HENGES, HALLS AND CASTLES - 10.3.19


AT THE EDEN MILLENIUM MONUMENT

A dire weather forecast for the day did not deter twelve people turning up at Rheged, and once again the male members of the group were outnumbered, five males being Andy (Leader), Neil, Dave, Alan & Chris. The seven females were Louise, Clare, Pat, Angela, Helen, Barbara & Vera.

Leaving at 09-02 the first potential problem was within the first half mile, it was the access to the footbridge across the River Eamont, the bridge itself is high enough but access to it was dependent on water levels in the river. We were pleased to see it was accessible but it looked as though that had not been the case the day before. Once across the bridge first hall was Yanwath, then under M6 and to Mayburgh henge where a visit to it was made.

Next stop the 300 million year old 2000 Millennium stone, up to this point we had had no precipitation but now we got quite heavy snow,then onto the next henge (King Arthurs Round Table) next to which is an unusual war memorial with the two faces on it of the two local soldiers who lost their lives in the Boer war.

Still snowing, we progressed along the driveway towards Lowther Castle, noting the three coats of arms on the east side of Lowther railway viaduct.

Just before crossing River Lowther we turned onto the footpath to Askham and its hall, a break was had in the church here, it was about this time when the snow stopped. After the break it was up to Lowther Castle then along the old approach road to Clifton and its hall. From there still heading East made for Clifton Dykes near where Lady Anne’s way was picked up and which we would follow to the Kemplay Bank roundabout at Penrith. Before that, we made for our lunch stop at Brougham Hall when the sun briefly made an appearance!    

Next Brougham castle accompanied by a heavy hail shower, then alongside the River Eamont which was still low enough to allow us to follow the path to Eamont Bridge. At Kemplay Bank roundabout we left Lady Anne’s way and followed the A6 into Penrith centre visiting the plague stone, then St. Andrews churchyard to see the memorial to some of the workers that perished during the building of the Lancaster & Carlisle railway and the Giants grave and also the Giants thumb.

Onto Penrith castle, then across the railway and alongside it to a path into the industrial estate, our aim being to get to the opposite side of the M6. This was achieved by using a little used path which is part of the railway bridge that crosses the M6. Once across and regaining our original alignment it was just a case of crossing a few fields into a lane and down to the roundabout at Rheghed and finish.

Overall, fortunately the weather did not turn out as bad as the forecast!

Stats. S 09-02 F16-20, 7hrs 18mins, Mileage 19-75 Av Sp2-7mph Ascent 1,745ft