Orrest Head and Reston Scar

Orrest Head and Reston Scar

Date

21/3/2009

ORREST HEAD - for many of us, is "where we came in" - our first ascent in Lakeland, our first sight of mountains in tumultuous array across glittering waters, our awakening to beauty. It is a popular walk, deservedly, for here the promised land is seen in all its glory.

RESTON SCAR - a fine place for a siesta on a sunny day (with a tarn to paddle in)

A. Wainwright

Walks done by:

Susan, Neil, Tony, Alison, Paul, Billy, Tom and myself

Weather:

Lovely, warm and sunny

Distance

5.5 miles

Started at:

Windermere Railway Station

Height:-

Orrest Head

783'

Reston Scar

834'

After meeting at Chorley Railway station we caught the direct 9.21 train to Windermere, with Paul getting on at Preston (just). Making excellent time, we arrived at Windermere and resisting cafe and pie shops, we set off to Orrest Head, the very first summit Wainwright climbed in the Lake District. Although the weather was sunny, there was a haze which ruined any good views we may have hoped for, but the views down Lake Windermere were still good.

Leaving the summit, we headed for Reston Scar. A map was needed to find the multitude of paths we needed to get to our second objective of the day. After a brief stop on Reston Scar we headed down to Staveley.

After several pints in the Beer Hall we made our way to The Eagle and Child. This is a pub we have been to several times and enjoyed good food. This time however, they failed miserably. The previous Tuesday I had sent an email to reserve a table for 6pm. I got a reply

"Hi Jed, no problem early doors - we start serving food from 6.00pm however open all day. Just come & grab a table early if you want a specific one !! restaurant is fully booked so we cant really allocate too many tables see you Sat."

We arrived at 5pm and when asked if they had a table for 8 we got the retort, "Can you see one?" Most of the tables had reserved on them - something we had tried to do. If we had been told that no tables were available we simply would have gone elsewhere, but being greedy he tried to get us to go and at least buy a drink or two. Well his plan backfired, we left immediately, phoned the Station Inn at oxenholme, reserved a table, and jumped on the train. A lovely meal it was too. So from us alone the Eagle has lost hundreds of pounds, which will probably be spent in the Station Inn in the months and years to come.

After the meal we walked down the hill to Oxenholme station, boarded the waiting Virgin train and enjoyed a smooth ride home in the First Class section.

Thanks to everyone for making it a lovely way to celebrate my birthday.

Inscriptions on stones to either side of an old Victorian kissing gate

Inscriptions on stones to either side of an old Victorian kissing gate

Alison, Tony, Susan and Tom ascending the final few steps to Orrest Head summit

Tony at the information board near the summit

Tony, Alison, Tom and Billy about to have lunch. Susan requested that I "crop" her off the picture because her bum looked big!

The lane to Heaning, off the A591

After passing through the village we took a path across the fields towards Broadgate Farm

Billy and Tom race towards Broadgate Farm

Our party head off to Hugill Hall after climbing away from Grassgarth

Heading up to the unnamed summit of 273 metres west of Black Crag

This is Williamson's Monument

And this is the view to our objective, Reston Scar from the unnamed summit

Tom waits for us to catch up

Zooming in on the village of Kentmere to the north

Beginning the descent from the unnamed summit towards Reston Scar

Billy and Tom, having run down the path, wait for the old timers to catch up!

Tony and Alison race ahead, followed by Susan and Paul

Tony tries to reach the top before Tom and Billy, but he just loses out

Staveley from just below the summit of Reston Scar

Alison, Paul, Susan, Neil, Billy, Tom and Tony on Reston Scar summit

Tom on the best viewpoint way above the A591

And Tom again - standing where his Dad could never, ever stand.

Billy and Tom discuss the geography of the landscape.

Makeshift bench with splendid view

Looking east over Kemp Tarn

The final descent to Staveley

The weir behind the Beer Hall (Photo Tom Ryding).

(The view down to the river from the beer hall has, since this walk, been taken away from customers of the beer hall due to a supposed improvement/refurbishment. Sadly the refurbishment has taken much of the character out of the hall)

The River Kent, looking upstream from the Beer Hall, (Photo Tom Ryding)

Click this LINK for a video of us in the Beer Hall

Evening sunshine on the hills taken from Staveley Railway station

On the train to Oxenholme

On the Virgin train to Preston, First Class of course. Billy, looking like a participant of "Most Haunted"

Mr Gore Wan - planning his future?

Preston station - Late pm