Kirk Fell

 

This walk was planned at the last minute. Elspeth was attending a course at Higham Hall so I took the opportunity of what was forecast to be good weather to look at Kirk Fell from Honister.

The morning was cloudy, summits not visible but the forecast was for it to brighten. Inpasrked at the NT car park at Honister had a quick drink in the slate mine cafe and headed up towards the quarry then took the path skirting Grey Knotts and Brandreth to the Moses’ Trod path under the Gables. It was quite wet underfoot but no rain and relatively mild. On reaching the shoulder coming down from Brandreth the path ahead stood out clearly and looked a long way. Kirk Kell was still enshrouded in mist, as were the other  peaks.

Onwards I plodded, not a soul in slight and approaching the shoulder from Great Gable, above Beck Head the mist came in thick and low reducing visibility to a few yards. Quite an eerie feeling knowing there was no one around in the middle of the hills quite a distance from any roads. It was easy to understand how people could get lost or head off in the wrong direction. However my trusty compass confirmed the direction OS maps app was showing and off I went down to Beck Head. I thought for a minute about turning back rather that going up Rib End in the thick mist but that thought was soon discarded.

The climb up Rib End was as expected, quite steep with rock and scree but no worse than on some other walks and was soon over. Hurray the mist now lifted and once I had myself orientated saw Kirk fell main summit in the distance but it didn’t take long to get there. A few folk on the top but not busy by any means.

The return was by retracing my steps back to Honister, now in the sunshine and clear summits coming and going.

Time  5hrs

Memories

• Solo walk (will have to do it again with Elspeth!)
• Stopping in the mist above Beck Head completely alone
• Great views on the return once the mist has cleared

Completed 209 To Go 5

Great End

We were aiming to do this walk the following day but looking at the mountain weather forecast, today looked a much better option - a good decision.

 We managed to park easily at Seathwaite and took the direct route up Grains Gill, Ruddy Gill, Esk Hause, Calf Cove then onto the summit.

 Despite good weather in August the route up was relatively quiet with only a few other walkers on the path. The water was rushing down the gills and becks from previous wet weather and we only realised the extent of the noise when it left us for while as the path moved temporarily away from the stream.

Once at the top of Ruddy Gill the lack of people changed as we met parties of folk both ascending and descending from Scafell Pike. 

The weather was perfect. sunny but not too hot and a refreshing breeze.

We decided to retrace our steps for the route down rather than take the detour around Styhead Tarn

Time 6hrs 30mn

Memories

• Water noise from Grains Gill and Ruddy Gill
• Fix the fells volunteers on path by Esk Hause
• Long but leisurely walk

Completed 208  To go 6

Slight Side and Scafell

This was a direct ascent of Slight Side and Scafell returning by the same route.

There were still parking spaces at Wha House farm car park at 8.00am when we arrived. After a short pre-walk coffee and bap we set off up the terrace track heading for Cat crag. The day was beautifully sunny with a mild breeze to make it comfortable. We were carrying plenty of water and sunscreen.

Bowfell

Slight Side and Scafell
from Catcove Beck

Slight side and Scafell came into view - still quite a bit to go! A relatively flat stretch of path followed across the moorland to an isolated boulder then the steady climb to Slight Side. Only one section of scree but the main difficulty was the final route to the summit which was blocked by a a rock wedged into a crack that the path followed. We ended up skirting the R sided of the summit then a short backtrack to the rocky summit itself. 

After a break for lunch the climb to Scafell started. It looked further and steeper than appeared on the map but we soon made progress albeit slowly over the scree and boulders.After the summit we descend the same route except  skirting to the west of Long Green to avoid the boulders, which was much quicker. Back at the terrace path we thought ' not much further now' but we somehow lost the path (not very clear in places) and ended up descending too soon and having to follow a dry stone wall up and down for a short way to regain the main track.

Very tired when back at the car but soon rejuvenated by a very welcome pub meal at the Brook Inn Boot

Time 9 hrs

Memories

• Gorgeous weather
• Fantastic views vey few people around
• A long walk

Grade Excellent 

Completed 207  To go  7

Grasmoor, Eel Crag (Crag Hill), Wandope, Whiteless Pike

Celebrating the day after out 41st wedding anniversary, the weather forecast was good but the threat of thick cloud later on.

We parked at Cinderdale Common and aimed to take the path directly up the R side of Cinderdale beck. However from below this look completely overgrown with ferns so took the path south for 500m  then headed diagonally up to rejoin the initial path. Not a good decision as this was probably more overgrown the our original plan.

However the ascent up to Lad Hows was pleasant with good views back to Crummock Water 

View from start of ascent up Lad Hows

Lad Hows path from Whiteless Edge

The ascent continued without any problems until we reached the steeper loose scree section near the summit which was slight more challenging but worth the effort when the summit plateau was reached.

Summit plateau coming off Grasmoor

A short stroll to the summit of Grasmoor then we retrace our steps to head for Eel Crag (Crag Hill) easily visible to the East. 

No problems from now on. A nice ascent of Ell Crag then we followed along the top of Addacomb beck to Wandope. Coming west off Wandope we followed the easily identifiable path to the start of Whiteless Edge and then down to Whiteless Pike and the valley floor.

Fantastic views all day and no sign of the thick cloud forcast

Time 6hrs 45 minutes

 Memories 

• Fantastic views 
• Variable terrain:  Loose scree on Lad Hows followed by summit 'plateau' and ridge descent via Whiteless edge
• Perfect hillwalking weather

 Completed 205 To go 9

Base Brown, Green Gable and Great Gable

This was a great walk to celebrate my 65th birthday despite involving an early start to avoid the holiday traffic driving through the Lakes to our start at Seathwaite. Our route was the same as we had done a couple of times previously, many years ago, but for some reason the scrambling sections especially by Sourmilk Gill , seemed to pose more of a problem. Must be our advancing years.

Sourmilk Gill

It was a glorious day sunny but not too hot. The waterfalls still impressive despite the recent dry weather.

At the top of Sourmilk Gill I toyed with the idea of heading straight up Base Brown but was persuaded  against, having just negotiated the slabs of the initial ascent. So it was a steady, walk up the hanging valley of Gillercomb, skirting Base Brown then a turn to the north over slightly boggy ground up to it's summit.

Gillercomb

 From here the path to Green Gable was obvious after first retracing our steps. Quite a bit more of an ascent than I remembered but soon at the top for a well   earned lunch stop.

Great Gable next, we knew involved a slight scramble but first we had to negotiate the loose stone path off Green Gable to Windy Gap. The rocky section up to the summit was easily dealt with and soon we were reading the memorial on the summit cairn. Typically for the Lake District the top was now in mist and as someone commented, it must be the only place in the country in cloud on such a glorious day.

Scafell from Great Gable

The descent was a significant improvement compared to the last time we were here, now properly laid paths and none of the loose stones which I remembered. A nice break on the banks of Styhead tarn in the late afternoon sunshine before the final descent by Taylor Force Waterfall, over Stockley Bridge and back to the farm.

Time 8hrs

Grade Excellent

Memories

• Slow initial ascent because of scrambling section
• Summit of Gable in mist despite the glorious weather
• View over to the Scafells through the mist in the the valleys

 Completed 201 To go 13

Caw Fell and Haycock

A relatively simple but long walk involving skirting the shore of Ennerdale to the bridge across the beck at its eastern end then continuing south though the woodland to the first of two close together footbridges . Having crossed the first, after negotiating some erosion in the path, we turned south again before the second, to ascent the shoulder up to the col between our two targets for the day, Caw Fell and Haycock. The initial part of the path ascended through thin woodland to the outtake fence then a moorland path rose more or less continuously to the top. 

The path lead us towards Caw Fell initially  and then we came back to the col following the wall linking the two summits and headed towards Little Gowder Crag. We decided to skirt this on its southern flank crossing the fence and wall then headed easily up to Haycock , now in mist. Lunch on the top in the mist with just a fleeting view of Scoat Tarn below.

Rather than retrace our steps  we descended towards Scoat Fell then took the path down over Tewitt How. Great views across to the Steeple ridge and over Ennerdale.
It was boggy in places despite all the dry weather. The path was very faint in places and we lost it just after Tewitt How heading over the heather towards Lingmel and met the path coming down from Steeple just above the forest.  

A steep eroded descent through some gorgeous heather then took us back to the forest road and the long walk back to Bowness Knott car park

Time  7 hrs

Grade Excellent

Memories 

• Long but gentle ascent
• Path faded on descent then steep and stony descent into forest 
• Sun on Ennerdale water, Haycock in mist

Completed  198  To Go  16

Yewbarrow

 

An early start to get into Wasdale for 9.00am . Car Park at Overbeck bridge was full but we managed to park back at Netherbeck bridge. At least this gave us a flat walk along the road before the ascent of Yewdale. We had read a lot about going up the imposing face as viewed from the valley. We weren't disappointed. Initially a nice climb by the wall then continuing the path up towards Dropping Crag to enter the gully.  A couple of birds of prey, possibly Red Kites were circulating over the crag. We started in the gully with a few easy scrambling pitches but then progress became more difficult, doable but on climbing out to the left we found the walkable path up the left hand side. Although walkable there was a lot of loose scree and care was needed.

One at the top of the Great Door the ridge walk over the summit was a delight with perfect stop for lunch just below the summit.

The difficulties were not over, however. We had already decide not to descend over Stirrup crag so headed left and the col north of the summit Although the pass was easy to follow it there were again a lot of loose stones as it passed under the crags and then down to the valley.

It was an easy walk back to Dropping Crag and then retraced our steps to the car, discovering a path down by the lake rather than on the road back to Netherbeck.

Time 5 hrs

Grade excellent

Memories

• Loose scree on ascent and descent
• Wonderful short ridge walk
• Concentration required on ascent and descent

Completed 196  To Go 18