Great Borne and Starling Dodd

 Our initial plan today was to climb Haycock and Caw Fell. However we arrived at the Bowness car park to find it shut due to forestry work. Luckily we managed to find a parking spot on the road right opposite the start of the walk up Great Borne so we decided this would be an ideal alternative. 

The path started up Rake Beck the soon we took a left hand fork crossed the beck contoured round a short way and then started the climb up to the western ridge of Herdus. A good path all the way with no difficulties. It was quite a haul up to Herdus with an unexpected strong wind blowing however once the steep section was over the walking became easier, the wimd lessened and the sun shone. Perfect weather.

From Herdus we continued the path down then up to Great Borne. The views across to the Grasmoor fells were fantastic, indeed all around the views were amazing, the hill to the south and east silhouetted aginst the blue sky, light clouds and haze.

    

Starling Dodd looked some distance away but following the path by the fence from Great Borne and then cutting across the moorland,  we were soon standing on the summit. We dropped down slightly to a sheltered spot for lunch and distinctly hear sheep dogs and shepherds in the valley below.

The way down was to follow the path towards Red Pike but leave it for the summit of  Little Dodd then contour round  the top of Gilflinter Beck to join the path down from Red Pike. We were fortunate to find a path not marked on the OS map.

The drop down to the valley was enhanced by the wonderful views up the Ennerdale Valley with Gable at its head, Pillar, Steeple and Scout Fell on the opposite side and for the icing on the cake, an opportunity to soak my feet in the crystal clear water as the path down crossed the beck.

It was a longish walk back to the car along the forest track but well worth it after a fantastic day on the hills

Time  7 hrs 

Memories

• Fantastic weather again , mid to late September
• View up Ennerdale valley
• Soaking my feet in the cold clear water on the way down

Completed 192 To go 22

Dale Head

A lovely quick up and down form Hosister pass.  Previously we have been up Brandereth directly from Honister so this time we thought we would ascend the hillside opposite. A very warm day for mid September. The route is easy, the path follows the fence up the hillside then continues in the same direction after the fence comes to a halt. It was good to see the Honister slate mine so busy and we soon lost the noise from it as we ascended.

A long lunch on top in  the sun with welcoming soft breeze and great views across to the high hills to the south , albeit slightly hazy and down  the Newlands valley to the north. I suggest a stroll along to Hindscarth but was overruled as our time schedule would not allow it.

Dale Head summit

View across Honister

Newlands Valley

Time 2 hrs 30mns

Memories 

• Hot sunny day - mid September
• Busy including the summit of Dale Head
• Views across the fells mentally following routes of future walks

Grade  Excellent

Completed 190  To go 24

Crinkle Crags

We  managed to get a space a t the Old Dungeon Ghyll NT car park  at 8.30 am with no problem, despite all the campervans being there. We were aim to follow the route we have previously taken up Crinkle Crags via Oxendale and Red Tarn. We were not prepared for the fact there was no bridge over Oxendale beck and although the beck, which was quite full of water, was potentially crossable over the boulders, the though of spending the rest of the with wet feet was not very appealing so a change of plan and we decided on the route up Hell Gill.  

It is a fantastic route with great views of the waterfall with plunge pool and further up looking into Hell Gill itself. There were no real problems although the path was eroded in places.

                                            

Once above the the menacing looking Hell Gill it was a straightforward walk  up to the top of The Band and the Three Tarns The weather  up to now was just right for walking , coolish, sheltered from the wind and mist coming and going but the tops remaining clear.

As we traverse the Crinkles from the three tarns and the wind got up and the temperature dropped dramatically.  However once on the summit at Long Top we found a sheltered spot for lunch. The same as last time we were up here, the views across to the Scafells was awe-inspiring.

The route back was by retracing our steps towards Bowfell then down The Band back to the valley floor.

Time  7hrs 30mns

Memories

• No bridge over Oxendale led to a great route
• View across to the Scafells
• Windchill of 1deg C on top

Grade     Excellent

Completed 189  To go 25

Hard Knott

A very dull day with the cloud base around 400m and drizzly rain on and off. We had a later start today not setting off from Jubilee Bridge at the foot of the Hard Knott pass just before midday. It was a refreshing walk up Eskdale along the river Esk, with it's small waterfalls, to the picturesque Lingcove bridge where we had a bite to eat.

Slightly concerned about traversing Hard Knott fell in the mist and no paths marked on the map, we ascended up the right hand bank of Lingcove beck  following the path skirting between the beck and the small crag immediately above us. The gradient flattened and we continued, now in the mist  keeping the beck down on our left. Looking for some sort of path to head up towards Yew Bank we found it and although not marked, it was this path we were able to follow up the Hard Knott Summit and then descend back to the road at the top of the pass. Occasionally the path disappeared but a bit of compass work soon got us back on track without problems.

Unfortunately there would be no opportunities to see the Eskdale needle today.4

 Back to the car down the road, we discounted the path via the Roman fort because of the bog underfoot.

 

Time 5 hrs

Grade Excellent

Memories 

• Beautiful Eskdale, even with the tops in cloud
• Navigating across Hard Knott in mist
• The Herdwick sheep

Completed 188 To go  26

Robinson and Hindscarth

Again, as so often recently, we were lucky enough to get the last parking spot in the small car park, this time at Little Town in the Newlands Valley

Today our walk took us up Robinson and then on to Hindscarth before descending back to the valley. We would leave Dale Head for another day.

The ascent of Robinson was interesting with the well documented 3 rocky steps, They have been described and 'no problem' to  'a bit of a scramble'. We fall into the latter group. The first and third were indeed 'no problem' but we had difficulty on the middle one as Elspeth was unable to stretch her legs high enough to scramble up the short rock face, However we found an alternative route bypassing the section finding a small path circumventing it down on the left hand side.

We reached the summit easily after this and then descended to Littledale Edge to get out the the cool wind, for lunch. The view across the Buttermere valley and Honister were magnificent.  The high fell of Pillar and the Gables coming in and out of thick cloud, the lower tops of Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike etc easily identified.

Next stop  was Hindscarth with again magnificent, if not better, views whichever way you looked.

The descent north down the ridge of Hindscarth was a delight. Some concentration needed initially and very much so at the end when the gradient increased but overall wonderful with the views up the Newlands valley and the heather, not quite out yet, carpeting both sides of the path.

Time 6 hrs 30 mns

Grade Excellent

Memories

• Rocky step number 2
• 360 degree panoramic views
• Delightful descent off Hindscarth

Completed 187  To go 27

The three rock step on ascent of Robinson

Robinson (R)  and Hindscarth (centre)

Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick

We just managed to get a parking place at Troutbeck church. Our route was to ascend to Garburn Pass via the Garburn road, an easy gentle ascent. The we took the track bearing left onto the open fell and headed north for our first summit of Yoke. After a gentle descent then steeper climb we were on Ill Bell. The descent off Ill Bell towards Froswick is very eroded much more so that I remember from last time I was here (many years ago). However we were soon down on the col and a short climb to the top of Froswick.

The weather was ideal for walking. Initially the tops were in cloud but by the time we had ascended the cloud had lifted and there was a refreshing breeze. 

We descended form the col between Froswick and Thornthwaite Crag. down to the track of the old Roman Road when we were caught by a heavy shower. We followed Hagg Gill on our right with Troutbeck Tongue on our left, crossed Ing Bridge to Town Head and then crossed the main road to take the path across the fields back to the church.

Time 6hrs

Looking back near end of walk

Memories                                                                             

•     Long but leisurely walk
•     Eroded descent form Ill Bell
•     Views of the Kentemere Valley and the full horseshoe

Grade Excellent

Completed 125  To Go  29

(High Street and) Mardale Ill Bell

Staying alert we arrived at Mardale Head car park at 9.00am to find it full apart form one space. The forecast was excellent for the day which had, understandably, attracted walkers to get out early.
We set off after a quick coffee at the car, no more 'coffee shops on the way'.
Skirting round the head of the reservoir towards The Rigg the path took us up to the crest of the ridge, just above the small wood and then we headed  due west straight up the ridge with Riggindale to the north and Blea Water to the south. Gorgeous views of Hawsewater appeared across the wall as we ascended. The ridge walk is excellent, a mixture undulating grassy knolls and steeper rocky outcrops, but never difficult. The pleasant breeze became stronger and cooler nearer the summit requiring us to shelter for an early lunch just before the final push to the summit of High Street with its vista across to the other Lakeland fells. From here an easy walk across to Mardale Ill Bell then a stony descent on a good path from Nan Bield  back to the car passing Small Water on the right with wild swimmers in the wtaer and on sunbathers on the shore.


Time 6 hrs

Memories

• Gorgeous weather with a stiff breeze on top
• Good to get a change from the confines of lockdown
• Excellent ridge walk

Grade  Excellent

Completed 182 Go go 32

Loadpot Hill and Wether Hill

After another long spell away from our aim to complete all the Wainwrights we finally had got back on track, just before the coronavirus lockdown.

Loadpot Hill

This walk started at Martindale church. We took the path behind the church and skirted the base of Steel Knotts to commence the walk up Fusedale. It was a lovely sunny day but rather a fresh wind. A nice easy walk up by Fusedale beck the after crossing Grove Gill heading up to the shallow coll between our two summits. First a left turn up the easy path to Loadpot Hill. A featureless summit but gorgeous views on a very clear day. Then a retrace of our steps down to the col and then the short ascent up to Wether Hill summit.

From here we carried on south for a short spell then headed down west then north west, eventually finding the path heading for the ruins noted by Wainwright. We then took the path skirting the west slopes of Steel Knotts, rather than retracing our steps down Fusedale, down to the road at Martindale then a short way up to the church and the car.

Time   4hr 30mns

Memories: 

First new Wainwright walk for 30 months

Last for a while whist in lockdown

Sunny but cold wind

Very few people out

Grade Excellent

Completed 181 To go 33