Wallowbarrow, Grassguards & Wallowbarrow Gorge - Friday 28 June 2024
Route
Seathwaite - High Wallowbarrow - Rowantree How - Grassguards - Wallowbarrow Gorge - Seathwaite
Parking
We started the walk from The Newfield Inn and as we were staying there, we were allowed to park in the pub Car Park. There is parking for several cars at the Seathwaite Parish Room (donation) which is approximately 250 yards north east of The Newfield Inn. The Grid Reference of the Seathwaite Parish Room is SD 229961 and the nearest postcode is LA20 6ED. Should the Parish Room Car Park be closed or full then there is parking for a few cars a little further north at Grid Reference SD 22909 96172.
Mileage
4.7 miles
Terrain
Good tracks & paths for the most part however whilst the terrain is not overly difficult through Wallowbarrow Gorge, care still needs to be taken.
Weather
Overcast with sunny spells and a couple of light showers.
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
1233ft (376m)
Map
OL6 The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Seathwaite - High Wallowbarrow - Rowantree How - Grassguards - Wallowbarrow Gorge - Seathwaite
Parking
We started the walk from The Newfield Inn and as we were staying there, we were allowed to park in the pub Car Park. There is parking for several cars at the Seathwaite Parish Room (donation) which is approximately 250 yards north east of The Newfield Inn. The Grid Reference of the Seathwaite Parish Room is SD 229961 and the nearest postcode is LA20 6ED. Should the Parish Room Car Park be closed or full then there is parking for a few cars a little further north at Grid Reference SD 22909 96172.
Mileage
4.7 miles
Terrain
Good tracks & paths for the most part however whilst the terrain is not overly difficult through Wallowbarrow Gorge, care still needs to be taken.
Weather
Overcast with sunny spells and a couple of light showers.
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
1233ft (376m)
Map
OL6 The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
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Route Map
The Car Park at the rear of The Newfield Inn in Seathwaite. Please only park here if you have sought permission from the pub.
Wallowbarrow Crag from Seathwaite
The Newfield Inn, Seathwaite. A non pretentious, down to earth pub serving decent grub and a nice pint.
Along the road approximately 175 yards to the west of The Newfield Inn a path on the right heads to High Wallowbarrow
Continuing on, the route passes through a hand gate
The footbridge over Tarn Beck
Just over the footbridge the path splits however they both end up in the same place
Fudge watches my progress carefully as I cross the stepping stones over the River Duddon. He & Angie would be heading a few yards upstream to cross the river via the stone bridge and would meet me over the other side a little further on. We would all cross the Duddon via the stone bridge on the way back to Seathwaite at the end of the walk.
The River Duddon
The River Duddon (Click Play to view)
Approaching High Wallowbarrow
Caw from near High Wallowbarrow
The farm at High Wallowbarrow (& Fudge's head)
Wallowbarrow Crag ahead now as we head towards Rake Beck
Fudge cooling off his paws in Rake Beck
The walk towards Wallowbarrow Crag is delightful as it heads through the woodland
Low Stonythwaite - this property is in a lovely location and very remote
Wallowbarrow Crag - we had intended to wander over to the summit but with the bracken so high we gave it a miss
A murky Grey Friar from just below Wallowbarrow Crag
Harter Fell in the distance
The route passes the ruins of an old farm building as it continues on towards Grassguards
I dunno - lick of paint and I reckon you could live in it
Approaching Grassguards
Crossing the ford over Grassguards Gill
A few yards after passing the property at Grassguards a path heads off to the right at Grid Reference SD 22380 98190. This is the path to drop down into Wallowbarrow Gorge. As you can see from the photo it can be easily missed. The path heading straight on leads to Birks Bridge.
It was a bit squelchy underfoot as we headed through the woodland towards the gorge
Dropping down into the gorge via the path through the Hardknott Forest and Dunnerdale woodland
At the bottom of the path the route reaches another set of stepping stones over the River Duddon. These looked pretty precarious and I could see why there was a wire suspended over them in order to aid a safe and dry passage. Thankfully we were staying this side of the river and therefore heading through the gorge. If by this time you have had enough walking, crossing the stepping stones leads to a path that will bring you out to the road between Seathwaite & Cockley Beck.
The footbridge over Grassguards Gill just before it joins the River Duddon
Descending steeply into Wallowbarrow Gorge
The River Duddon flowing through Wallowbarrow Gorge (Click Play to view)
The route heads over a bouldery section of the eastern face of Wallowbarrow Crag
Massive boulders adorn the river bed - these rocks were huge
More boulders adorning the river bed
The River Duddon flowing through Wallowbarrow Gorge (Click Play to view)
Arriving back at the entrance to Wallowbarrow
The lovely stone Memorial Bridge over the River Duddon that Angie & Fudge crossed earlier
With Fudge on the Memorial Bridge - it is difficult now to even contemplate that in one months time he would be no longer with us
The plaque on the Memorial Bridge
Just by chance when sitting in The Newfield Inn after the walk, I stumbled on information why the bridge was built and the history behind it. The information was on one of the walls of the pub and can be found below.
Just by chance when sitting in The Newfield Inn after the walk, I stumbled on information why the bridge was built and the history behind it. The information was on one of the walls of the pub and can be found below.
Sluice gates at Tarn Beck
Crossing another footbridge over Tarn Beck
It's easy for you to mock how small that gap is Fudge!!
The "Clipping Stone" adorned with a sundial that sits at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church
The stone was used at nearby Gateskell Farm in the middle of the 18th Century as a stool for clipping sheep by the Reverend Robert Walker who was Vicar of the Seathwaite Parish. He was revered by the title of "Wonderful Walker". By all accounts he was a bit of a jack of all trades and even Wordsworth himself knew of him, mentioning Walker in The Excursion, and later in one of his sonnets.
The stone was used at nearby Gateskell Farm in the middle of the 18th Century as a stool for clipping sheep by the Reverend Robert Walker who was Vicar of the Seathwaite Parish. He was revered by the title of "Wonderful Walker". By all accounts he was a bit of a jack of all trades and even Wordsworth himself knew of him, mentioning Walker in The Excursion, and later in one of his sonnets.
The interior of Holy Trinity Church
The Seathwaite Parish Room and Parking Area (Donation)
Holy Trinity Church at Seathwaite
Post walk fuelling at The Newfield Inn