I spend much of my time poring over the ordnance survey app, finding walks I would like to do. So much more convenient than a paper map, even though a real map is far more satisfying. I found a route where I had to drive up onto Corney Fell, about 20 minutes from the caravan, where I could do 3 summits in one walk. The weather was a bit drizzly when I set off, the main road over the Fell (which isn’t even a b road ) was closed due to the recent flooding, so I took a different road which turned out to be a single track with grass in the middle as an alternative. This road went on for about 5 miles. Fortunately I met nothing coming towards me. When I arrived at my dropped pin spot on the roadside I looked around me and could only see about 6 inches infront of me, so my sensible head told me not to bother even though my feet itched for the adventure.
Sensible head won over the feet and I remembered another walk I had looked at the night before, starting from Bootle Station and heading off to the coast, that would do, must be clearer and potentially dryer down there! Drove down to Bootle (down the slightly wider road) with a few sheep again for company and parked up by the station. Boots on, hood up as the rain was coming down now ( it’ll blow over) I set off down a track, telling myself how prudent I had been and what an amazing walk I was going to have.
Turning onto a different lane I changed my mind very quickly, these lanes only went to fields, they were totally flooded by water…it will be ok, won’t go on for long, I said….
Only problem was, it did! Thus followed a real balancing act along the brambly raised edges for a couple of miles til I reached the shore. Haha, easy from herein says me. Crossing the little bridge over an engorged river onto the rocky shoreline, the rain was coming sideways now and I was glad it was blowing me down the beach.
Fabulous rocky beach, obviously rarely walked on especially at this time of year. Being a geologist I had my head down studying the varieties rocks when I realised that the beach was strewn with flotsam and jetsam. Much of it was wood, rope etc but sadly there was also far too many plastics lying there.
Had it not been lashing down and if I had a bag and gloves I would have done my bit to help. Mental note to return another day.
Checking the app I could see the end of the stretch on the coast ahead…..only the footpath went along the beach and it was high tide, previously mentioned river was still gushing along between me and dry(ish) land and then flowed out into the sea infront of me….nothing else to do, but turn round face the oncoming wind and rain and retrace my steps back to the bridge I had come over in the first place!
Thoroughly drenched I completed the further mile back to my car, removed boots and peeled waterproofs off to drive back to the caravan for a very welcome pot of tea!!!
Note to self…dont always trust the OS app
for the routes!
Rambling With Ruthie 