Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 2pm to 2.30pm.
Distance: About 9 miles (14.48 kilometres).
Ascent: About 1400 feet (427 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: B (Moderate).
Start point: Swirls Car Park
Postcode: CA12 4TW
Car parking: There is Swirls Car Park but a few hundred meters northwards along the A591 is a long lay-by with free parking. There is additional lay-by closer to Swirls Car Park, but this one is pay and display.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: In this linear walk we leave Swirls Car Park and cross the A591 and pick up a path to take us to the eastern shoreline of Thirlmere. Heading northwards through the woodland we pass by Greathow Wood and eventually come to the reservoir road. There we will go along the road and the dam itself to see this great artificial lake, the woodland on either side and the mountains looming over it.
We then double back along the dam road, passing Bridge End Farm, to cross the A591 a second time and follow the road for a few hundred meters until we cross over the river, St John’s Beck, and pick up a path that traverses High Rigg from south to north.
Now High Rigg is a knobbly ridged hill of small stature and with several multiple tops of similar height. The path goes past Wren Crag, Mart Crag and Moss Crag until finally reaching the high point: the summit of High Rigg and the Wainwright top coming in at 357 meters. From the summit the eye is drawn to the tall and dominant Helvellyn Range, while the hills of High Seat and Bleaberry Fell block the view, the northwestern fells, Whinlatter Forest, Skiddaw and Blencathra can all be clearly seen.
We then begin a brief decent passing by the Youth Centre and skirting past Low Rigg to come to Tewitt Tarn. After that we pick up a few countryside roads and begin a slight ascent to the Castlerigg Stone Circle. This is a good rest stop and perfect to stare at… stones!
The final part of the walk is entering Keswick by descending down the countryside road and then cutting through Keswick via the disused railway track path, passing by Upper Fitz Park and finally stopping at Moot Hall.
Since this is a linear walk there will be car parks both at the start point and end point.
Please fill out the Registration Form to join by 10pm on Friday 6 February if you are coming on this walk. If this doesn’t work then please contact the walk leader, Miles, on 07842 783319 (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). When you register online, I will reply within 24 hours.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
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