White Stone walk has fabulous views (From The Westmorland Gazette)

White Stone walk has fabulous views

5:50pm Friday 5th August 2011

• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

Park in the old road beside the A590, grid ref 384849. Access this from Newby Bridge roundabout, where you take the A592 for Windermere. A very short way along take the first right turn, a narrow lane that leads to Staveley-in-Cartmel. At the first signpost, bear right and then right again at the signpost for the church. Continue down the narrow lane, ignore the turn to rejoin the A-road, and continue ahead for a few yards to park in a wide area of the old road.

Anyone journeying along the A590, from Ayside to Newby Bridge, will have admired, to the north side, the pleasing ridge of low hills. This attractive walk takes you up the modest hill of White Stone. It is approached by a steady climb, through bracken, to reach the few boulders on the summit, which support colourful clumps of heather. It has no trig point or cairn but it does have stunning views.

The walk then continues to Chapel House plantation and takes a circular route through the forest. The way is generally easy but some of the waymarks are obscured by lush vegetation. The return section is along a bridlepath and it is off this, after nearly a mile, that you bear left, south. If you miss your turn the bridleway continues to Staveley-in-Cartmel where turning left on the narrow road, returns you to the parking area.

1 Walk on from the parking area to go through bollards, to join the new cycle path. In a few steps take the signed footpath on the left. Walk ahead on the gently rising path. At the time of writing the hillside is covered with bracken but the narrow path is easy to follow as it climbs steadily up the Whitestone Enclosure. Ignore the first waymark directing you left and continue on the path, with bracken clad White Stone to your right, beyond the ravine through which flows Whitestone Beck. The path is easy to climb and then descends gently to the side of the beck.

2 Hidden by lush August vegetation is a small rough ‘causeway’ of stones across the beck. Beyond, go ahead to the waymark, and turn right as directed. The path keeps beside a low derelict wall, to your left, and then arcs for a short way, through the bracken. It soon returns to the side of the wall and goes up beside it to the ridge. Here look right for a narrow path through the bracken that climbs gently and the winds left of a solitary tree and continues to the top – a ring of pale stones, with patches of lovely heather. Pause here and enjoy the superb view - see if you can spot the Langdale valley.

3 Return, right of the tree and then down to the wall and walk left, with the wall to your right, to reach the waymark. Turn left, cross the beck and keep ahead ignoring the upward path taken earlier. This traverses the hillside to reach a waymark. If the weather has changed you may prefer to turn left and descend on a reasonable path to the parking area. To continue this walk, turn right up a more indistinct path and carry on as it improves, winding round a hillock and leading directly to a stile into Chapel House plantation.

4 Climb a short slope and wind right as directed. Follow the narrow but distinct path through the lovely woodland. As you go you feel that no-one has walked this way before. There are a few waymarks to help you find your way. Eventually you pass, well above, a small tarn on your right and then the path takes you ahead to join a wide forest road.

5 Stroll right along the wide way, with a few trees to your left, but mainly the area has been clear-felled though nature is trying its best to take over. Follow the track all the way until you reach the side of a conifer plantation. A few steps right brings you to a track. Here walk left on the edge of the forest for a short way to take the waymarked bridlepath, left, back into the forest.

6 Follow this for nearly a mile and then, after it winds a little right, watch out for a left turn that takes you gently downhill to a Y-junction. Either branch takes you on down, the right branch goes past Barrow Banks tall radio masts. At the next Y-junction one path takes you down to the entrance to the forest where you turn right to walk to where you have parked. The other takes you down a short way to the old road.

Information

Distance: 1.25 miles or 5.5 miles

Time: 1 hour or 2-3 hours

Terrain: paths through bracken and through the forest are fairly easy to follow. The forest road is very clear. The bridleway is not always distinct. Generally well waymarked.

Map: OS Explorer OL 7. Best to mark up your map before you set off.

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.