*Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man

This was the sraightforward walk up Skiddaw, initally intending a shortish walk up and down Little Man but whist we were up there we decided there was no point in not taking in Siddaw summit. The weather at the start was awful with very heavy rain in the morning postoning our start until about midday. The start of the walk was the car park up behind Latrigg and the route, the main path to the summit. What is often tough if as a 'slog' was in fact a very pleasant climb with very few people about. At Jenkin Hill we ( or to be accurate, I) made the decision that Skiddaw itself would be an ideal detour then come back over Little Man. We knew the top would be in mist but with a good path and cairns, navigation would not be a problem. However, once on the summit plateau the strength of the wind and rain was unexpected and made the final walk to the summit quite a challenge. Spending little time on the top we retraced our steps and then veered over to Little Man before descending back to the car prk


Time 4hrs 15 mns

Grade Excellent

Memories

•  Mist and high winds on Skiddaw summit
• Variable weather
• View over to Causey Pike and surrounding hills

Completed 151 to go 63

*Causey Pike, Scar Crags and Sail

Have done this walk a couple of times, an exhillerating ridge walk once the top oof Causey pike was attained. We parked between Uzzicar and Stoneycroft, walked along the road to the steep double bend and took the path towards Causey Pike,this time skirting around the bottom of Rowling end.
An easy pull up tp the col then and a steeper more rocky ascent to the summit. The a ggreat ridge walk along to sail with mixed weather over Scar Crags turning to thick cloud heading for Sail. The view of thepath up to Sail form Scar Crags looks completely out of place being such a doominant feature of the landscape.
We decided not to go on to Crag Hill as the weather was deteriorating, so headed off Sail down the grotesque path and then syreight down to the valley for the treck back to the car.


4hrs 30mns

Grade Excellent

Memories

• Rocky path to the top of Causey Pike
• Quick changes in weather
• Eyesore of a path up to the top of Sail

Completed 149 To Go 65

*Great Calva

Strated the walk joining the Cumbria Way at Peter House farm and followe the main path along Dash Beck to the top of the waterfall Here having crossed the beck oon the main path, we headed straight up the left hand edge of the valley by a wire fence. A short steep ascent quite slippery in places, good to have the wire to cling on to. Our first summit was Little Calva which was easily attined following the wall. We then crossed the moreland tho aim for Great Calva. Fortunately not too boggy.This bit can become very wet accordiing to a walker we passed on the way up to Great Calva.
On reaching the summit we descended by taking the gentle south ridge and then south west to rejoin the Cumbrian Way about 1k further along frm where we left.
Throughout the walk the colour of the purple late summer heather on the surrounding hillsides we wonderful.


Time  4hrs 30 ms

Grade Excellent

Memories

• Short steep ascent by wire fence
• Gorgeous purple heather
• Ideal weather

Completed 146 to go 68

High Hartsop Dodd, Little Hart Crag, (Red Screes), Middle Dodd

It was good to get out on our quest to complete the Wainwright again after a lapse of a few months, for no good reason.

Ascending High Hartsop Dodd

We started the walk form the bottom of the Kirkstone pass, parking in a layby just south of the Brotherswater Inn. Taking the footpath to cross the valley floor and crossing Kirkstone Beck we headed north towards Hartsop Hall to the base of High Hartsop Dodd. What looks a steep climb from the road was not difficult with a good path to follow. Soon on top of our first summit we continued south to our second target of Little Hart Crag just timing it right for lunch in the sun, sheltering from the brisk cool wind. Our route from across to Middle Dodd was obvious, descending to Scandale Pass the up following the wall towards Red Screes. The only question was weather to contour round the summit of Red Screes (as we had already climbed

Gable appearing 

this) or to take in the higher peak to complete the round. In actual fact there was only one answer, so off to Red Screes we went with glorious view from the top especially over to the Gable and Scafell ranges.
The only concern now was the descent of Middle Dodd to the valley which looked, and was, steep, However a good path took us down safely. Safely that is until soon after crossing the wall about half way down. Wainwright does say to keep to the wall descending to the south on the left of the ridge down. The path, which we followed, however distinctly carries straight on down the ridge but soon we were stopped abruptly by a shear cliff face. However, contouring round to the left, we joined the descending wall and followed it back to the valley floor.

Time 5hrs 30mns
Memories

• Glorious clear day with nice cool breeze
• Knee crunching descent from Middle Dodd
• Completion of all the summits  from The Eastern Fells book

Grade  Excellent

Completed 145 To go 69