A walk from Ulverston's Dragley Beck

This walk follows on from my last one (31.1.2013) that started at Ulverston. I suggested a visit to the Hoad Monument, built as a tribute to Sir John Barrow, one of the town’s famous sons. Here I suggest you first visit the charming cottage where Sir John was born by strolling north, from the car park, for a short way along the A5087, to view the Grade II listed cottage. At present it has some scaffolding on one side. There are future plans for work on the inside of the dwelling and also more plans for opening it to the public at some later date. After your visit return to the car park.

Information

Distance: 7.5 miles

Time: 4 hours

Terrain: Generally good walking except for the section a quarter mile beyond Middle Mount Barrow.

Map: OS Explorer 6 and 7

The walk...

1 Turn left into West End Lane and once beyond the second bend to the right, nearly half a mile, look ahead to see a signpost directing you, right, along a reinforced track. Where the metalling ends go on along a wide, grassy, hedged track to a gate with a stiff catch. Once through, turn left and follow the hedge round to pass through a wide gap. Stroll ahead keeping parallel with a stream to the left, heading for a clearly visible footbridge. Cross and turn right, remaining level with a straggly hedge to the left, to walk up the short pasture towards a farmhouse. Go through a gate, to the right of the one by the hedge, into the yard. Walk ahead to join a reinforced track that leads, in a few steps, to a signpost and a narrow hedged lane.

2 Walk right and, once across a bridge over the stream, look for the sturdy iron kissing gate on the left, with a dilapidated sign for Cumbria Coastal Way. Beyond, strike half right over the pasture to go through a gate outside the end of a long garden at Sandhall. Continue on a path beside more gardens and then hedges. Carry on a wide raised grassy way, passing a stranded fine brick built chimney. Go through a metal gate, or the white stile beside it, and continue between buildings to pass through another gate and stile to join a narrow road.

3 Stride ahead along the delightful hedged lane and follow it as it bends left. It ends at a small car park overlooking a wide stretch of the estuary. Sit on a rock here and enjoy a dramatic view of the Leven viaduct, a huge crag near Hammerside Point and a host of waders busy feeding along the edge of the tide. Turn right to walk along the shore, or a small footpath, or a wide track, the last two bringing you back to the pebbly shore further along. Look across to Chapel Island and continue on along the pleasing shore. Eventually you enter another car park.

4 Cross and climb the stile ahead and then ascend the path beyond, with pleasing views of sheep pastures, running up towards Bardsea’s elegant church. Follow the path over the brow and then downhill to the beach and on to the off-road parking area. From here cross the main road and walk up the narrow road opposite, towards the village. At the junction bear right enjoying the pleasing dwellings on either side until you reach the entrance gates to the church on the right. Where the access path divides walk right to reach the entrance door. Go inside to see the fine stained grass windows. Then go round to the back of church to enjoy a fine view out over the estuary.

5 Return to the road and turn right and walk on to take, on the left, White Gill Lane. Soon the houses are left behind and you ascend through rolling countryside. From the brow descend to the signposted wooden kissing gate, on the right, into Willington Wood. Stroll the path (not too muddy) through the wintry trees and at a division, take the left hand path that leads you on to an iron kissing gate into a pasture. Walk on parallel with the wall on the right to go through another iron kissing gate and on to a third onto Red Lane and turn left. Carry on until you can take the signposted right turn leading to Middle Mount Barrow farm.

6 Keep to the right of the buildings to join the access lane and walk on to the next signposted footpath on the right. At first the grassy hedged way is good but then the next small pasture is muddy – keep beside the wall on the right. Then comes a difficult bit, a small muddy pond that has increased in size, but which may have improved by now. Through the middle of the water is part of a stony path, which leads up a muddy slope. The way then continues comfortably beside the hedge on the right, dropping down and passing through a kissing gate. Almost immediately take a similar gate in a hedge on your left. From here the way lies beside the wall on your right and makes for easy walking and fine views. Go through an ordinary metal kissing gate and bear diagonally across the field dropping down to a field gate onto a track, beside Gascow farm, to reach the A5087.

7 Cross and turn right. A short way along take the signposted raised grassy way soon to continue right beside a drainage ditch on the right. Curve on left to reach a stile on to the metalled Brick Kiln Lane and turn left. Notice the bright yellow clay ditches on either side of the raised way, once used by the brick works, where only the chimney remains and passed earlier on the walk. At the end of the lane turn left on to West End Lane to reach where you have parked.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.