With a limited time window on today’s walk I am joined by my son Owen & our dog Holly on what turned out to be a little longer walk than we had initially set out to do. To mix things up a little we started our walk under a whirl of drizzle at Stormwater Bridge close to Portinscale where we picked up the Cumbrian Way before passing through a sleeping Keswick, I often walk alone but I would trade that to have my lad walk with me on any given day, today I shared that privilege.

This walk wasn’t just about Walla Crag, it was about school options, girls, mates, the latest Xbox games & who’s in the charts. This is Walla Crag from Keswick.

Wainwright Guidebook Four

-Walla Crag:

The pleasant Vale of Keswick, surely one of earths sweetest landscapes, is surrounded by mountains of noble proportions with an inner circle of lesser fells which deserve more than the name of foothills, each having strong individual characteristics, a definite and distinctive appearance, and a natural beauty all on its own. Among these is Walla Crag.

The forecasters hadn’t got it wrong as we arrived in Portinscale under morning showers, however we did have the advantage of being able to see hints of blue sky which were drifting in from the west. We managed to park quite quickly in amongst the many Campervans famed for using the road for overnight stays.

So between two Campervans with blinds drawn we kitted up swapping shoes for boots, Owen & indeed myself felt the morning chill almost instantly, Holly did her best bless, to tie us up with her lead growling, barking & raring to go.

With the car locked we all set off picking up the Cumbrian Way footpath almost instantly that will lead us all the way in Keswick not before crossing the bridge that ran over the River Greta.

It was still quite early as we passed the market stalls setting up for the day most of who seemed to be selling winter clothing & gifts which was quite apt given the whips of rain about the air & the dull skies over our heads.

After passing Moot Hall we take a left turn where we would pick up the road towards Manor Brow, navigation from here is pretty straight forward as all we have to do is keep heading straight forward past numerous quest houses whose smell of cooked breakfast sure warmed an appetite.

After a mile or so of the smell of Bacon we reached the bottom of Manor Brow when it was time to take a right at Springs Road, it was our first clear sighting of Walla Crag since leaving Portinscale a little under a hour ago.

Springs Road is the kind of place you dream about living with very affluent housing with views over Keswick & Derwent Water, I could only dream whilst walking past the large detatched houses each one as individual as the next, all adopting names like Castle Crag, Green Gable & so on.

After a mile or so the tarmac road is left behind after reaching Springs Farm Quest House, here Brockle Beck is crossed by means of a small wooden footbridge which lead up to a gate & Springs Wood.

Within no time we were at the summit & even managed to have the place to ourselves before finding a quiet spot out of the wind where we could each brunch, yes you’ve guessed it, too late for breakfast too early for lunch.

Although Holly had her own packed lunch we still received that sad look which meant that myself & Owen had to share our lunches with Holly!

We weren’t alone for long after being joined by four other walkers two of which asked me to take summit shots of them at the summit, one guy I particularly remember said whilst looking at Skiddaw under a low bank of cloud said he was glad he hadn’t climbed that one today…

I didn’t quite know where he was going so I ended the conversation by a pause followed by a mmm, yeah, its erm…

We shoulder kit & press on towards Cat Gill.

We were soon down after passing many walkers all enjoining a day out on the fells, it was at this point I glanced down over my legs then Owen’s & said, why are my trousers full of mud & yours are still nice & clean?

I don’t get it!

After leaving Ashness Jetty we took on the Borrowdale Road via the narrow footpath until for less than a mile before reaching a left turn through Great Wood where the path eventually came out at the waters edge in Calfclose Bay, here lots of families had chosen areas to eat or throw sticks into the water for their dogs to Holly’s delight who doesn’t like water at all.

We take a well earned break on a large tree whose routes had been washed away over time from a battering from countless storms now only leave the roots of the tree exposed leaving them looking quite eerie, yet comfy to rest ones bones.

Ahead at the edge of the bay lay the Millennium Stones, or the Hundred Year Stones left by the national trust in the year 2000 to commemorate 100 years of the National Trust, although I have been here many times, this was the first time I had actually seen them upfront & close to the waters edge.

The queue for the cash machine was well worth the wait after treating ourselves to two cones of chips & cans of pop at the Keswickian Restaurant.

With chips in one hand & a dog in the other we lead ourselves through the busy market blowing on hot chips before putting them in our mouths, from twenty yards I spot a bench with mine & Owen’s name on it, it was there our walk was at an almost end as one mucky trousered dad looked on & asked his son, yer enjoyed today?

These chips are good Owen replied.