Stan Abbott forbidden
The idea that a hill could be enclosed as if it were a low-lying woodland had always irked me: despite its modest size I was confident the Swinside vista would compare well with that from Catbells, in whose sight line it sits. Until quite recently, most of the hill was forested, but over the last few years, there’ s been a gradual and seductive process of“ strip-trees”, making an assault on Swinside’ s summit all the more tempting as more and more of its underlying form becomes visible.
In a fantasy world in which I was Laird of Swinside and All Lands Thereabouts, I would build a modest folly on the summit, with a telescope pointing to the stars from its roof.
Back in the real world, the opportunity to at least discover the view from Swinside summit, came with a change in the leasehold of the Swinside Inn, our local, and an old coaching inn, latterly part of the Theakston’ s estate.
The Swinside Inn sits at the foot of Mount Swinside, on an elevated platform that affords great views towards Barrow, whose long screes of mine spoil glow reddish gold ln summer evenings as the sun sets behind its top.
A couple of years ago, the licence was acquired by Mike Anderton, who also bought the cottage over the road, and nearby Uzzicar Farm. Some in the valley weren’ t happy: the Bright family had been in the cottage for generations and the tenants at Uzzicar had also been there since John Peel was a lad( De ye ken?). Letting rooms at the pub all got a makeover and new rooms were created in the cottage, the presumed aim being to relieve shooting guests and others of more of their cash.
The food offer at the pub also improved beyond recognition, albeit at prices that seem to have become the post-Covid, post-Brexit, Lake District norm. Mike was around the pub quite a bit and, chatting with him, it quickly became apparent that, contrary to suppositions, he was no flash Harry, swanning onto the scene with new money.
“ I’ m very much your local lad,” he said, while readily agreeing to permit a small group of OWPG members to ascend Mount Swinside. I recruited four members, but by the time a date was fixed, two were injured, one was on an expedition and the fourth had, sadly, died. So, as the day of the climb approached, I posted an invitation to the neighbourhood WhatsApp group. Although seemingly ignored by the most vocal critics of the pheasant shoot, four very interesting neighbours, none of whom we had previously met, did come along on the day, meaning our intrepid assault party numbered eight or ten in total.
Mike was on landlord duty at the Swinside Inn, but had taken the trouble to mark critical junctures in our ascent with cones, and, having concluded that we could manage without ropes, it was beneath a bright Spring sun that we set off up the forest track, ascending Mount Swinside via a gentle clockwise arc, The first couple of hundred feet are in mature woodland, but, as we gain the western shoulder, the track swings more sharply to the right and fine views north over Bassenthwaite open up.
Perhaps all too soon we find ourselves on the summit, where a few well-established trees rise from beds of blaeberry. The panorama is every bit what I had hoped and expected it would be: east and south towards Catbells and then every subsequent summit on the Newlands Round; and then most of those on the Coledale Round, to the south-west and west; Basenthwaite
Lake, beneath Skiddaw’ s might, leads the eye towards the northern horizon, the Solway Firth and the hills of Galloway. A stand of taller non-native pines means you have to work just a little to get a clear view of Derwentwater and Keswick, to the north-east.
We lingered for some time on the summit, treasuring this new perspective on Newlands, before descending for lunch at the Swinside Inn.
Commonsense must surely dictate that Swinside Hill is not alone in being closed to the public, but – while many large areas are out of bounds – I can find few hills, and no other Marilyns. Out of bounds for military reasons is County Durham’ s highest summit, Mickle Fell( 788 metres), but you can seek access permission from the Army at Warcop Camp. There may be Cheviot summits similarly afflicted. And then there’ s Mount Judd, a 500ft hill erected on private land out of spoil from Judkins Quarry, near Nuneaton.
Back home, another family of Swinside pheasants has jumped the fence and is larging it from our bird and squirrel feeders, tapping their beaks on the window should we dare to let supplies run low. Perhaps it’ s the quid pro quo!
Members who know of other forbidden
ascents, do drop me a line. Likewise, if you would like to join a future ascent of Mount Swinside. Please don’ t contact Mike Anderton directly. Contact stan @ gravityconsulting. com
P10 TOP Author on the summit of Mount Swinside, with the Newlands Round behind, P10 LEFT Starting the ascent below Catbells, P10 MIDDLE Danger! P10 RIGHT Swinside from the foot of Catbells, Skiddaw behind, ABOVE Barrow with Causey Pike beyond, LEFT View north along Bassenthwaite, RIGHT Catbells and Newlands
Autumn 2025 OUTDOOR FOCUS 11