England - Lake District - Loughrigg Amble Arwen Aftermath
England - Lake District - Loughrigg Amble Arwen Aftermath
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Walk Summary
Walk Summary
Easy start through Rothay Park. A marvellous viewpoint over Ambleside and Windermere. An undulating traverse of Loughrigg to its summit. Super view of Grasmere on the descent from Loughrigg. Return to Ambleside along the pretty Rydal Water and Under Loughrigg Lane.
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Date: 29/11/2021
Length: 6.358 miles
Height Gain: 403 m
Terrain: Boggy paths, grass paths, stony paths, stone slabs, lightly used roads
Navigation: Loughrigg has many paths criss-crossing the fells. It can be confusing in mist. Map and compass required.
Start: Car Park Rydal Road
Route: Car Park Rydal Road, Rothay Park, Loughrigg, Grasmere Lake, Rydal Water, Under Loughrigg Lane, Rothay Park
Map: OL7 The English Lakes South Eastern Area
Weather: Icy, drizzly, slight mist
Walkers: Nun, Calse, Mo
Gallery
Gallery
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Loughrigg Storm Arwen Damage
Captain's Log
Captain's Log
Storm Arwen
Storm Arwen
As soon as we set off I'd looked across to the flank of Loughrigg and saw large areas where trees were down. At first I thought this might be forestry operations, but it all looked a bit haphazard. It then clicked that these were trees that had been blown down by Storm Arwen. There were so many it was a bit unbelievable.
Rothay Park
Rothay Park
As we walked through Rothay Park we could see tributes outside the children's play area. These were to somebody called 'Bob' (according to some of the notes on the tributes) who had died here during the storm. A huge tree had fallen over into the children's play area. Other large trees had also fallen over in the park. It was a bit like walking through a disaster movie.
We walked gingerly up the icy lane to Brow Head Farm. Our original plan was then to take the south path (towards Clappersgate) in order to get good views of Ambleside and Windermere. Trees had blown over on to the path though and it didn't look possible to get through. We ended up doing a circuitous route via Lilly Tarn to get to the viewpoint. It was worth the effort though; it is a tremendous view.
Fallen Tree At Rothay Park
Loughrigg Trig And Its Snow Bear
Loughrigg
Loughrigg
We made our way across Loughrigg towards the summit. Near Ivy Crag a family asked me the way to Skelwith Bridge. The daughter of the group had her gaze permanently fixed on her phone, presumably using it for directions. I pointed them on to the path towards Loughrigg Tarn.
It was icy, and yet there was hardly a breath of wind, and so felt quite mild. At the summit trig, somebody had formed quite an artistically pleasing snow bear on its brass plate. It gazed over to our intended next port of call, Grasmere.
Rydal Cormorants
Grasmere And Rydal
Grasmere And Rydal
It was a rather tedious descent to Grasmere. The stone steps were icy and great care was needed, even with spiders on. The weather had closed in and a gloomy mist prevented us from seeing Grasmere Lake from, what I believe, is its best view point. It was a relief when we reached the bottom of the stone steps and we found a bench to eat our soggy sandwiches. A woman walking by offered us a Bon Appetit.
At Rydal Water four cormorants stood proudly on a rock. We watched them for a while, but none lifted their wings to dry them. Maybe they thought it wasn't worth while with the drizzly conditions.
Rydal Water
Storm Damage On Under Loughrigg Lane
More Storm Damage
More Storm Damage
On Under Loughrigg Lane we encountered even more storm damage. A tree had fallen over the River Rothay, and other roadside trees had fallen into fields. A house near Slippery Stones had evidently been hit by the tree looking at the damage to the building. Inevitably, one tree had fallen over the road, completely blocking it. I thought we might have to double back and walk a long way around to avoid it, but a gate into the nearby field had been opened so that we could bypass it. Not far from Rothay Park a huge tree had fallen on to a house and was now propped up by the roof. It would take a long time to clear up all this debris.
We were reflective as we walked back through Rothay Park, and past the tributes to 'Bob'. Storm Arwen and this walk will remain in our memories for a long time.
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