and my heart sank. The bridleway was a mud bath. It looked like the Tree Troublers had driven heavy machinery along it and nuked it in the process. I picked my way along it, trying to avoid the worst bits, but by the time it intersected with a stone forestry road, my boots were just two clumps of mud.
I started making my way back to Lake Windermere on a drier bridleway. I found a stream and stepped into it to clean my boots. I thrashed my feet about in the water but the mud just wouldn't shift. I ended up having to wipe the gunk off with some moss. At Scab Moss I came across a rather pretty plant that I presumed to be a Heath Spotted Orchid. I'm no expert though...it probably is a weed.
The bridleway became almost a cobbled stone pathway. In the past I'd found this surface very slippery and treacherous. It was dry today though and I soon descended to the lakeside road at Belle Grange.
Scab Moss, Heath Spotted Orchid?
Bridleway After The Tree Troublers Had Nuked It
Wray Castle
Return
The track from Belle Grange to Wray Castle is flat and easy. There are frequent gaps in the trees offering good views across the lake to the fells. The lake was bustling today with ferries, yachts and motor boats. The nearer I got to Wray Castle, the busier it got. Families were out walking or cycling. A troop of scouts in bright blue uniforms marched by me on some sort of mission. The Wray Castle carpark looked full on my return. I dumped my rucksack in the car and headed off to the castle to have a look around (see Captain's Log in NT Wray Castle for the account).
Despite the doom laden weather forecast, the day had turned out very well. There were a couple of light showers but they weren't heavy or long enough to require wet weather gear. The views from Latterbarrow are well worth the effort to climb up to its summit. Wray Castle was also well worth wandering around.
Looking Towards Fairfield From Wray Castle