The Helm and Castle Hill, Kendal

 6 June 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: The Helm, 185m/607', P 54m, Tump, OS 97, SD 531 887 and Castle Hill, Kendal, 93m/305', P 35m, Tump, OS 97, SD 522 924

The first day of a t trip to the fringes of the Lake District by train staying in Kendal. The Helm was a convenient hill to do on arrival as it is situated beside the station at Oxenholme, south east of Kendal. There was a very short road walk to get on to the hill which is part access land and part owned by the Friends of the Lake District. There were excellent tracks one of which follows the spine of the hill along the side of one of the wonderful dry stone walls that are common in this part of the country. This one apparently existed as far back as 1858. After a steep section, I could see the summit ahead) distance left centre).....

It didn't take long to reach the trig, the high point was close by.....

It was as I expected a great viewpoint. Looking to Oxenholme and Kendal with the hills of the Lake District in the background.....

The Howgills were clear to the north east.....

I could see Morecambe Bay to the south.....

Heading back the same way, there was an even better view of Kendal, my destination for the short break.....

A wee gem of the hill.

I then got the train into Kendal and stopped off at Castle Hill on my way to my accommodation. The castle was built around 1200 to replace a former castle on the other side of the river, it certainly towers above the town. It was the home of the barons of Kendal, most notably the Parr family whose most famous member was Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII. Nowadays one of its claims to fame is, for some folk, because the high point near the castle wall is classed as a Tump.....