Route: Flakebridge Wood
Area: Eden Valley
Date of walk: 10th May 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.4 miles
Weather: Mostly sunny, clouded over later
Flakebridge Wood is one of the best places in Cumbria to see bluebells. We first came here a year ago and were stunned by the huge swathes of them, and hoped we’d timed our visit right for another display
Using a different route today, we parked in the car park on the edge of Murton, below Murton Pike. We walked through the unspoilt village and joined a track across the fields. The extensive views over the Eden Valley were spoilt by haze, but it was a lovely approach all the same
We walked along the edge of the wood for a while before entering it and following a public footpath through a sea of blue – it was spectacular. Much of the wood is private property with no public access, so we had to return the way we’d come before following a track out of the wood to the farm at Brackenthwaite
After passing by the farm we walked through some lonely terrain. This section of the walk is pathless and careful navigation was needed. There are probably some very boggy areas too – today there were no issues thanks to a prolonged dry spell which has caused some rivers to run dry
We arrived back in Murton and followed a green lane which brought us back to the centre of the village and from here it was a short stroll back to the start
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk as we leave the car park to walk into the village of Murton
Walking through the village...
At Town Foot we join a track leading out into open countryside
We cross the footbridge over Murton Beck
Looking over the Eden Valley
Murton Pike behind us
Striding out across the fields
Views across to the Pennines...
The Eden Valley again, a shame the long distance views were rather hazy...
We descend to Shepherd's Cottage and follow the track past it
We arrive at the edge of Flakebridge Wood and cross the bridge
We pass through the gate and walk along the edge of the wood...
Looking into the wood, a glimpse of things to come...
We enter the wood and follow the track to Flakebridge House
We take a triangular route in the woods which will bring us back to this water feature
Some bluebell photos, no captions needed...
We follow a track heading north out of Flakebridge Wood...
Last of the bluebells
We head towards Brackenthwaite and on reaching it will turn right to head back to Murton
There follow a pathless walk across open countryside
Sheep below Murton Pike
We arrive back in Murton and follow a green lane behind the houses
From here it's a short stroll to the car park on the edge of the village, with Murton Pike towering over it
