Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags

Another wintry day, we decided on a drive up to Mungrisdale and a walk over Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags. Accompanied by Jane, we knew we needed to get back to Staveley early, as David, her other half, was singing for the North West Early Music Forum in Carnforth. We had arranged the weekend stay at the cottage with our friends so we could hear the performance.
Having parked by the village hall we dutifully put £2.00 through the letter box and headed up the path skirting the south side of the tongue. An easy path to follow with the impressive mound of the Tongue towering ahead before us initially. Quite cold and wintry but we were sheltered in the valley until we gained the broad ridge when the biting cold wind hit us. The path was lined with a long stretches of snow where I was able to relive some winter walking memories. A short tramp up to the right we were soon on the summit of Bowscale Fell where we met a group of four who had been beaten off the icy snow slopes of Blencathra and decided on a more sensible alternative. The route over Bannerdale crags was easy to follow but underfoot was very icy forcing us to weave our way to avoid ending up flat on the ground. The view to our right across to the snowy peak of Blencathra kept our interest as we descended off Bowscale Fell and climbed the gentle slope up to Bannerdale crags.
Leaving the summit to the south west we were now off the path but descended a nice grassy slope until we were clear of the crags on the left, then turned west steeply but easily down tot he the path from Mungrisdale to Scales.
An easy but quite boggy path followed the river Glenderamackin back to the car. (I did mention taking in Souther Fell on the way back but was persuaded time was not on our side)

Time 3hrs 30mns
Grade Excellent
Memories

• Wintry scenes on Blencathra
• Snow underfoot (although only a little)

Completed 72 To go 142

Walla Crag

Parked at the car park at Ashness Bridge just south of Keswick to the east of Derwentwater. It was a cold, gloomy with a biting wind, so not sure how far we would manage, but Walla Crag was the main aim. In full winter attire we crossed back over Ashness Bridge and immediately took the path contouring the hill north and soon bearing right following a path up towards the skyline. Easily followed quite rocky in places and patches of ice underfoot, lethal for the unwary! We soon gained height and reached the moorland above Falcon crag with Walla crag visible to the north.
The patches of ice were more evident several time necessitating a short detour off the path.

At the junction with the path up to Bleaberry fell we felt, on the return, it would make a great day to take in Bleaberry fell and High Seat before returning to the car park. Enthused we headed to Walla Crag the biting wind getting colder and stronger. Although a dull day, the views across Derwentwater to Cat Bells , Causey Pike and beyond were forever changing. Sometimes a shaft of sunlight would brighten up the fell side. At other times dull and misty with hills barely visible.

On Walla Crag the wind was strengthening and with the dark clouds and low temperatures the atmosphere was becoming less inviting. Looking back across to Bleaberry fell the scene was reminiscent of a Scottish wilderness landscape albeit on a smaller scale.

Retracing our route to the path junction her was some shelter form the wind and with plenty of daylight left we decided to head up towards Bleaberry fell fully aware that it may be the wrong decision. To our left a couple were having great fun throwing themselves on to a long sheet of ice, sliding down the hillside on their backsides then returning to the top to have another go. It wasn't long, as we reached Brown Knots, before we realised that once out of the shelter of the hillside the wind was far to strong to continue. The mist was rolling in across the moorland and we made the decision to retrace our steps back to the original path and call it a day.

As we descended with the Ashness Bridge in sight the sun broke thorough the clouds and we managed to sit to have lunch watching the changing colours of the hills opposite.

Time 2 hrs 45 minutes

Grade Excellent

Memories

• Wintry atmosphere
• Couple enjoying the ice

Completed 70 To go 144