Weather not so good today. Strong winds forecast so the higher fells were not an option.
A short walk was planned on Little Mell.
Wainwright described a 30 minute outing to the top of the fell from the hause between Cove Park and Lowthwaite.
Opening the car door soon warned us of the strength of the wind, almost blowing the door off its hinges. 'Never mind - only a short outing' we thought.
Followed an obvious track directly up to the summit but the wind was relentless fortunately behind us on the ascent. On the summit mound we were battling to stay upright and did not linger for the views over Ullswater. The descent, now into the wind, was very hard work. We made more of a zig zag down to try and get some respite but were glad to be back at the car.
Any plans to do Great Mell Fell were soon overruled.
Time 25 minutes!
Grade An excellent blow!
Completed 33 - To go 181
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Grey Friar and Great Carrs
Another glorious day for mid Feb. A cold and frosty morning with glorious clear views driving from Staveley to Ambleside along the back roads via Troutbeck and then to Chesters at Skelwith Bridge (yes for another pre walk coffee) and then to the top of the Wrynose pass.
Set off at the top of the pass, looking for the path marked on the OS map heading diagonally up to Wet Side Edge. As is common, the start of the path was nowhere to be seen, maybe because the ground was covered with frost and icy patches on the northern facing slopes. However, we soon found it after climbing about 300ft and followed it gently up to the ridge, the sun continuously just above the brim of the ridge, in our eyes but keeping us warm, our shadows following behind. Once on the ridge the amphitheatre opened up before us with Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Carrs, silhouetted against the low bright sunshine. The grassy ridge was a delightful ascent to just under Little Carrs then a track to the right took us, contouring under Great Carrs, to the coll between Great Carrs and Grey Friar. One final ascent and soon we were on the grass and rocky summit, almost lunaresque in appearance. The sun to the south west beamed over the Irish sea.
The Scafells to the north west looked both imposing and gentle at the same time. Imposing with the details of their cliffs highlighted by the shadows yet gentle in the warm winter sun with no cloud or wind. An idyllic place for an extended lunch stop with not a soul around .
Another peak to climb so time to move on and retrace our steps east to the col. Here we met two other couples ascending, so the top would not have been our own if we had stayed for much longer.
Once at the col we continued in a straight line up the grassy slope of Great Carrs, a line which took us directly to the memorial to 8 RAF airmen who lost their lives when their Halifax Bomber crashed in 1944 just below the summit ridge.
Once on the ridge we were now looking down into the amphitheatre, all it’s walls still in shade from the, sun now lower in the sky. Decided against a trip to Swirl How and set off along the ridge edge down to Little Carrs and beyond to the grassy ridge we ascended. Although using the same route for ascent and descent, the two could not have been more different. Now, on the way down, the views to the north changed with each few hundred feet. First the Scafells dominated the skyline but soon their tops were tucked away behind Crinkle Crags and again, these were soon to be obscured by Cold Pike as we descnded the ridge. The pointed peak of Bow Fell remained conspicuous for most of the time. Our shadows now marched on before us, sometime 50 – 60 ft long depending on the contour of the land.
We did not follow the path down to Wrynose but kept on the ridge until level with our car and headed directly down the frost and in places icy, slopes.
Time 3 hours 30 mns
Grade Excellent
Memories Views and the general ambience of the summit of Grey Friar
Completed 32 - To go 182
Set off at the top of the pass, looking for the path marked on the OS map heading diagonally up to Wet Side Edge. As is common, the start of the path was nowhere to be seen, maybe because the ground was covered with frost and icy patches on the northern facing slopes. However, we soon found it after climbing about 300ft and followed it gently up to the ridge, the sun continuously just above the brim of the ridge, in our eyes but keeping us warm, our shadows following behind. Once on the ridge the amphitheatre opened up before us with Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Carrs, silhouetted against the low bright sunshine. The grassy ridge was a delightful ascent to just under Little Carrs then a track to the right took us, contouring under Great Carrs, to the coll between Great Carrs and Grey Friar. One final ascent and soon we were on the grass and rocky summit, almost lunaresque in appearance. The sun to the south west beamed over the Irish sea.
The Scafells to the north west looked both imposing and gentle at the same time. Imposing with the details of their cliffs highlighted by the shadows yet gentle in the warm winter sun with no cloud or wind. An idyllic place for an extended lunch stop with not a soul around .
Another peak to climb so time to move on and retrace our steps east to the col. Here we met two other couples ascending, so the top would not have been our own if we had stayed for much longer.
Once at the col we continued in a straight line up the grassy slope of Great Carrs, a line which took us directly to the memorial to 8 RAF airmen who lost their lives when their Halifax Bomber crashed in 1944 just below the summit ridge.
Once on the ridge we were now looking down into the amphitheatre, all it’s walls still in shade from the, sun now lower in the sky. Decided against a trip to Swirl How and set off along the ridge edge down to Little Carrs and beyond to the grassy ridge we ascended. Although using the same route for ascent and descent, the two could not have been more different. Now, on the way down, the views to the north changed with each few hundred feet. First the Scafells dominated the skyline but soon their tops were tucked away behind Crinkle Crags and again, these were soon to be obscured by Cold Pike as we descnded the ridge. The pointed peak of Bow Fell remained conspicuous for most of the time. Our shadows now marched on before us, sometime 50 – 60 ft long depending on the contour of the land.
We did not follow the path down to Wrynose but kept on the ridge until level with our car and headed directly down the frost and in places icy, slopes.
Time 3 hours 30 mns
Grade Excellent
Memories Views and the general ambience of the summit of Grey Friar
Completed 32 - To go 182
Monday, 18 February 2008
Troutbeck Tongue
Another great day. Sunshine all day, we started the walk in the afternoon with the low sun flooding the Troutbeck valley. From Troutbeck, just beyond the Queen’s Head pub, a short descent to the valley floor took us to a gentle, flat walk along the valley bottom heading for the Tongue, across Ings bridge. Approaching the farm we took the path, signposted to High Street, (but definitely not intending to go that far) across the meadow, through a kissing gate and onto a the trackat the base of the Tongue which skirted around to the right. After passing through a gate we headed up the hill, north of the wall and soon found a steep track heading directly up toeards a stile in a newish looking fence and then on up to the summit.
Enclosed on all sides by bigger fells the experience was wonderful. To the east the huge steep grassy slopes of the left hand spur of the Kentmere Horseshoe. To the south west, further away, Wansfell and to the north and west the masses of Red Screes and Caudale Moor. We stayed on the ridge heading north for 5 to 10 minutes before heading staight down to the right by a fence, back to the track we had left early running by Hagg Ghyll but higher up the valley.
Back on the valley floor to the village, the sun had now set behind the hills resulting in an icy cold end to an excellent short afternoon excursion.
Time 2hrs 30mns
Memories The quiet tranquil Troutbeck valley in a warm wintry sun.
Grade Excellent short walk
Completed 30 - To go 184
Enclosed on all sides by bigger fells the experience was wonderful. To the east the huge steep grassy slopes of the left hand spur of the Kentmere Horseshoe. To the south west, further away, Wansfell and to the north and west the masses of Red Screes and Caudale Moor. We stayed on the ridge heading north for 5 to 10 minutes before heading staight down to the right by a fence, back to the track we had left early running by Hagg Ghyll but higher up the valley.
Back on the valley floor to the village, the sun had now set behind the hills resulting in an icy cold end to an excellent short afternoon excursion.
Time 2hrs 30mns
Memories The quiet tranquil Troutbeck valley in a warm wintry sun.
Grade Excellent short walk
Completed 30 - To go 184
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Loft Crag, Pike O’Stickle, Thunacar Kott, Pavey Ark
This walk is dedicated to my mother-in-law Christine who passed away on 10th February 2008.
What better walk to celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. One of my favourite Lake District areas and a beautiful sunny February day. Parked at the National Trust car park just after the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, and succumbed (yet again) to the warmth of a hot coffee before the walk. The route we decided was one we have walked several times, starting up the path towards Stickle tarn but soon turning left towards Dungeon Ghyll and then after crossing the ghyll ascending the path keeping the deep ravine on our right. Ahead, visible from
a distance, were a group of people, one with a bright yellow jacket which we were soon to realise were mountain rescue volunteers on a training exercise, rescuing a ‘casualty’ in Dungeon Ghyll and waiting for a helicopter, which duly arrived a few minutes later, circled around for a while and then headed off into the distance.
The weather was amazing, like summer, climbing up the fell wondering why I was carrying all my winter gear. We stopped for a while soaking in the sun and the views, on the broad grassy shelf after the first steep climb, and then continued up the obvious path to the gap between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag. Turning left and then up left again our first summit was reached with fantastic views across Langdale to the fells beyond. The sun bright and low in the sky and a misty haze in the valleys below emphasizing the contours of the hills extending beyond.
Next stop, Pike O’Stickle a short stroll westward above the Langdale valley with an interesting scramble to the summit (always met with ‘why am I doing this again! ’ from behind). However the reward today was out of this world, the views south as described previously and to the north the peak of Skiddaw poking out of the wintry haze in the valley.
A place to linger for some time before heading off the pointed summit on across the moorland to Thunacar Knot, an easy tramp aided by the frozen ground underfoot as opposed to the usual bog.
I have never visited Thunacar Knott before and was glad the weather was clear, not only because I am sure finding it in mist would have been quite an ordeal and also to be able to visualise the landscape across to Sergent Man and Blea Rigg.
A short walk to the west, no path, took us to Pavey Ark, swarming with people but nonetheless a magnificent perch to look down on to Stickle tarn below.
The next decision was whether to take in Harrison Stickle before descending. Heading across the bouldery path, Cristine would have been proud that common sense prevailed and we decided that, because of weary legs and the realisation that we were still in winter, despite the weather and dark would descend quite quickly, we decided to pick our way down the eroded path to Stickle tarn and then on down the main route to the valley.
Time 5 hrs 30mns
Memories A wonderful day dedicated to the memories of Christine
Grade Excellent
Completed 29 - To go 185
What better walk to celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. One of my favourite Lake District areas and a beautiful sunny February day. Parked at the National Trust car park just after the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, and succumbed (yet again) to the warmth of a hot coffee before the walk. The route we decided was one we have walked several times, starting up the path towards Stickle tarn but soon turning left towards Dungeon Ghyll and then after crossing the ghyll ascending the path keeping the deep ravine on our right. Ahead, visible from
a distance, were a group of people, one with a bright yellow jacket which we were soon to realise were mountain rescue volunteers on a training exercise, rescuing a ‘casualty’ in Dungeon Ghyll and waiting for a helicopter, which duly arrived a few minutes later, circled around for a while and then headed off into the distance.The weather was amazing, like summer, climbing up the fell wondering why I was carrying all my winter gear. We stopped for a while soaking in the sun and the views, on the broad grassy shelf after the first steep climb, and then continued up the obvious path to the gap between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag. Turning left and then up left again our first summit was reached with fantastic views across Langdale to the fells beyond. The sun bright and low in the sky and a misty haze in the valleys below emphasizing the contours of the hills extending beyond.
Next stop, Pike O’Stickle a short stroll westward above the Langdale valley with an interesting scramble to the summit (always met with ‘why am I doing this again! ’ from behind). However the reward today was out of this world, the views south as described previously and to the north the peak of Skiddaw poking out of the wintry haze in the valley.
A place to linger for some time before heading off the pointed summit on across the moorland to Thunacar Knot, an easy tramp aided by the frozen ground underfoot as opposed to the usual bog.
I have never visited Thunacar Knott before and was glad the weather was clear, not only because I am sure finding it in mist would have been quite an ordeal and also to be able to visualise the landscape across to Sergent Man and Blea Rigg.
A short walk to the west, no path, took us to Pavey Ark, swarming with people but nonetheless a magnificent perch to look down on to Stickle tarn below.
The next decision was whether to take in Harrison Stickle before descending. Heading across the bouldery path, Cristine would have been proud that common sense prevailed and we decided that, because of weary legs and the realisation that we were still in winter, despite the weather and dark would descend quite quickly, we decided to pick our way down the eroded path to Stickle tarn and then on down the main route to the valley.
Time 5 hrs 30mns
Memories A wonderful day dedicated to the memories of Christine
Grade Excellent
Completed 29 - To go 185
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Latrigg
A wet windy day. Initial thoughts whilst driving towards Ambleside was a walk up Lingmoor but, with the rain lashing down and the rough water of Windermere looking more like the sea than a lake, we made the desicion to drive on up to Keswick and tackle Latirgg.
Unfortunately the weather got worse as we drove north. On reaching the car park at Ornathwaite we knew we had made a sensible choice. Full waterproof gear on, we set off down the path heading for Keswick. A short way along, the route to the top headed off up to the leftand soon joined the other " reduced mobility" path (what a good idea) comming up from the car park. Now we were walking directly into lashing rain, very sore on the face and dripping wet to the skin despite the waterproofs. Soon reached a bench from which on a good day glorious views over Keswick would have opened up. Today nothing! The path now heading north westish traversed the summit and heading down the grassy slopes became very slippery. The pleasure of the easing and now being sheltered from the wind soon diminished with one lack of concentration, a loss of grip on the rigth foot and bump down on to the mud flat on my back. Fortunately no anatomical damage, just shaken pride and tron waterporrf trousers - which weren't living up to their name anyway.
Soon the track back to the car park came into sight just below and doubling back on ourselves we headed back for shelter. The slopes of Skidaw were only visible upto about 300ft above then thick mist. However we still saw folk heading up the mountain. Are we soft or are they stupid?
Time 50 minutes
Grade Excellent short walk for bad weather
Memories Very very wet . New waterproof trousers needed!
Completed 25 To Go 189
Unfortunately the weather got worse as we drove north. On reaching the car park at Ornathwaite we knew we had made a sensible choice. Full waterproof gear on, we set off down the path heading for Keswick. A short way along, the route to the top headed off up to the leftand soon joined the other " reduced mobility" path (what a good idea) comming up from the car park. Now we were walking directly into lashing rain, very sore on the face and dripping wet to the skin despite the waterproofs. Soon reached a bench from which on a good day glorious views over Keswick would have opened up. Today nothing! The path now heading north westish traversed the summit and heading down the grassy slopes became very slippery. The pleasure of the easing and now being sheltered from the wind soon diminished with one lack of concentration, a loss of grip on the rigth foot and bump down on to the mud flat on my back. Fortunately no anatomical damage, just shaken pride and tron waterporrf trousers - which weren't living up to their name anyway.
Soon the track back to the car park came into sight just below and doubling back on ourselves we headed back for shelter. The slopes of Skidaw were only visible upto about 300ft above then thick mist. However we still saw folk heading up the mountain. Are we soft or are they stupid?
Time 50 minutes
Grade Excellent short walk for bad weather
Memories Very very wet . New waterproof trousers needed!
Completed 25 To Go 189
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags
Parked at the car park just down the main road from Hartsop. The temperature showed 3 degrees in the car and the weather looked gloomy, the wind was gusting and patches of snow on the fells - an excellent day for a walk. We decided on a relatively easy walk keeping to the lower tops. Donning full winter gear we walk down the road towards Hartsop and then immediately left after taking the small lane into the village. A good road, then track, lead us towards Ullswater with the route up towards Boredale Hause visible heading up to the right, ahead This motorway track leads all the way up the hill to Boredale Hause where we had been a few months ago coming off Place Fell sitting in glorious sunshine. Not today. On the hause our route turns back on itself crossing a stream and heading south up its right bank to a small hiatus between two knolls when the path turns to the left cross another stream heading to Angel tarn.
The weather remained wintry but occasional view across the valley revealed a snow bound Helvellyn glowing in sunshine for a moment with Catstye Cam at it's side shining covered with snow like icing on a cake. A few seconds of wishing we had chosen that walk soon disappeared when the clouds shaded the sun, the sleet started coming down, the wind buffeted us along the path and the Hevellyn range showed returned to it's previous ominous features.
The fell immediately to the left now was our first goal. No path, we headed directly up between the crags to the summit ridge. With high winds, this was no place to to stop so we retraced our steps off the summit and instead of returning to the path follwed various sheep tracks and paths south heading directly for Angle tarn which soon came in to view below.
Once back on the main path we headed towards Satura Crag when the weather deteriorated with very strong gusty winds and face stinging hail stones. So bad we held on to each other to stay upright cries of 'I am not going up that next b****y hill' soon blew away in the wind. I have to say I was glad we were only at 1500ft and not on Helvellyn.
The hail settled and after reaching the wall at Satura Crag we left the path and followed the wall westerly to find a snug little junction of two walls where we were able to sheltter for our ham butties.
The wind was still high, so after lunch a quick trip to the top of Brock Crags across bog (but with one nice patch of snow, admittedly only about 30ft high, to kick steps in).
Again not the weather to take in the view from the summit, we headed back to our lunch stop wall and set off south down the hill. Across the valley the imposing mass of Grey Crag with its mosaic of snow, grass and rocks seemed almost in touching distance. We soon found the path marked on the 1:25000 map winding down the side of the hill towards Hartsop and reached the valley to complete a low level but exhilarating winter walk.
Time 4hours
Grade Excellent
Memories Snow covered Catstye Cam unexpectedly gleaming in the sun
Sheltered lunch stop
Completed 24 To go 190
The weather remained wintry but occasional view across the valley revealed a snow bound Helvellyn glowing in sunshine for a moment with Catstye Cam at it's side shining covered with snow like icing on a cake. A few seconds of wishing we had chosen that walk soon disappeared when the clouds shaded the sun, the sleet started coming down, the wind buffeted us along the path and the Hevellyn range showed returned to it's previous ominous features.
The fell immediately to the left now was our first goal. No path, we headed directly up between the crags to the summit ridge. With high winds, this was no place to to stop so we retraced our steps off the summit and instead of returning to the path follwed various sheep tracks and paths south heading directly for Angle tarn which soon came in to view below.
Once back on the main path we headed towards Satura Crag when the weather deteriorated with very strong gusty winds and face stinging hail stones. So bad we held on to each other to stay upright cries of 'I am not going up that next b****y hill' soon blew away in the wind. I have to say I was glad we were only at 1500ft and not on Helvellyn.
The hail settled and after reaching the wall at Satura Crag we left the path and followed the wall westerly to find a snug little junction of two walls where we were able to sheltter for our ham butties.
The wind was still high, so after lunch a quick trip to the top of Brock Crags across bog (but with one nice patch of snow, admittedly only about 30ft high, to kick steps in).
Again not the weather to take in the view from the summit, we headed back to our lunch stop wall and set off south down the hill. Across the valley the imposing mass of Grey Crag with its mosaic of snow, grass and rocks seemed almost in touching distance. We soon found the path marked on the 1:25000 map winding down the side of the hill towards Hartsop and reached the valley to complete a low level but exhilarating winter walk.
Time 4hours
Grade Excellent
Memories Snow covered Catstye Cam unexpectedly gleaming in the sun
Sheltered lunch stop
Completed 24 To go 190
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Wansfell Pike
26th December 2007
Full waterproof gear for the start today, very wet in Ambleside. The plan is to walk over Wansfell pike to Troutbeck and return skirting the southerly aspect of Wansfell.
From the town centre take the road at the back of the Salutation Hotel up the R hand side of Stockghill force, soon entering the woods for a pleasant ascent up the ghyll bank to the waterfall which was quite impressive with all the recent rainfall.
Full waterproof gear for the start today, very wet in Ambleside. The plan is to walk over Wansfell pike to Troutbeck and return skirting the southerly aspect of Wansfell.
From the town centre take the road at the back of the Salutation Hotel up the R hand side of Stockghill force, soon entering the woods for a pleasant ascent up the ghyll bank to the waterfall which was quite impressive with all the recent rainfall.
Near the top of the waterfall a very distinct path turns right to take you out of the wood back to the road, which you take up to the left, throuh the farm gate and soon over a stile on the right heading up the hill, with a heard of cattle in the field guarding the stile. (This should not be relied on as a reliable landmark!).
The path is well made all the way to the top so route finding is not a problem. We were not worried about this as today we were accompanied by my daiughter and her boyfriend, a member of the Mountain Rescue team in Northumberland. During the ascent keep turning round to admire the view over Ambleside to the fells beyond, although today all the mountain ranges were shrouded in mist.
Althought the rain had stopped by now, the biting cold wind got stonger and we were glad to have our waterpoofs. A possibilty on reaching the summit was to walk along the ridge to it's highest point at Baystones but the weather and the promise of a warm, Boxing Day pub lunch was too much to resist and we continued east from the summit, keeping to the path eventually through a gate in a wall accessing a track leading down to the right, to Troutbeck.
We were planning on walking to The Queens Head but ended up in The Mortal Man just a few hundred yards to the left once reaching the road at Troutbeck.
Refreshed after a pint and a hearty lunch we retraced our steps passed the track leading down from the fell. Half a mile further along the road, at the post office bear right up the hill signposted Robin Lane. This road, then track, contours around the south end of a spur. Be careful at a junction of paths to take the track through the gate to the left signposted Jenkin Crag, otherwise you will end up back on the eastern slopes of Wansfell.
The path dips down and then up to High Skelghyll Farm, through the woods, on to Jenkin Crag and the contonues to Ambleside, the bright lights of Heyes Garden centre catching the eye in the distance in the dull, misty afternoon.
Time for walk 4hrs (not sure how long we had in the pub!)
Grading Excellent Boxing day walk
Memories Stockghyll force full of water
Pub Lunch
Sharing the walk with Claire and John
Completed 22 To Go 192
The path is well made all the way to the top so route finding is not a problem. We were not worried about this as today we were accompanied by my daiughter and her boyfriend, a member of the Mountain Rescue team in Northumberland. During the ascent keep turning round to admire the view over Ambleside to the fells beyond, although today all the mountain ranges were shrouded in mist.
Althought the rain had stopped by now, the biting cold wind got stonger and we were glad to have our waterpoofs. A possibilty on reaching the summit was to walk along the ridge to it's highest point at Baystones but the weather and the promise of a warm, Boxing Day pub lunch was too much to resist and we continued east from the summit, keeping to the path eventually through a gate in a wall accessing a track leading down to the right, to Troutbeck.
We were planning on walking to The Queens Head but ended up in The Mortal Man just a few hundred yards to the left once reaching the road at Troutbeck.
Refreshed after a pint and a hearty lunch we retraced our steps passed the track leading down from the fell. Half a mile further along the road, at the post office bear right up the hill signposted Robin Lane. This road, then track, contours around the south end of a spur. Be careful at a junction of paths to take the track through the gate to the left signposted Jenkin Crag, otherwise you will end up back on the eastern slopes of Wansfell.
The path dips down and then up to High Skelghyll Farm, through the woods, on to Jenkin Crag and the contonues to Ambleside, the bright lights of Heyes Garden centre catching the eye in the distance in the dull, misty afternoon.
Time for walk 4hrs (not sure how long we had in the pub!)
Grading Excellent Boxing day walk
Memories Stockghyll force full of water
Pub Lunch
Sharing the walk with Claire and John
Completed 22 To Go 192
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