Published at 13:16, Tuesday, 27 January 2009

If you’re ready for a walk to burn off some of those Christmas calories then this is for you – an easy start along the disused railway trackbed, followed by a fair pull up to the top of Latrigg and a gradual descent back to the start makes for an ideal mid-winter’s walk. Keith wood

Latrigg walk, Dodd from Latrigg

If you’re ready for a walk to burn off some of those Christmas calories then this is
for you – an easy start along the disused railway trackbed, followed by a fair pull up to the top of Latrigg and a gradual descent back to the start makes for an ideal mid-winter’s walk.
It’s also a good time to tackle this popular route when there should be fewer folk about. The route makes use of the footpath created when the Lake District National Park Authority acquired part of the former Cockermouth to Penrith Railway after it closed in 1972. During improvements to the busy A66 between Penrith and Keswick, much of the track was destroyed but this section between Keswick and Threlkeld, passing through the lovely Greta Gorge, has remained untouched.
Passing through peaceful woodland, attractive throughout the year, with interesting man-made features, it seems a world away from the busy main road to the northern and western lakes and the bustling town of Keswick. Along the route are several information plaques giving information on both the heritage and natural history of
the area.
From this low level path, the track
ascends Latrigg giving spectacular views
over Keswick with the full length of Derwentwater stretching south with Walla Crag above the lake on the left, Catbells on the right and the beautiful Borrowdale Valley beyond framed by the cliff face of Great End on the horizon.

1 Park in the free car park next to Keswick Spa, behind the old railway station. Take the bridlepath along the former railway trackbed, heading east away from the spa. The route, which is also part of the Coast to Coast cycle route, goes through the outskirts of Keswick and heads towards the A66.
Just before you pass under the A66 you’ll see a cast iron sculpture celebrating the Coast to Coast route, put up as part of the Millennium Project. Follow the path as it goes under the road (A66).

2 On entering the woods, the first
section is a high-level board walk above the River Greta. Pass the platform of the former bobbin mill at Low Brierly. It once provided wooden bobbins in vast quantities for the textile industry of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The stems of young trees were cut down near to ground level and then new shoots would emerge to be harvested again after about 20 years. Evidence of ‘coppicing’ can still be
seen in the surrounding woods.
The track continues following the line of the River Greta along the valley, criss-crossing the river with a series of bridges as the waters meander beneath.

3 Opposite a small stone railway hut before another bridge crosses the river, there is to the left an iron gate with a small wooden walkers’ gate next to it. Go through, crossing a small field. Blencathra is straight ahead.
Pass through a second set of gates onto
the small narrow road, turn left and immediately the road starts to wind its way up the hillside.
From the road, the route up to Latrigg can be seen quite clearly to the left and beyond in the distance Causey Pike, Sail and Eel Crag. Keep following the farm track up the hill. Through an iron gate, the road then forks – keep to the left hand track, the other heads down into the valley. Keep straight towards Latrigg. Along the path there is a full view straight down the Newlands Valley to Robinson with High Style and Red Pike on the horizon.
4 At another fork again keep to the left. Almost immediately the track forks again;
to the left down through Brundholme Woods, but take the route over a stile next to a
five-bar gate with the Signpost ‘Skiddaw 4 miles’. Follow this track as it then climbs towards Latrigg.
The tourist path up to Skiddaw can be seen on the right. This is now a steady climb to the top of Latrigg.

5 At a gate through a fence, where the
track follows along the side of a wooded area on the right, head to the left up the grassy bank following a wide, fairly indistinct track. After a few yards over the grass the path becomes visible swinging out up the ridge
to the right. Eventually pass through a wooden gate to follow the track onto the
top of Latrigg.

6 The well worn path hugs the top of
Latrigg until, at the front edge, there is a
seat and the most spectacular view over the town of Keswick itself and Derwentwater beyond. To the right Bassenthwaite Lake
lies in between a patchwork of fields
and hedges.
The extensive views follow all the way round from the Helvellyn ridge on the left, the full length of Derwentwater with Catbells, Robinson, Hindscarth, Causey Pike and Grisedale to the right and round to Skiddaw behind.
The path swings round to the right heading towards Skiddaw. As the main limited mobility path continues straight ahead towards Skiddaw, take the Public Footpath route to the left. At a further fork in the footpath keep to the right, which is the wider, more worn path.

7 At an isolated stone gatepost the path swings around back on itself now heading down towards Keswick. At a T junction, take the path down to the left as it swings around and heads towards Keswick.
At a junction beneath some trees with a couple of stone gateposts, one upright and the other laid down, take the lower track to the right. Through a gate exiting Latrigg Woods, head onto Spooney Green Lane and the bridge over the busy A66.
On reaching the end of Spooney
Green Lane, turn left and head back to Keswick Spa.

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