Black Fell

This was another walk on the lower fells which surpassed expectations. We decided to take in Tarn Hows and parked at the southern end in the National Trust car park. Another sunny but windy day we walked with the masses around the western side of the tarn. An outdoor art exhibition (FRED) was being held in throughout Cumbria and one of the exhibits, a large floating feather, "Feather Flotsam", was at Tarn Hows. It really looked so natural floating on the water. Not at all out of place and at different times looking like a feather or a swan. It certainly was stimulating much comment from the passers by.

We left the main path at its northern end over a style following the Cumbria Way (we were on this in the north lakes yesterday) to meet the main track heading between Oxen Fell and Borwick Lodge. We turned right on the track for a short spell and then left it heading left trough the Iron Keld plantation, most of which had been cleared. Once leaving the boundary wall of the plantation a path (no marked on our map) immediately headed up the hill to the right and proceeded effortlessly to the summit.
The vista across to the western hill along this path was dramatic. Crystal clear lighting showed off the dramatic Wetherlam, Crinkles, Bow Fell and Langdales etc to their magnificent best. From the summit the contrasting picture to the east was of the softer lakeland hills of the Kentmere and Fairfield ranges (from this angle) the distant Pennine hills and the lakes of Windermere and Esthwaite water. To the south Tarn Hows and it's feather was in view. We spent the best part of an hour up here, visiting both cairns and relaxing in the sun before retracing our steps and completing the circuit of Tarn Hows.

Time 3 hours
Memories

• FRED (the white feather)
• Mountain views

Grade Excellent

Completed 64 To Go 150

Longlands Fell, Great Sca Fell, Knott and Brae Fell

Managed to park and the small hamlet of Longlands despite the road being closed for roadworks and a long diversion through Uldale. The sun was shining as we set off but the forecast was sunshine and showers. We headed eastwards along the Cumbria Way and soon left the main track along a small but distinct path up to the north ridge of Longlands Fell and soon up to the summit. The wind was getting stronger but on descending to the col towards Lowthwaite fell we were sheltered and stopped for lunch, greeting the only couple we met on the whole walk. The path skirts Lowthwaite fell to joint the main track up Charleton Gill and the ascends up to Little Sca Fell initially (which could easily be mistaken for the summit in mist), and then on to Great Sca Fell. We were fortunate to be in sunshine most of the time but to the west we were acutely aware of a wall of low, thick black cloud and rain heading our way. Such was the clear forewarning of the inclement conditions that we were able to put on our waterproofs and get out the compass in dry sunshine knowing that it would not be a waste of time. Skiddaw was in the mist most of the time but now, even Binsey across the valley was obscured. Soon after leaving Geat Sca Fell the mist came down, the temperature dropped and the horizontal sleet stung hitting our faces. It was enough to consider abandoning the ascent of Knott. However conditions like this on the hill pose an exciting challenge against the elements and a test of navigation, so on we went. There is a path leading up to Knott but quite indistinct in places amongst the peaty terrain and compass bearings, first south then south east, were a great comfort to hep us to the summit cairn. No view, just the required kiss on top and the retraced our steps to Great and Little Sca Fell where we came out of the mist to see a distinct track north to our final summit of Brae Fell.
The path off Brae Fell was heading North East, and knowing we had to aim for Longlands we decided to go 'off piste' and head straight down the grass slopes to meet the Cumbria Way where it fords Charleton Gill - no problems but quite a grassy trudge which we were glad we were not ascending. The rain now was well set in and we arrived back at the car drenched.

Time 4 hrs

Memories

• Navigation on Knott
• Watching the weather close in from the west
• Isolation

Grade excellent

Completed 163 to Go 151

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

Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor

We were determined to complete this walk having been blown off it a few weeks previously with high winds. A good bright day when we set off from the car park just above Hartsop, through the kissing gate and down to the right crossing the river as though heading up Pasture beck. Instead of turn up the valley we entered the field ahead through a gate, to start the steep grassy climb to the left of a wall, over a style and up to the northern ridge of Hartsop Dodd. After a short rest we climbed the ridge. Seen from the valley, driving from Patterdale towards Kirkstone pass three impressive ridges sweep down off the summit plateau of Caudale More. All look very inviting for the hill walker and I have always wanted to ascend each of them. The western most ridge to Caudale Head we have done previously (in complete mist), the middle ridge was today’s walk and the most eastern ridge over Grey Crag was another walk to look forward to.


We rested just below the summit of the Dodd for a sandwich admiring the views over to Place Fell, Angle Tarn Pikes and Brock Crags satisfyingly being able to say “we’ve been there”. Further a field other summits we had climbed Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike plus many others still to do. The weather was glorious, warm with an interestingly cloudy sky but plenty of blue patches. At the Hartsop Dodd cairn Caudale Moor looked distant but it didn’t take long, after a short descent, to climb up to the summit at Stoney Cove Pike. This was where I realised the Wainwright Book was back at the car. Was this the Wainwright Summit or was it the distinctive cairn over to the west at Caudale Head? There was no question, we had to walk across the summit plateau to the other top. (On getting back tot the car found we needn’t have done this but the walk along the top was immensely enjoyable). Retracing our steps to Stoney Cove Pike along the summit wall, which, from our previous experience, is an extremely useful landmark in the mist, we were amazed by the number of seagulls both on the ground and circling high above.
Descending east, now, down to Threshthwaite Mouth the path became quite rocky and steep in places but at the col the sun was out and the air was still. We sat bathing in the sunshine - Thornthwaite Crag ahead looked a steep ascent but a definite possible detour from our original plan. However, we had other committments in the evening so resisted the temptation and headed down to Pasture Beck.

A good choice for only 10-15 minutes after leaving the col, I looked behind and it had disappeared in thick black gloomy clouds, the tops all around no longer in sight, the seagulls circling high above. There was a definite atmosphere of impending doom relieved only by the bright sunshine in the valley to the north. Suddenly a loud clap of thunder echoed around the valley followed by a chorus of bleating sheep. No time to linger, we quickly got our waterproofs out before the heavens opened and we trudged back to the car, very wet but content after a walk with such variety.

Time 4 hrs

Memories
· Sudden change from sunbathing to being soaked
· Seagulls
· Views over our previous tops

Grade Excellent


Completed 52 To go 162