Tuesday 11th December 2007

Start point: Rydal (NY 365 062)

Rydal - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Rydal Fell - Stone Arthur - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike (Scandale) - Low Pike - Low Sweden Bridge - Rydal Park - Rydal

Distance: 10.5 miles     Total Ascent: 1180 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Clear at lower level, tops in mist. 4oC.

Route Map

It was lovely and clear first thing this morning for a walk of the Fairfield Horseshoe with which I added a slight detour out to Stone Arthur above Grasmere. It was interesting to watch the weather almost constantly changing with clouds forming in the valleys before they lifted as I reached the top of Fairfield. The descent of Hart Crag and Dove Crag was done in very wintry mist with a covering of snow on these higher fells. By the time we got through that, the high cloud had come in to dull conditions somewhat and make it feel even cooler out of the sunshine.

Bright early morning sunshine casts a golden glow on the climb to Nab Scar.

Looking back down to a cold looking Rydal.

Loughrigg Fell and a mirror finished Rydal Water.

Heron Pike.

Nab Scar.

Looking over Grasmere to Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

Heron Pike from Nab Scar.

Red Screes across Rydal and Low Pike.

The summit of Heron Crag. Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag are covered by a blanket of cloud.

Casper enjoying the warm sunshine on Rydal Fell. Get it while you can!

Hart Crag clears from the cloud for a while.

Great Rigg ahead. I contoured around to the left to take in Stone Arthur.

Looks cold over to Bowfell and the Scafells.

Hart Crag and Dove Crag across a frozen pool.

Rydal Head.

A panoramic view looking across Rydal to the route of return - Hart Crag, Dove Crag, High Pike and Low Pike. Select on the image for a larger version.

Descending to Stone Arthur.

High Raise and Helm Crag across the Vale of Grasmere, from Stone Arthur.

Seat Sandal from Stone Arthur with mine and Casper's shadow on the summit.

Dollywagon Pike through Grisedale Hause between Seat Sandal and Fairfield.

Climbing to Great Rigg from Stone Arthur.

Looking back towards Heron Pike from Great Rigg.

At this point things were happening quickly with the cloud all around. It looked like there was an inversion over Great Langdale way and here too the clouds looked to be forming and dropping into Rydal valley and I had hopes of an inversion here too.

Seat Sandal with the Coledale fells in the distance. Here too the cloud was forming below the summit.

Looking back to Great Rigg from the climb to Fairfield.

Over on Dove Crag, the cloud seemed to be pouring over it into Dovedale.

The cloud over Hart Crag and Dove Crag.

Seat Sandal now has a cloud cap.

All snowy and bright on the approach to Fairfield's summit.

Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn - plus of course Striding Edge - from the summit of Fairfield.

Cofa Pike and St. Sunday Crag.

A cold wind whipped up whilst we were on Fairfield summit. That put paid to any chance of an inversion today I think.

In the cloud now leaving Fairfield for Hart Crag.

It really was cold between Hart Crag and Dove Crag.

Almost out of the mist now as it was blowing across the fell side here.

A glimpse of the eastern fells through a break in the clouds.

Looking back to Dove Crag from High Pike.

Back in the sunshine now son.

Scandale.

High Pike from Low Pike.

Looking across Rydal to the outward route.

Low Pike.

Scandale Beck looks cold in the fading light. It didn't stop my canine companion from having a little dip though!

Nab Scar and Heron Pike across Rydal Park.

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