Miles Without Stiles - Winster Valley
Details
Grid reference: 430842
Distance of route: 9.6 km, 6 miles
Surface: Tarmac
Gradient: Steep: Sections of ground where self-propellers will have great difficulty and care is needed.
Parking: Roadside parking space opposite the school building.
Special features: Limestone escarpment, lime kilns.
Route
This is a good tarmaced road with one or two steep sections. The lane is very quiet and provides an opportunity to view the landscape features characteristic of the limestone fringe of the Lake District. The route follows the valley of the River Winster as far as the settlement known as High Low Wood.
Travelling north from Witherslack the high Lakeland fells are visible in the distance. Limestone has been an important resource historically for whitewashing stone buildings and for improving the soils for farming.
The route passes by a number of small scale quarries, now redundant but retaining their distinctive Lime kilns. These kilns are built onto the slope of a bank and were loaded with lime and charcoal from above. The distinctive arch of the hearth is clearly visible.
These lime kilns represent an important feature of the heritage of this area and the National Park Authority has undertaken work to ensure their survival by clearing surrounding vegetation and repairing the stone work.
The route back to Witherslack School is by the same tarmaced lane. If you wish to have a close look at a typical South Lakes lime kiln there is one at Grid Ref. 435895.You can park the car adjacent to the kiln.
