Route: Wythop Valley
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 5th July 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
The unfrequented Wythop Valley is a wonderful place for anyone who likes to walk in solitude. It’s unlikely that you’ll see another walker, and the valley has completely escaped the attention of tourists. The reason for this is unclear for, as Wainwright puts it ‘Here is a charming and secluded natural sanctuary in a idyllic setting, a place of calm….every rod, pole and perch of it is delightful and unspoilt’
We parked in Wythop Mill by the post box (room for one car only) though as we discovered later it would be better to park in the layby next to the old school where there is space for 3-4 cars. After crossing Wythop Beck we walked along Seacross Lonning, a heavenly tunnel of hazel and elm through which there were occasional views across the valley
We then joined the road to Wythop Mill which we’d driven along earlier. Walking along the roads in these parts is no hardship as there’s hardly any traffic. On reaching tiny St Cuthbert’s Church we followed a private road which serves a few houses and farms and climbed gently uphill along the nursery slopes of Ling Fell
Near Highside Farm we joined our second lonning of the day – Green Lonning. This marked the start of the return to Wythop Mill. The path took us along the foot of Ling Fell, with extensive views of the surrounding countryside – at one point we could see Scotland across the Solway Firth and later on we caught a glimpse of Bassenthwaite Lake
The lonning brought us down to the road into Wythop Mill and from here it was a short stroll back to the start. A wonderful short walk, and highly recommended
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Just after dawn on the day of the walk, I drove over to Buttermere, passing by Crummock Water on the way
Comb Beck waterfalls flowing into Buttermere
Head of Buttermere
Comb Beck again
Buttermere bothy
...and again
Looking back along the lake towards Low Fell
Back home, a well camouflaged treecreeper making its way up a pine tree
Young nuthatch
Red squirrel
Later on, the start of the walk at Wythop Mill
We fork left at this cottage
We cross the footbridge over Wythop Beck
Heavenly Seacross Lonning...
Looking across to the far side of Wythop Valley
A short and traffic free road section
St Cuthbert's Church...
Opposite the church we follow a private road which is also a public footpath
The lane takes us uphill through Beckhouse
We continue up the lane past Highside Farm
Start of the return leg along Green Lonning
Looking across Wythop Valley to Embleton
Further along the lonning - Ling Fell is up on our right
Looking back, the Solway Firth and Scotland are visible in the far distance
Bonnie
Further along Green Lonning
Embleton on the far side of the valley
The path meets up with the road into Wythop Mill, which we follow back to the start
We arrive back in Wythop Mill to end a short but very sweet walk
