Walla Crag: Difference between revisions

|gallery = [[Walla Crag/Gallery]]

Walla Crag is not the loftiest of fells, but it certainly packs a punch, even though it is not a technical climb by any stretch of the imagination. There is, of course, more than one way to reach the summit. From Keswick, a stroll along the waterfront path up to Calfclose Bay is the warm-up to the main event. The choice of paths is limited, but it can be approached from the north-westeast via [[Castlerigg]], or the south-eastwest via [[Ashness Bridge]]. Depending on time, the ascent from [[Cat Gill]] provides a shorter, but steeper climb. Those wishing a longer, more strenuous hike can always enjoy the relaxing views from the plateau via [[High Seat]] (608 metres) and [[Bleaberry Fell]] (590 meters). 

Whichever side you ascend from, the plateau edge becomes more apparent from the trees and vegetation that seem to grow in abundance here, a drystone wall separating this from the largely empty expanse of [[Low Moss]] and [[Bleaberry Fell]]. The treeless landscape of Low Moss looks barren in comparison, yet still beautiful in its own, subtle way. From the wall, a clearly defined path follows a well-trodden route to the summit, with several viewpoints to entice you along the way. With a few twists and turns, the open scenes across Derwentwater and beyond are plentiful and will not disappoint. Of Walla Crag, Wainwright describes it thus:

The tragedy here, that of her pleading to the King for her husband's life, was for nought. He was found guilty and executed for his crimes of treason on 24 February 1716. Whilst this is actually true of James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, some elements of the Lady's Rake legend remain doubtful. The 3rd Earl, whilst having succeeded the family estates upon his father's death in 1705, didn't actually live in Cumberland, instead favouring his estates in Northumberland. He visited in 1710, probably staying at the Queen's Head hotel.<ref name="collingwood-272"/><ref>Crosthwaite, p.17.</ref> James' involvement in the 1715 Jacobite rebellion had nothing to do with Keswick,<ref>Thompson, p.322</ref> nor the mansion on Lord's Island, which by that time had probably been in ruins by 1709,<ref name="collingwood-272"/><ref>Whaley, p.220</ref> making the Countess' flight up Lady's Rake when the legend states, a fiction more than it could be fact. There is so much more to this legend and the history that surrounds it. Before the 3rd Early, the family was a prominent figure in the area. The history of the Radclyffs and the Earls of Derwentwater alone covers several centuries, and could be the subject of many articles. Whilst some legends may be the precursor to actual historical events, many are simply enjoyable folk tales, which are just as much a part of the landscape as the lakes, tarns, and fells in which they romanticise.

The 1st element, ''walla'', appears to be problematic, according to Whaley, as it could be a dialectal adjective of ''wallow''. In Joseph Wright's ''The English Dialect Dictionary'', he mentions ''wallow'' as something 'indistinct in colour' (definition 4) and, relating to the weather, 'blowing a cold, strong and hollow wind' (definition 5).<ref>Whaley, p.355-356</ref><ref>Wright, p.371</ref> Whaley goes on to list other, remote possible meanings, such as Old English ''[https://bosworthtoller.com/34602 walu]'', (ridge or embankment)<ref>Bosworth-Toller, ''[https://bosworthtoller.com/34602 walu]''</ref>, and Old English ''[https://bosworthtoller.com/34770 wealh]'' (Briton). The ''Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online'' elaborates ''wealh'' further (foreigner, Celt, a Celt of Britain)<ref>Bosworth-Toller, ''[https://bosworthtoller.com/34770 wealh]''</ref>, although these do seem to be lessunconnected with the connectedterrain.