Great Mell Fell

A late afternoon walk having visited the excellent art studio at Blencarn in the Eden valley. Started at the track heading clockwise round the hill near Brownrigg farm. Just up the track we took the first style over the fence on the right marked by a National Trust sign. The obvious path lead straight on, now clockwise, climbing gently round the base of the hill. Through the woodland we saw a red squirrel scampering through the undergrowth above us. After about five minutes following the path we decided it was time to head upwards and followed an indistinct path up directly towards the brow of the fell.After a steepish climb through the trees on very soft ground, sheltered from the wind, we soon hit on the path to the summit, passing windswept trees testimony to the elements over the years. Behind us the Eden valley was bathed with sunlight despite dark clouds all around. The summit, marked by a small cairn revealed marvelous views particularly across to the hills at the southern end of Helvellyn ridge. Headed down retracing our steps initially southwest and then on reaching the trees skirting around the wood on a good path down to the track we started on an then back to the car.

Time 1hr 10mns
Grade Excellent short walk for late afternoon
Memories

• Windswept trees

Completed 39 To go 175

Gowbarrow Fell

Our previous attempt at this delightful little summit was aborted about one month ago, accompanied by my brother and his wife. On a blustery day we were driven back by gale force winds after turning the corner at Yew Crag heading north towards the shooting box.

Today, however, was a completely different story. No wind, cold but dry and the surrounding higher fells snow capped. From the National Trust car park at Aira Force we took the path towards the falls with about 20 Japanese tourists. They followed us across the lower bridge and worryingly kept following us until they realised that we possibly did not have the same destination in mind and asked us the way to the waterfall. Having put them right we cross the stile and headed up the path above Lyphuls Tower towards Yew Crag and then round the corner to the now ruins of what was the shooting box. Ullswater was as calm as a pond. The Ullswater steamer left a tranquil rippling wake as it glided up the lake.Views across to the snow capped Pennines in the distance added to the peaceful atmosphere contrasting sharply from the hustle and bustle at the car park we had left.
Following the path, we contoured around the fell and, on reaching the shooting box, continued along the path to the left following the wall the summit mound soon appeared in front of us. Although very boggy in places the path was easy to follow and after a gentle ascent we were soon admiring the views across to the Helvellyn range, Skiddaw and Blecathra and over to High Street from the summit.
Continuing south from the summit, again on easy but boggy ground, we followed the path towards Green Hill and a little before the cairn headed directly down the slopes to Aira Force.

Time 2 hrs 15 mns
Grade Excellent
Memories

• The contrast in weather between our previous outing and today
• Peace and tranquility

Completed 38 To go 176

Sour Howes, Sallows

We tackled these two summits from the Dubbs road. The morning was bright and clear but there were warnings of wintry showers later on. Parking on the road between Ings and Troutbeck we walked the gentle track passed Dubbs reservoir (beware, an Adder breeding gound!) heading for the junction with the Garburn road heading up from Troutbeck. Just before the junction a style over the wall on our right lead on to the open fell. Although this was not our intended route it seemed a good option, to head up to Sour Howes first.
The weather began to change and as we climbed the slopes, the wind got up and the snow came down wiping out the view across the valley. The path was variable but soon we reached the ridge, cross a wall via another style and struggled in the now near blizzardconditions, north, on to the summit of Sour Howes. Sheltering from the wind Sallows seemed a good distance away through the snowflakes but it didn’t take long to drop down to the wall at Moor Head and follow the wall up the slopes crossing it and then heading west to the summit. The snow had now eased but the wind was still high and the sun was appearing.
Didn’t linger on Sallows but got good views of the left hand fork of the Kentmere Horseshoe before heading west back to the wall but this time instead of turn back towards Sour Howes, we followed it to the right to meet the Garburn road further up (at the gap in the wall described in Wainwright).
Fortunately we resisted the temptation to head straight down the hillside to meet the Garburn road lower down as we were later to discover that barbed wire would have prevented us from getting on to the track.
Had a super lunch stop by the gap in the wall, sitting against the corner of two wall, sheltered from the strong cold northerly wind but with the warm sun in the south, on our faces.
The route back was straight forward following the track towards Troutbeck and then bearing left back on to the Dubbs road.

Time 3hrs 15minutes

Grade Excellent

Memories
Snow

Completed 37 To go 177

Armboth Fell, High Tove

Parked at Armboth car park down by Thirlmere and took the path over the road, through an unusual sliding (rather than hinged) gate, passed the obvious "12' balanced boulder" sketched in Wainwright's book and up the wide gully between the trees heading for High Tove. The weather was fine and bright although and icy cold wind blew from the north. On reaching the open fell, a little way above the top corner of the trees on our left, we left the main path and crossed the stream heading for Armboth Fell. Soon we were tramping through boggy ground, any hint of a path soon disappearing, so we made a beeline for the summit which despite the undulating nature of the fell was easily found, marked by a small cairn. Sheltering from the wind, just south of the top, we sat for lunch accompanied by flurries of snow admirng views to the west across to Gable and Pillar.
We had been warned not to head directly for High Tove because of marshy ground but to traverse the moorland to the west to reach the middle ridge and the turn north by the fence. I don't think our route gained any advantage as the ground was saturated, a good test for our boots which remarkably kept our feet dry. From High Tove the weather all around seemed to be closing in so we took the direct descent down to Armboth (needless to say, across the bog) and retraced our steps between the trees passed the balancing boulder.




Our descent was accompanied by heavy snow, sleet showers interspersed by warm episodes of sunshine.
Back at the car the we had glorious views along Thilmere, north to Blencathra, at one minute in the bright sunshine and the next shrouded in mist and showers.


Time 2hrs 30minutes


Grade Excellent

Memories:

• Bog


• Sunshine and snow showers


• Initial views from on reaching Arboth Fell

Completed 35 To go 179