Binsey

I was going to walk much earlier on in the week because the weather has been amazing! But two walks of a different nature pushed my plans back. Both with the school on nature walks. One in the rain, one in the snow. Both were enjoyable but it was time for me to strike out into the Lake District on my own once more.

I chose Binsey because I can see it from my bedroom window. It’s next to the fells that make up the Back O Skiddaw and to be honest looks like a poor relation next to its majestic neighbours. But it also looks quite cute (a weird word to describe a fell!). But it’s out there, all on its own, doing its own thing so I decided it was time to head on over.

Most walks I do or we do as a family often involve a guide book a well as a map. No guides for this one but a quick google showed me it was basically up and down and I had a fair idea of how to get there. I did manage to drive past the turn off where the access was which involved driving down a very icy stretch or road towards Ireby. Thankfully I managed to find a less icy patch to do a quick three-point-turn and quickly parked up.

Access is just through a gate and honestly there’s not much to say about the walk. You point yourself upwards and that’s it. It was a lovely snowy landscape and I was wishing I brought the sledge with me. Off I went, plenty of snow to walk through, occasionally stopping to look behind me at the stunning views. And maybe to catch my breath too!

As is the case with other low fells that I’ve been up, the views are probably the best ones for the Lake District. If you want to gaze upon the giants of Skiddaw or see down the Newlands Valley, you don’t go there. You pick a nice low fell and for relatively low effort, you get the best views of the national park. It was brilliant. Views of Bassenthwaite, Skiddaw and the fells that make up Back O Skiddaw, all the way across the Solway to Scotland and onwards towards the west coast – white shoots of the turbines littering the landscape and the distant steam of the paper mill.

The top of the fell has a cairn and a couple of wind shelters. It’s also quite a broad top and exploring it and the view from all parts involved lots of running, jumping in snow drifts and giggling like a child. Lots of fun! I also managed a well timed photo with the timer on again. Only took me three attempts… I really have not mastered the old standing still for 10 seconds!

After a full investigation of the top, I turned back and went down the way I came up. A few more people out and about towards the bottom including a woman trying to get a photo of her dogs in the snow, someone telling me they hoped they could get their car turned around on the ice and a lady just standing there, looking at the amazing view, just the same as me.

I am enjoying the little exploration adventure I’m having, going off and walking up places so close to home that I’ve never been to before. It literally gives you a different perspective of the views you’ve been used to for so long. So there you go – getting a different perspective on things can only be a positive in your life.