A good covering of snow from Wednesday had thawed by Thursday after heavy rain through Thursday night. We decided to give the canal a rest knowing it would be a mud slog.
I devised this route entirely on Tarmac. The M6 runs through the territory including Killington Services just south of Jct. 37 (the Sedbergh turnoff - gateway to some splendid walking country). Killington Services offer views over Killington Lake and above average architecture, so this is one of the more attractive versions of these facilities that we all have to visit from time to time.
Motorway roar and thunder was audible during most of our walk, and I must remember to avoid this in future; apart from that it was worthwhile for extensive views from high on the minor road above the western side of the M6.
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| Our route went anti-clockwise from Millholme |
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| Despite the intention of avoiding muddy paths the Tarmac was running heavily with fast flowing water in many places on the very minor, and poorly constructed roads |
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| Peasey Beck - the outflow from Killington Lake. This beck crosses the Lancaster Canal at Crooklands and then joins the River Bela flowing out into the Kent estuary at Milnthorpe |
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Mutton Hall. This unusually named, remote dwelling is up for sale - it is shown on my map above.
On instructions from Mr. T.K. & Mrs. B. Gorst, Killington, near Sedbergh. Particulars of the attractive and well built farmhouse, with 3 barns having planning permission for conversion into residential units and up to 34 acres of adjoining meadow and pasture land known as Mutton Hall, Killington, Kendal LA8 0NW. £450,000
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| Looking across to Killington Services on the M6 (worth clicking to enlarge). Our return journey followed a minor road above the line of trees |
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| I suppose they thought we were daft for walking. They didn't speak - these guys rarely seem to. Perhaps they were frozen solid? |
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| The wetlands north of the head of the lake |
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| Looking north towards the Howgills. The line of the M6 runs through the trees at the bottom edge of the lake |
Another door opens for you whilst recovering - walking around lakes.What a good idea, mainly flat and you don't have the there and back dilemma. Wouldn't recommend Windermere just yet.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine used to keep a yacht at Killington Lake where the was a club and weekend races. He had the inconvenience of driving up the M6 past the lake to the next junction and then returning down the south carriageway to gain access to the site. Did you see any evidence of boats there now?
We always liked a stop at the cafe when returning down the M6 after climbing in the northern Lakes.
you probably know this, but Killington lake reservoir was created as feeder and source for the Lancaster Canal - so it could be argued as quite logical for this walk round the lake to be considered part of the canal journeyings and not a separate enterprise - so your fears that the gods would be aroused by your apostasy
ReplyDeletebefore your pilgrimage was out can be stilled!
BC - I chose the route because it was circular and all on Tarmac, not thinking of lake encircling as a concept, but it's not a bad idea. Perhaps I could do a Cicerone guide of them?
ReplyDeleteThe sailing club still exists. Look directly under the letter T of KILLINGTON on the map to identify two buildings on the roadside - that is the location.
Our route to the start was on the back roads via Oxenholme etc, so apart from crossing the M6 twice on the walk we did not have the opportunity of calling at the superior Killington services. We ended up at No. 17 in Milnthorpe.
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gimmer - I was aware of Killington's function and had intended to use the info in the post, but then it slipped my mind.
We have not given up on the canal, so no apostasy, but I do not see it as a particularly noteworthy achievement because of its fragmentation. If I had backpacked it, non-stop that would be different.