Helvellyn, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor

The good weather could not last much longer so a good time to do a classic walk, Helvellyn via striding edge. Starting from Glenridding I thought there could be no problem with the route but was mistaken as we climbed out of the village and found ourselves on the path leading up to Lanty Tarn. An unexpected and unintentional detour it was too late to retrace our steps and we were pleasantly surprised by the peaceful tarn amongst the trees. The plan now was to join the path up from Patterdale which we were able to find with only slight descent by taking a path to the right of the main route and heading for the trees on the Grisedale side of the slope (taking care not not return to Glenridding!). One problem with this detour was that my original plan of taking in Birkhouse Moor on the way up had now to be revised. Once on the main path we knew it would be a long steady haul up to the Hole in the Wall, the summits of Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike on the main ridge appeared a long way off. However we eventually reached the junction of our path and the path coming off Birkhouse Moor and were now back on the original planned route.
Striding edge needs no introduction to anyone who has walked in the Lake District. Today was a perfect day for a safe traverse of the ridge. No wind, dry and high clouds. We reached the first airy slab of rock to traverse which was negotiated without difficulty. Elspeth then decided to take the walkers path on the north flank of the ridge whilst I, now in my element, continued carefully along the knife edge. We met again at the col just before the last pinnacle. From past experience we knew there was a difficult scramble to descend coming off this stretch, so today, we took the path descending now on the southern flank, rounding the difficulty and then back up to the ridge. Now there was just the mater of the steep climb up to the summit plateau.
Views on top were fair. Although the cloud base was high the fells to the west looked dark with no distinctive features. To the east the eye was drawn to our proposed descent via Swirral edge and then, shall we shan’t we, Castye Cam. Descending Swirral edge was a slow process, of necessity, but we soon reached the point where we had to decided – down to Red Tarn or up to top number 58. We were tired but it looked (and was) an easy ascent well worth it for the pointed summit which could be seen from miles around. We retraced our steps to get to the path down to Red Tarn rather than descending the south east ridge. The next choice was to descend by Red Tarn beck or via Birkhouse Moore. Then latter won the day being, as I explained, the more direct route. Only a slight ascent was needed as we followed the good path over the Moor with a slight detour to the summit Cairn. Although there was plenty of daylight left, the atmosphere was now that of an autumnal evening as we descended to Mires Beck followed by the stony staircase back to Glenridding.
A tiring but very satisfying day.

Time 7 hrs
Memories

• Unintentional detour at the start
• Perfect conditions for Striding Edge
• Summit of Catsycam

Grade Excellent

Completed 59 To Go 155

Hallin Fell

One would expect this little fell to be in the category of 'one of those fells that needs to be done but not expecting anything too special'. Nothing could be further from the truth on one of the most glorious days we have had in the Lake District - and there have been many.



The sun was out as we took the Ullswater Steamer from Glenridding to Howtown. A delightful sail around the base Place Fell. On landing we took the path over the bridge, by Ullswater for a few hundred yards, a short distance along a tarmac road then headed left gently rising over the lower slops of Hallin Fell towards the hause at Martindale. Just before the hause we turned right up a wide grassy heading directly upwards. There seem to be many paths of the fellside but this was just before the main direct path and kept to the right until reaching the top. Not a big climb but once at the considerable summit cairn the vista opening before us was terrific. I doubt if many people could claim to be alone on the summit of Hallin Fell in glorious sunshine, there was not a soul in sight.
We ate our sandwiches just down the hill near the small cairn to the left. Initially the dark clouds to the west made the view rather two dimensional but occasionally, with changes in the cloud and the light, the perspective of the hills developed and one could easily distinguish the tops in front of one another. To the east we could plan our routes up Steel Knotts and Beda Fell for future days.
We descended direct to the hause, visited the delightful church at Martindale then, banishing thoughts of rushing another summit before the ferry back, took the path skirting the northern ridge of Steel Knotts back down to Howtown in time for a coffee at the Howtown Hotel before a leisurely stroll back to the steamer.


Time 3hrs (leisurley!)


Grade Excellent


Memories

• A wonderful relaxing day

Competed 56 To Go 158

Whin Rigg and Illgill Head

From our base, Meadow Cottage in Staveley, it took us the best part of two hours to reach the start point at Woodhow Farm at the southern end of Wastwater. However the incredible views as we drove from Broughton, over Ulpha Fell to Eskdale more than made up for the length of the journey. The sky was clear and the panorama of the southern Lakeland fells was breathtaking.

Not being familiar with the Wastwater fells we decided to explore the tops above the Wastwater Screes. The walk starts through an old iron kissing gate immediately opposite Woodhow farm. The path descends to the river and after a short distance crosses a delightful stone bridge. Now following the south bank of the river we were bathed in glorious sunshine and decided to stop for lunch (only 10 minutes into the walk). Such a peaceful sunny spot we could have spent all afternoon relaxing, but there were some hills to be climbed. Taking the path towards the fell we headed for the left bank of Greathall Gill, up across a meadow and then over a stile in the wall.

Here the main ascent begins through the bracken on a good path, steep but at all time incredibly satisfying as Wastwater and the surrounding hills gradually come into view. From the valley was sound of tree felling in the background with the buzz of chainsaw followed by the creak and clunk of the trees as they fell. We soon gained the ridge, after a couple of stops on the way up and our first summit was now not far heading north east along the ridge. There are 2 possible cairns on Whinn Rigg indicating the summit. We had already decided to return by the same route so bagged the western top an the way up and the eastern top on the way back. The route to Illgill Head along western edge of the summit ridge was spectacular with all the exhilaration of shear drops down to Watwater on your left and the safety of flat moorland on your right. On the top of Illgill Head, it is imperative to follow Wainwright's advice and walk 35 yards eastwards form the cairn (no more or you are over the edge!) an admire the stunning scenery. We could see what wonderful walks we had in sroe over the Mosedale horseshoe an other tops to the northwest of Wastwater.
We took the more direct path back to Whinn Rig, this time the views were different, over the Furness fells and the Irish Sea, but no less spectacular. Descending back to the valley, clouds were beginning to form over western hills making Yewbarrow, Gable and Pillar ,which on the way up were sunny and inviting, now much more menacing.

Time 4 hrs 30 mns

Memories

• Wonderful weather for late September


• Spectacular Wastwater fells

Grade Excellent

Completed 55 To Go 159

Ling Fell

The last time we were in this area, to climb Sale Fell, the weather was awful driving to the start but it stopped raining as we got out of the car and stayed dry just until we arrived back when it poured down again. No such luck this time. We had a couple of hours to spare having dropped our daughter and a friend off in Keswick to visit Puzzlingplace . Ling fell seemed and was an ideal excursion. We drove up by Bassenthwaite lake and turned off by the Pheasant Inn through Wythop Mill and parked at Burthwiate. Full waterproof gear from the off, we set off along the gently rising grass terrace skirting the north east and north of the fell. Always taking the upper fork when there was a choice we skirted above Wyhtop Mill and eventually turned back on ourselves heading upwards and then eastwards again until just below the summit when a narrow track head dierctly up to the top. As we gained height the rain became heavier and the wind, which was thankfully behind us as we ascended, became stronger. The top was no place to dwell. In driving rain we decided to head north, straight down the hillside the rain now directly in our faces until we reached the shelter of the terrace not far from the car. We were soaked -memories of the day we climbed Latrigg.

Time 55minutes

Memories

• Wet

Grade Excellent walk if you need to kill a couple of hours in Keswick

Completed 53 To go 161