Glorious woods where you might catch a glimpse of our ospreys fishing in the lake
Last updated 11:46, Wednesday, 03 September 2008
FROM the parking area, cross the road to go through the gate towards Kelswick and up the track. A little way after passing a bench and going through a gap in a drystone wall, the pleasant track starts to swing right. You soon encounter a drystone wall to your right.
Sale Fell and Wythop Woods. Distance: 3.8 MILES. Total ascent: 1,010ft. Time: Approximately 2-2.5 hours
Then, just before the path starts descending, turn left along a grassy path heading straight up the open fellside. In about 60 yards, at the first fork in the path, bear right to ascend the southern edge of the fell with views across to Lord’s Seat and Broom Fell.
Ignoring a faint path heading downhill to the right, you continue uphill, soon catching your first sighting of Skiddaw to the east. As the sun starts going down, the Lake District’s fourth highest mountain takes on a glorious pink tinge - a good reason to save this walk for the end of the day. The view to the NW is opening out too - with the perfect bump of Criffel standing out clearly as you look across the Solway to the coast of Dumfries & Galloway.
You soon join up with a path coming in from the left and, in another 50 yards, bear left at another fork. After a few more minutes of easy ascent, you reach the cairn-topped summit of Sale Fell.
When you can drag yourself away from the top, head ESE from the summit cairn to pass through a gate in a wall (hidden from view from the top). Ignoring the faint path off to the left, walk along the wide track to a gap in what is left of a tumbledown wall. Again ignoring a path off to the left, aim for the large cairn on the hillside ahead (SE). Beyond the cairn, you swing left (E) to meet up with another path coming in from the left.
Ignoring a path off to the right, you quickly climb on to a short but delightful grassy ridge with the massive bulk of Skiddaw dominating the view ahead. Bassenthwaite Lake becomes visible as you reach the highest point of the ridge - as does Keswick to the SE.
When you reach the edge of the forest, turn right along a grassy path heading downhill through the bracken.
There is a short section of exposed rock as you skirt an area of oak trees. Much of the Lake District was once covered in oaks like these - as well as birch and pine. Most of the trees were felled to use the wood in the smelting industry, to make bobbins for the textile industry and to allow for grazing.
Dense conifer plantations - like the one you are about to enter - were planted during the early part of the twentieth century. The Forestry Commission’s first planting in the Lake District was at Hospital Plantation, close to the head of Whinlatter Pass, in 1919.
You now drop fairly steeply on to a wide track, along which you turn left. Enter the forest via a gate and you will soon join a clear forest track at a hairpin bend. Bear right here, heading downhill.
These woods used to be home to the Lake District’s famous ospreys, but the couple moved nest - to Dodd Wood on the opposite side of Bassenthwaite Lake - earlier this year. These magnificent fish-eating birds of prey returned to Cumbria in 2001 after a 150-year absence and now look set to stay.
They spend the summer in the county, arriving in April and returning to Africa in September, having reared a small family of two or three chicks.
This year, two females and a male hatched. A viewing area has been set up in Dodd Wood and volunteers will help you spot the birds through powerful binoculars. Watching them fish is quite a sight!
At the next hairpin bend, follow the track round to the right, still heading downhill - do not be tempted by the track off to the left. The track zig-zags its way down the hillside to a T-junction. Turn left here on to a wide, gravely track.
Just before you reach some buildings, the track bends sharply to the right. As it does so, take the less distinct path off to the left. Continue straight ahead through the tall conifer trees until you reach the road. Now turn left and the parking area is a third of a mile ahead.
For more walks in the Lake District, try Vivienne Crow’s new books, Easy Rambles Around Keswick and Borrowdale and Easy Rambles Around Ambleside and Grasmere (published by Questa, price £3.99 each). Available in bookshops.
What you need to know
WHAT to take: The OS Explorer map, sheet OL4, and a compass. Always carry warm, waterproof clothing and, as on any walk, ensure your footwear is suitable for the terrain. The top of Sale Fell is a great place to linger, so take a snack along with you - and always carry some water. If you’re doing this walk at the end of the day, don’t forget to take your camera, because the evening light on Skiddaw can be truly beautiful on a sunny evening.
What to expect: Sale Fell is a lovely little grassy top close to the northern edge of the Lake District. There’s a short climb on to the 1,178ft summit, but it isn’t difficult and the reward comes in the form of a wonderful view across Bassenthwaite Lake to Skiddaw. The return is via pleasant forest tracks and paths at the northern end of Wythop Woods. There is also a short section of road walking at the end.
