Croken two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Croken here.

Lovely route with few navigational difficulties though you sometimes have to look carefully for the footpath signs. There was a moment's confusion about walking through someone's garden (it is a right of way) and through a slightly industrial site (go round to the left) but otherwise straightforward. Very little road walking except at the beginning and end. We did the Cunswick Scar variation that takes you over the footbridge above the A591 - slightly longer but more pleasant and avoids the road crossing of the often busy by-pass.

The route left Kendal through a pleasant park, easier to navigate than the labyrinth of ginnels and yards! Then it was a steady climb, up steps, cobbled slopes, surfaced and unsurfaced tracks. This was rewarded with great views back over the town though. There was a short, straightforward bit of golf course to cross before reaching the first very narrow squeeze stile. After a couple of these I reached the footbridge over the fast busy A591.
From here there was a section of well-used pastureland to cross. Although there were cows in the far distance, I think this path is used a lot by locals, often with dogs. It was well worth using this easy but longer route out of Kendal, as the original involves a scary crossing of the A591.
Walking along Gamblesmire Lane was really very beautiful, with the hawthorn in full blossom. It was an easy farm track to follow, however it was quite rubbly and uncomfortable for the feet at times. There were lovely views though. At one point it was a bit muddy, and I could imagine it being worse in wetter weather. One short section, just west of the woods, was a holloway.
The path over Knott Hill towards Underbarrow was unclear in places, and there were cows in one field. In Underbarrow there is a pub, and I was tempted to wait half an hour for it to open, as it was a very warm day. However I pressed on through wildflower meadows to reach Kirkby House Farm. AwayO mentioned in the review of CroKen One, that this was difficult to navigate. There are quite a few footpath arrows there now which helped, and I have replotted this bit to show the new way through between the buildings.
On the last part of the route to Crosthwaite, the wide flat Lyth Valley came into view, with the ridge of Scout Scar further to my left.
There was a beautifully tended garden to walk through at Blakebank, but it was well signposted, so I knew I wasn’t trespassing. There was a short road walk into Crosthwaite. The pub looked tempting, but I had brought packed lunch, which I ate on a bench in the welcome shade next to the church.
I am tempted to give the route 5*, but the rubbliness of Gamblemire Lane, and the presence of several herds of cows reduced it a bit for me. I’d give four and a half if I could!.

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