Walks

Seat Sandal

Apr 14, 2014

Baitstops Facts and Figures

Height: 736m
Height: 2415 feet
Bible Position: The Grisedale Fells
Conditions: A little rain and cool

Wainwright Facts and Figures

Book: The Eastern Fells
Position: 17th highest in Eastern Fells
Other Wainwrights on this walk:

Our last walk (apart from the Christmas walk in Yorkshire) was back in October so we were long overdue. I put the walk off a week as my knee has been painful for a couple of weeks now without any walking. It was still painful this week but not wanting to put if off again I strapped it up and headed for the hills. It was my turn to drive so I picked Peter up at 6.30. We had already decided to do Seat Sandal, parking at Dunmail Raise which already had a little height to make the walk easier. We arrived just before 8.30, got the boots on and armed with the breakfast pies crossed the road and over the style.

Start of the walk

The path on the maps was by Grise beck to our left but there was a more direct, clearly marked path straight ahead of us so we took this. We immediately started climbing, quite steeply, very tough on the calves. The route was very direct heading straight for some small crags where we stopped for a breather and watched a couple of farmers on the slopes of Dollywaggon Pike herding their sheep. We had a quick cuppa and then carried on. We couldn’t see the top from here but we knew it was straight ahead.

Looking back to Helm Crag on the ascent.

I was pleased I had strapped my knee up as it was fine at this stage. This was going to be one of the quickest tops in a while as the summit came into sight. There were great views from here of Dollywaggon Pike, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag and it was quite clear now. We arrived at the summit around 10.30 and got a few photos.

Seat Sandal summit

Right in front of us was the imposing sight of Fairfield, close enough to touch but with a massive descent and then ascent it was going to be too much for my knee today.

Fairfield and St Sunday Crag on the left

However it was doing fine still and obviously keeping it compressed is the way forward for future walks.

The descent

We dropped off the top slightly heading for Grisedale Hause and had a little lunch. As soon as we began to drop the wind completely disappeared and it was very peaceful sat having our lunch above Grisedale Tarn.

Grisedale Tarn

Dollywaggon Pike

The path went straight down towards the tarn but we decided to cut the corner and join the path to our left. However as I started walking and saw the the rocky descent in front I doubled back and went back to the path. I didn’t want to take any risks with twists to my knee today. The path was quite steep heading down to the tarn so I am not sure if it was any easier. The path went off to the left which we followed and then we began to descend by the side of Grise beck, a very nice waterfall which would be excellent in the summer.

Looking back up the cascades on Grise Beck

And looking down Grise Beck

It was a very steady descent or at least it felt like it was and I was very pleased that my knee had held out after a painful 2 weeks. We arrived back at the car just before 1 pm so plenty of time for a pint at the Sportsmans Inn. This was top number 47, only 24 left to do now and hopefully with the right physiotherapy I may avoid surgery on the knee and complete these quicker.

See you on the next one.

Glaramara

Oct 14, 2013

Baitstops Facts and Figures

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Wainwright Facts and Figures

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Other Wainwrights on this walk:

We were due a walk and had narrowed it down to the Buttermere Fells or Glaramara. Peter said if it was clear then Glaramara would be the best bet. In mist it can be difficult to find your way off the top. That statement proved to be completely true as we were to find out!

Return of the Scotch Eggs

After no walks in most of August and September it was time to get back out again. It was my turn to drive and I agreed to pick Peter up at 6.30 and head over towards Keswick and decide what top to do. As we crossed over Bowes Moor it began to clear so we decided Glaramara would be our destination today. We arrived at Seathwaite just after 8.30 am, got the boots on and then headed off through the farm and up towards Grains Gill.

Start of the walk

We also saw the return of an old favourite – the Scotch Eggs for breakfast! With a hearty breakfast under our belts we headed up Grains Gill towards Great End with Glaramara to our left all the way up.

Looking back down Grains Gill

It was a steady climb, whilst it was cooler than it had been the past few weeks, it was still relatively warm for October. We stopped about two thirds of the way up Grains Gill for some bait. The cloud was low straight ahead at Great End but the summit of Glaramara was always in view.

Glaramara on the right of this picture

Looking up Grains Gill towards Great End

We set off again after a brief break towards Great End and our turning point Esk Hause. I had been to Esk Hause before when we climbed Great End and Esk Pike. It’s a very busy crossroads with many popular walks in the area. At this point we turned left towards Allen Crags and could see the summit of Glaramara in the distance. As we approached the following picture it was nice and clear and literally as I stopped to take the camera out of my bag the mist rolled in. I still managed to get a reasonable shot of the Langdales though.

Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark from near Esk Hause

As we walked over Allen Crags, I was feeling quite good, the climb had not been too strenuous and I knew I had plenty left for the descent. However the climb from here was one of those frustrating climbs. First of all it was one of my least favourite surfaces, a very rocky path where you had to pick your steps between the rocks very carefully. It was also one of those walks where you felt the next summit was the last, only to find when you reached the summit it was not. The last two of these false summits were particularly frustrating as I rounded the summit and noticed a reasonable descent and then another summit!

Lincomb Tarns with the Langdales behind

We ploughed on towards the top although by now the cloud was rolling in on the summit which made finding it quite difficult. We eventually reached the top around 12.40. There was a shelter at the top although someone had beaten us to it. We sat behind some rocks and had lunch, waiting for it to clear a little so we could find the way down. We sat for about 15 or 20 minutes with the cloud only lifting very slightly. A short while later it cleared enough to see a path down which we took.

At the summit of Glaramara

Very quickly we were at the top of a very rocky scramble, about 20 or 30 feet high. We slid our way down the scramble to a path and headed off down in the general direction of the car. As we dropped down further it started to clear more and more. Peter was marching off into the distance and I quickly realised he was concerned that we had maybe missed the path back down to the car, which would have been on the left somewhere.

Fleetwith Pike in the centre and in sun

Peter was well ahead at this stage when I stopped for these 2 photos of a sunny Fleetwith Pike and Borrowdale. Looking over to my left I could see Peter waving me over. We had missed the path down and could see behind us the path back down to the car.

Borrowdale

However the only problem was between us and the path was a huge gully. The only way to cross it was to go back up! It was now approaching 3 pm and we were going to start climbing again. Not the best news I had received! The option was to continue down the edge we were on but end up 4 or 5 miles down the road and then face a long walk back to the car. Going back up to come down seemed the lesser of two evils! So we started to climb until we got to a point where we could cross the gully and then try to find the path. The path was not obvious but eventually we found it and began to descend at last. By now however my legs were finished and we were still around 800 to 1000 feet high and on a very steep descent! Every step was painful and had to be carefully picked as it was very rocky. This was the worst descent I have had since St Sunday Crag. Eventually however we reached a wall and were then on the home straight back down to the farm and the car. We reached the car around 4.45 pm, 8 hours since we left it! A very long day but satisfying that another one was under my belt, that’s 6 this year with hopefully another one or maybe even two before 2013 is out.

See you on the next one, probably early November.

Yewbarrow

Aug 3, 2013

Baitstops Facts and Figures

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Wainwright Facts and Figures

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Other Wainwrights on this walk:

This is a rare occurrence, 2 walks in 2 weeks but we wanted to make the most of the summer we have been having before we both take our holidays later this month. We had already decided to head over to Wasdale so it was an early start. Peter came for me at 6.00 am on the dot and we set off for the west coast.

As we drove down the A1 towards Scotch Corner, it was raining quite heavy but with a huge rainbow and a little sunshine. We realised it was going to be a day of mixed blessings with the weather. Its a long drive over to Wasdale, even when you pass Blencathra you know you still have about an hour to go.

Start of the walk

We arrived around 8.45 at the car park next to Overbeck bridge, there was only one other car here. We had our pies and set off walking at exactly 9.00 am. Leaving the car park from the far right hand corner we began walking in dense ferns, eventually arriving at a couple of newly built gates and also a newly laid path.

Our task today was clearly marked out in front of us, simply follow the wall up to just below the crags and then move around to the left of the crags, climbing towards the summit.

Yewbarrow

View back to Wast Water

It was immediate climbing too, making for a very tough first half hour or so. As we reached the second stile we followed the path away from the wall around to the left of Dropping Crag. Once we got onto the crags we began scrambling. It was also getting windier the higher we got.

Onwards and Upwards

As we reached the Great Door you could see the type of views you would have had on a clear day. It was too windy to take my bag off to get a photo though as it was literally difficult to stand up. We climbed higher beyond the Great Door over an exposed ridge and decided to take shelter out of the wind and have a cuppa. The wind was ferocious at this stage and we contemplated turning back as it was too dangerous. We were so close though and it would be a shame not to chalk off a top when we were so close. So we decided to carry on.

Very windy summit

Yewbarrow summit

It was worth the effort as we reached the summit about 15 minutes later. It was very windy as you can see from the picture above but it was clearing and we could see some of the bigger tops right next to us. Kirk Fell, Great Gable and in the far distance Skiddaw. The Scafels were right next to us but the summits were shrouded in cloud all day. Likewise Pillar was on the other side of Yewbarrow but also had a covering of cloud.

The descent

We dropped off the top, down towards Dore Head. We could see Red Pike in between the clouds but we could also see the steep drop to begin climbing again. So we decided Yewbarrow was enough today and found an excellent bait stop looking straight at Kirk Fell. We sat here for 10 or 15 minutes before setting off over the crags to the grassy slopes below. Once we got down the the grassy slope we turned left and followed the path back towards the car park

Whilst Yewbarrow is one of the smallest mountains in our quest, it was not without its challenges. A steep ascent at first, scrambling over crags, an excellent view to reward our climb, wind and then further crags on the way down. All in all another great day on the fells and number 45 out of 71 done!

We plan to be back in September.

Surveying todays conquest

Wetherlam

Jul 20, 2013

Baitstops Facts and Figures

Height: 763m
Height: 2503 feet
Bible Position: The Coniston Fells
Conditions: Sunny and warm

Wainwright Facts and Figures

Book: The Southern Fells
Position:
Other Wainwrights on this walk:

What a great spell of weather we have had lately so we wanted to make the most of it and have a walk in warm sunshine rather than the rain and wind we normally get! So we agreed to have a walk this weekend. I was due to pick Peter up at 6.30 am but when my alarm went off at 5.45 I made the schoolboy error of rolling over and I slept in until 6.15, so it was nearer 7.00 am when I arrived at Peters – oh dear!

We had already agreed to head over to Coniston this morning to tackle either Wetherlam or Dow Crag, the only two tops of the Coniston Fells not done yet. We have had wall to wall sunshine for the past 2 or 3 weeks but the forecast for Saturday was more cloud in the east but sunshine in the west. It took us until after Kirkby Stephen to see the sunshine coming through but it did. We arrived in Coniston Village just after 9.15 am and parked in the main car park.

Strapping the boots on we started walking straight away, eating our pies as we walked. We had both decided to bring light bags as we hoped we wouldn’t need additional layers or waterproofs. My bag was laden with some bait and loads of water, about 4 litres, well it was going to be warm!

Start of the walk

As we walked out of the village we passed a couple of Americans who asked if we were walking up that hill! Amazingly they had no water and no bags, good luck guys!

We walked up past the Miners Bridge with some very nice waterfalls on our left. It was hard work, very hot and the sun was shining at this point. We stopped a couple of times for water. It was a great morning though and there were quite a few walkers out on what was the first day of the school holidays. We passed a number of walkers staying at the cottages in the Coppermines Valley shown in the next photo.

Coppermines Valley with Coniston Old Man and Swirl How

We kept passing a couple who were also heading up towards Wetherlam. Every time we stopped they came past us and you could tell they were frustrated at how we kept getting ahead of them. To be honest I’m not sure how we did, they must have taken a very winding path. There were many paths going off in different directions and you could see how easy it would be to get lost in fog, but no chance of that today.

Lake Coniston in the distance

It was quite a long slog to the summit with great views all the way of Coniston Old Man and Swirl How. There was also a great view of the Coppermines valley and the extensive mining that took place here many years ago.

Wetherlam summit

We reached the summit just before noon and got a couple of photos in. It was a busy summit with people coming and going.

Wetherlam summit

We dropped down slightly to have a bait stop and to admire the views. We could see many of the tops I had already done, Scafel Pike, Bowfell, Great End, Crinkle Crags, Pike O Blisco and our last walk Harrison Stickle.

Bait stop just off the summit

Walking down towards Levers Water

The descent

We began to descend towards Levers Water where we were going to have a sit in the sunshine, however it was starting to cloud over a little now. It was still very warm but certainly more cloudy than it had been in the morning. I always enjoy these stops on a warm sunny day though where you can just sit and put the world to rights.

Rest at Levers Water

We left Levers Water down a path strewn with small, dry rocks past the mine workings and the Youth Hostel. Eventually, we joined up with the path we ascended, just below the Coppermine Cottages in the photo above. We got back to the car just after 2.00pm got changed and time for a couple of pints in the village.

A rare sunny day on the fells encouraged us to set a date for the next walk in 2 weeks time.

Harrison Stickle

Jun 22, 2013

Baitstops Facts and Figures

Height: 736 metres
Height: 2415 feet
Bible Position: The Central Ridge
Conditions: Cloudy with a little rain then a little sun.

Wainwright Facts and Figures

Book: The Central Fells
Position: Second highest in Central Fells
Other Wainwrights on this walk:

We were supposed to have a walk at the end of May but I got an unexpected trip to Marbella to play golf for the weekend so I had to let Peter down! So this was the postponed walk from May. Peter picked me up at 6.30 am and we headed west. The discussion on the journey was should we do Wetherlam or Harrison Stickle. Both generally in the same direction but Harrison Stickle would be slightly easier to navigate in poor weather. The forecast was for cloud and rain so we were leaning towards Harrison Stickle but we would decide when we got there.

We drove through the odd shower but also bright skies and as we got to Ambleside we decided that it was too misty to navigate Wetherlam today so decision made to head into the Langdales and to Dungeon Ghyll. We arrived at the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel around 8.45 am and got the boots on and tucked into the Angus Steak pie (it’s been a while). As we were getting ready however, the rain came down heavy. With the memory of a wet Hellvelyn still very clear we did not want to start off wet so we waited, and waited!

Start of Walk

Around 9.30 the rain stopped coming down so heavy and we decided to set off. We walked past the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel and straight away began to climb. It was still raining, not too heavy but enough for water proofs.

View from New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Harrison Stickle top left

The path was very well laid and led us directly up Stickle Gill. There were paths both sides of the gill, the one on the right was much newer. We followed this path for some way and then crossed over to the left path. As we neared the top we took a left up a very steep climb through ferns to Stickle Tarn. As we reached the tarn with Pavey Ark an imposing sight behind, I could see why Peter had made the detour from the path. This area around Stickle Tarn is one of those places you remember on these walks, a little like Innominate Tarn in the shadow of Haystacks, a really nice resting spot, particularly on a sunny day. However as you can see from the next picture, today was not one of those days!

Stickle Tarn with Pavey Ark behind

We had a bait stop and a cuppa, fed the duck who swam over to see us and fought off the gull that was trying to take the ducks bread, then set off on the last part of the climb. The next two pictures show Harrison Stickle from the tarn.

Looking up to Harrison Stickle

A closer view of the summit

As we began this short climb we had a very good view of Pavey Ark and as we got higher could see the infamous Jack’s Rake, a very narrow path up the mountain. Both Peter and Steve had told me how difficult it was and I was quite pleased that Pavey Ark does not feature on the list of tops I have to conquer! The weather was improving slightly now with a little sunshine appearing although as we got higher the wind increased.

Looking back down to Stickle Tarn

Harrison Stickle summit

By the time we reached the summit the wind was very strong. There were 2 summit cairns, 20 yards apart, one appeared slightly higher than the other but I touched both just to be on the safe side! It was too windy to get a photo so we turned around and started back down to a more sheltered spot to decide on our descent.

The descent

There was a scree run about half an hour away or we could go down the same way we ascended. I decided my knees were not suited to the stresses of a scree run so we opted for the latter.

Pavey Ark

We walked back to the tarn and then set off back down Stickle Gill. We still had the water proofs on mainly because it was a little chilly although as we descended it started to warm up a little more. As we got back down to around 4 or 500 feet we took the jackets off and by now it was reasonably sunny and warm.

We got back to the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for about 2pm and decided to go straight in for a drink before crossing the road to the car. It was still sunny so we sat outside, looking back up Stickle Gill admiring our efforts! Pretty soon it started to rain so we had to retire inside. It rained most of the way home too, so we were quite lucky with the walk, dodging the really heavt showers. Another great day on the fells though with a short but very steep walk up the highest peak in the Langdales. We provisionally planned a walk in mid July – unexpected trips to Spain permitting!

See you next time.

High Spy

Apr 27, 2013

Back in January 2011 we walked 3/4 of the Newlands Round, missing out the final top of High Spy. When I spoke to Peter earlier this week and explained I was doing the Swimathon on Sunday and wanted an easy-ish walk we decided on High Spy. It wasn’t too high and a fairly easy ascent and descent. My turn to drive so I picked Peter up just after 6.30 am and set off in the direction of Keswick. We arrived at Little Town around 8.30. We had both brought Scotch Eggs for breakfast so we had one each for breakfast and kept the other 2 for lunch later.

Great Gable in the distance

Start of the walk

We started this walk the way we finished the walk in 2011, walking back up the road from the car park and turned right up the hill and then walked along the valley. We were walking for around 30 or 40 minutes and then began to climb very slowly. It was a steady climb up towards the pass which you can see in the picture on the right. The last 50 yards or so up to the pass became a little steeper. We found a little shelter and decided to stop for our first bait stop, had a cuppa and the other scotch egg. As we were sitting it started to rain so we put the water proof jackets on and set off again. As we reached the top of the pass the rain had stopped and it was actually getting warmer so the water proofs came off and we turned left towards High Spy. This part of the climb was a little steeper and we reached the summit at 11.00 am.

High Spy summit

Summit of High Spy

Skiddaw and Blencathra from High Spy

There were great views from here of the Scafels, Great Gable and Great End. Then to the north Blencathra and Skiddaw and many others. The weather was also clearing up so we could see for miles.

There was still a little bit of snow on some of the tops but nothing here today. Looking around from the summit we could also see Dale Head and Hindscarth with Robinson behind, the other 3 tops on the Newlands Round walk.

The descent

We set off back towards the car, walking on the flat for a little while and then beginning to drop towards Derwent Water with Keswick behind.

Looking back to High Spy

The walk was beginning to get busier as we descended. This is a very popular walk with Cat Bells just below.

The car is down there somewhere

As we descended Derwent Water and Keswick came into view and they were looking very good in the April sunshine.

Derwent Water with the summit of Cat Bells centre left

A little further and the popular Cat Bells walk looked very busy today.

Cat Bells looking busy today

We walked towards the bottom of Cat Bells as can be seen above and then turned left down the slope towards the car.

Would be a nice Bait stop in the summer!

Back at the car for around 1.00 pm and time for a quick drink at the Sportsmans.

Next walk planned towards the end of May. See you then.

Crinkle Crags

Feb 16, 2013

The Bible

The first walk of 2013 is here and with a fair bit of snow fall, even at ground level, over the past few weeks, it suggested it would be a good one. Just me and Peter on this one and he came to pick me up at 6.30 am. Peter had bought me a copy of “The Bible”, the book we were basing all of our walks on, with the definitive list of the 71 mountains we were walking. I was chuffed with that, cheers Peter.

We set off for the Lakes and the first topic of conversation was where we would go. Earlier in the week we had discussed the possibility of around Coniston or High Spy. We narrowed it down to Wetherlam or Crinkle Crags. Whilst I had done Crinkle Crags before, I had not dated it so would have to do it again for the record. The route around Wetherlam may be difficult in bad visibility and as we got further west, the cloud was lower. So we decided on Crinkle Crags. We headed towards Ambleside and then took the turning towards the Langdales. We parked at the Dungeon Ghyll Old hotel, had a quick pasty, put the boots on and set off just after 9.00 am. There was low cloud and we couldn’t see the tops so it looked like this was the better option to choose.

Start of the walk

We walked through the gate and set off towards the farm a half mile or so along the road. Then, through the farm and out the gate on the other side. Just after the gate we could choose to take a right up The Band or straight on into Oxendale. We chose Oxendale and walked into the valley. Eventually reaching a footbridge which again presented us with a decision to cross or go straight on. We went straight on beginning to climb slowly. After a short while we reached another footbridge and decided to cross this one and took a right up the hill after the footbridge. Just a little further up the path we took our first bait stop overlooking a waterfall with a nice pool at the bottom. Even though we only stopped for 10 minutes or so, we were getting quite wet with the fine mist that was in the air.

Waterfall by our Bait Stop

We set off again, climbing further and crossed the stream twice. After only half an hour or so we were reaching the snow line and the path became difficult to follow. Very soon we had lost the path altogether and we were walking on virgin snow. We were continuing to go upwards though so in the right direction! By now we were in quite deep snow and each step was taking its toll, onwards and upwards! We could hear voices off to our right and knew this was the main path higher up the Band so we were veering over towards that direction.

Crinkle Crags summit

Eventually not far from the summit we joined the path and reached the pass where we could turn right to Bow Fell or carry on through Shelter Crags onto Crinkle Crags.

Approaching the summit

We stopped for some lunch and I strapped on some Yaktrax I had bought the previous week. They are ice grips for your boots to help you get a better grip.

We reached the summit on the second Crinkle at 12.45 but not even time for a quick photo as it was freezing cold, so we turned back and headed for the path we had come up on. As we were descending now the snow was taking our weight and it was much easier on the legs. However I looked down and noticed I had lost a Yaktrax off my right boot! I had only had them on about 20 minutes. Peter kindly offered to back track and have a look. It was gone though! They were only a tenner from Go Outdoors.

The descent

We continued to descend for another 20 minutes or so. Then we came across quite a large number of people ascending with quite a lot of children. It was the start of half term but a few of them didn’t look too happy to be climbing in that tiring snow.

By now we had been walking in snow for about 5 hours and eventually we reached the snow line on the way down. I seemed to get a better grip on the wet rocks with my Yaktrax (well my left foot was). I think I will bring them for wet walks in future as well. We got back down to the bottom of the Band and back to the farm for just after 3 pm. Quite a long walk but the longest part was ascending. I was quite pleased with my knees on the descent today.

A good, snowy walk with a hard ascent in deep snow but an easier descent today. This time Crinkle Crags has a date against it and its officially number 41 out of 71.

See you on the next walk.

Helvellyn and Dollywaggon Pike

Oct 28, 2012

Baitstops Facts and Figures

Height: Helvellyn – 950m, Dollywaggon Pike – 858m
Height: Helvellyn – 3117 feet, Dollywaggon Pike – 2815 feet
Bible Position: The Glenridding Fells
Conditions: Wet, very wet!

Wainwright Facts and Figures

Book: The Eastern Fells
Position: Helvellyn – Highest in the Eastern Fells, Dollywaggon Pike – 7th highest in Eastern Fells
Other Wainwrights on this walk: Nethermost Pike

So we haven’t been out much this year have we? No excuse either, so we must put that right. We made a start with that today, the morning the clocks were put back so we gained an extra hour. Peter came for me at 6.00 am (GMT). The forecast, depending on which channel you watched was either rain or showers, clearing at lunchtime, so we set off deciding to go round the back of Helvellyn and also fit in Dollywaggon Pike which I had attempted twice before but turned back due to poor weather. I had done Helvellyn many years ago but it was before I was recording dates so I had to do it again.

Start of the walk

We arrived at Wythburn car park just after 8.00 am but to our surprise the cost to park was £7 and we didn’t have enough change. So we drove to Grasmere village to get some change and then back to the car park. It is unusual for a car park, outside of the towns to be so expensive but as we did not have much choice, Peter paid the fee. It was raining already, too wet to stand and eat breakfast so we set off on the walk just after 8.30, heading towards the trees to get some cover. I had brought my home-made scotch eggs and Peter had brought a pasty so we had a good start to the day. We climbed quickly through the woods coming out onto the open fell and continued to climb steadily. The path was very clear and good allowing us to keep a reasonable pace. However it was very wet and with no cover there was nowhere to stop for a cuppa.

Helvellyn Summit

As we got to the ridge, the rain was sharper and it was getting colder. I stopped for a few minutes to put on another layer and gloves for the final push to Helvellyn. On the way up we walked past the junction we would later come back to on the way to Dollywaggon Pike, we also saw the plaque just below the shelter near the summit commemorating a plane landing here in 1926! We walked past the shelter and were shortly at the summit, arriving just after 10.30, two hours up was a decent pace. No time to stop for photos as it was so wet and cold so we quickly went back to the shelter to try to get a cup of tea.

Looking back to the summit from the shelter

Dollywaggon Pike summit

We quickly had a cuppa and Peter put another layer on and we set off back down the track, retracing our steps to the junction I mentioned earlier, taking the left fork this time which was heading towards Nethermost Pike first and then on to Dollywaggon Pike. Whilst it was cold and wet, I was feeling very good at this point. Losing 2 stone over the summer was making me move slightly quicker than normal and at this point in the walk I was very pleased with my pace. We passed Nethermost Pike and quickly went on to Dollywaggon, arriving about 30 minutes after leaving the summit of Helvellyn.

Dollywaggon Pike summit

The descent

A very quick photo just to say we were there and then we wanted to get down as quickly as possible. It was a steady descent at first as we looked for Grisedale tarn below, which was where we would descend to first. There was an old metal fence post marking the path down. At this point the path became very steep and with slippery rocks as well it was a tricky walk and I could feel my knee and for the first time ever I think, my feet were wet!

As we got near the tarn, we turned to the right across the grass. As we were walking across what looked like just wet grass, I put my foot in a bog, straight up to the knee. Fortunately it was not possible to get any wetter, but I was trying my best! Eventually we came out at the top of a gully with a very fast moving stream running down to the road, this was our path back to the car. Once again however slippery rocks and a quite steep descent conspired to slow me down to a snails pace. The road was not getting any nearer! Once we did get down to the bottom, we had another boggy walk back to the woods and then on to the car. The wettest walk we have ever done with non-stop rain from setting off to getting back – don’t believe the weather forecast! It was now after 2.30 so we got changed and got into the warmth of the car, heading for home – to a nice Chilli con carne for me!

Christmas walk planned for early December so see you then!

High Street Walk

Mar 12, 2012

It’s been a while since the Christmas Walk so when Peter called me a couple of weeks ago asking me if I fancied a walk, it was perfect timing. It was only me and him today and his turn to drive so he picked me up at 6.00 am. The forecast was good for the east but a little cloudy, clearing later for the west which was where we were heading. We had decided to do High Street after missing out on that walk a couple of times previously so headed over the A66 in clear blue skies. As we turned off the road towards Haweswater there was a road closed sign but another one saying the hotel was open so we ploughed on. It turned out they were doing some pipe laying on the road although not on a Sunday so the trucks were all parked up and we drove straight through.

Start of the walk

We arrived at the car park at the end of the reservoir before 8.00 am, got the boots on and started walking at exactly 8.00 am. No Angus pies today but a decent substitute with Peters Bakery steak pie! We ate as we walked, surrounded by very welcome blue skies.

When we walked Harter Fell recently we had noticed a path which looked more direct than walking round Haweswater and climbing up Rough Crag so we took the direct route. It was a steady walk at first, gaining height slowly.

Looking back to the summit of Rough Crag. We had approached from the right of this photo.

As we climbed we started to come out of the shade and already it was getting quite warm, I was beginning to regret having 3 layers on! We followed the path, climbing all the time until we came to the first bait stop of the day at 9.00 am. Time for a quick cuppa and then we continued on towards the shoulder where we would join Long Stile. We reckon we saved quite a bit of time taking this route and joined Long Stile about 10.00 am.

On Long Stile, Blea Water in the background, nearly at the top!

We were now in full sunshine and with the climb it was was getting very warm so time to shed a layer or two. Looking back down to Rough Crag we had a quick look to see if we could see the Golden Eagle which is supposed to live here but nothing today. We continued up Long Stile, now becoming more of a scramble over the crags. As it was such a great day we stopped to take another photo of the great scenery around us. The shot on the left shows Blea Water in the background and the summit of High Street is to my left out of shot.

High Street summit

Once we reached the top of the more difficult climb we were on a very flat summit heading towards the summit marked by a small trig point. We reached the summit at 10.40 and took a few more photos for the record.

High Street summit

The views were fantastic today, we could see Thornthwaite Crag I did last summer with the lads from work, we could see Helvellyn and Striding Edge clearly. Looking towards the west seemed a little more cloudy and as we wanted to stay in the sun we headed towards Kidsty Pike, knowing that we would not be able to get another top in on that route but at least we would stay in the sunshine and get the views.

We descended the Straits of Riggindale towards Kidsty Pike and decided to take in The Knott on the way, including Kidsty Pike that would mean we would do 3 Wainwrights today although only one official top in High Street. The photo on the right shows the view back up Riggindale towards the summit of High Street, you can make out the Roman Road on the right.

Looking back to High Street

The descent

We continued on the path to The Knott and at this point we saw only the second person of the day although after this point it did get much busier.

The Knott

We arrived at The Knott about 11.20 and then paused for a few minutes to take a few more photos and consider our next move. We decided to back track slightly on the path we had taken and head for Kidsty Pike and then back down to the Reservoir.

Once we dropped down from The Knott back to the path we turned right and then a left climbing towards Kidsty Pike.

We arrived at Kidsty Pike just after noon and for the first time today it was a little breezy on the top so we dropped off the summit slightly to some rocks for another bait stop, take some more photos and just chill in the sun.

On Kidsty Pike looking for the Golden Eagle on Rough Crag

This was also a good vantage point to see the Golden Eagle if it was around but again we saw nothing today. We sat for 20 minutes or so and then started the descent back to the car park.

At first it was quite a rocky descent becoming quite steep as well so taking its toll on the knees. We dropped down to the shores of Haweswater and then had about another 20 minutes to walk through the woods back to the car park which was now full despite the road closed sign! We arrived at the car about 2 pm just as some cloud started to appear – perfect timing!

A really good walk today, fantastic scenery, some decent challenges and great company as always.

Click here to see more photos from the day and turn your speakers up and see if you can guess the music!

See you on the next one.

Christmas Walk 2011 – Yorkshire Dales

Dec 11, 2011

At a recent Walkers night out we decided to have our Christmas walk this weekend and as we needed to be home early, we chose the Yorkshire Dales walk we have done a few times before. I picked Peter up at 7.30 and then drove back down to Hartlepool for Paul, arriving at his house around 8.00 am. It was a cold, crisp morning, the car temperature gauge hovering around zero. We arrived at Gunnerside, a small village about 6 miles past Reeth, around 9.15 and set off walking about 9.30. The walk starts out of the village on a road which was quite icy. As we were driving in we had also noticed the damage caused by the floods and high winds earlier this week in Swaledale. Added to this the tops were covered in snow so we knew we were in for a cold, snowy walk.

After about a half mile on the road we took a sharp right and start walking up the hill. As soon as we started on this road we were walking on snow, initially just an inch or so but getting deeper as we got higher. This path climbed gently around the hill to the highest point of the walk. The snow was 6 or 7 inches deep at this point. As we started to drop back down the other side we crossed a stream and walked down the right hand side of the stream. Nobody had been out this morning so the path was not clear and at times our feet were sinking knee deep in the fresh snow. We were heading towards the ruined building at the bottom of the valley to have our Christmas lunch.

Christmas Lunch

When we got there, the festivities started, Paul had cooked the turkey legs this year, followed by Mince pies and custard which I have brought, washed down with wine from Peter. Peter had also brought 2 crackers each. Whilst we were eating lunch it started to snow. Around 12.30 we started walking again, crossed over the bridge and took the higher path towards Crackpot Lodge. I hadn’t took this path on the previous walks we had done around here. The path climbed higher at first and around the corner was the ruins of what we assumed was Crackpot Lodge and then we started to drop down the valley again. Just around the corner was another ruin ( not sure which one was Crackpot Lodge), we then scrambled down the hill back to the road. This route seemed much quicker than previous times we had done this and a little easier. We crossed the stream lower down where there were stepping stones and a bridge.

Stream crossing lower down the valley

Paul stood on the bridge for a photo opportunity whilst we pelted him with snowballs

The path dropped lower into the valley and we could now see the damage caused by the flooding earlier this week. At one point the path had completely disappeared and was replaced by a massive landslide of rocks and parts of trees.

These 2 photos show the damage caused by floods in Swaledale this week.

The path back to the car was long and slow, much longer than I remembered. Paul had kept a shotgun cartridge he found the last time he was on this walk and kicked all the way back to the car (coincidentally we had found a cartridge the following year when I did the walk and kicked it back to the car) so we played football with the cartridge all the way down the path back to the car. We got back to the car just after 3.

So that’s its for 2011, we will be back in 2012 in the Lakes.

Merry Christmas to walkers everywhere and a happy and healthy 2012.

Start of the walk

Seat Sandal summit

The descent

Start of the walk

Start of the walk

Yewbarrow summit

The descent

Start of the walk

Wetherlam summit

The descent

Start of Walk

Harrison Stickle summit

The descent

Start of the walk

High Spy summit

The descent

Start of the walk

Crinkle Crags summit

The descent

Start of the walk

Helvellyn Summit

Dollywaggon Pike summit

The descent

Start of the walk

High Street summit

The descent

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