Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: st johns in the vale

Sometimes days can be over planned. We had intended to drive down to Coniston and either go for a walk in to Coppermines Valley or walk up to Tarn Hows from Monk Coniston. As it turned out, we ended up driving a few miles down the road to Threlkeld, had a coffee and slice of cake in the excellent Village Hall Team Room and then walked up to Blease Gill, one of the many becks coming off of Blencathra.

The gill contains many cascades and waterfalls and is one of Wainwright's more direct routes up to Blencathra's summit. That wasn't to be our aim so we took the footpath following the intake wall to the Blencathra Centre and then followed the lane back to the village. Not a long walk but you get lovely views down St John's In The Vale to the Helvellyn range and also westwards across to the distant North Western Fells.

Later in the day, Sal got her Tern out and cycled from the caravan site to The Milll Inn in Mungrisdale where I met her for a pint.

A most enjoyable day.

Threlkeld selfie

Blease Gill waterfall

Heading out of Threlkeld

Blease Gill waterfall

Out on the open fellside

Blease Gill

Blencathra from Blease Gill

Blease Gill waterfall

Intake Wall, Blease Fell

Lone Tree, Blease Gill

Path in to Blease Gill

Sy John's in the Vale

Blencathra

The Dodds from Blease Fell

The Eastern Fells

Clough Head

A pint in the Mill Inn

It's been a number of years since I was in this neck of the woods. I don't know why because there are some excellent walks in this area: the path via Sour Milk Gill to Easdale Tarn being best. Walkers can carry on up on to Blea Rigg or alternatively, if you are fit enough, the Langdale Pikes could be an option.

I only had a couple of hours to spare so I limited myself to a valley walk, calling in The Lancrigg Hotel for a coffee on my way. I always knew there was a large house hidden in Lancrigg Wood but I never knew it was a hotel. The coffee shop forms part of an olde worlde bar which I should imagine would be very cosy and inviting on a cold winter's night and as a bonus, it serves real ales too.

After my coffee I carried on walking through the woods and eventually came out on the lower slopes of Helm Crag; not a high fell but still a steep pull up and a rocky summit which requires scrambling skills. Lots of walkers have bravely climbed up to the summit only to have to seek embarrassing assistance to get back down. I'm not built for such shenanigans so have always erred on the side of caution but I have helped friends back down!

I had trainers on so a higher climb was impractical and therefore I took the bridleway back down in to the valley. The way back into Grasmere is as straightforward as you want it to be. There is a direct lane back or you can take one of the side lanes and have a bit of an explore. The scenery is more varied if you take the latter option as you get great views over Dunmail Raise and the Eastern Fells. Plus it is a lot quieter.

On my way back to the caravan, I drove down St John's In The Vale just as the sun was setting on Blencathra and Skiddaw which gave me some great photos. Also there was a conveniently positioned flooded field right next to the main road and this enabled me to get some stunning reflections. I have included these photos in my blog.